http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/KateVoss/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from KateVoss en-us Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:07:11 +0000 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:07:11 +0000 It's been a crazy two weeks trying to finish up homework and make plans for Europe at the same time but things are finally coming together. That's not to say that everything is planned or even close but I've got a good idea of where and how I'll be going everywhere. It's crazy to think that I only have 2 more days of class and then I am flying out to Berlin early FridayLet's see when http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-463460.html I can't believe the semester is almost over It has flown by so quickly I'm definitely glad that I decided to stay for another one I can tell my time here is not done quite yet.The last few weeks have been pretty normal going to class learning interesting things like the past tense in Hebrew and really enjoying learning in a nonstressful environment. Sure around midterms everyone started http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-460112.html I'm not in Jerusalem right now but I just got back from the 2nd of two great weekends there. My first weekend in Jerusalem was spent with some extended family the kind that you've met twice and who invite you to stay. So I took them up on their offer for a Shabbat dinner and I am so glad I did They were very nice and hospitable a lot of fun to hang out with and I just had a wonderful weekend http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Jerusalem-District/Jerusalem/blog-456784.html It's official as of this morning I am staying in Haifa for a 2nd semester I'm quite excited though a bit scared too. I've been thinking about the decision all weekend and it was kind of driving me insane so I talked it out with a friend from home this morning and finally it hit me I do want to stay and study abroad some more. It's too early to come home already I'd have to leave in only 2 m http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-451936.html Before we had fully recovered from our weekandahalflong adventure in Egypt we had to start classes. I was still hurting from my stomach bug so I skipped orientation on Sunday and slept a ridiculous amount so relieved to be back. It was very comforting to be back at school with my own bed my own shower and my own space. Oh and lots of my own laundry to do but that had to wait until Tuesd http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-447894.html We started our adventure late Thursday night at the bus station. By lsquowersquo I mean myself Rachel my suitemate from CT and Niall who is Canadian. We took the midnight bus from Haifa to Eilat and there we met our first hic up. I had thought about buying tickets early but decided to just deal with it at the bus station. Well at the bus station turned out that we had to buy tickets fro http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Egypt/Lower-Egypt/Giza/blog-445702.html There we were hiking up the black asphalt as wersquod been doing for the last few hours and it still felt like we were getting no closer to the finish line. We did inch forward bit by bit but on the 2nd day we moved much slower and everything was more exhausting than it had been 3 minutes ago.So I came back early and it was the best decision everI left early yesterday for Tiberius and we http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/North-District/Ein-Gev/blog-441097.html Or maybe you're supposed to say have a very hungry Yom Kippur. I decided to do a quick update as I won't be updating for another 2 weeks so I thought I'd bring the blog up to speed before heading off on more adventures.Tuesday was a fun field trip we went back to the Golan area and hiked some. We saw Yodfat not the most exciting ruins but at least they didn't have a sound and light show it' http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-440263.html After a very long week and long weekend I am happy to be back on campus. I got back around 5pm yesterday and have done little but some laundry by hand and had some pita and hummus for dinner. Life is good.Thursday we went to the Ghetto Fighter's Museum commemorating the people who fought against the Nazis in different ghettos during the Holocaust. It also was a museum about the Holocaust in gen http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-438267.html It's been a few days so I thought I'd catch you up on the goingson but briefly 'cause there's not a ton to tell. I figured I'd upload some pictures and amaze the audience's adoring eyes instead Friday I went to the beach with my suitemate Rachel our downstairs neighbor and some friends of his. It was so beautiful and so nice out We left around noon and didn't get back until the sun was begi http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-434951.html After many conversations with the silly airline that forgot the little red suitcase the owner was thrilled to hear that it had finally made its way to Israel. However it was due to arrive on campus on the day that she would be away and that posed a big problem. If she missed it she would have to trek to Tel Aviv something she was not looking forward to. And there was a possibility it would arri http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-433566.html Once upon there was a red suitcase made of fabric and plastic and it lived in a store. It had rollers and two handles for easy maneuvering. One day a nice man came in to buy the suitcase and the travels began. The suitcase saw many different homes and traveled to many different states even Hawaii The most exciting adventure for the suitcase was yet to come a whole semester in Israel. It cou http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Israel/Haifa-District/Haifa/blog-433261.html I tried to update right before leaving Peru but the website went down so I'll just recap my last week there. I flew to Lima with no problems on Monday dropped by the ministry to tie up some loose ends and headed to Mira Flores. I met Conrad and Alli there and we bussed out to Ica that night. It was a long bus ride with some really weird movies showing but eventually we made it and took a taxi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-427090.html Okay so last time I had just arrived at Aguas Calientes for the night Wednesday night before going on to Machu Picchu in the morning.I decided not to climb Wayna Picchu the mountain overlooking Machu Picchu due to exhaustion from the past 3 days. I was feeling fine just very tired and worn out. And bug bitten but those have mostly healed now. I didn't feel like dealing with the crowd and th http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-424803.html It has been an interesting three days. Some things have been great and other parts have been more adventurous. Monday morning I met up with the group I would be doing the Inca Jungle trail with and they are all great. There is a group of 5 Chilieans from 2 different families 3 Irish 2 English 1 Peruvian and 1 American me. In total 12 of us and then with our guide Frank we make 13. We' http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Inca-Trail/blog-423613.html The rest of the week in Lima was pretty uneventful I just got sick again per usual. I'm all better now happily just in time to have more adventures I also did some laundry a little shopping and a bit too much paperwork. But it's all over and I'm so ready for vacation.I landed safely in Cusco on Thursday afternoon after carefully navigating the Lima airport. I got a taxi to the Loki Hostal http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-422137.html I only realized yesterday that I haven't updated in more than a week so I'll do my best to recap what's been going on. I'm in Lima right now as of last night and just relaxing. Two weeks ago in Huaytara I worked in a school called Muchic for 3 days reactivating computers and working with the kids. Then last week I worked all of Tuesday in Acco Ahho by myself. I got there and the teacher ex http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Miraflores/blog-419793.html We do in fact have internet though it is slow and I'm bouncing between two computers cause I'm trying to do so many things at once. We are almost done with our first full week though it's been crazy. I'm working at this tiny school called Muchic and then next week will be 2 different schools and all over the place. They are all one classroom schools which is quite interesting to see. The kids http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Huancavelica/blog-416952.html Hi AllJust a short update here. I've had a very nice and relaxing weekend including many trips to these amazing fruit shops all over Ica. The fruit salad is like nothing you can find in the US with a mound of very fresh fruit topped with yogurt and a little cereal. Then I had my 2nd adventure with the post office today and barring any catastrophes I think that a bunch of you will be receiving http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ica/Ica/blog-415143.html It's been two weeks ish since my last entry and I am much dirtier and smellier but also a bit wiser which is something that won't wash off in the shower I hope. My spanish has continued to improve and I'm learning more every day though some days are better than others. It's sort of a sink or swim situation I put myself in so for now I'm swimming. Anyways Ryan and I decided to stay in http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-414543.html