As I am about to pass the three week marking point, I realize that I have yet to write down much of anything substantial in any forum- be it email, journal, or scribbling notes in the wee little notebook I forgot to bring along. For better or for worse I haven't stopped for a moment since landing in Tel Aviv to process anything I am experiencing as I have been non-stop on the go jumping from city to city, hostel to hostel and busting my chops navigating unfamiliar streets while chewing on bits of this foreign language called Hebrew trying to piece together what I know. All in all: Ha'kol biseder (loose translation: everything is fine and good).
My first few weeks in Israel have been similar to my experiences on Taglit-birthright israel trips. In other words, lots of Americans jumping on and off a big charter bus as we are schlepped all over the country on various fields trips and outings such as hikes, came rides, and of course quick dips in the Dead Sea. This also obviously includes large groups of Americans dining out together, going to bars together, and sticking out like a sore thumb. I have relished my last few weeks as a tourist as I am constantly making an effort to blend a bit more and acculturate to the Israeli lifestyle. I have been told by many that my first step is to lose the flip flops, but I am not there yet.
Otzma, the program I am on, has done a great job orienting the 47 participants both to Israel and to each other. I feel frighteningly comfortable with the other Otzmanikim (participants) and look forward to growing together over the next ten months. We have officially moved into our first apartments in Be'er Sheva, a desert city in the center of the country. We are living in the mercaz sc'lita, an absorption center, with immigrants from all of the worlds. It is totally surreal to walk along the outside corridors and see families from Russia, Ethiopia, India- even Cuba- all living together and all arguably Jewish. It is quite different from experiences along the East Coast and I look forward to joining the greater community as time passes.
On my first free weekend I jumped on a bus, with 38 other "kids" in my group and ventured off to Tel Aviv where we slept in sub-par hostels and enjoyed delicious sushi and great nightlife in clubs on the beach. On the Mediterranean, that is. After a lovely few days of lattes and napping in the sand I am thrilled with my decision to come to Israel for the year and found that feeling again of a swelling heart from excitement that I always experience while here. Furthermore, as nice as relaxing has been I am exciting to begin studying Hebrew in Ulpan and volunteering whenever possible. Sitting still isn't for me.
At the moment I am writing you from Michal's apartment in Modi'in, a city located conveniently half an hour outside of both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. For Rosh Hashanah we all went to adoptive families and Michal, who I know from UVA, was kind enough to take me in. As an American I am so appreciative of the hospitality Israelis have shown me time and again, but they all promise that this is the Israeli way: to invite people into their homes and family. Michal has gone above and beyond that, but never mind, she will be embarrassed if she reads this later. Thank you, Michal.
For Rosh Hashanah her family coordinated one of the most lovely dinners in my life. On the beach up north we sat under large tents at big tables loaded with homemade meats, salads, vegetables, fruits, spreads, drinks... you get the point? We sat outside for hours eating, talking and enjoying the coming of the new year. Frequently when her father or aunts were telling stories in Hebrew, it took me a few minutes to realize I didn't even know what they were saying as I was so enveloped in their energy and enthusiasm for reminiscing that I caught myself laughing when they laughed or sighing when they sighed. Being part of an Israeli family on the holidays was "chaval al ha'zman", like none other. Of course it is weird not to be home for Rosh Hashanah, but if I can't be with my family, there's no other place I would have rather been.
This weekend I went with Michal, her roommate Asaf, and their friends to the Jordan Valley where we rented log cabins and spent the days swimming and horseback riding in the hills overlooking Jordan. I feel quite spoiled and grateful for the opportunity and acknowledge that the rest of my year here probably won't be quite the same. But who knows?
Tomorrow I begin training for Magen David Adom, the Israeli volunteer ambulance service. I have been crazily studying vocab words such as tourniquet artery, tension pneumothorax, and vomit bag and wondering what exactly I am getting myself into... That said, I cannot wait for the ten days ahead of me and look forward to learning about emergency medicine in whatever vein they will teach me.
So, running with my reference to The Sound of Music in the title, I hope this glimpse into my first few weeks in Israel has answered a few questions and provoked many more. I would love to hear from you and I am sending you all my love and best wishes- especially for the new year!
My first few weeks in Israel have been similar to my experiences on Taglit-birthright israel trips. In other words, lots of Americans jumping on and off a big charter bus as we are schlepped all over the country on various fields trips and outings such as hikes, came rides, and of course quick dips in the Dead Sea. This also obviously includes large groups of Americans dining out together, going to bars together, and sticking out like a sore thumb. I have relished my last few weeks as a tourist as I am constantly making an effort to blend a bit more and acculturate to the Israeli lifestyle. I have been told by many that my first step is to lose the flip flops, but I am not there yet.
Otzma, the program I am on, has done a great job orienting the 47 participants both to Israel and to each other. I feel frighteningly comfortable with the other Otzmanikim (participants) and look forward to growing together over the next ten months. We have officially moved into our first apartments in Be'er Sheva, a desert city in the center of the country. We are living in the mercaz sc'lita, an absorption center, with immigrants from all of the worlds. It is totally surreal to walk along the outside corridors and see families from Russia, Ethiopia, India- even Cuba- all living together and all arguably Jewish. It is quite different from experiences along the East Coast and I look forward to joining the greater community as time passes.
On my first free weekend I jumped on a bus, with 38 other "kids" in my group and ventured off to Tel Aviv where we slept in sub-par hostels and enjoyed delicious sushi and great nightlife in clubs on the beach. On the Mediterranean, that is. After a lovely few days of lattes and napping in the sand I am thrilled with my decision to come to Israel for the year and found that feeling again of a swelling heart from excitement that I always experience while here. Furthermore, as nice as relaxing has been I am exciting to begin studying Hebrew in Ulpan and volunteering whenever possible. Sitting still isn't for me.
At the moment I am writing you from Michal's apartment in Modi'in, a city located conveniently half an hour outside of both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. For Rosh Hashanah we all went to adoptive families and Michal, who I know from UVA, was kind enough to take me in. As an American I am so appreciative of the hospitality Israelis have shown me time and again, but they all promise that this is the Israeli way: to invite people into their homes and family. Michal has gone above and beyond that, but never mind, she will be embarrassed if she reads this later. Thank you, Michal.
For Rosh Hashanah her family coordinated one of the most lovely dinners in my life. On the beach up north we sat under large tents at big tables loaded with homemade meats, salads, vegetables, fruits, spreads, drinks... you get the point? We sat outside for hours eating, talking and enjoying the coming of the new year. Frequently when her father or aunts were telling stories in Hebrew, it took me a few minutes to realize I didn't even know what they were saying as I was so enveloped in their energy and enthusiasm for reminiscing that I caught myself laughing when they laughed or sighing when they sighed. Being part of an Israeli family on the holidays was "chaval al ha'zman", like none other. Of course it is weird not to be home for Rosh Hashanah, but if I can't be with my family, there's no other place I would have rather been.
This weekend I went with Michal, her roommate Asaf, and their friends to the Jordan Valley where we rented log cabins and spent the days swimming and horseback riding in the hills overlooking Jordan. I feel quite spoiled and grateful for the opportunity and acknowledge that the rest of my year here probably won't be quite the same. But who knows?
Tomorrow I begin training for Magen David Adom, the Israeli volunteer ambulance service. I have been crazily studying vocab words such as tourniquet artery, tension pneumothorax, and vomit bag and wondering what exactly I am getting myself into... That said, I cannot wait for the ten days ahead of me and look forward to learning about emergency medicine in whatever vein they will teach me.
So, running with my reference to The Sound of Music in the title, I hope this glimpse into my first few weeks in Israel has answered a few questions and provoked many more. I would love to hear from you and I am sending you all my love and best wishes- especially for the new year!
3 comments:
Sharon, I can't wait to hear more about emergency medicine!!!!...for these are a few of my favorite things....
Hey Sharon,
Sounds like you're having an amazing time. Thanks for sharing!
You are now on my "favorites" list and I'll be checking in on you regularly for updates.
Take care, have a blast and stay safe!
Love you, Carol
Sharon!!! everything sounds amazing!!! i applied for birthright and i should be getting my trip dates and having my phone interview this week! i cant wait ... maybe i could see you!!!
Post a Comment