Dec 31

I am at school right now...no kids are here atm. I just got off the phone with nefesh b'nefish...I have an appointment to see a pre alliyah advisor on monday at 11am. It's pretty exciting. Scary too.
Anyways, tonight is new years eve, or ;sylvester' as they call it. I'm not sure what I'm doing yet. Probably eat at home, then go out with Bar later. I have the after school program today, so I'll be busy untill 5 anyways.
On sunday after school I have a free day, so I'm hoping to go to Tel Aviv and pick up my camera.

Dec 30

Today I didn't have anything, I went running, made soup, and...that's it. I decided I wanna go to Ben Gurion University. I called nefish b'nefish to make an appointment to see a pre alliyah advisor, but he had left for the day, so I left a message. I hope everything works out...despite what it may look like, I'm terrified of doing this, and I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing

dec 29

I'm in school right now, we've just been inforrmed we have a free hour, so I thought this would be as good a time as any to write.
Today I have school then Ulpan. There was going to be a canadian dinner in Tel Aviv tonight, but it was cancelled. Last night though, I went to a group meeting, and my friends threw me an inpromtu birthday party. Sarah made me a cake, and they sang happy birthday(in hebrew of course.) Ther vice president of oranim was there, and he had cake with us.
So...thats all for now. Hopefully talk to everyone soon. I love and miss you all.

Dec 27 28

Sunday I had a doctors appointment, so I didn't go to school. I went running in the evening for the first time since I've been here, and today my stomach hurts.
Today I went to school, and I am here now. After this I'm going to the after school daycare, then to a group meeting. The people from Israel phones are supposed to send me a new phone today, Ronly's going to be there to recieve it for me. Hopefully that works out.

dec 24-26

Thursday I went to school in the A.M, then I went to the daycare, where we painted. It was fun! After that I went home,and ate dinner. Then Allison came over and straitened my hair, and I got ready for the party. After I was dressed and ready, Bar came over, and we walked over together. The party was awesome. We went back home around 2.
On friday, I was woken up by Bar singing happy birthday to me in hebrew, at 8am! Well we went back to sleep untill around 11, then made coffee. We got dressed and ready, then went to his house and had dinner with his parents. After dinner, we watched 2 episodes of charmed, then we went to altman, or 'the bus.' We hung out there for awhile, smoked nargila, I got sung to again, then we went back to his house and played monopoly in hebrew. After the game(he won) we watched more tv, then went to sleep.
This morning we woke up at around 1, had breakfast/ got ready, and he drove me home. My room was a mess, so I spent about an hour cleaning, did some laundry, ate lunch, and now here I am.
All in all it was a pretty good birthday, even though my cell phone broke, and I forgot to get my camera from Sean...c'est la vie

Dec 23

Today, I slept, watched a movie, emailed nefesh b'nefesh, watched more movies, went to Ulpan,and ate. All in all it was a very productive day!
I miss everyone so much! And I can;t believe its christmas...there's no snow, and I only wear a jacket when it's raining. This is the first year I havent bought heavy duty -40 boots

Dec 22

So, by now you all know I'm heavily considering making Alliyah and going to school here. Or if you didn't, you do now. I have been going crazy the last few days looking up info on prospective english-taught schools here.
It's hard to explain why I want to do this, I just love the feeling of not being a minority. All my life I've felt seperated from the jewish community, because, basically, the jewish community in edmonton consists of either family, family friends, or people I don't want to be associated with. I realize now that there ARE other JEWISH PEOPLE out there with similar beliefs to my own, and for me, being jewish doesn't neccesarily mean giving up on my personal beliefs.
If I decide to actually stay here for school, it would be for at least 3 years, and I'd miss everyone horribly. But it would give you an excuse to come to Israel:)

Today, is just a normal day. School, Ulpan, and thats it.

Dec 21

Teaching today. Even though no kids are here right now. Then going to the after school program, then a group meeting.Nothing too interesting
My birthday's in 4 days

Dec 19, 20

Yesterday I went hunting for wild mushrooms with Shira, Dana, and their cousin, Gili. We didn't find anything, but it was fun. I got pretty much covered it mud. Then we had leftovers from Shabbat dinner the night before, and Arads cousin came over. After dinner, Arad drove me to the train station, and I went back to Rehovot, then took the sherut back to Ness Tziona.

Today we went back to work, or school I guess. It was a slow day, good for easing back into things. I couldn't sleep last night, so after school I just came home and slept for awhile. Tomorrow is a new day, and we'll see what it will bring.

I can't believe I'm turning 23 in 5 days!

dec 16-18

Hey again, happy last night of chanuka, I hope everyone had a good holiday. I know I did!

As I said, on wednessday I went to Tel Aviv and stayed till friday morning. Wednessday night me and Sean went out for Sushi, and walked down the port. Then we met Eric back at their place and went to Max Brenner, AMAZING, and some bar. Pictures and video to follow, once I retrieve my camera from Tel Aviv.

On Thursday we went to Jerymiyahs(sp?) for breakfast, then we went to disengoff center where I learned a new word, and got a sweater for 60NIS($15.) The new word, incase anyones interested, is ניער אתפה which means wrapping paper. I had fun trying to explain wrapping paper to a clerk that not only didn't know english, but apparently didn't know hebrew either. Who doesn't understand ניער של מתנה or "paper for a present?" mayb e she only knew russian? Anyways. After Disengoff cr, we walked home, in the rain, and set up our chanuka party.

Then today, friday, I got up early to get on the train to Hadera. It was still raining, so rather thanb stand and wait in the rain, I got on the train to ben yeminah(past Hadera) and by the time we got there the rain had momentarily stopped. I just took the train back 2 stops after. At David and Haya's we had a big last candle/shabbat dinner, and we got Ben and Laura 0n skype. I think I gained about 10 pounds, but it was worth it!

dec 14 and 15

I haven't really done anything noteworthy in the past 2 days.

On monday night Bar and I drove back from Be'er sheva, after I walked around all day, read outside, and lit the candles with Bar and his roommate.
On tuesday, I did laundry. Then later I went to see a play that Dor was in, Annie, in hebrew. Very well done.
Technically its already wednessday so I might as well tell you my plans...to go to Tel aviv to Eric and Seans place. I'm staying with them, but I know others in the building. Then thursday theres a chanuka party there, and I'm going to David and Haya's friday.

dec 14 (again!)

Ok so apparently when I type directly from my google homepage the hebrewdoesnt register, so the mistake I made was חג עורות שמה which means happy holiday of leather. What I should have said was חג אורים שמה which is happy holiday of lights.

dec 13-14

Ok first off, I have just been notified of an error in my spelling a few days ago when I said?? ????? ???. It is actually ?? ????? ???. Apparently ????? means leather and ????? means lightt. So to all my hebrew speaking friends out there, I am truly sorry. It won't happen again.

So anyways... on sunday I woke up at noon, went clothes shopping with bar, and then drove to be'er sheva with him. I then met one of his roomm ates, Ofri, and helped her make sufganiot. Then a few of her friends came over and we lit the candles. After they left, other people came over and we played poker. I lost 20 shekels, but it was fun.

Today(14th) I don't know what Im going to do. I'm going to take a shower after writing this, then take a walk, and hopefully find my way back. Haha I'm sure I will:)

dec 10-12

On thursday we went on a group trip to Haifa. Together we went to the Rothchild gardens and hiked up the carmel mountain. Then a bunch of people wanted to stay in Haifa for the night, so they dropped us off at Haifa university and we had to find our way to the port( where our hostel was.) I took the bus with Melissa Coby and Danny to the hostel, where we met Eric and Sean. We got settled into our rooms, there was 9 to a room so Melissa Danny Coby and I were in the co-ed dorm with 5 strangers, and Eric and Sean were in the boys dorm with 7 strangers. Eric went to sleep for a while, but I met Sean Melissa Coby and Danny downstairs, and we went to find some food. After searching around for awhile, we finally found a shwarma resteraunt. We couldn't go in because they were having a bachelor party, but the guy took pity on us and sold us these HUGE baguettes for 20 shekels( 5 dollars) each. I was really cranky up to this point, a mixture of being over tired, being muddy from the hike, and being starving. But the shwarma cured me. After we ate, we called Eric, and he was up, and we met up with him. Danny Melissa and Coby decided to go back to the hostel, but Sean Eric and I went out for a while. We went to a chinese place( Eric hadn't eaten yet) where the guy spoke hebrew with a chinese accent, then we went out for ice cream, then to a bar where we got 25% off because we were staying at the hostel. I have now been here for about 2 and a half months, and Eric and Sean have only been here for about a month, so I know a bit more hebrew than they do. Because of this, I was the translater for the night. I spoke with the waitress in hebrew. And I actually understood her! Aftrer the bar we went back to the hostel to get some sleep.

On Friday I woke up at 7:19, and got dressed and packed and all that. Eric Sean and I had a plan to meet downstairs at 8, and explore Haifa, Melissa Coby and Danny were going to continue to Svat for shabbat. Well, Eric and Sean were late, so I talked to the hostel receptionist( in hebrew!) about bahaii garden tours and how to get there, and then I had breakfast and listened in on other guests conversations. By the time Eric and Sean finally got downstairs it was 9! I sat with them while they had breakfast, and had a nice conversation with a german couple who was also staying there. At 10 we left for the Bahaii gardens, we were planning to join a tour at 11:30( hebrew.) We fount the carmelite subway, which took us to the top of the Bahaii temple( where the tour started.) When we got there, I had to ask people what to do. My Hebrew lessons came in very handy. The Bahaii gardens were beautiful, we took alot of pictures! After this, we took a cab to the train station, where we took the train back to tel aviv, then I took a sherut back to ness tziona. At this point I was past exhaustion, so when I got home I ate, took a shower, lit the chanuka candles, and went to sleep. that was at 3. Bar called me at 730 and invited me over for shabbat dinner. I went to his place in Maskerat Batia, and I stayed the night there.

On Saturday, Bar and I watched a movie, ate lunch, and then he drove me home. Meredith was here when I got here, and Sarah came over. We played Dreidel(סביבון) and lit the candles. Then I cleaned the bathroom, made spaghetti, watched a movie and did hebrew homework. And now I'm writing on here. Tomorrow I'm going to be'er sheva. Update you on that when I get back on tuesday.

dec 9

Today we had a wine and cheese party- themed for chanuka. I brought olives. It was really fun. We all dressed nice(dresses, skirts) and drank wine, ate cheese olives crackers dips and fruit, and listened to chanuka ,music. I can't wait...tomorrow's the carmel- haifa trip( I'm staying an extra night with sean and eric.) Then the next night is chanuka!!! I'm spending up untill monday night with Bar, then on tuesday night I'm going to Rehovot with my host family to see their daughter. Dor, in a musical. Then wednessday I might go hang out at the other apartment, then thursday I'm going to David and Haya's, where we will light the last candle and have 2 birthday celebrations( Dana and me:)) Then thats it. The daycare I work at is having a chanuka party for the kids on wednessday evening, and they invited me, so I might go. Maggie told me to call her, so thats the plan.

חג עורות שמה!!!!!

Dec 7

Last night we had a meeting with Ofir about chanuka, we had sufganiot, and we got sevivonim with ? ? ? ?. on them. Then I went home and made cookies (white chocolate chip.) Now I'm at school... going to Ulpan later, then I'm going to get olives for our wina and cheese party

Dec 7

ok, I know I already wrote today, but I made a discovery that I feel compelled to share with all my avid readers out there:
Hummus, core, sauteed onions, and zuchinni.
I know it sounds wierd, but try it!
ok that's all, sorry for taking up your time

Dec 7

Well I am at school again. Its ?????( I think thats how you spell it) ((means break btw)) so Im staying in Haifa with sean an extra day, Oh yeah, we;re also having a little wine and cheese shindig on wednessday. Good kickoff for chanuka.I'm really looking forward to chanuka. More the time off than anything I think.Oh, added to my itinerary is going to David and Haya's on the 17th to the 19th, and possibly going to a concert with my host family on the 15th.

Dec 5th and 6th

Yesterday I did nothing...as is the custom on shabbat. Then in the everning I went to atsman with Bar, and we went to his parents house for dinner.
Today, I am at school(אכשיו) and I am planning to go grocery shopping after this. Not too exciting. But Chanuka is coming. This thursday in fact. On thursday I am going oin a trip to the carmel and haifa, then theres a gap until sunday, when I am going to be'er sheva for a couple of days, then.... thats as far as I've gotten so far. We'll see what the week brings

dec 3rd and 4th

Thursday after school, I went to the daycare, and we had a birthday party for 3 of the little kids there. It was so cute. We played games, had cake and candy, and each of the birthday boys and girl got a present and balloons.
Then we had a lecture on Israeli technology...very interesting. Did you know that Israel is the technology capital of the world? Well it is. Even Arabs use it! hahaha
Then I went out with Bar...to a pub in rehovot. It was fun. We met his friends there

Tonight I went to my host family's house. Shabbat dinner. It was nice. And I could even understand some of the conversation! Now I'm back home...with my space heater blowing on me, and I am going to sleep soon I think. I'm really tired

Dec 2nd and 3rd

Yesterday I went to the soup kitchen, then I thought I was supposed to have Ulpan. Apparently it was cancelled. So instead I went to a coffee shop in the mall and sat for Ulpan time and did hebrew work.

Today I went to school. Actually I'm still at school, its a חפסקה or break. Oops...its over now, but our class isn't here yet. So, this weekend I'm staying in Ness Tziona, I dunno what I'm gonna do. I'll figure somthing out. Next weekend is chanuka, I'm pretty excited. I'm gonna do some day trips, and I have invitations to jerusalem, beer sheva, tel aviv, and, of course, the kibbutz. I think I'm also gonna go other places, and just stay in hostels by myself.

Then after chanuka comes my birthday. Its my first birthday I won't be in my (continent) of residence. But my Israeli friends all want me to have a party and invite them. It should be fun.

nov 30- dec1

So yesterday I went to school, then the after school program, then a meeting with Ronly, then to the other apartment to hang out, then to wiesman 22, then, finally, home. Went well I think. We're probably doing a sorell program for a week, that is where we volunteer for the israel army! I'm excited about that.

Today I went to school, then to ulpan, then shopping, then out for KOSHER chinese food and sushi, then home. I feel like I'm learning hebrew pretty well, our class is all in hebrew, and for the most part I understand her. Everyone says for being here 2 months, I'm doing pretty well. Actually, today I went to the store, and the girl working there started talking to me in english(she knows me.) She was pretty surprised when she asked me how ulpan was, and I answered in hebrew. My grammer really sucks.

Wow...our sink JUST started leaking. When I say leaking, I mean pouring. And it won't shut off! So we balanced two jars of sugar on top of the sink to stop it...it was a big ordeal. Pictures to follow...