Updates...

Sorry for the delay in updating. I’ve had an extremely packed last few weeks! Where to start… I’ve had some time to do more traveling. Stayed with a family in Netanya and went to its beach on the Mediterranean—so gorgeous. The family was incredible—11 kids between ages 9 and 30. Though they lived a very simple lifestyle they were one of the most spiritual and joyous families I have met. They really made my friend Esther and I feel like a part of their family, rather than just a visitor.

After Netanya I went up north to the towns of Nehariya, Acco, and Haifa (actually the 3rd biggest city). Really enjoyed experiencing the less touristy parts of the country. Israel is absolutely beautiful. Many people just think of it as desert country, but actually there are tons of beaches on the west coast, mountains up north, and lots of palm trees everywhere (except in the south where it is really a desert!). Here you also see the fusion of all cultures, even just amongst the Jewish people who were exiled from their countries—there are Jews from Persia, Yemen, Russia, Ethiopia, all over Europe, the US and Canada, even some from the Far East.
My friend Emily and I spent last Shabbat in Efrat, a settlement of about 15,000 families an hour out of Jerusalem. The father of the family I stayed with was a Yeminite, and his wife was British. Such a fascinating mix of cultures. We enjoyed traditional Yemenite dishes (delicious spongy breads, spiced soups, etc) and learned a ton about the history of Israel in the 20th century. Being in America it is very difficult to get unbiased news from the Middle East. Everything is slanted to the whims of the media. It was quite a different experience to hear what Israel has been struggling through since its independence in 1948 from someone who actually lived through it all.

What else? Classes are still going really well. I’ve decided to dedicate myself more seriously to learning Hebrew, taking an extra class 4 days a week to build my vocabulary and grammar. I know I will improve a lot over the summer.

The girls here are amazing, and I’ve had the opportunity to do all kinds of things outside of class. So far I’ve been to a concert put on by one of the girls who’s an amazing singer/songwriter, a wedding, an engagement party, a banquet where girls gave speeches about how their lives have changed since they’ve come to Israel to learn, and so much more. Tomorrow I’m going with some friends to deliver toys to children in Hadassah Hospital here. I have survived and thrived without TV and with limited Internet access. It’s so refreshing, to be completely in tune with the life around me rather than so many external influences. It feels so much more real.