Another Week Finished

Friday September 16, 2011

I am starting to realize that updating my blog weekly might be the most realistic option for the time being.  This past week in recap...the big things that I remember.

We were back in seminars this week, the focus was more literacy and early reading.  A lot of it is still repetition from my undergraduate courses.  However, the seminars in the afternoon are much more interactive and interesting.  I really enjoy our class, Rehovot and Ramle/Lod.  One day we had to join another class, and we all noticed how different the vibe was, and definitely prefer our own class.

Tuesday was Brian's birthday.  It was our day of programming with Lior.  I really enjoyed the programming a lot.  Some of the activities were similar to the activities I have prepared in the past for my youth group kids.  It is very fun to be on the other side, and get to participate in games and activities.  We also set about creating our group vision.  This was a very interesting experience.  Each person drafted a vision and then we all shared.  In the end we decided that we had the same common themes, but each person's voice and wording came through so nicely in their vision.  We decided to have everyone keep their own vision as a reminder, or as Lior said, a lighthouse for our year.  The major themes were respect, collegiality, friendship, and making a difference in our community together.

Lior organized a nice night for Brian's birthday.  We invited the Ramle/Lod group but they finished programming too late to join us.  However, Lior contacted our Israeli peers.  It was really nice that Lian, Shay, and Elena were able to join us.  We went to an Irish Pub, a very interesting scene.  It was a great night to just hang out together outside of our us and enjoy each other's company.  Some stayed for the concert at 10 but I wanted to get some sleep.  On my way out I heard someone call my name.  May's dad was there for the concert.  I was so surprised to hear someone not American calling my name.  It was a nice surprise.

I focused on getting some good sleep this week.  I forgot how much easier it is to wake up refreshed in the morning after a good nights sleep.  I also spent a lot of time over at May's house this week.  It is really nice and refreshing having a place I feel at home to go to.  One night I was helping May with her English Literature homework.  It was really interesting.  We had just had lectures that day about the matriculation options.  I was able to really connect the content of the lecture to May's reality.  She really impressed me, I couldn't imagine attempting that kind of work in Hebrew.

I went to the Dr. this week because I am having some difficulties with  my ears.  The first question I had for the Dr. was whether or not he spoke English.  After he began in English, I quickly noticed his South African accent.  Of course I automatically began Jewish South African geography.  It is always best to start with my mom.  He did not recognize her name.  Then I moved onto my grandfather, who was a Dr. in Kfashmeriyahu.  It was really cool that the Dr. knew my grandfather.  I have always heard he was well known, but it is quite another thing to meet random people who knew him as a professional.

As I said I am trying to recall the highlights from the week.  We now have internet in our house to my roommates great relief.  We have our oven plugged in...literally the handy man opened the packaging and plugged it in.  All of us agreed we would have done that earlier if we had known what was required.

We also woke up one morning to very loud drilling, each one of us were convinced another roommate was making way too much noise in the morning.  Then we found out to our wonderful surprise the handy man installed our washing machine.

May's parents have been sooooo generously kind and helpful and even did my laundry twice.  So appreciated and helpful.  Now I can begin washing my own laundry again...Just what I've been waiting for.

Several weeks ago May asked what my plans were for September 15th.  For many weeks my response was...that is way too far in advance.  Finally I asked Lior and found out we had a free night.  To my utter surprise and good fortune! May's parents and May got tickets to a surprise concert in Jerusalem.  I was not allowed to know the performer until we arrived.  Then May's mom was about to tell me, and I actually asked her to keep me in the dark.  It was such a fun surprise just to sit patiently and await the beginning of the concert.  It was incredible!  I don't think I have the words to describe the evening accurately.  The venue was the Sultan's Pool in Jerusalem.  That alone is amazing, we sat in our seats, and could see the wailing wall, the traffic, and not hear a thing once the music began.  The best concert ever, an Israeli/Wordly version of stomp.  I was in heaven to really say the least.  The entire concert was such an amazing collaboration of talent, fun, and music.  It was definitely one of my most favorite nights!

We returned pretty late and went to sleep.  May had to wake up early for the scouts, and I decided to sleep in.  By the time I finally woke up around 9am, May's dad asked about my plans for the day.  I tried to explain and he noticed I wasn't making sense and told me to make a coffee.  It's nice knowing where everything is, even if I still like to ask May for things in the house when she's home.  I had my coffee and then walked home.  I had a nice conversation with my older brother on the way home as well. 
(The time difference and schedules have made it difficult to stay in contact consistently.  I have to admit sometimes I get home from Tel Aviv and just want to zone in front of the TV or go for a run)
.  I quickly took a shower, changed the clothes in my backpack and was off to catch a bus in Tel Aviv.  I decided to take a Sherut, a communal taxi, much cheaper!  I took the Sherut from Rehovot to Tel Aviv.  There I called my cousin Moshik and got directions to the bus.  I was really happy I made it on the direct bus to the Golan.

Now I am in one of my favorite places in the world.  My aunt Ruti's house in the Golan, on a small moshav called Ramot.  This is house that really symbolizes my childhood.  My cousins Moshik and Nelly are here for the weekend with their amazingly adorable baby Shachar.  I am definitely not objective but she is simply the best baby ever!  It's so fun to see her in person, I've heard of this little baby for months.  Finally I get to play with her and see my cousins as parents.  They are pretty much the same as I expected.

I think this has been/will be one of the best weekends of the year.  An amazing surprise concert, relaxing family time with the cutest baby.  Things are pretty wonderful at the moment :)