Sunday, January 24, 2010 – Monday, Januray 25, 2010
My Israel adventure has begun arriving at Ben Gurion airport on Sunday January 24, 2010. My camp friend Anna Kreitzer and I will be spending 5 months in Ashdod, Israel volunteering in the local community. Upon our arrival we jumped in a cab and went to our hostel for the night. It was nice, we were on the roof of a house and it had a patio with couches and plants, very fun. We decided to walk around the city, exploring the Carmel Market, Allenby Street and Rothschild Street. After our mini adventure we went to get falafel. I used my Hebrew and was rather pleased with what I could remember and it was yummy falafel indeed, all for about 13 shekels, or 3 dollars. It started to pour so we tried to wait it out but decided to head back to the hostel. Our first morning we woke up, grabbed some apples from the Carmel market, strolled around Tel Aviv and then headed for Ashdod. After a short cab ride, train ride and another cab we arrive to 78 Masada Street, our home for the next 5 months.
It is a very nice house, in an upper middle class neighborhood in Ashdod. There are 5 bedrooms for 6 girls and 4 boys. Anna and I were put in a room together which was very nice. There are 2 great balconies, a large kitchen and common room. We arrived had a mini orientation, walked around the streets to get to know the area. Our staff dropped us off at a shopping center where we ate lunch and bought some groceries.
After we unpacked several of us decided to go for a walk to the beach. Its very close but you cannot swim in the area closest to us. There are some Arab ruins very close by from around 500 AD, very cool to have the old ruins in the shadows of the modern city, Ashdod is a planned city which was only organized in the 1950’s and 60’s I believe.
So far everyone seems pretty down to earth and outgoing. The people in our house are 24 to 30 and seem to all be people looking for something new in their life, recently quit a job and or hoping for an existential experience.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
This morning I woke up early due my jetlag and went on a walk. It was nice to get to see a bit more of the city, I love the public artwork around the area. We walked along the beach and saw some beautiful houses with amazing water front views. Today was the first time we met up for the first time with the entire group. We had some icebreakers in the morning and then I went back to our houses for lunch. In the afternoon we had a seminar to acquaint ourselves with Israeli culture and issues. We talked about the issues Israel is having with Turkey, Iran, captured soldiers, weather, Herzl and such.
After we took the local bus across the city to a place called Jonah’s Hill, which had a great view of the city and its port.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Today we met bright and early at the community center to talk about the difference between American schools and Israeli schools, I began to understand that Israeli schools are much more informal and we need to learn how to balance our responsibilities and relationships with the students when working in the schools, we are not their teachers, we are the “fun” Americans that are there to help with their Hebrew and teach them about the American culture. After they gave us a preview of our possible placements for the afternoons we will spend volunteering. I was more interested in the absorption centers and youth centers. Next we were paired up in teams to play “the Amazing Race – Ashdod.” We walked and bused around the entire city, definitely gaining a better understanding of the area, we were able to see the more commercial areas and downtown centers. It felt good to start experiencing Israel as a place where I live, rather than where I tour.
My favorite part of the day was going to the market that is open on Wednesdays, it was incredible, the amazing colors and infinite selections of fruits, vegetables, olives, pastries, spices, gummies and utter crap is incredible. I am hoping to work my afternoon volunteering placements around my weekly visit to the market. Near the food market was a makeshift flea market, I noticed, Shabbat candles, wine glasses. I plan to go back next week to buy some to use for Shabbat while I am in Israel.
After dinner we had a meeting at our house with the entire group. We did an activity where we each picked a picture that jumped out at us from a selection of images which represented Israel. We shared with the group what we liked\disliked about our picture. I took a drawing of Israel representing a heart, it really jumped out at me because Israel is the heart of the Jewish people which connects Jews world wide.
Thursday, Januray 28, 2010
Trip to Jerusalem.
Today was a wonderful day. We woke up early took a bus to Jerusalem with the rest of the Oranim programs, about 200 participants in total, and went to the overlook of the city. While we were driving in I was overwhelmed by the views of the city. It was nice to be back in Jerusalem again. It was Tu’Bishvat (Holiday of the Trees) and we all planted a tree on the hill overlooking the city. It was a wonderful way to begin our experience here in Israel, planting a tree that will hopefully grow for years to come, for generations to enjoy.
Next we headed to the old city, first touring the area where the last supper took place and then to King Davids Tomb. The guide bought us some bread that they sell on the streets and it was delicious, its common to dip the bread in zatar, a delicious spice. It was incredible. We had lunch in the old city and then headed to King Davids city to tour Hezekiahs water tunnels. I had done this the last time I was in Israel but it is nice to experience it with people my own age. It is really impressive the way they were able to build this tunnel from both sides and end up in the center together.
Next we headed to the Kotel. This has always been an experience with a whirlwind of emotions for me and this time was no different. One second I am relaxed enjoying the beautiful sight of the Kotel and taking artistic pictures and the next second I am saturated with thoughts and feelings in going every direction. It was nice to be able to leave the Kotel and know that I will be back again soon.
We drove back to Ashdod, had some dinner and began getting ready to go out for our first night in the city. My host family called me and we set up a time to meet tomorrow for dinner. I am very excited to meet some Israelis, practice my Hebrew, and spend Shabbat here in Israel. I am really growing to love and appreciate everyone in the house. Everyone brings something different to the group and its been a great so far. Today was a wonderful day.
Friday, January 29, 2010
This morning Anna and I woke up and decided to go for a run. We ran for about 27 minutes and ended up at the Market that we went to on Wednesday and after 40 minutes we made it almost to the other side of town, we started walking to explore the area and then took our time heading back home. It was amazing to see the city not from a bus. Its really becoming a much more manageable.
I want to continue making my challah on Shabbat so made some for my housemates and my host family.
This afternoon I am enjoying the sun, relaxing, baking and getting ready for Shabbat. I cannot ask for anything more. The challah was a hit and everyone including my host family enjoyed it. I plan to teach my housemates so they can help me bake each week.
Dinner was great with my host family. They are an older couple, Zahavah and Amram. They have triplet girls who now live in New Jersey, I think they are in their 30's and a 45 year old son who lives in Tel Aviv. They were very hospitable and friendly. They said the prayers and we ate soup, a fish course that was delicious, then chicken, potatoes and rice for dinner. The rice had these dried fruits in a sauce that you at with it. Amazing. Because Tu Bishvat (the Holiday of the tree) was this week, its customary to eat dried fruits and nuts so they had a huge spread. Everything had an amazing flavor and texture, I tried them all. We talked about the wars Amram fought in (’67 and ’73), about their children, the holiday and even the stray cats roaming the streets.
After we went across the hall to hang out with their neighbors\friends who are also hosting another girl from our program. We ended up sitting watching music videos with them for hours which was entertaining. Zahavah said that she keeps Shabbat but was watching TV so I guess people pick and choose how they like to “keep Shabbat,” to each their own.
Saturday January 30, 2010
It was amazing sleeping in today. Anna and I went for another run. It was so nice to see families out on Shabbat enjoying the beautiful weather. We ran by this area on the beach where people come and dance every Shabbat. People really take time to make the day different here and spend time with family and friends. We all relaxed around the house for a bit and then headed to the beach to explore a bit more. Tonight we grilled hot dogs and vegetables for dinner and I made an incredible Israeli salad, chick peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, raisins, onions, avocado, nuts, oil and a bit of lemon salt. Try it, incredible.
We went on a another walk tonight exploring the area south of us. We played on the local play grounds and finally found these adult play grounds\work out centers we’ve been told about. Around the city they create these work out centers where people can lift weights. Each machine you use just uses your body weight. It is really incredible that they have these for the public along the streets. Tomorrow begins our first day of Ulpan, our 2 week intensive Hebrew course.
Lilah Tov, Good Night!
