Another Smorgusborg

More picture that I found that didn't make the first cut. Ok some of them have nothing to do with the cut. Some are new pictures and some I just forgot to put on the site.

For the past week I have shared my room with Noa and Iris. It has been a lot of fun to really get to know these two girls. Noa had the good idea to push two of the beds together to make a big one that we hang out in. It is very cozy and it makes the the room feel a lot bigger.

I love this picture it looks very fall (eventhough it is winter) and very 70s eventhough.....

Puppies!!!!! These are Kibbutznik dogs. They are so cute. They are always together and when they walk around their tails are high in the air. You can hardly see their eyes.


This is Eviva from Holland. I think she is so beautiful.

Stunning sunset in Druze village, Daliah.



Views from the bus.

In Tzfat with my mom, she loved this and told me to take a picture. It is kind of a strange juxtapostion of ancient building and modern internet cafe.

In Jerusalem at the Kotel soldiers come and visit all the time. It looks like these are younger cadets.

And this is Roie. Noa took this some time in the summer.


Aughhhhh the Israeli Army:
I went back to the draft office this morning, waited a very long time, got an eye exam and left. It is frustrating how slow things are moving.

Radio

This morning at work I heard that dumb song from so many years ago about "Don't forget to where sunscreen. And and other lessons not to life by." It was funny cuz I haven't heard it in so long. The radio in Israel is cool, because the stations change there music depending on the time of day. In the morning it is mellow older stuff. In the afternoon it is more up beat and at night it is usually party music. Also depending on the weather they play songs to go with it. If it is sunny happy sun songs. When it rains they play rain songs. Now in the winter they are playing a lot of "California Dreaming"

There was a Bomb, I am OK

It is one of those things that I hate about being here. But I tell you I am fine and safe and warm. There was a suicide attack in the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv. No one except the bomber died. I bit scary when you know that that is a place you pass through all the time. But I am fine. I love you all.

Just A Bit Of News

I am sorry that it has been a while since I have made any real posts. Things are good here. My month of working as a volunteer is really coming to an end. This is a bit scary because now I have to shlep all my crap to another place. It is hard not having a REAL home. Probably for the first few years I won't have a permanent home. This can be good and bad. I know I can learn a lot about myself and what is important (ie, not so much material stuff). But on the other hand it is hard. Moving every few months will not be a big joy in my life.

But, forward and up I go.

On Sunday I will go to another Kibbutz that is near by and check out another Ulpan. It doesn't make sense for me to just "sit" around working 10 hours a day and not study. I think if I have the opportunity I should grab it. So this Kibbutz is called En Ha-shoved and is in the Carmel mountains. I would be enrolled in another 5 month Ulpan. It sounds more serious to me. Almost all of the people on the Ulpan are Russian immigrants who have to learn Hebrew. It would be the same deal of working and studying. And it would only be equal to $100 dollars for 5 months study.

I assume if I get processed in the army before the end of the 5 months then I will be gone. Army processing takes a long time here. It is not like the US were you sign and then that day you go in. This is Israel my friends. Nothing is fast and organized here. Next week I go for a complete physical. Someone told me that after the physical, things should start to move a little quicker. After these tests I should get a letter with job choices. They base what you can to in the army off your health and an interview and phycotecnial exams I took.

The weather here is very cold actually. But the sea in the winter is even more beautiful than in the summer. Everyday it look so different and the clouds are amazing. Today at breakfast we saw a rainbow over the sea. It was my first time in Israel. It has been raining a lot. Almost everyday it is raining. All all the prayers of the Jewish people are working.

I feel bad I have not written in a while, but the true is is nothing much is going on. Ulpan is over and I am working all day in the laundry. 6 am to 4 pam is a long day of folding and ironing. But it isn't all bad. I have my friends and my music.

The weather is cold here although somedays I am suprised at how warm it gets for a few hours. We are getting a lot of rain which is nice.

And finally as far as the army, I go at the end of the month for physical testing. I am not so sure what this is, but I go again. I am also finding out if I can stay on the Kibbutz as a volunteer before the army. And even in the army if I can live here. it is such a nice place and a great location. I know in the summers I will really enjoy going to the beach. Plus I am starting to get a circle of friends here.

So that is about it. I will post some pictures again soon. All my love......

www.jonathansojourn.blogspot.com

This has been such an amazing New Year. It was so emotional and fun. I cooked in the evening at Tsofit's house. I made lentil soup, which is a tradition of my German family. Then my phone was ringing and I didn't know who it was so I didn't answer, only to get a message from my older brother Jonathan. He has been living in isolation for the past 3 months. I was so happy he called back and I got to speak with him about all his new life stories. I was blown away by the pictures and at fist I was thinking that isn't my brother!!! he looks so different.

Please check out his website. It is wonderful. And if ever you hear people saying that own generation is doing nothing with our lives, show them my brothers and ny blog.

ps check out Ben too.

Jonathan : www.jonathansojourn.blogspot.com
Ben: www.kingschecter.blogspot.com

Ride A Camel In The Negev

We took a beautiful trip to the Negev two days ago. We slept in a Bedioun camp with camels right outside. you could hear them at night. It was really cold and we did tons of hiking and climbing and getting dirty. I got a new grace dot (mole or beauty mark) in the Negev. I like grace dot, the direct translation from Hebrew to English. It is on my nose right near my ring. That makes two on one side!

It is sad to see everone go. But fun to look forward to the future. I did get a call letting me know I have been excepted to the Israeli Army. So tomorrow morning I go back to the same office and do tests. Mental and physical. I am excited. Things are really happeneing.

Fun Fact: New Years in Israel is called "Silvester" and we are going to party and have lots of fun, since most everone leaves the next day.

Thank you all for your wonderful comments especially ZINK and Ray and Marisa. Zink I will be sending you an email. Glad to know you are still around.

Check out the pixs. Ja Bless.
Below: Lerone and I at the end of the Ulpan party.





These pictures were taken in the Negev, which is the bottom desert of Israel. Israel is a crazy place because right now in the north it is snowing and in the south it is like summer. And all this comes from a country the size of New Jersey!

The picture of the sign says: Stay on the trail, no climbing on the mountains, enjoy your trek. Our tour guide told us to climb on the mountains!



These camels seem to be praying to the morning sun. It was very fun to sleep in a tent and hear camels all night.

This is at En Gedi. I have a similar picture on here from when my mom was in Israel a month or so ago.
This is Noam and Josh. they are really good friends on the Ulpan and this was too cute to pass up.