A Change of Plans

This week was filled with frustration then excitement, so let me explain.

The major frustration this week was moving. "Moving? But you still have a month and a half left in Bat Yam" you may ask, and the answer is this: On Sunday during our apartment meetings with our counselor, he sat us down and gave us some bad news. He told us we were leaving our apartment for a week because it was leaking to the apartment below us and it needs to be fixed. Moving the next day, we needed to bring clothing for a week and all of our valuables. This other apartment is not too far. It is free because 4 boys lived in it before, two got kicked out and they moved the last two boys into other apartments. This boys apartment had no A.C. and was tiny, not even compared to our apartment (which is huge). He would give us more information the next day, moving day, and would help to get everything there. On Sunday, we usually go food shopping, but we decided against it. We didn't want to shlep all our food to this new apartment when we can just buy it the next day and bring it straight there. On Monday, Eyal, our counselor, told us we were not going to be moving that day and that he didn't know when we were going to move. This is where the frustration really started; when would we buy food? Due to the lack of food at home, we began to use our own money to buy falafel or breakfast from a local bakery, lowering the amount of money I have to spend for the week. Finally, we had to be out of our apartment by Wednesday at 2 PM. This move stressed me out, I had a lot to do that day. We also had to pack because Year Course took us on a trip up to Haifa on Thursday to Friday (which I will explain later). Later that night, after the boring Beer Pong Tournament hosted by the Tzofim (I'll explain later, too), the roommates and I went back to our old home, Livorno 11, to gather clothing we might have forgotten. We just sat there for 30 minutes missing our old home and how badly we do not want to leave Bat Yam in a month and a half. The moving proved to me, even more, how unorganized Year Course.

Here is how my week went:

Sunday:
We didn't go to the elderly home because we need our counselor to come and translate for us. Sadly, another wasted meeting.

Later that day we cleaned and were told we had to move the next day.

Monday:
A normal day in classes.

Candy at the shook in Tel Aviv

Tuesday:
Again, we did not go to the elderly home, but we did make a major decision. We decided against making the video because we were not going to be part of the process, except the technology stuff, and we had very little time for the amount that wants to get done. Instead, we plan on just volunteering there, getting to know the people, and maybe once or twice a week, one person will just tell us their story without a camera (and of course we will have to have someone translate for us).

In the afternoon, I went into Tel Aviv to meet my roommate, Ilyssa, to do a little shopping. It was a fun day. Israeli dance was that night followed by programming done by Year Course staff. We talked about stereotypes we have for Israelis and what we think Israelis have for us Americans then we had a small meditation session.

Wednesday:
I had a big test on the entire first book in Hebrew class and got it back the same day. I very proud of my myself! In Zionism, we moved onto our next unit, the Israeli-Arab Conflict. Some people in the class have never had an opportunity to study the history of it, so I am looking forward to the discussions. The roommates and I got home fast to quickly pack and move out by 2 PM. Yael (one of my roommates) had her dad come and help us move because he had just arrived in Israel for business and came to visit Yael.

That night, the Tzofim planned a Beer Pong Tournament outside next to what we call "the ulpan." It wasn't much fun since I don't like beer. Then all of a sudden two cops show up. The party got broken up because it is illegal to drink in public after 9 PM.

For the weekend (half of Friday and Shabbat), I was having trouble deciding what to do. My original plan was to see a USY friend who is also in Israel to celebrate her birthday. Once that fell through, I planned on hiking up north with some friends, but once I heard Yael's dad was in town, I decided to stay back and spend time with the room and the two of them. I was hesitant to stay home because I was home the weekend before and I wanted to go out and do something. Around one AM Wednesday night, two friends convinced me to go hiking with them. I went back to Livorno 11 to pack more things since the hike is a water hike. I began to get excited even though I had already done the hike on a previous program.

Thursday:
Thursdays are our trip days. Ready at 7 AM, we took a bus up to Haifa for a beautiful, but difficult, hike. I was in front for the most of it with my friend Alice. Half way through the hike, Alice jumped off a rock and landed on her foot the wrong way. I stayed in the back with her from then on to give her an extra hand as she limped for the rest of the hike. Thursday night we stayed at a local school and had a late dinner. With a few friends, I walked to the beach for an evening activity. We never made it to the beach, we found an awesome playground instead. We spent about an hour there then headed home to sleep.

Friday:
We woke up in time to be ready for the kids to arrive and do their morning line up then headed to the Aaronson Museum about a family fighting against the Turks to give the land to the British back before the State was created. Next was a garden named after Rothchild, a famous figure in Israel's establishment.

An arial view of the Nahalal Moshav

Our lunch free time came and the big hiking crew, made out of 13 year coursers, went to find the first bus out of many to take to the Yehudia hike farther north. After waiting an hour and a half for the bus to come, we found out that the bus only comes every hour and a half so we must have JUST missed it. Because the bus took so long, we missed the two buses to get to another bus station to take a taxi to the hike. Once we got to our first bus station, we were stuck in a pickle. The plan for me and 4 other friends was to travel with the other group, but once we got their, we could go at our own pace and then travel home with the other group. We would also buy our own food for easier rationing. The other group quickly hopped on another bus to get to another bus station to take another bus to take a taxi. The five us stopped trusting the others and paused to decide what to do. We sad in the corner of the station and our friend, Michele, made some calls. A few times she started out a conversation with, "do you remember when you told me to call if I ever need something, well a few friends and I need some help." Michele had called a family friend from a moshav outside of Haifa and they were happy to host us. Michele told us all the things we could do their, like 4 by 4 driving, horse riding, etc. We took two buses to the entrance of the moshav where we met the father host with his huge American pick up truck that fit 4 full grown people in the back seat.

The moshav was the first moshav in Israel, established 1921! It also was made up in a circle. Everyone lives around the circle and behind their houses are their own farms. The home where we stayed raised cows to sell to a slaughter house.

Friday night we went to awesome services. I was surprised I knew many of the tunes. We sang and we danced in our hiking clothing, 'cause that's all we had with us. Dinner was also incredible, of course, then we all hung out outside under the stars, next to the cows.

Saturday:
We decided not to sleep in too late because we wanted a full day of adventures. We called their neighbor who offered to take us on a tractor ride. We rode around the moshav and learned all about it. We had a yummy lunch at his house then his family took us to the moshav cemetery with an incredible view of the circle moshav. Also buried at the moshav is the first Israeli astronaut, obviously very close to my heart. We went back to our host family, took a nice nap then he took us on a drive on his 4 by 4. We all got a chance to drive. He took us to a beautiful overlook next to the cemetery where he made us Turkish Coffee (which got me very excited, I'll explain soon). I wish I like coffee, although it was good with a lot of sugar added! At 5:30, we caught a bus straight back to Tel Aviv from the Moshav. Last night I went back to Livorno 11 to get clothing and other things I need for the week ahead. We still didn't have food.

Helen and Jared holding almonds that
we just picked from the tree

Sunday/Today:
I am currently sitting in Aroma Expresso Bar. My volunteering got cancelled because we can't go to the home for some reason. I am doing some work on the internet because the internet is horrible back at the apartment. As of right now, it 11:35 and Aroma is packed, so much so that an old Russian couple sat with me at my table cause there are an extra two seats. Later today, we have an information session on Arad! That means Arad is coming up soon (1.5 months away, we are half way through Bat Yam), sad but exciting.


Other big news:

I had a discussion with Mom and Dad about skydiving and we concluded that over $500 for a dive is not worth the money, especially because I have a better opportunity, flying to Istanbul, Turkey for the weekend to meet up with EG. Wednesday after I moved, I got permission from Year Course and that night I booked flights. I am meeting EG on Thursday November 4th at the Turkish Airport at 8:30 (I get in at 5:30 so I will have to wait a little for him). We will spend the weekend there and I will fly back to Israel Sunday November 7th arriving at 1 AM on Monday. I am extremely excited for this trip and can't wait to buy Turkish coffee for my roommates and other fun things!!!!!!!!

I must go now and help a roommate FINALLY food shop.

Til next week,

Tamar