Best Lunch, Relaxing Time

On Wednesday Edan and Yasmin came to Seminar Hakibutzim to pick me up for lunch.  I know I always talk about how amazing Aroma coffee is, but I haven't tried their food.  Wow!  I had the best Shakshuka sandwich ever.  It was so nice to go for lunch and have a break from seminars.  It was also really nice to catch up with friends.  That lunch was the first time I got to see Edan in almost a year and a half or more.  I could not get over sitting in the back seat with the two of them up front.  I definitely will not get used to sitting in the back of the car, that's for sure.  Hopefully I will get to see them again soon.

Thursday!

I have been wanting to drive for soooo long.  I like taking the bus, sheruts, and trains.  But I miss just getting behind the wheel and driving.  I had a plan to rent a car and drive to the beach.  May's mom was really gracious and let me drive their car.  It was a fun surprise that May and I drove to the beach in Rishon.  We just sat on the beach and talked, it's so different than my beach at home.  My beach is pitch black and quiet at night.  It was nice to be out of Rehovot and be able to drive.  On the way home we passed Cinema City.  A big movie theater I have been hearing about for the last 3 months.  Only from the outside does it look really cool.  Some day I plan to see it from the inside and enjoy a movie.  That will have to wait until things are more settled and I have a routine with money.  We got to the beach quite quickly without directional problems.... On the way home however, both May and I were tired and hungry and forgot to pay attention to the directions... We ended up in Ashdod, a good half hour away from where we live.  After realizing where we were we quickly turned around and started driving home in the right direction.  When we got home Ela, May's little sister was awake.  We had planned to play Set, one of the best games ever.  At last I won! :) Quite a fantastic accomplishment.  Ela is quite good at the game.  It is really nice that I feel some comfortable and at home, at May's house.  It's really a happy change to just be in a home with a family.  Our house is becoming more and more like our home.  But it is still different.

We finally began moving in the other night.  Slowly we have been unpacking our suitcases and filling up our closets.  I even put things on the wall in our room.  When I was in the Golan my aunt printed a picture of me, my brothers, and cousins from the Moshav when I was about 5 or 6.  It is one of my favorite pictures.  I also brought one of my many dream catchers.  Every year my aunt and cousins make me a dream catcher for my birthday.  Now I have that on my wall as well.  It is really beginning to feel like my room I will live in for the year.  I also added "Live, Laugh, Love".  I have wooden cut outs of each word, the favorite quote from college with my college roommates.  I am missing a picture of my mom and my brothers and Stephanie.  I think I will print one of the funny family pictures we took before I came here and put it on the wall.

Friday!

We were supposed to have a "goodbye summer" beach party in Tel Aviv, with our Israeli counterparts and some people from Rishon and Ramle/Lod.  However, the forecast for rain changed our plans.  I was excited to spend the time at the beach with everyone, but I also enjoyed just being home instead.  I took a fantastic nap in the afternoon.  Apparently I missed the 30 second rain shower.  Some of my roommates described it more like a mist than a shower.  It was nice to just be a bum and spend time at home.  When we decided it was time to start cooking Shabbat dinner we began to throw things together.  We are cleaning our fridge this weekend.  It was a fun dinner made of things we each had in the house.  We attempted a tuna casserole.  I think it actually came out pretty tasty.  One of my roommates and I cooked the meal while the rest set the table and then cleaned after dinner.  Its really nice that we have started our own Shabbat traditions.  Our Shabbat candles get melted onto some tin foil, or something to that affect.  Our wine last night was soda because we each forgot to buy a bottle of wine.  We are starting some fun Shabbat routines, our own routines which is the best.

I'm starting to get a little excited for my birthday, turning 25 on the 25th just sounds cool.  I think it is a good year to spend in Israel.

Saturday!

Today I made a very tasty omelette.  Now I am enjoying some CSI on TV and a tasty coffee.  I probably will do some laundry and my chore of cleaning the bathroom.  I think a movie is on my schedule this evening.  Probably a movie at my house or May's house.  Funds are a little tight at the moment, but it is really nice to just stay home and relax.  This week is Rosh Hashana, so I will not be spending many days at home.  I think I will do some video chatting with home as well.  My skype is always on in case anyone would like to video chat.  It is so nice that my computer works again.  Time to enjoy the rest of my Shabbat :)