Niv, Orot, Ashkelon
Yesterday I spent the morning packing up my things and my suitcases. Maya and Shira spent the morning in Tel Aviv at a gay awareness gathering, and then they came back to the apartment to join me and Spino for a great homemade brunch.
I was then picked up by my cousin Niv and his girlfriend Moriah. We spent the afternoon driving around the South. Originally, the plan was to go out with Niv and his family to their boat, but that morning his father, Michael, got into a biking accident and was in the hospital most of they day. Vered, his wife, stayed with him. He is ok, and everything is fine (thank God!). We went to a few resturants that Niv hoped to go to for lunch, but everything was completely full! So we drove around until we found a nice place, and had some lunch.
Niv then dropped me off at uncle Joe and Ronit’s in Orot. Avital and Michael joined us, as did Shira and Maya ( they brought all my luggage hehe). Avital’s children Dor and Shachar also came for dinner. It was nice getting to meet them and spend some time with them all together.
I spent the night in Orot, and today uncle Joe and Ronit took me to Ashkelon. We first figured out where I have to go tomorrow for MADA. We got lost a bit ( thanks to the stupid instructions) but we eventually found our way. After we located the meeting point for tomorrow, we headed to the beautiful beach and walked around. We then went to the harbor to have a delicious fish lunch. There were some stray cats the just broke my heart, so of course I fed them my leftovers.. then they wouldn’t leave me alone. But they were so sad and hungry looking, I just felt so bad.
Now I am back in Orot, on the moshav. I picked some oranges, and spent the afternoon resting. Avital and Michael are coming for dinner soon. Being ehre on the Moshav is so different to the citylife back home! You could smell the agriculture, the cows, and you can see just how close this little community is. All the dogs and cats run all over the yards, the fields are full of trees and grain, and there are so many beautiful plants. You can even hear the roosters and chicken crowing!! Uncle Joe’s yard is full of citrus trees, herbs, flowers, palm trees.. it’s quite amazing.
Happy Valentine’s to all my loves back home.
I miss you all, and wish you were here!
The weather has been just amazing… it’s as if it’s summer! I think tomorrow there are going to be sand storms though, coming from the desert.. that should be an experience.
lots of love and sun
SjjT
Nachalat Binyamin, Sharon, Eyn Karem
The past two days have just been amazing. The sun is shining, blue skies, what else could you ask for?
Yesterday, I started off my day around 10:30am. I showered, had breakfast, then went to the shopping mall near the house in Kiryat Ono to catch the bus to Tel Aviv. The plan of the day was to meet up with Sharon (Eran’s uncle).
I arrived in TA around 1:00pm, and got off one stop after where I was supposed to (by mistake, of course.) Instead of getting off at Allenby, I got off at… NACHALAT BINYAMIN! I was so happy to have finally found it! I decided to walk down Nachalat Binyamin, expecting to see something charming and exciting.. Alas, it turned out I was on the complete wrong side of it, and ended up getting lost. I was too far south, in quite a sketchy area. After walking and walking, I finally found myself at the tip of Allenby, where I perused some Hebraic bead shops, and eventually ended up at the Carmel Market (corner Sheinkin). Then, as I crossed the street, I see ANOTHER sign for NACHALAT BINYAMIN! This whole time I’ve been venturing for this mysterious place that I thought just didn’t exist, and it turned out to be right under my nose… TWICE! What a small world.
After walking around and wandering through the market, I met up with Sharon around 3:00pm. He took me around the market, and then in one of the side streets near there was an authentic Yemenite ( I think that’s the proper term) restaurant. He absolutely spoiled me! It was very nice of him to treat me to lunch.
Once we finished lunch, we stopped by his very nice apartment around the corner, to say hi to his kitty Camella ( I think that was her name!) She was honestly one of the smallest and cutest cats I have ever seen- she’s 7.5 years old but she’s tiny (and completely black with green eyes)! Maybe she’s a dwarf? Either way, she was too sweet.
We then walked down to the beach, and had a coffee while watching the sunset. It was goooooorgeous! Sharon then had to go back to his store on Bougrashov, and I spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach until Shira came and picked me up from one of the hotels around 6:30pm ( I pretended to be a guest hehehehe ). Once we got home, I was pooped, and spent the night vegging out with Maya and Shira while watching Law and Order.
The next morning, I woke up quite early to meet Danny and Yfat for breakfast. Danny picked me up around 9:15am, and we went back to Ramat Hasharon ( where they live) to meet Yfat. We had a lovely breakfast together, and chatted the morning away. At 11:00, they were scheduled to visit a house around the corner that they were potentially interested in buying. It was interesting to see the daily lives of REAL Israelis- The house was a compelte Balagan. I knew right away that the house had real potential, but would need A LOT of work… like, A LOT. So, I don’t know how impressed Danny and Yfat were, but it had some potential. The yard was covered with house plants and trees, it looked like a sort of jungle in the middle of the street!
After Danny dropped me off, Shira, Maya, Spino and I went on a little adventure out West around 1:00pm. We drove through the mountains ( which, mind you, wasn’t the best for my ear hehe), and ended up in a little town right next to Jerusalem called Eyn Kerem. It’s a very historic town. Everything is very old and very nice. What’s special about this town is that Muslims, Christians, and Jews all live there, peacefully side by side. It was a nice ambiance. Shira, Spino and I walked around and explored while Maya went to get some ice cream. An hour or so later, we met up with Maya, and we all shared a great pizza. ( Have you ever tried artichoke hearts on pizza? It was wierd at first, but good!)
After the drive home, I passed out for a bit (after talking to little Eranny). Around 6:30pm I got up and started to get ready to go to Netanya for dinner. My original plans for shabbat were to spend it with Eran’s family in Ashdod, but the plans fell through. It’s ok though, I will go another time. In Netanya, we went out for dinner with all of Shira’s family to celebrate her Father’s birthday. They were all very warm and very welcoming. I felt as if I were part of the family! So nice.
Now, I am back home. It’s funny to think that I’ve been here for 5 days already! Time is whizzing by. The weather here is just to magnificent- all the trees are lush, and there are so many citrus trees that are full of fruit. It’s so nice to see, considering we have nothing like this back home.
Shabbat Shalom M’Israel!!
love,
SjjT
Danny and Yifat
Today was a quiet day. I spent most of it at home, working on my final essay for an application. I had to just sit down and get to it after procrastinating and brushing it off. Spino was with me in the apartment, while Shira and Maya were at work.
I also walked down the street to the mall, just to look around. I got quite overwhelmed and left quite soon after I got there hehe.
After I came back, I rested ( his stupid cough and blocked ear aren’t going anywhere !), and I cleaned out my bag ( my laundry detergent spilled in it, leaving white powder everywhere!).
Around 4:30pm, our good friend Danny picked me up, and brought me back to his lovely home in Ramat Hasharon. There, his wife Yifat and his three children welcomed us- Itamar (8), Avigail(5), and Elinor(3). They are all just too sweet for words! We caught up over some tea and then some dinner, and had a lovely evening together. The last time I saw the Millers, Elinor was just born! I actually remember when Itamar and Avigail were born too ( they were born in Montreal).
After a pleasant evening, full of energy from the little ones, Danny dropped me back home in Kiryat Ono. I am pooped! I think tonight I will try putting olive oil in my ear, in hope that it wil unblock it. Oh boy.
Lots of love
sjjt
Tel Aviv!!!
Today was one busy busy day! The weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was warm and sunny with not one cloud in the sky, but there was a cool breeze that just made being outside so comfortable. The day started off with Maya and I heading to the “Namal” ( harbor) of Tel Aviv. Maya had a client to meet, so I went for a long walk along the beach. I ended up at the hotel where Eran and I stayed last time we were here- brought back such nice memories. On my way back, I looked down at the beach and saw a HUGE MEDUZA ( jellyfish). Like… HUGE! Of course I took a picture of it 
.
I went back to the harbor to meet up with Maya. We went for lunch to a French restaurant with Vered, the wife of my cousin Michael ( Uncle Joe’s oldest son from his previous marriage), and her son Niv, who is my age and a pro Israeli cyclist ( he’s training to be in the olympics in Rio!! and he’s going to do great!). It was really nice getting to know them. I’ve been in touch with Niv over the past few months, and he and his mother are just so great. I really have the best family
Now, the real adventure begins. Maya dropped me off on Bougrashov street and said she would pick me up in a couple of hours when she was done her lecture at the university. The original plan was:
- Visit Sharon (Eran’s Uncle) at his store.
- Go to Nachalot Binyamin (a market where every tuesday artists come and have exposes).
- Mingle around.
What really happened:
- Went to Sharon’s store- found out he wasn’t there until 5pm, so I decided to go back later.
- Walked down Bougrashov, turned onto Pinsker, walked all the way down Allenby until Derech Yaffo. I was following my map trying to find this darn Nachalot Binyamin, but just couldn’t find it. I walked and walked in this wierd area and then looked on my map and saw I completely missed it. So I turned back, and I missed it AGAIN. I asked a stranger in the street for help and he was just as confused as I was.
- So, I turned back to Allenby street.
- Meanwhile, I got a surprise call from…. OLY! It was such a nice surprise! He said he was in Tel Aviv, and that I should come meet him. So, I hopped onto Shirut #4 (like a mini bus or a big taxi with a few people in it) and headed over to Oly. We caught up and had a good time ( I had to excuse all my coughing and spluttering- so embarassing. I made sure to drink OJ to get some more vitamin C in my system. Didn’t seem to help that much..)
- After seeing Oly, I walked back to Bougrashov ( FYI- I can NEVER remember how to pronounce this street name!!) and went to Sharon’s store, and thankfully he was there. He was serving some clients, and didn’t really realise it was me. ( He told me he was sick in bed before, and had to come in for the last few hours of the store). Once he realized he was sooo happy to see me.
- Within the first 10 minutes I got there, we had to evacuate his shop- why you ask? BECAUSE THERE WAS A BOMB SCARE. Somebody left a bag unattended on the street, and the military and the mishtara (police) came and made us wait down the street. SO MUCH ACTION!! Sharon said this happens about 2-3 times a month, and it was no big deal, but I was so excited ( probably not the right use of words) with everything going on.
- After a while, we were able to head back. We sat at this little Hungarian coffee shop that had these awesome loop cake ( I can’t explain it really, but it’s like a long danish log with a hole in the middle.. I took a picture.), and Sharon was able to watch if any customers went into his shop. While he was running back and forth, I chit chatted with one of the workers who was buddies with Sharon. I don’t remember his name.
- Around 8pm, I said bye to Sharon, and made plans to see him again this week. Maya picked me up and we headed back home, to hang out with Shira and Spino. We were just chatting and having fun, and they were so sweet to discuss my Med School Application essay with me ( lots of brainstorming). They gave me some great insight and a great way to go about it.
Well, that was my day… crazy isn’t it!? My ear is still quite blocked, and right when my nose was starting to peel from SA, it seems to have gotten pretty sunkissed again. Just my luck! My throat is still quite sore, but I am coping. I feel great though! I really hope this will pass soon.. such a nuissance.
Sweet dreams!
lots of love
SjjT xoxoxox
ps- Shira showed me where the actual Nachalot Binyamin was… AND I WAS RIGHT THERE! Its a continuation of a small market I walked by and browsed through.. if I just kept walking a bit I would have been right there. So the huge detour was for nothing..!!!!!
Amsterdam and Day 1 in Israel
The past 2 days have been so hectic. I left the hotel in SA around 6 pm Saturday, got to the airport, and my flight was supposed to leave at 12:30am. Of course, just my luck, the plane was delayed to 1:30 am. An extra hour of waiting. So, I took my book, cozied up on a bench, and waited and waited until I finally boarded. I was in hope of having a whole row to myself, but a man sat in the aisle seat, leaving me and the middle seat. The flight was long. Like, excruciatingly long. I thought I would have a Harry Potter Marathon (since they had all the movies!) so I started with the first one, and got around 3/4 through, and decided I would try go to sleep.
I tossed, I turned, I folded my legs and my arms into wierd positions, and I just could not get comfortable. It was horrible- I tried sleeping and it was the most awful sleep I have ever had. Just terrible.
After a while, I gave up on trying to sleep, and decided to watch more HP. But, to my luck, my video screen was broken. It took them about 45 minutes to restart and fix. By the end, it was ok. I only watched the first HP, by the time we landed in Amsterdam. The man sitting next to me turned out to be quite a nice guy, travelling with his wife. He was from Pretoria, and now lives in Scotland. We spoke a bit, and I told him about my volunteering in Israel plan, and he said it was a good idea not to do that in SA- he was telling me how it was so common for the gangsters and criminals to shoot or stab the paramedics if they don’t attend to them first ( no matter how minor or serious). Such craziness.
I landed in Amsterdam 11 am Sunday morning. I headed straight out to meet up with Nancy. I took the trains and found my way, and she met me at the station. Once we went back to her place, we hung out and I showered. Might I say, she has the most awesome apartment- it’s in an old trucking container, which was soundproofed and insulated, with running water- so she basically lives in a big container- and it’s awesome. I want one!
We headed to the city, where we decided we’d go to the Anne Frank House. We walked through the city in the foggy cold. Along the way we walked through the flower market, and stopped by some head shops and saw all the crazy cannabis being sold. Once we got to to the museum, the line was quite long ( but according to Nancy, it was actually the smallest cue she’s seen there) so we waited about 30 minutes before heading in. The tour was short, and it was interesting to see. I snuck a picture of the bookcase that hid their annex ( I wasn’t supposed to) but I couldn’t resist.
After the tour, we walked to the city center- Dam street ( I think that’s what its called?) We saw some more coffeeshops, and of course, we headed to the red light district. It was too funny to see all these girls and women in the windows, all shapes and sizes. We couldn’t stop laughing. After walking around for an hour or so, it was time to head back to the airport.. but first it was Nancy’s mission to show me this restaurant that had vending machines serve you.. I didn’t really believe her at first, but once I saw it, I have to say, it was pretty cool (and delicious!)
I picked up my stuff from Nancy’s and then headed back to the airport. It was perfect timing. My plane left at 8:50 pm, and I got to the airport around 6:45. I got some sushi and soup, and then went straight to the boarding.
The plane was packed solid. Luckily, the girl sitting next to me decided to go sit with her friend, leaving me with an empty seat ( but there was another person on the aisle seat). This flight didn’t have any entertainment system unfortunately, but I was pretty tired from walking around all day with Nancy, and I successfully fell (half) asleep. And, I was suprised that my Ipod lasted the whole flight!
When we were landing, I experienced the most excruciating pain in my right ear. It was blocked while we were landing, and it hurt.. like, a lot. I never experienced anything like this before while flying I’ve had a sore throat since SA, and it seemed to develop into a full fledged cold while in Amsterdam, and now I am congested beyond belief, and my ear is still blocked.
After landing and gathering all my luggage, my sweet cousin Maya was waiting for me at the arrivals ( this was all around 3 am Monday morning!! So nice of her to come get me!). We got back to her cute little apartment where she lives with her wife Shira and little doggy Spino around 4:15 am. I had a quick shower, spoke to Eran and my Mom, took some meds, and went to bed.
I woke up today around 12:30 pm, thinking it was still really early. My throat was horrid, and my ear was still blocked. Maya took me out for a delicious breakfast, and then we went to the pharmacy where I got some cold meds. They seem to be helping, but we’ll see tomorrow just how effective they really are.
After that, we picked up Spino, and headed to visit some other family members in Ashkelon. My uncle Joe ( my Bobba’s older brother) and his wife Ronit live on a Moshav, and their other lovely daughter Avital and her husband Michael live nearby as well. We all met and had tea together, chatting away. We even had some fresh oranges and pomello( I picked it myself!!) from their backyard- I took advantage of this and ate a lot of oranges for Vitamin C! Ronit then had to run to a theatre rehearsal, and the rest of us had dinner together at their house. It was so nice to be with the family. Even though I just met Avital, it felt like I’ve known her forever. I get such a nice, welcoming, and warm feeling from my family. It’s really such a pleasure, and they are so nice for taking care of me.
Now, I am back at Maya’s apartment, typing away. I think I will take some night time cold pills and hit the sack.
I am so happy to be here- I am eager to see what kind of adventures lie ahead for me.
Lots of love
Sjjt
