two homes and a bunch of places inbetween.

It's funny how true it is: "You don't know what you got 'til it's gone." In my case I had to go thousands of miles away from home to realize how much love/appreciate it. In the past three months I have been lucky enough to realize I have two places I call home. I have my home(s) in America where my family lives and where I was raised/grew up/attended school. I also have Israel. I considered Israel home even before I ever came here because of my heritage, but now I have came and went and came and went and now live and left for a vacation and came back, make sense? This vacation in Spain was wonderful and beautiful and somewhere I had dreamed of going for many years now. However, it reassured me of the way I feel about Israel and how it is my "home." Enough about this, all my posts are about my pride and bladddy bladddy blah. So, SPAIN. We all got the week off from teaching, so Amy and I took advantage and booked our flights to Barcelona and Seville. We saw all the sites, walked all the streets, and ate almost all the food (or at least it seemed so).

BARCA

An outside view of La Sagrada Familia.

A majority of my friends had studied for a semester in this beautiful city and I always envied them. I would see pictures and hear stories and continue to tell myself that one day I would get to see it for myself. Living in Israel has given me a geographic advantage, a.k.a a much cheaper flight, so why not?! Night one we arrived around 11 pm, a perfect time for a full night of festivities considering the Spanish lifestyle. We settled, changed, and started drinking. Our hostel (Kabul in Plaza Real) invites all guests to go out to a different place every night of the week. This particular night (or every Saturday) was Razzamatazz. This is the biggest club I had ever been too - this coming from a Vegas girl. Inside there are five different rooms with different music, different scenes, different vibes. Just massive! We had a good time, but it was overwhelming. 

Gorgeous fountain in Park Citadel.

We got just enough sleep to venture out for our first day in Barcelona. We strolled on Las Ramblas, a very popular main street for Catalonians and tourists. A nice art market lined the street closest to the marina and Amy and I both purchased ourselves handmade glass rings. The Chelsea vs. Liverpool futbal game was showing at all the local sports pubs in the late afternoon, so we did as the Europeans do and grabbed a beer and screamed when someone scored. The following couple of days are mumbled and jumbled and blur together. The reason for this is not strictly to blame on alcohol, but also because of the 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm siesta and the miles and miles of walking and even the one day of riding bikes (uphill mind you). To sum a lot of it up, we got to visit the BEAUTIFUL La Sagrada Familia church and Park Guell - Antoni Gaudi's incredible masterpieces. This is a man who really blows my mind. I understand being inspired by nature, but to the level he has taken it is really something extraordinary and something I don't know how to put down in words. Every street, lamp post, apartment, sidewalk, even graffiti wall was gorgeous. The people too! I have never seen so many fabulously dressed people in one area at one time. Loved it.

View of Barcelona from Park Guell.

SEVILLE

Amy and I on the "Big River" in Seville.

One hundred percent ready to head South, we left Barcelona on Ryan Air (which I do not recommend to fellow or future travelers). My lack of sleep and carb-filled diet left me a bit ill and Seville was a place where I could get myself back in order, rest up, and enjoy the rest of my holiday. Again, we arrived late but did not do the correct amount of hostel research prior. So we searched the streets for a place to stay and finally settled on a very quaint Spanish-style hotel. We ate the yummiest dinner and got in our first good night of sleep, all set to jump into what Seville had to offer. 

Spanish Style in Plaza de Espana.

First thing in the morning we switched ourselves over to the most wonderful hostel, The Garden. We explored all day and saw beautiful parks, the university area, the massive cathedral, and got lost in Reales Alcazares (the oldest palace in Europe, still active today). The city truly had the Southern feeling to it that Barcelona lacked. It was mellow, laid back, and peaceful. No one was hurrying to get anywhere, no cars honking, and I saw barely anyone using a cell phone - Todo, we are not in Kansas anymore! The hostel offered free Sangria from 8-9 pm, a perfect opportunity for Amy and I to let loose before heading to our first Flamenco show! Wow, talent. I don't know what else to say. The dancers tell the most passionate and fierce stories with their bodies and the costumes. The way they clap and stomp their feet is something I have never seen before. I couldn't take my eyes off! We met up with others from our hostel for a pub craw. At the first bar we took mini Salsa dancing lessons, but unfortunately I never got to use my moves out on the dance floor. 

Plaza de Espana.

Our second full and last day in Seville we signed up to go on a walking tour of the city (again offered through the hostel). Our guide, Phillipe, knew SO much information and was really silly and cute. Fun fact, Phillipe is from Italy, so the fact that he knew every detail about Spanish history and landmarks, the language and was fluent in English just blew my mind. Even though we walked for what seemed like forever, the tour was wonderful. We visited the bull fighting ring on our own, grabbed one last scoop of the best ice cream I have ever had in my life, and headed back to the airport. 

Back in Barcelona by 11 pm, we had five hours to kill before our flight back to Israel. We went late night souvenir shopping (but don't get excited because it was too expensive, I couldn't buy all of you something), grabbed sandwiches and a beer, went back to the airport to sleep on the freezing cold tile floor (then got kicked off the floor), checked-in, and Hasta Luego!

Two girls taken over Spain. I feel satisfied, like I got to see everything I had hoped for and more. Like I didn't waste a minute. This post could be pages beyond pages longer, but the details sum up like this: Spain is wonderful and magical. It was clean and aesthetically one of the prettiest places I have been so far. The people were the most surprising because I thought they would know much more English and that they would be rude. Total opposite. Very few people knew any English and they were so kind. I look forward to going back again some other day. 

So much Hummus...I'm turning into a Chick Pea.

I have NO complaints in the Israeli food department. I mean, who on earth dislikes authentic Mediterranean cuisine? But the time has come to pump the breaks on the hummus intake. Israeli chocolate is another one of those things I may have to buy an extra suitcase to fill on the way home. It is irresistible in this country, as well! You can't go wrong with shwarma, pita, harif, tehina, salat, the occasional falafel, shakshuka, matbuka, sabeech.....ahhh......

To add to my glorious eating escapades, my last Shabbat was top notch in the food department. The lovely Amy Zitelman is lucky enough to have her mother in Israel right now. They, again, invited to stay the weekend in Jerusalem at their apartment. Her mother is a co-founder of the Women's Renaissance Program. An amazing organization that allows Jewish Mom's to experience birthright for themselves. The goal is to bring them to their homeland for eleven days, learn about their heritage, bring it home and implement it into their family's lifestyle. This Shabbat brought all the groups together from LA, Ottawa, Seattle, etc. at Aish HaTorah (a seminary right at the Kotel/Wailing Wall - stunning building). Mrs. Zitelman asked Amy to choose five friends to bring to this dinner of 150 women to speak about our experiences with Israel previous to the program we are doing now and our present situation. Also, how we feel about being here and the country in general, and how our parents feel about us being away from home so long in a country that is consistently being threatened by it's neighbors. For me it is easy to answer each and every question. 

     My first time in Israel I was eighteen. I was on the ten day birthright trip with my older sister. She made all the plans and I tagged along, not really knowing that traveling would impact me or make me feel any certain way. Getting off the plane and being welcomed into the country with a "Welcome HOME" took my breath away. I continued to feel like I belonged, like maybe I had been here before? There was no words, it just felt right. I came again to learn at Neve Yerushalyim (a girls seminary in a very Orthodox/religious neighborhood in Jerusalem) for about a month during my Sophomore year of college. Again, I felt comfortable. I had more culture shock leaving and returning home than being in Israel. I realized more how much I stood behind my faith and how important Judaism and the State of Israel was to me. These two experiences prompted the easy decision to live here for ten months after college. I didn't think twice before submitting my application for this program. I knew I would enjoy myself and that I would always cherish my time living in a place I always called home anyway. I know my parents worry sick, that's besides the point. They understand how I feel, how my sister feels, and how our whole family feels about Israel. It is in our blood to be Zionistic, to want to support our "home." Yes, my parents miss me and I miss them, but this was something I had to do. I am who I am today because of my parents' support in everything that I do. 

So these were my answers. I encouraged these women to keep in touch with me and to pass my information along to their kids. I am more than happy to be a poster child for Israel.

My upcoming two weeks is more than something to look forward to. There is a jam-packed seminar from Wednesday to Saturday for all Israel Pathways participants to learn about Israeli Society. The itinerary is incredible. Then Saturday - off to Barcelona for a week!!!

Besosss xx!

Jewish Women's Renaissance Program: http://www.jwrp.org/

*On Shabbat we do not take pictures or use any form of technology, it is the ultimate day of rest. Therefore, this post has no pictures. Use your imagination :)

Walla!

One of my 5th grade students today kept saying, "Walla!" after each correct letter from the alphabet that he wrote down on the white board. I said, "Ma ze Walla?" (What is Walla?) He just looked at me and said with some abbra-cada-bra hand gestures "WALLA!" And I got it. I learned later that it is a kind of slang word similar to "for real!" This made his actions even cuter. 

I have thought maybe a few times about being a teacher in the past, but I know that is not the right career fit for me. I am more of a camp counselor type. I like to play and act like one of the kids, not discipline them and command them to do things as a robot would. I like to encourage their freedom of imagination and their playfulness. No, Israel hasn't changed me. I still do not want to be a teacher, but right now one of the best feelings I get is watching the light bulb go off in one of my students heads. That "Ah ha!" moment when they totally get it, and even when they remember it the next day, is one of the best feelings. It is a feeling a plumber, actor, lawyer, etc. does not get. Only teachers. 

Other than my teaching filled days, the nights have been filled with a wide variety of activities. There has been a few wild nights out in Tel Aviv, an Idan Raichel concert, running along the promenade, a rooftop BBQ & Karoake event, and a VERY religious Shabbat in Ramat Bet Shemesh. 

The Girls (& Alon) at the Masa Mega Event in Jerusalem.

Tel Aviv is one of my many reasons for loving Israel. It is number nine on the list of most expensive cities in the world, which doesn't make it a hot spot for the college-style wallet I still have, but girls have advantages (wink wink!). Miraculously, some Israeli men are gentleman and still offer to buy me and my girlfriends drinks without anything in return, just a new friend/welcome to my country type of deal. So, in that case, we still go out there and we still have a ball. This is a city with energy pumping through it's veins. The people are beautiful and fashionable and the restaurants, bars, clubs, and even just the streets, have something magical about them. Something you don't find in America. One of my favorite parts, everyone you are surrounded by (in the club for example) is Jewish. Now that is not something I can get used to when I get back home...all the Goyim! (Just Kidding!) Two places I went recently were The Cat and The Dog, and The Deli. The Deli is disguised as just another sandwich shop on the street front, but go through that mysterious booming black door and its an amazing bar, dance floor, and a deejay that plays the funkiest beats. Amazing. 

MASA is the umbrella in which my program sits under. Every year they throw a MEGA event for all the participants in Israel. This year it was at a huge auditorium/event center place in Jerusalem. They had a couple quick speakers and singers and dancers opening the night, but the finale was a two hour long concert by The Idan Raichel Project. Idan Raichel is a very talented musician and artist who has brought people together, mainly those who otherwise wouldn't have a shot, to make music. He has brought singers into his project from Ethiopia, a drummer from Morocco, and a guitar players from Uruguay. It is an amazing thing he does and the music is incredible. Dancing was in order and kind of fake singing too. 

 

Day-to-day life is still in tact. I spend my weeks in Netanya and Shabbat wherever I can throughout Israel. The work week ends Thursday afternoon and picks back up on Sunday, bright and early. Definitely takes getting used to. I had a difficult time last Shabbos with a family I knew from back in  San Diego. They are religious and all eight, yes eight, of them made Aliyah about two months ago. They are living in a heavily American Orthodox populated neighborhood that is really beautiful. The kids are ranging in ages 1-9. I understand moving six small children across the world can be a massive adjustment, therefore I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, but the children were not so kind to me. Luckily, Shabbat is every single week and I can look forward to my next one wherever and with whoever it may be :)