These past couple weeks has felt like a series of people coming and going, which has been hard. Israel is a unique place. Some people may come for vacation, but many stay for several months doing post-grad or study abroad programs. My roommate Tamara was here for a couple months, and left last week. It's not the same coming home every day and not having her here. I have other good friends on vacation right now, or back in the army for a couple weeks. It's been the high holidays (Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur) so things have felt a little slow around here. In the states we say the "High holidays." Here one of my Israeli friends got extremely offended when I referred to Yom Kippur as a "holiday." She said holiday sounds like a celebration. This is not. All stores shut under law, and no cars are seen on the road. I guess in the states we refer to days like Veteran's day as a "holiday." But i see her point.

Tamara's last night in IZ.. for a while :( 

Me and my friend Alisa roaming around Tel Aviv

I've dated a couple people since I've been to Tel Aviv. If you even need a confidence boost, come to Tel Aviv. The men are ANIMALS. seriously. They lurk high and low, and come from every direction. K that might have been a bit of an exaggeration. But if things don't work out, it's not that it just didn't work out, you've also lost a companion, which sucks. Especially when you're still settling in and making new friends.

I have been fortunate to meet some really great people since I've been here. For example, my friends Dror and Moshe (here's your shoutout boys). We met one night at a pub, and since then we're like the three musketeers. Ha okay jk. we've hung out like twice. But I always have fun with them. Moshe's friends call him "Moses" cuz they think it sounds more hip and modern than "Moshe" ... hilarious.

Just got back from the shook (crazy outdoor market). Came across this dude who looked like Bill Cosby but from the Matrix. I asked him where he was from because he was speaking in English. He looked at me. Kinda creepy and said "I'm from the LIGHT." Then he tried paying the cashier in all small change (like the equivalent of dimes). The cashier dude looked at him and straight up was like, "NO." That's when I left.

Ok this video isn't too exciting but I finally got a vine. For some reason it's playing like a vine on crack?

Confession of the week: I eat fried food from the shook at least once a week. It's my guilty pleasure. I walk in with no shame and fill up this giant plastic box with fried kosher goodness. Some may think that's gross.. but hey. A girls gotta keep her curves ;).

.... Woa.

Woa is right. The only word I can think of to describe the week I just had! I can't remember the last time I was this busy. Perhaps finals weeks back in uni? (Yea I just said Uni.. all these foreigners are messing with my English!). In all seriousness, I don't know how to speak English anymore. All Olim (new immigrants) used to tell me their English would get worse by the day, and I really didn't believe them until now. Let's start but that awfully embarrassing facebook status I put out the other day. umm... I'm righting a blog? Dear lord. Sorry guys. Let's try that again.. I am WRITING a blog for an awesome startup company in Tel Aviv. Don't worry.. I spend many hours editing ;).
I'm having a blast at work. Day 1 and they were already calling me Shosh (from "Girls")

If you know me (which I'm assuming you do cuz you're reading my blog) you probably noticed I tend to struggle with pretty basic life tasks such as: opening a tuna can (thought I was going to lose my thumb a couple weeks back), cooking anything that doesn't involve microwave (if that's considered cooking), and apparently.. making a coffee. Everyone at work found it incredibly entertaining watching me attempt to use the coffee machine. Oh well. Ain ma la-asot (Nothing you can do).
Imagine... going from 5 hours of intensive language class, to 5 hours of writing. Hebrew -----> fashion. Lolz. Love my life.

Getting my learn on. Photo cred: Creepy Noa

Anyways. Met some guy in my Ulpan today, let's call him Joe, who's never tried a soda in his life! I was even more shocked when he told me he didn't try ice-cream till the age of 35! I ran into him on the street before class today. I was confused why he was going about 10 minutes out of his way and taking the long route. He explained to me how there's a coffee vendor near our class who yells at him when he's drinking a coffee from somewhere else. So he literally sneaks to class so he doesn't have to deal with it. LOL. JFLS. (just felt like sharing).

Trying to contain my enthusiasm. YEAA Hebrew!!
Next to me is Bex. Another American. 

I think it's worth mentioning how things work around here. Customer service. Another word now missing from my vocabulary. Let me give you an example.
Q: Hi. I'd like to change the method of payment for my phone plan.
A: You're no where in our records. You're sure your name is Jacqueline? Come back another time."
One more..
Q: Hi. Can someone please come check out our apartment. Every time we turn on the water heater, the AC goes out."
A: I take cold showers all the time. There's nothing wrong with that."
Somehow I'm getting used to this "Shchoona"...BS way of dealing with things.

View of my walk to work. No complaints.

On a separate note. I'm in dire need of a day off to just chilllllax.. The first chance I get... Saturday, which happens to be Yom Kippur. Super relaxing right? No food, water, or .. yea you get the point.
Looking forward to Yom Kippur though. I hear it's a completely different experience here in Israel than anywhere else. Silence . everywhere. not a single car. Well I'm off to bed. Laila Tov.








(Keeping in my thoughts and prayers the innocent victims and their families, who were affected by such tragedy on September 11, 2001.)




J

Life.

After a two month hiatus of blog writing.. I'm back. 

These past two months have been insane.. full of life changes, adjustments, and some moped rides. 

I moved apartments a couple weeks ago not too far from Shook HaCarmel (anyone who's been on Taglit-Birthright .. it's that crazy market in Tel Aviv where you can buy anything from shoes to an phone charger for super cheap). I live with three roommates at the moment (from Switzerland, France and Israel), but one is moving out in a week. Shame.. Tamara we will miss you. 

I started "Ulpan" aka intensive Hebrew less than a week ago. Class is from 8:15-12:50 Sunday-Thursday. In Israel, the week starts on Sunday. Friday.. vacayy babyy. 

I get to take this Hebrew course for free because I am a new citizen of Israel. (Olah Hadasha). 

There are about 20 people in my class, all different ages coming from all over the globe. 

Each has their own reason for learning Hebrew. Some are fluent but want to learn grammar, some married an Israeli and want to communicate with his/her families. 

I am enjoying class so far. The other day the Mayor of Tel Aviv came to welcome us and raise a toast to the new year. 

I have had these past couple days off because of the Jewish new year (Rosh HaShana), where I travelled back to the Kibbutz (where I studied Arabic for 5 months).

It was GREAT being back. I actually haven't left Tel Aviv since I got here at the end of June. 

Anyone who doesn't live in Tel Aviv claims Tel Avivians have this mindset where they think nothing exists outside of Tel Aviv... umm...guilty. 

It's kinda true. Anything you possibly need can be found here. Even the ..... sea. Apparently the giant body of salt water is NOT an ocean. Shocking .. I know.

I had a great time up "North." (The Kibbutz is only an hour from Tel Aviv.. but Israelis treat an hour like it's across the entire country. Perhaps it's because the entire country is the size of New Jersey). 

I had Rosh HaShana dinner with my host family from my past Arabic program.  I am still in touch with them. This morning I visited one of my Arabic teachers on her Kibbutz across the street. Then I headed to Zichron Yakov (about 15 min away) to visit a different teacher for the holidays. I am pretty sure I consumed my own body weight in food these past 24 hours. 

This coming Sunday I start work! Yes.. I got a job !!! Hallelujah. A great way to start the new year. 

I will be writing a commerce blog part time after I finish my Hebrew in the morning. 

Going from vacation to studying 20 hours a week, working 20 hours a week, and having a life... ain lee meeleem (no words). 

Slowly but surely I am adjusting to the Israeli life. Right now I am focusing on learning Hebrew. Yes I am an Israeli citizen and feel at home in Israel, but a large part of integrating into a new culture is by learning the language, which takes time. I am picking up Hebrew pretty fast, but of course have a lot to learn. One thing I don't think I can ever get used to is the fact that I am living in a country surrounded by nations who want to see Israel wiped off the planet. I have been asked several times in the past week, extremely casually, if I've gotten my gas mask yet. um... come again? What? People here are so non-chalant about it. The gas mask process is quite hectic actually. If you have Israeli citizenship, you get a gas mask from the government no cost. If you are a tourist, or student. well SOL i guess. 

There are 4 post offices that distribute the masks in Tel Aviv. But.. these locations change constantly. By 7 AM there are already 800 people in line. You can supposedly get one ordered to you address, but they're apparently "backed up" at the moment. Ohh life in the Middle East. gotta love it. 

I gotta say. Despite all the craziness here. I'm very happy.

XO 

Qui