I can't believe I haven't written since Saturday. This week has been pretty mellow, with each day having some sort of goodbye activity. Sunday night we had a talent show, which ended much better than it started. The highlights included my boy Landis doing some Hip-Hop dancing, a Shalem girl named Debbi who played piano and sang A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton and a song called Many the Miles. After her, my friend Kunis played two of his songs on guitar, and then him and Debbi finished with a duet. Debbi really blew the crowd away. A lot of people had heard Kunis play or knew that he did play, but Debbi's talent was relatively unknown. She really stunned everyone; I looked across the room and saw a good 50 jewish boys falling in love simaltaneously ( she's quite gorgeous as well).
Monday was the first serious packing/cleaning day. It was pretty overwhelming trying to cram everything back into my suitcase, given the fact I've also added a few items since I've been here and I was barely able to close it when I left Eugene. Our apartment went through a vigorous cleaning session, which left me pretty disgusted at the filth that had amounted in our apartment. My allergies have been awful as of late; everyday I feel I'm sick. I don't think I would be able to last a day longer than I have to in this place given my condition.
Tuesday we had an Ultimate Frisbee Day in Tel-Aviv, where the sports track were required to go, and the Tzofim and kids from Holon joined as well. It was fun to toss around and stuff, but it wasn't too competitive. The Sports Track won the championship easily, 7-1. After the championship, we played a team composed of the better players from other tracks, and some of the Israeli pros that were helping out. We played a game to 3, and had a 2-1 lead before losing 2-3. It was still fairly sloppy, but I got to guard a guy who played for Cal two years ago and went to Nationals. He was very good, and it reminded how much I love the sport and competing in it. Lately I've been talking with Mike about how much I've lost in terms of sports ability and how much I missed it. I was use to playing ball everyday at the Y, lifting everyday, playing frisbee whenever possible, and just flat out playing sports daily. Over here I don't play anything competitively, so I never get a good chance to push myself. In Jerusalem we're participating in a flag football league, and I talked to one of the Frisbee guys about joining a Jerusalem team as well, so I'm optimistic that things will pick up in J-Ru.

Health aside, I'm still sad to leave. I don't think there could have been a better living situation than the one I'm in now. Sure, it's really hard at times, but living with 6 other guys isn't supposed to be easy. It's our first time living outside our parent's housing, and in retrospect we did great together. I can't wait to come back to Bat Yam over the weekends to visit my Tzofim, Ohad and Nitzan. I hope over the next three months I make as good of friends as I've become with them. I wish I could be living with Seth and Zach next term, but we'll be in the same building so it's all good. Aside from leaving the Tzofim, there's not a whole lot to be sad over. It's absolutely nutty that I'm a third of the way done with Year Course. The funny thing is that I don't know why. It hasn't gone fast or slow; it's just happened.
In terms of going home and seeing family, I'm in a different position than most kids. Of my 4 American roommates, Mike and Seth are going home for winter break, Jeremy's parents are coming to Israel, and I'm not sure what Zach is doing. I know many kids who have already seen their parents. My mom's coming in March, which is a looonngg ways away. By then I'll be in my last term. If I could choose, I would definately have my mom come see me. Coming home would be too hard to leave again. Plus, the thrill of coming home for good after 9 months is pretty special. Oh, and I miss my mom a lot. If I go to Amsterdam though, that should offset some disappointment.
So what do I make of the trip so far? I've had so much fun and so much to be thankful for, I don't really have anything to attribute it to but luck. I'm lucky I got put with Shalem in Bat Yam, getting to meet so many awesome people. I'm lucky I got to be with Landis for the first three months. I'm lucky for each and every one of my roommates. I'm lucky I was in Community Volunteering first. I'm lucky that I was in Bat Yam first, so close to my family during the holiday season. I'm lucky that everything has been smooth sailing and haven't hit a bump in the road to date.
I hope my luck doesn't run out
Jakey G