Thanks for all the concern and the prayers from home, y’all - they mean the world to me! I’m staring straight in the face of the final countdown for summer 2006, Be’er Sheva edition. While now I have effectively dealt with the waves of depression that come when a change is on the horizon, I’m still not looking forward to the two days it will take me to get back to Arkansas. Bleh. Regardless, I had better begin gearing up for it because frankly, there is no stopping it. Now how in the hell am I supposed to pack all this [View Full Entry]

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After people find this out, they normally snicker and say something about it being the “Capital of the Negev.” I’m finding that it is really not so bad. How about some observations of this place that I currently call home? A town of about 200,000 people, it is the biggest city in the desert region of Israel. I know, you must be thinking that ALL of Israel is a desert, but my friend, this is not the case (HA only about 2/3 is desert). The landscape can vary from hot, sandy with the occasional camel to lush, green and forest-y to [View Full Entry]

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Excuse the long break from the blog - I've been filling every one of my days here with new and groundbreaking experiences! Also, internet access is slightly limited (I SHOULD be working right now...), but I will try my best to catch yall up. The last time we talked, I was heading to Jerusalem for a fun-filled weekend with old friends. And it was just that. Yossi and I checked into our hotel and met one of his Israeli friends and the coolest Italian diplomat, Nemo, for lunch and a tour of the Old City. Now, I've been here a handful [View Full Entry]

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Shalom y'all! I hope my post finds you all well and happy. I'm enjoying the end of the week here at work (finally acknowledging this starting on Sunday, ending on Thursday thing). This last Sunday, I definitely found myself thinking that I had a Case of the Mondays, only to be disappointed by the realization that it, in fact, was not Monday. In Israel, they call it the Depressing Sundays. Great...living in a mixed world of two "first days of the week." Haha, it's really not so bad. Just heat combined with a lack of sleep as a result of having [View Full Entry]

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Hello from another HOT day here in Be'er Sheva! It has been a long time, has it not? Reason being that last week was Shavuot, immediately followed by Shabbat which translates into everything being closed for like three days straight. Except for the creepy Russian taxi services ::shudders:: but we won't speak of that... Thursday found me waking up extremely late after a night out with my new Canadian friends - we explored some of the Old City and found a nice bar for a couple of drinks. They are living in the same place (Altshul), and they are working for [View Full Entry]

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Shalom v'yom tov! I hope this post finds everyone enjoying their summer vacation. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing my summer has already been - and how much greater it will become! Since my last post, I have done SO MUCH, and I have hardly been near a computer, so excuse the lack of contact. On Friday night, Gil took me to this crazy thing called a "field party." They start late and don't end until sometime the next afternoon. Kids dance and talk and have a good time in the middle of a farm field or a [View Full Entry]

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Shalom y'all! We find our fearless traveler in Be'er Sheva, Israel, after a long flight, little sleep, and crappy airplane food. Actually, that's all in the past. I have slept long, eaten well, and I am now with my amazing friend, Gil, his family, and his girlfriend (who I adore!). They are taking great care of me, making sure I learn how to live like an Israeli. It's the craziest thing - everywhere I go, people think I'm Israeli...until I open my mouth. It's definitely an ego boost. I have a really good feeling about the Hebrew classes and how fast [View Full Entry]

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Not much time to talk. NYC is still a great place to be! Seeing the Italians is so much fun. I am about to go meet Matteo for dinner with his family. And tomorrow, it's off to Israel! Will update more when I have a chance. Much love to all of you! [View Full Entry]

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So, here I am, eight hours before I leave Arkansas for 2.5 months. Am I nervous? Yes. Am I excited? Yes. Am I packed? Of course not. My flight leaves from Fort Smith tomorrow morning, and I will spend a few final days with my lovely Italian friends in New York City. It'll be a good relaxer before bouncing on to Israel for the summer. Saying goodbye to Francesca and Matteo will be so hard, but I am happy that this is how we are saying it. I will be living in Be'er Sheva, Israel working for the Maslan Rape Crisis [View Full Entry]

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