Ein Gedi Seminar Weekend

Shalom Ya'll! Happy April to all you fools. I hope you had a prankful day! I am not feeling very mischievous after the long weekend and Sunday work week. But let's be honest, I don't need it to be April 1st to cause mayhem.

Last week I completed my third week of interning/handed in my time sheet for March. I met with my internship coordinator over coffee and a croissant. He asked me about my likes/dislikes/hopes/fears/aspirations/etc. It is nice because I believe his Tel Avivian "campers" (for a lack of a better term) had a 20 minute session. I sat with him for nearly an hour. I think he was surprised when I said I loved Jerusalem and am happy here. My only complaints statements were that the majority of the people (and my friends) live in Tel Aviv, and 98% of everything (including public transportation) is closed on Shabbat in Jeru...which is inconvenient to say the least. Oh, and the sidewalk hills are very slippery...but what can you do? Go back in time and ask King Whats-His-Face to use a different stone? Everything is fine - הכל בסדר

But I digress... This weekend we had a seminar in Ein Gedi (for those of you who don't know, it is on the Dead Sea). Our program hosted this seminar so we could meet Israelis our age and discuss a wide variety of topics. Most of the discussions got heated. Especially the last discussion we had. Our facilitator gave us a word or phrase, and we had to say "Beseder" or "Lo Beseder" (Ok or Not Ok). Topics included, but were not limited to, legalizing marijuana, the release of Gilad Shalit, marrying Jewish, and Big Brother. (obviously I said beseder for Big Brother for my big brother). Israelis and nonIsraelis alike are very opinionated - and in a room full of advocates and future-lawyers, you are destined to have an intense debate.

We had time on Friday to go to the Dead Sea before Shabbat. I went on Birthright ::cough:: a few years ago, so I was really excited to go back. Unfortunately, the terrain was a bit more rugged than the spas they take you to on Birthright... so after cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof stepping it, we made it out in onto the water. It is a crazy sensation - for any of you who have not gone in the Dead Sea - I highly recommend it. Just don't splash...because if you get it in your eyes, it burns like a B. Floating around is quite the workout, too.... I mean...if you are trying to doggy paddle over to your friends, and then someone grabs on to your ankles and hitches a ride....and maybe even someone grabs on to her ankles! I became the human tug boat.

Synchronized swimming would be less impressive if it took place in the Dead Sea...

And of course we took a few of these.... before Aaron came and started to Gator-Chomp us...

I love how Molly still manages to sit like a lady in the water...

Saturday we took a hike walk out doors with a man-made path/stairs through the Ein Gedi Nature Preserve. I don't know if that is its official name, so just go with it. We "hiked" David's Stream - the Hebrew translation probably sounds better, you lucky I remembered the English! So we enjoyed the beautiful weather. Some of us enjoyed the waterfall/fresh water pool.

Ein Gedi... Israel's Niagara Falls. So naturally we took the Maiden of the Mist to get there.

I really enjoyed seeing the diabetic sand rats (remember from the Negev?). They were just chillin'...in trees - managing their blood sugar, checking their A1C levels in the shade, and laying spread eagle on a rock. These rats (hyrex - also microwavable safe) are pretty awesome. I even saw one scamper across the land - it makes me happy to see they know the simple steps, like exercise, they can take to prevent diabetes.

It's 4pm, and this poor guy probably needs a glass of orange juice pick-me-up.

All in all, it was a great weekend. (Though, I could use a nap). I met some cool Israelis and learned their perspectives on a wide range of topics. Also, sorry for taking pics from the Internet or the guy who took pictures all weekend long... I left my camera in Molly's bag...so I'll get it this weekend before our 4 day hike: Yam L'Yam (Sea to Sea)!

The Part Where the Posts Start to Stagger...

As the title suggests... this is the part of the trip where I start to lose blogging steam. Partially because I'm so behind on everything...I have like 10 hours of shows that are backlogged, I haven't kept up with movies (though Sarah and I saw Hunger Games last night... phenomenal), and I surely do not know what songs are hot right now (sorry, Mom, I can't help you update your iPod...). Also, I would rather not bore you with mundane work things. Not that my work things are mundane...because I'm awesome, and my job is exciting! Never a dull moment. I have graduated from researching, and now I am making posters and communications materials for the International Nutrition Conference in June. I guess new responsibilities is a part of getting older...(ps thanks for all the bday wishes)

Yesterday was a pretty cool/exhausting/utterly confusing day. Apparently on Mondays, my office has meetings in Tel HaShomer (Next to Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv). It is this GINORMOUS hospital complex. (And from what I gathered from the woman who drove me to the wrong bus stop after the meeting, it has classes, a museum, and a lot of research) I could be completely wrong, so here: Tel HaShomer.

The meeting was 5 hours long... 88% in Hebrew. My brain hurt afterwards. It was really interesting to observe. The meeting was about different food pyramids from around the world, and how Israel should update theirs. I understood 1.5 presentations. Namely because they were from my office, and I did the research for them. Also, because my boss gave me her slides on Sunday and I translated them. At one point, a dog came in from the back of the room, trotted up to the front to the podium, sniffed around, then left. #onlyinIsrael

When it was over, I took a bus back to Jeru and a 2nd bus to the Malha Mall to meet Sarah. We went to go see Hunger Games last night. Phe-no-me-nal. Ok, that's all the boring stuff I have for you this week. We're going to Ein Gedi this weekend, so hopefully I will have pictures and stories for you!

Hail Yes! The Weekend Tel Aviv Came to Play

Thursday, aka the last day of the work week, aka the new Friday (well the old Friday, if you're still in college), a handful of kids took the bus over from Tel Aviv. The Jerusalem Marathon was on Friday - so they came to stay at our apartment. It was great to get the old gang back together. (Unlike Sarah, I hadn't made it back to Tel Aviv since we moved....last week)

We met everyone at the Central Bus Station so the runners could pick up their registration packets. Since the marathon runners were provided a pasta dinner, the 10k runners and the cheerleaders went to Ben Yehuda for some dinner.

Fast forward: 6am Friday morning. It's a brisk, foggy day. Ok, it's freezing and raining. The ::cough::half marathon runners leave pretty early for their 8:30 start time. I made a yummy omelet for Molly, Nina, and myself, and then we left around 7:30. We had a brief difficulty finding the marathon area (let alone starting line). So we missed the half-marathon start... but it probably would have been a mad-house.

After we got Molly situated by the starting line, we left her to go find the finish line. Thank goodness we hurried away, because not 3 minutes after Nina and I arrived, Uri crossed the finish line. I got a great picture of him....on Aaron's camera. Talk about perfect timing. Then we waited around for the other runners. It was really exciting to see people we know finish the race. (We were standing right on the sideline past the finish line)

Aaron, Zach, Eric, Sarah, and Uri - all proud Half-Marathon Winners!

After the Half-Marathoners finished, they went to go get their snacks and bags, and Nina and I stayed to wait for Molly to finish her 10K. (For those of you who don't know, a half-marathon is 13.1 miles, and a 10K is 6ish miles - a ridiculous amount of distance to cover on foot, in my opinion...) While we were waiting... IT STARTED TO HAIL! What the what, Jerusalem!? Nina and I tried to take pictures of us under her umbrella, but we failed and after several attempts my hands got cold, so we gave up...

I spotted her jogging in from 30 meters out! What a champ!

On Shabbat, we decided that we wanted to go to the Old City... but how would we get there? Well, we would walk, of course! (Because they didn't run through Jerusalem yesterday...?) We decided that since the Light Rail wasn't running (Shabbat and all), we would take that path to the Old City.

Just some cool kids walking on the train tracks.

We went to the Kotel, ate some hummus, tried to buy University of Miami shirts in Hebrew... all in all, this has been a wonderful Shabbat in Jerusalem.

Au Revoir, Shoshana!!!

Thursday morning we finally moved to Jerusalem. We boarded the short bus promptly at the predetermined time of 10 am...and then left 45 minutes later... *some* people are not as prompt as us. Our apartment is a PALACE! Five bedrooms, a living area, a dining table with more chairs than people, two toilets, and a shower! No more shoilet for this girl (Sorry, Molly). I have more shelves than I have chotchkies. Right after the brief tour of the Student Village, Sarah left me for Tel-Aviv. I shed a single tear, than did some grocery shopping. Thursday night we (Jenn, Oriel, and I) went to Jaffa Street to celebrate Shushan Purim. Apparently, Jerusalem - being a the walled city that it is - gets an extra night of Purim...but then again people were partying it up in Tel-Aviv well into Sunday...so.......

Veruca Salt, Mike TV, Violet Beauregarde, and Agustus Gloop

Can we talk about the craziness that is Shushan Purim?! Oh. My. Goodness. It was like Halloween met Mardi Gras, had an illegitimate child, and that child ran off with a music festival. (but not many promiscuously clad as you might think) People were teeming throughout Jaffa and more on Ben Yehuda Street. The thing is... the light rail (metro) runs right down the middle of the street. I'm surprised that more people didn't get run over by the slow moving train.

Another thing! Every few minutes or so, someone would set off a firework or a cap gun or some loud noise reminiscent of an explosion. WTF, JERUSALEM! You'd hear the explosion, people would scream and duck, then we'd realize it was just a firework and laugh it off. MULTIPLE TIMES. Fool me once, shame on me... fool me for the 17th time, I'm kinda tired of the explosions. One would think that people would not appreciate the faux explosions.

Friday, we went to the Shuk - did a lot of shopping for the apartment. We made a Shabbat dinner, then we watched The Vow. Saturday, we walked to Hebrew U and went to the only coffee shop that was open in what seems like a mile radius. I know that's a gross exaggeration, but I cannot know for sure because we are forbidden to go in two directions out of the Village.

Sunday: The Israeli Monday! Today I started my internship. (Now I'm sorry for all of you who are reading my blog on behalf of your children who are here with me... Most of them are in Tel Aviv, so from here on out, most of our experiences will be different... I'll probably slow down the blogging anyways because who really wants to hear about the 6 hours I spent researching food advertisement policies to minors in the US and Europe?) I'll still blog about the adventures we have when your children are with me.

Anywho - Today was a very productive day at my internship. I have 3 projects already! My boss is going to a conference in Copenhagen next week (take me with you!!!) so I have been researching like a fiend for her. Thankfully I wrote my third policy paper on the topic of her conference - MPHers, you know what I'm talking about. (Take that, GW!) (I'm 100% certain I won't need a policy paper on H1N1 or gun laws in national parks.......bummer.)

We still don't have internet in our apt. So Sarah and I are sitting downstairs in a children's park using the convenience store's internet. Hi, my name is Julie, and I'm required by law to tell you I just moved in next door.......

Ok, I'm freezing, and the Dude is probably ready by now.... The Jerusalem Dude takes 2-3 hours to heat up...but he is bigger than the Tel-Aviv Dudes, so he lasts longer.

My Shakshouka's a Doctor!

Drum roll, please! Finally, we went on our walking tour of Yaffo! This trip has been postponed twice due to inclement weather (the "storm" of the "century"). To be honest, after all the hype and anticipation, Yaffo kiiiinnnnddaa looked like Islands of Adventure's Lost Continent - minus the sassy talking fountain.

Bob's Israeli cousin...

It was very cool to walk around a different part of town and glimpse back at Tel Aviv from afar. It was also cool to see where Nina and I exercised not two hours earlier. (In case you were dying to know, we started at the short orange-ish building about 40% in from the left and walked right to the end of the photo and back)

Which building was yours, Jeremy?

After our brief tour, we hoofed it over to Dr. Shakshouka for a typical Boca dinner - because we ate at 4:30. According to Wiki, Shakshouka is "is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, often spiced with cumin." Career Israel folks have been raving about this dish, and felt privileged to have the opportunity to try it from a certified licensed practitioner of shakshouking. I'll have you know, I did try the shakshouka. I can honestly say, "PhD or no PhD, this dish is not for me."

There is the famous shakshouka. Looks...delicious.

Tomorrow night is Purim! I have my costume ready to go! People are already walking around in their costumes, like it's a normal thing. Nobody gives them a second look. Imagine if you were to walk around, decked out as a Smurf, on October 30th. Tomorrow night we're going to hear the Magilla reading, exchange Mishloach Manot (small gifts - kind of like a secret Santa), and go out in our costumes! JenTen, I wish you were my Secret Santa, bc I bought a small variety pack of Kinder. Yumm. (Thursday bright and early, we are moving to Jerusalem. So I will update you about Purim and the move, etc over the weekend!)

PS. I would just like to point out to anyone who is interested (MOM). This is my 15th post. Jeremy only made 10 entries. BAM.

Murderball

After Ulpan today, we had the opportunity to volunteer. We were given five different volunteer options: something to do with impoverished kids, something to do with sick kids, working at the pound, playing with disabled athletes, or fill Purim care packages to soldiers. My initial reaction was for sure to go to the pound and play with the puppies. Then, as the minutes passed, I thought about the dog park by our apartment, the mangy dogs roaming the city, and all the rain we have had the past week. I also thought about how diiiiiissssguuuusting the Tri-County Humane Society is... and that's Boca! Second, we were told that the care-packaging would happen at 7pm - and they were providing pizza...so we could go to that and another location. (obviously we would stop by for some free pizza, but it was too crowded so Nina, Sarah, and I packaged 2 each and then went for noodles...)

Sarah, Nina, Molly, and I chose to go to the Israeli Sport Center for the Disabled. It's an amazing facility (if you want to read all about it, visit their website here). We were drawn in with the promise of meeting disabled athletes, and then we would be able to play basketball with them. Upon arrival, we were given a brief overview of the facility. Shortly thereafter, we suited up. We got to test out wheelchairs and roll around the track and basketball court.

Nina, Molly, and Sarah sporting their new wheels.

After we got as acclimated as we could get in 5 minutes, we split up and played 3-on-3 (on our half of the court). I was getting the hang of it... two pushes before you have to dribble or it's considered traveling. I even scored a basket! (Which is one more basket than I have scored in the past 12 years.) The only thing I was having problems with was braking. I may or may not have rolled into the surrounding wheelchairs. (Ok, I totes did, and I wasn't the only one!)

MVP

 Unfortunately, the athletes were running late, so we ended up playing a massive 7-on-7 basketball game. It was a very dangerous game (not the most dangerous game) but it was up there - because the other side of the court didn't play with out-of bounds... so the opposing hooligans kept racing out of bounds and ramming into the wall/wheelchairs.

Great Game, Team!!

The final score was 2-2...with Nina hitting the tying basket at the buzzer. Afterwards, we took a tour of the facilities. They are impressive. There are two swimming pools, tennis court, gym, table tennis, school for the young kids. The man described it as a country club more than once. Mom, they had crank bikes, and I wanted to hop on and go...

It would be really cool to go back and volunteer there. (Maybe even some of the Tel Avivers might do that) All I know is my arms will be sore tomorrow!

A Better Place

Thursday, I had the opportunity to visit A Better Place - a company that makes electric cars. It was a really cool facility - created out of an old water tower (not as cool as your water tower, Jenna). It wasn't so much a tower as a large cylindrical concrete building. First, we got to watch a movie about the company and the need for electric cars. The home theater was outrageous. Each chair was a recycled car seat. After the movie, they took us to the showroom. Finally, we got to test drive an electric car! We went in groups of three. The first person in my group, Oriel, turned on the car as I was sliding into the backseat. I did not hear a thing. I even asked the Better Place rep if the car was even on. We pulled out, and went around the track. There are no gears to shift, no noise, nothing. It's unreal. The rep said we could get a CD of car sounds if we miss it so much. On my turn, the rep told me to floor it.... I got to about 40mph... which is not as exhilarating as I imagined it would be. The rep did say that an electric car costs about as much as a Mazda 3 or Ford Focus... but you can only go 100 km per charge... I guess that's good for Israel, but that would barely get you anywhere in the states. I doubt AAA would cover battery changes.

It was WINDY!

Also, it started raining while I was driving. So, I made a (mediocre) joke about driving an electric car in the rain...[insert punch line about getting electrocuted]... the joke fell short. I'm blaming the culture gap for that one...ok, it was my poorly executed (electrocuted) joke.

Alright, it's Shabbat, so I'm looking forward to getting some much needed rest and catching up on some TV. :) Shabbat Shalom, ya'll.