Okay, to start I am here in Jeruslaem, studying in the Middle Eastern Honors program at Hebrew University. I'm safe and having the most amazing time of my life. I understand from the BBC that there is some kind of civil war pending in Gaza, but I have seen nor heard nothing of this, so disregard that for now and don't worry.
I am finally starting my blog and I am totally backlogged on all of the stories I couldn't wait to tell you. about a million funny, strange, remarkable things happen everyday to me here, and almost every one reminds me of one of you at home. I'm so behind on relating all of these events because I just got the internet in my room after being here for almost three weeks.
In fact, my lack of internet should be the idea that I start off with: Israel lacks any sort of purposeful structure. Professor Cammy, who is moving here as well, relayed this information to me when he told me about sending money to purchase a car from a man in Jeruslaem when he was still in the states. He called the man to ask if he had received the money, to which the sabra replied simply "yes." So Prof. Cammy asked if he had sent him a receipt in return to which he replied, rather impatiently, "What are you Americans so worried about? I'm a Jew, you're a Jew, I'm not trying to screw you!" No one here has been let in on the importance of a paper trail or any sort of formal record keeping. So far, that has led to all of the major challenges that I've had here.
Let me back up slightly. I'd have to say that in coming here, I was most worried about logistics at first, but as things like my Visa and records slowly came together, my primary anxiety shifted to focus around the fear that I wouldn't make any friends. Granted, that hasn't happened since Kindergarten (and Ria came along pretty quick to remedy that) but I was still worried that one day I would get somewhere where I wouldn't fit in and I'd be miserable, and I was worried that time would be now. So, I arrived at the airport in New Jersey for the group flight four hours early and filled with dread that everyone I'd meet would hate me. Fortunately, I struck up conversation with the person directly in front of me, Rachel, and discovered within about 4 sentences that she was the coolest person ever. Chalk up one friend made. it became apparent quite quickly that Rachel's friendship would be a real asset; she's lived in Jerusalem before and knows her way around and seemed to have all the same tastes as me. As we navigated our overwhelming amounts of luggage treacherously piled on "Smarty Carts" (Yes, Gillian!), I felt sure that this was actually going to be great and not the disaster I had imagined.
The best part about flying El Al is the overwheling amount of security. Each passenger is interviewed and they must be specially trained in sniffing out gentiles, because I was instantly assessed as a Shiksa and told I would have to undergo additional searches. I kept asking when this additional security would actually take place, only to be gestured toward the gate and told to wait. I had a great time getting to know everyone while I waited, and instantly found a group of really interesting and diverse people. We had lots of time to get to know one another, since we had arrived 4 hours early, and I scored points by buying cookies to share. After passing that span doing nothing, I was finally called to this tiny room manned by grumpy-looking Israelis and told to leave all of my carry-on baggage with them for one hour. I met all of the other passengers called for this purpose and found that we shared the one commonality of not being Jewish. The hour passed, and as people started to board, I went back to find that they had not even begun to search my bags. I was asked to step inside of this miniscule room that was what seemed like 109 degrees. Two security people took out 2x2 inch cloth pads on long tongs and began wiping down my shoes, and then started on all of my belongings, running over each thing about 23742 times before placing it clumsily back. After about 45 minutes, they escorted me onto the plane, and I was happy to find that two girls I had really enjoyed talking to at the gate, Rachel (different Rachel than before, everyone here is named Rachel or Sarah, but this is Rachel Brandon, and the first Rachel is Rachel Sievers) and Molly. Both Rachels are from Denver and Molly is from Orange County. I also had a really exuberant Israeli guy sitting next to me who had enjoyed his first ever trip to New york before he joins the IDF in March. Now, all of you who know my views on travel know that I keep my i-pod headphones on the entire flight, regardless of whether or not I am actually listening to music so that I can avoid the awkward conversation that inevitably ensues on airplanes. This guy, Danni, didn't quite get the concept and just talked over my music, which I begrudgingly turned off in order to answer his eager questions about life in California. It was actually pretty interesting and I managed some questions of my own and then happily slipped back into my music later. The flight was actually not bad, and I got to know Molly and Rachel a lot more and find that we had a lot in common. The best parts of El Al flights are also the ultra-glamorous Israeli flight attendants who wear jnee-high boots, the food, and the fact that everyone joyously claps at touch-down.
We landed at around 6am local time, and got through customs with little trouble. my first purchase was a Coke in the airport as I waited for my baggage. We walked into the cool air and onto six charter buses which climbed the hills and then navigated the crowded streets in Jerusalem, and arrived at our dorms.
I am finally starting my blog and I am totally backlogged on all of the stories I couldn't wait to tell you. about a million funny, strange, remarkable things happen everyday to me here, and almost every one reminds me of one of you at home. I'm so behind on relating all of these events because I just got the internet in my room after being here for almost three weeks.
In fact, my lack of internet should be the idea that I start off with: Israel lacks any sort of purposeful structure. Professor Cammy, who is moving here as well, relayed this information to me when he told me about sending money to purchase a car from a man in Jeruslaem when he was still in the states. He called the man to ask if he had received the money, to which the sabra replied simply "yes." So Prof. Cammy asked if he had sent him a receipt in return to which he replied, rather impatiently, "What are you Americans so worried about? I'm a Jew, you're a Jew, I'm not trying to screw you!" No one here has been let in on the importance of a paper trail or any sort of formal record keeping. So far, that has led to all of the major challenges that I've had here.
Let me back up slightly. I'd have to say that in coming here, I was most worried about logistics at first, but as things like my Visa and records slowly came together, my primary anxiety shifted to focus around the fear that I wouldn't make any friends. Granted, that hasn't happened since Kindergarten (and Ria came along pretty quick to remedy that) but I was still worried that one day I would get somewhere where I wouldn't fit in and I'd be miserable, and I was worried that time would be now. So, I arrived at the airport in New Jersey for the group flight four hours early and filled with dread that everyone I'd meet would hate me. Fortunately, I struck up conversation with the person directly in front of me, Rachel, and discovered within about 4 sentences that she was the coolest person ever. Chalk up one friend made. it became apparent quite quickly that Rachel's friendship would be a real asset; she's lived in Jerusalem before and knows her way around and seemed to have all the same tastes as me. As we navigated our overwhelming amounts of luggage treacherously piled on "Smarty Carts" (Yes, Gillian!), I felt sure that this was actually going to be great and not the disaster I had imagined.
The best part about flying El Al is the overwheling amount of security. Each passenger is interviewed and they must be specially trained in sniffing out gentiles, because I was instantly assessed as a Shiksa and told I would have to undergo additional searches. I kept asking when this additional security would actually take place, only to be gestured toward the gate and told to wait. I had a great time getting to know everyone while I waited, and instantly found a group of really interesting and diverse people. We had lots of time to get to know one another, since we had arrived 4 hours early, and I scored points by buying cookies to share. After passing that span doing nothing, I was finally called to this tiny room manned by grumpy-looking Israelis and told to leave all of my carry-on baggage with them for one hour. I met all of the other passengers called for this purpose and found that we shared the one commonality of not being Jewish. The hour passed, and as people started to board, I went back to find that they had not even begun to search my bags. I was asked to step inside of this miniscule room that was what seemed like 109 degrees. Two security people took out 2x2 inch cloth pads on long tongs and began wiping down my shoes, and then started on all of my belongings, running over each thing about 23742 times before placing it clumsily back. After about 45 minutes, they escorted me onto the plane, and I was happy to find that two girls I had really enjoyed talking to at the gate, Rachel (different Rachel than before, everyone here is named Rachel or Sarah, but this is Rachel Brandon, and the first Rachel is Rachel Sievers) and Molly. Both Rachels are from Denver and Molly is from Orange County. I also had a really exuberant Israeli guy sitting next to me who had enjoyed his first ever trip to New york before he joins the IDF in March. Now, all of you who know my views on travel know that I keep my i-pod headphones on the entire flight, regardless of whether or not I am actually listening to music so that I can avoid the awkward conversation that inevitably ensues on airplanes. This guy, Danni, didn't quite get the concept and just talked over my music, which I begrudgingly turned off in order to answer his eager questions about life in California. It was actually pretty interesting and I managed some questions of my own and then happily slipped back into my music later. The flight was actually not bad, and I got to know Molly and Rachel a lot more and find that we had a lot in common. The best parts of El Al flights are also the ultra-glamorous Israeli flight attendants who wear jnee-high boots, the food, and the fact that everyone joyously claps at touch-down.
We landed at around 6am local time, and got through customs with little trouble. my first purchase was a Coke in the airport as I waited for my baggage. We walked into the cool air and onto six charter buses which climbed the hills and then navigated the crowded streets in Jerusalem, and arrived at our dorms.
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