Orientation Week (part 1)

Hey - I have been so busy! I arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday (2/8) and have been moving nonstop! Orientation week is jam-packed with activities, meeting people, and having everyone stress about their Tel Aviv roommate situation (I'll come back to that one). It took me two days to get the blackberry unlocked and on the Israeli data plan. So now you can bbm, email, or whatsapp me.

There are roughly 80 people on the trip...and 70 have their internships in Tel Aviv. (Which leaves 10 in Jerusalem - including me - 3 girls and 6 or 7 boys, we're not sure yet) So while everyone has been stressing about picking their roommate for the next 5 months, we are together by default. I'm grateful because who needs the added stress. It helps that my roommates are cool.

Yesterday (2/9) we went touring of Jerusalem. We went to the Kotel (Western Wall for those of you who may fall under the shiksa category), we tried to go to the Dome of the Rock - but once we got to the front of the line (after standing in the sun for 40 minutes) they said they were closing (whomp whomp), and we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Today we went to a forest and planted tiny trees for a belated Tu Bishvat. I was just about to finish planting my tree (I hadn't even had a chance to name it) when the heavens opened up and it started hailing. (ps it's cold here). So we all ran back to the mud in what they call dirt. I call it dirty softball clay-mud. Then they took us to the shuk....at 1pm....BEFORE THE SABBATH. Talk about madhouse!

It's now Shabbat, and we're technically not supposed to be on the phone or Internet in common places - but since we can't get Internet in our room at this hostel, we are allowed in this one space. I was hoping to relax, but they have a full schedule for us tomorrow!

Finally - to answer the question "is that hummus?" - YES. oh my goodness! When in doubt, yes, that is hummus. I found out today that the average Israeli consumes 22POUNDS of hummus in a year. goodness!