Blogs from Haifa District, Israel, Middle East - page 16

that's it - tomorrow i'm finally flying. my first destination is kutz summercamp in warwick, ny, where i'll be spending the next 2 months. and as for later on - we'll see. during the last 2 months i have had (on and off) extremely annoying stomach aches, which may pose a big problem if i plan to travel for a long time and to distant places... so the plan is right now to enjoy my 2 months in the summer camp and to see how i feel in order to decide what's next. i have an open flight ticket for a year, so my trip can last anything from 2 months to a year... mmm apart from that, almost everything's cheked: i said goodbye to everybody (almost), bought and packed everything (almost), and for what i ... read more

The trip from the border takes us through lush quilts of farmland and fields of bobbing sunflowers - the sorts of Edenesque flourishes that make the words “Promised Land” sound like more than just snazzy PR. We drive through tidy suburbs with orange-tiled roofs and leafy yards, little girls pedaling their bicycles down the street, plaits of hair swinging from their pastel-colored helmets. If there’s any sure-fire sign that I’m a long way from the rest of the Middle East, it’s the fact that it feels like I’ve dozed off and woken up in Poughkeepsie. There are terriers scampering down the street, late-model sedans in more than a few driveways. I’m half-expecting a Mr. Softee truck to come coasting down the avenue, playing a cheerful, off-key jingle while a gaggle of screeching kids follow. With ... read more

Hi! I'm writing to you from my new apartment in Tel Aviv! We moved in a week ago, and I have to say that the apartment is great. It is in the absolute center of Tel Aviv, 5 minutes to the beach, the main shopping areas, all the buses, and plenty of cafes, restaurants, bars and grocery stores all within short walking distances. The kitchen and living room were just restored, so all the kitchen is brand new and theres a couch and tv and even a dvd player! It is really great. I"m sharing a room with the other american girl in my group, Erica, who I also happen to be working with (we spend lots of time together because of these 2 things). So, everyone has been asking me, what about work?! Well, here's ... read more

I know that it's been a while since I've written, but time moves so quickly that sometimes it is nearly impossible to sit down long enough to do so. Today is Tuesday, and I am flying out of Ben Gurion Airport on Saturday night. That means that I have four days left before I transition out of this year and into a new place. I am ready for the change. I am not happy to go, but I am ready to take with me what I have learned this year and keep it with me as I continue living and learning in new frameworks. These last few days are filled with last-minute assignments, exams, packing, and trying to find time to visit just a few more people and places. Every moment feels a bit hectic, and ... read more

The time is spinning by faster than I can believe. These past few weeks were filled with out-of-the-ordinary days, which only made them pass by even quicker. I have been volunteering all year with a group of Autistic high school students, and a couple of weeks ago we had a special treat. We went to a park near the school where we usually meet, and spent the afternoon there doing outdoor, team-building, challenge activities organized by an outdoor adventure group. It was a lot of fun! A few days later was Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day, for the Shoah. The Holocaust has had a particularly strong effect on Israeli society, and so the day of commemoration has a lot of meaning. I attended a ceremony here at the University. Exactly one week later was Yom HaZikaron, Memorial ... read more