You think I was grateful before?

   Something happened last night (saturday March 14th) that really affected me. Like I explained in the last post I had a fantastic weekend. We got back to the central bus station in Jerusalem, got right on the number 13 bus to where we needed to go to get back to the Hostel. We got off at the right stop and got back to our home in Malha, Jerusalem. I was hanging out in my room when I got a call from my Madricha (my counselor)...now please try not to judge my responsibility qualities too harshly when reading this... 

"Stephanie, did you lose you wallet?" 

Me- "Uhh. [I look in my purse] OH MY GOSH! YES!"

"Well you must have kept that emergency contact list I gave you in the beginning of the semester in your wallet because some man just called me, he has it. He doesn't speak english but I'm going to text you his name and number call him then call me back."

   While she is telling me this I'm running up the stairs to my friend Nufar's room (she speaks fluent hebrew). I quickly explain to her the story and that I'm far to nervous to try and talk to this guy in hebrew. So, she calls him. 

"Shai? zot Nufar, chaverah shel stephanie!" (I'm Stephanie's friend)

"Ken...ken....ken...kennnn? okay, yoffi, BYE!"

   She tells me that he seems very nice and that he told her he was at the central bus station in Jerusalem and would be there for an hour or so. Without even thinking twice I call my madricha and she decides to come with me because she's worried. So, I borrow some money from a friend seeing as all of my money is in my wallet, jump in a cab with Nufar and my madricha and am on my way to the central station within 5 minutes of talking to him. He called a couple of times to nicely tell me where he was going to be. As we got out of the cab I said okay what now, as i get my phone out to call him again. Nufar jokingly goes 

"SHAI!?"

"uhh ken...anochnu chavereem shel Shai." (we are Shai's friends), "He went to the bathroom"

   They looked at me and handed me my wallet. I said in hebrew, I have no words...in english even, I can't believe you just gave me this back. Thank you so so so much. 

   They looked at me again like it was nothing and said no problem, I'll tell Shai thanks for you! By the way, make Aaliyah! Bye!

   Two seconds later I got a call from Shai again. "I just passed you were you wearing the red coat?" "Glad you got your wallet back, sorry if I moved things around, I was just looking for I.D. and a number to call." I couldn't believe he was apologizing, I said thank you a thousand times over and hung up after a little more talking.

   In my wallet was everything, I had just gone to the ATM so I had money, 1 credit card, 1 debit card, a copy of the first page of my passport, my ID, so many important things that I don't know what I would have done without. And, a man that I have never met gave it back without question. Everything was there, for the most part in the place that I left it. I actually couldn't believe it. I still have a hard time believing it. In some ways it's sad that my first instinct to losing my wallet would be that someone would find it, take everything and never return it. Though, in another way I was able to be pleasantly surprised and reminded what great people come out of this country, and other countries I'm sure for that matter. There are good people in the world, a lot of them- if you look hard, and I met one, or his friends at least, last night.

Thank you Shai!

Weekend with Bruce

  This past weekend was great. Thursday night (like friday night in the states) our scout friends (the israelis on my program) had a meeting in the Hostel (where we live in Jerusalem). Afterwards they decided not to go back to Holon and stay with us for the night in the Hostel. We all went out to a bar in downtown Jerusalem. It was a great night of just hanging around with friends and talking. Already since I've moved I've seen the friends we left behind in Holon 3 times in 2 weeks. It's like nothings really changed. 

  Friday afternoon before Shabbat came in, 3 friends and I got on the bus to Tel Aviv to meet Uncle Larry. Uncle Larry put us up in the same hotel as he that night. It was great. I have honestly never felt so grateful in my life. We felt like we were in Heaven. There was a T.V., something we don't have. There was a big comfortable bed, a great big clean bathroom. That night we went to a great dinner. The next day we walked around one of my favorite cities in the world and had a more than filling and satisfying lunch. It was truly incredible. One thing I've learned in this past year is how much my parents did/do for me growing up. And, this year has made me more grateful than ever for those things. I guess when you suddenly don't have those things, it's then that you realize how great they were/are. Uncle Larry was amazing. The whole weekend was great from the food to the accommodation and everything. But honestly, my favorite part was just being with him. Being with family is a feeling you just can't get with anyone else. I felt like I was home in Baltimore, it's funny how at home certain people can make you feel. He certainly did that.

   We left the hotel to get the 6:30 bus from the central station in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Our fairy tale weekend was definitely brought back to reality when I faced the reality that is Israelis desperately trying to get home after shabbat. Getting on that bus was like a concert. People were pushing and shoving, sliding under arms. It was ridiculous. My friends and I stepped aside from the first bus because we simply didn't have the energy nor care to push and shove like animals, when we knew there was another coming in 15 minutes. It's when the next one came and we saw the huge line of angry Israelis behind us that our new found "Israeli-ness" kicked in. We just laughed the whole way through it, and somehow, and I mean it, somehow made our way on to the bus. 

פורים שמח-HAPPY PURIM!

  Purim- a holiday that retells the story of Mordechia, Ester, King Achashverous, Vashti, and (get ready to make noise), Haman! I hope everyone's quickly remembering the story, if not- look it up, it's a great story. 

  Basically, Purim is the Israeli version of Halloween- everyone dresses up, there's not "trick or treating", but there is another thing. On Purim, it is considered a Mitzvah to get so drunk that you cannot tell the difference between the evil guy in the story, and the good guy. Purim was on monday night in the whole state of Israel. So, I went back to Holon to stay with my old roommate. That night we all went out dressed up in our costumes. Everyone on the streets were taking shots saying "TO COMMITTING A MITZVAH!", it was truly another experience. The following morning I woke up and headed to downtown Holon. Ironically, the biggest Purim Parade in the whole state of Israel is in Holon. I have to admit it made me a little homesick seeing all of the little kids in their adorable costumes holding mom or dad's hands. Seeing the older kids with their friends just out to have a good time. It's amazing to see the families and kids here, and how around the world, we're not all that different from one another. The parade was great and around 5 p.m. we headed back to Jerusalem. Here's the thing- i said that Purim was on monday for the whole state of Israel, the whole state except for Jerusalem. So, I got to celebrate it twice.

   Tuesday night I went to downtown Jerusalem for some celebration. We were on Ben Yehuda street (the party street in Jerusalem), everyone dressed up in costumes. At one point I was with all of my British friends singing Beatles songs at the top of our lungs, with tons of Israelis and people from other countries joining in. There were fire crackers going off everyone 5 minutes. Drunk people making a mess- it was quite the experience. I guess you would say Purim is almost like New Orleans' Mardi Gras. The following morning I went back to downtown Jerusalem to enjoy my day of classes. Again, I saw all of the kids in their costumes, different performers and celebrations, everyone you passed would say with a smile "Chag Samache" (happy holiday). Purim was definitely the most festive holiday I've experienced here in Israel so far- and I've been here for a lot of holidays. The holiday culminated for me when I got on the bus to go back to the Hostel around 5 (around the when holiday ends). As I walked on the bus, I got to the center of it, and there I saw a boy- couldn't have been older than 13- religious on the floor of the bus throwing up in the trash-can. Mazel Tov? I guess he committed a mitzvah!

Idan Rachel

  About a week ago, we all moved into our new home here in Jerusalem. We moved in last wednesday, March the 4th. After less than a week of being away from our scout friends in Holon, luckily for us there was a concert right in Jerusalem that everyone wanted to go to. Idan Rachel is a very famous music artist here in Israel so all of the israeli scouts from Holon came to the concert. The concert was amazing. Idan Rachel is half Israeli and have Uruguayan (i'm not quite sure what the demonym on that one is). While he is the main artist, he has other people in his group from Ethiopia and Israel, and they're all extremely talented. That night pretty much the whole of my section plus our friends the scouts we left in Holon, danced and sang along with Idan Rachel and group. It was a good reassurance to us that we won't lose touch with our friends that we don't live with anymore, and it was also an easy way to get used to Jerusalem life.

  

  Because it was our first weekend in Jerusalem we had what was called a "closed shabbat", all of my section (Section 3) was in the Hostel (where we currently live) for the weekend. It was a bit boring, but nice none the less to all be together. During the day it was beautiful out and we all just sat outside playing card games and reading magazines. Although, this section is very different and includes a lot less israeli interactivity and more school work, I'm quickly learning (through experience) that it's a chance for our section to become a lot closer- and it's nice that we will end the program this way. 

Goodbye Holon, Hello Eilat?

   

    It has been a "Typical Year Course" as i would say crazy week. Sunday I moved out of my home of the past 3 months in Holon. The scouts (the israeli's on my program that are doing a year of volunteering before the army) stay in Holon the whole year, so saying goodbye to them was very sad. One of them was my roommate which made it even harder. We were either near tears, or like my scout roommate Yali, sobbing as we said good-bye to them. It was hard to leave Holon. It was amazing living in a place that not many tourists go see. It's definitely a different experience to go visit a place for a couple of days, and to live there, know which stores are cheap, know the names of the people working at certain stores and have them know your's, and work at a school know all the kids and their parents. I'm very grateful that I'm able to have such an experience, because realistically, if you want to see a place, the only way to see it is as a tourist, we can't all just drop everything and move to a foreign land for 9 months. Which is why I'm so grateful. 

   Saying goodbye to the scouts and the kids at the school i worked at was very hard, but knowing I have 3 more months here makes it much easier, because I know I will be back to visit. I know that in June is when I will be faced with a much harder situation, because honestly who know's when I will be able to come back to the this place and visit the people I've created such strong bonds with. 

   After moving out of Holon we had a 3 day "Chofesh" (break). Myself and 10 of my other friends, Nufar, Jamie, Alyana, Emma, Mimi, Sylvia, Ori, Noam, Adam, and Tobi took the opportunity to go travel. We woke up at 5 45 monday morning so that we could catch the 7 A.M. bus down all the way to Eilat. The bus ride was the expected 5 hours and when we got there we were greeted by sun, a beautiful beach, the Red Sea, and warm weather. It was incredible. Being the cheap 18 year old Jews that we are we didn't go straight to our hotel, we went straight to our camp site- that's right, tents and everything. We got to camp, locked our stuff up, and again being the cheap 18 year old Jews we are, we didn't pay for a cab into the city, we walked 2 hours to the Tayelet (the "boardwalk" of Eilat). We spent the day there on the beach, hanging out on private beaches and getting kicked off of them. During the day we passed a ride that looked like fun, (shown above) basically the people were strapped into a metal ball and shot up like a slingshot very high, flipping over the city of Eilat on the edge of the Red Sea. My friend and I asked how much it was, "60 shekels" he said, we were camping and couldn't even pay for a cab to the Tayelet, "hah, thanks" we said and walked off.  After our day on the beach we were walking by the ride and a man ran up to us and said in broken english to us "2 people, no money...ride." Well, my friend and I got a free ride on the ball (again, shown above). The city of Eilat is quite a site, especially when you're far, farrr above it plunging head-first toward the ground. 

   That night we decided to put in 10 shekels each ($2.50) and take a cab back to the camp site. We pitched our tents, and were out. The following morning we woke up pretty early and got started. We started our hike. Our hike was definitely not easy. It was pretty much straight up a mountain, for a long time. We hiked up very steep mountains, hoping to reach the peak. Like in every case, it was worth it when we got to the top. The view was amazing. If i stood facing west to the left of me was the city of Eilat, and Israel, in front of me was the Red Sea and Jordan (shown by a huuuge flag the country waves on it's beach across from Eilat's Red Sea beach), to my upper right was Saudi Arabia, and to my right was Egypt. I stood there hearing nothing but the wind. It was amazing, I could see 3 countries and was in another. It was amazing how peaceful i felt and yet I knew that the 3 countries I could see clearly in the not so far distance want so badly for the country that I am in to be gone. I guess it was a false feeling of peace, but isn't it always? It was beautiful, and that's all that I cared about at that moment. Hiking down wasn't easy, going up a steep mountain isn't easy, but going down is just down-right scary. 

   When we got to the bottom we were at the beach. The beach that we were on offered snorkeling. Well, we all coughed up 32 shekels for a snorkle and mask ($7.60) and went snorkeling. For those of you that don't know me well I have a strong fear of fish- it's embarrassing, i know. The 2 times I've tried to snorkel in my life in the past I have created a scene by either running out like a little girl, or having to get pulled back on the boat by the random Caribbean guy running the boat. I guess you could say snorkeling isn't my thing. Well, I was surrounded by my best friends all there to support me and I decided it wouldn't hurt to try again. Well, I jumped into the freezing cold water. Luckily for me, people thought i was just hypo-ventilating from the cold water and not from the fear. When i finally got to breathing normally I put on the $7.60 googles and snorkel that looked like they hadn't been washed for months. When I felt entirely ready I put my head in the water. Well, I saw a couple of fish and this time instead of jumping right out of the water I just ripped off the mask and began to tread. I stayed in the water for a record 7 minutes and saw quite a few fish before I decided I had had enough. Needless to say, I was content and proud of my self as were my friends, maybe next time I'll stay in for 10 minutes, that would be crazy.

   That night we didn't want to walk back to the city of pay for a cab so we started walking to see if there was a small restaurant or market near by. Well we passed authentic looking beduoin tent and decided to check it out. "Students? welcome! BO!" said the beduouin guy working there. We sat down and asked how much it was for food. "meat? ohhh meat nice, meat expensive, everyone 70 shekel" ($17). So what do you think we did? "NO THANKS". "Okay okay, 40 shekel each , I give you chumus, nargila, pita, good time". He really did show us a good time, there was tons of chumus, homemade pita, a special cheese they make there, french fries, tea, it was amazing. Then we got up and danced. My friend Tobi from Nigeria won everyone over with her good dancing, so much to the point that the Beduoin guy jokingly (we hope) asked to buy her for 1000 camels. It was a great night.

    The next morning we got on the bus back to Jerusalem, our new home for the next 3 months. I'll write about what I've been doing here in the past week soon, I think it will be another good 3 months.

   

Almost time to leave Holon

   For those of you who don't know, my program is divided into trimesters. I've already completed my first trimester where I worked at an after school program for children from very broken homes (you can read about that in some of my earlier blogs). In the second trimester I've been living in Holon (a town south of Tel Aviv) working with kids during the afternoon and attending Ulpan (or hebrew class) in the mornings. Well, the second trimester is coming to an end. It's so hard to believe that I'm about to enter my final trimester here in Israel and soon enough I'll be on a plane back to reality and the U.S. 

   

  This week basically consists of finishing up class, saying good-bye to the kids at the place I volunteer at, and cleaning every corner of my apartment, and packing 6 months worth of stuff into 2 little bags. 

   Sunday evening- the night before the test. I've always been told it's easier to learn something you're interested in, well I'm very interested in Hebrew and yet it's still hard- but it's considerably easier because of my want to learn. Sunday evening we had our "End of the section talent show". The show consisted of some good musical performances, some very good short videos. The israeli scouts who are also participants in my program and live along side of us- one lives in my apartment did a dance to "In the Jungle." All of the madrichim (counselors on our program) did a rendition of the song "I kissed a Girl" called "I kissed an Ars." A little bit of education- Ars, the plural Arseem, is the term for 15-21 (roughly) year old Israeli boys that I guess you could say are near the equivalent of "Guidos" in America. They're basically very creepy guys who smoke and drink and wear a lot of gel in their hair, and if you're a girl, you want to stay away from them. It was a fun evening. When it ended we walked home in the pouring rain. One of the scouts- Aviel came back to our apartment because his was another 10 minute walk in the rain. As nice as he is he helped me study for my hebrew exam for a while. The next morning I took the test. It consisted of reading a story and answering questions about it to see if we understood. It was a very interesting story about a couple who were deciding how to celebrate one's birthday so they decided to go on a vacation to the Negev (the desert here in Israel)...sarcasm, it wasn't all that interesting. Then I had some more questions and then the essay part where I had to write about whether or not I liked to travel, and where and what I like to do and go while traveling. Then the oral, I talked with my hebrew teacher for a while. After the test was over she told me that she wasn't to grade it, another teacher was to grade it, but she looked at it and said if I were to grade it I'd say you're going to get an A. I was very happy. She told me she noticed a huge improvement in my hebrew from the beginning of the Section to the end and she was very proud. I walked out of Ulpan very satisfied and happy, and of course called Aviel to thank him for helping me study.

   Sunday during the day was my last day of volunteering. That morning I was up all morning finishing my things for the kids. I made them all individual cards, on the front it had their names in Hebrew and English. On the inside it said- 

היה ממש כיף איתך. אני אתגעגע אליך ואני לא אשכח אותך לעולם. אני אוהבת אותך -סטפאני!!

Got all that? just kidding, it said- "I had a lot of fun with you. I will miss you and I will never forget you. I love you!! -Stephanie.

   To my surprise all of the kids had written me cards as well in the shape of hearts. One girl colored in a picture for me. The lady in charge, Rivka who basically acted as my boss wrote me a very warm letter, as i did to her. It was hard to leave the kids, but I did it once in Petach Tikva so this time i was prepared. I know I will be back there to visit before the year is over. 

   Yesterday I spent the day packing and cleaning the apartment. As an end of the trimester thing my Madrich (counselor) took all of his chanichim (not quite sure how to translate this one, students/program participants) to a Hookah bar. We got on the bus, and got off in a place i didn't recognize. We followed our Madrich behind some building with trees and rocks, and absolutely nothing around. "Uh, Josh, is this when you kill us all?" I said. He laughed and said that's what I said the first time i was taken here. Then we walked to the entrance of the very shady looking building. As we entered we were greeted by very very happy Israelis. We walked into what looked just like a beduoin tent. The only seats were on mattresses on the ground with little tables 4 inches high. There was music and dancing employees, it was a very hidden local spot, a lot of good fun. 

   Today we're just cleaning and getting ready to move out, Sunday I'll be leaving Holon and heading over to Jerusalem. I'll be very sad to leave Holon. The first day we got here my roommate and I decided to run to the grocery store to get some essentials. On the short 5 minute walk there we came in contact with the homeless man that lives on our tiny street. Then, some Arseem on a bike, yes SOME on one bike rode toward us while yelling and scared the Sh---- out of us dodging us at the last second. It was a warm welcome to the new city. While, nothing has changed here, I have. I've come to love this city and the youth here. I will truly miss it and my apartment, the scout I live with, Yali and all of the other scouts who are always there for us. Off to the next trimester!! 

  

Frustration

   I love where I am, and I am 99% of the time one of the most positive people out there. Today I had a moment of complete frustration and just felt like breaking down.

 

   Everyday I got to volunteer. From 1 to 4 30 I go to the same school and work with the same kids. It's an after school program for about 15 kids. In the last 3 months I've grown to love the kids. My hebrew has gotten to an acceptable level (with 6 year old kids that is) so that i can communicate with them. 

   Today I was outside with the kids. When it got to be around 4 Rivka, the lady basically in charge of the program, called me and told me to bring the kids in. I got all up them to start moving toward the door and into the building but one decided LO, she didn't want to. So i started playing with her and telling her that we need to go in. After what i thought was good convincing she still wouldn't budge. I knew what she wanted because i know the girl. Danielle wanted to be picked up like normal and played with. So i picked her up in my hands and started moving toward the door expecting the normal laugh and smiling face from her. Suddenly as i put her down she was crying hysterically and yelling. I could not figure out what I had done wrong. She then ran up the stairs to Rivka and started explaining that Stephanie hurt her while she let the tears poor. I looked at Rivka and for the first time I couldn't find the words not only in English but definitely not in Hebrew. I did not know what to say.

   We continued into the classroom while Rivka explained to Danielle (the little girl) that all the time she asks to be picked up and how am i supposed to know that this one time I was hurting her, that i didn't understand. That was the key word, I didn't understand. Never has the language barrier been so much of an issue for me that i felt like giving up, but today it came close. Luckily I was able to understand Rivka defending me, but I couldn't find the words to say what I wanted to say. I wanted so badly to look at the girl and tell her that I would never ever want to hurt her, that all i was trying to do was play with her. But i couldn't. So i looked at her and i used the words I knew. I told her I was sorry, and that everyday I'm here trying to speak with them and play with them, that i love her and that I was very sorry. I couldn't even say i didn't mean to hurt you. 

   Language barriers are the most frustrating things in the world to me. At home, I take the ability of being able to fully communicate so for granted. I have learned here the hard way that the ability of speech really is important. But I've also learned new and creative ways of communicating when the language barrier is presented. 

   How much easier would the world be if we all just spoke the same language, right?