Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Going to the Country club and first day at Community Volunteering
My boy Mike at the Country Club tour
The country club we visited was awesome! The basketball gym is not so great and is normally occupied, the weight room is kinda crowded, but its an amazing place to go relax. I went there last night with Jeremy and Mike and we had a good time; it felt great to be in a gym again. Monday was the most active day Ive had, and it ended much better then it started. I woke up at 7 to be at the Bay Yam beach by 8 for some water aerobics. It's part of our activity called Boker Kosher (Healthy morning I think). Most people do prayers, but the athletic track does exercise (pretty cool huh?). After that, I went on a run back to the apartment, with literally 5 minutes to change before going to our meeting place (Ulpan building) for our Hebrew classes. I got put in level two hebrew, which is weird because I left my placement test blank. Even so, I knew everything we went over in class and got extremely bored, but Im excited to learn Hebrew and I think my teacher will be great, so I wasn't too upset. After the two and a half hour class, we had a three and a half hour break before having to be at our community volunteering. Our fridge was bone dry so I immediately went out to grab a bite of shawarma and go grocery shopping. I would explain what shawarma is, but it sounds unappealing and frankly is one of the most delicious things ive ever tasted. Wikipedia it if youd like. Grocery shopping took longer then expected and I arrived home at 2:20, and I had made plans to meet with the other people doing my C.V with me at 2:30. Me, my roommate Mike, and three other boys from the other apartment named John, Josh and Jordan all and took the bus to a city named Jaffa (pronounced Yaffa). We arrived in Jaffa and met with one of the directors of Peace Players named David. He's a young, really cool guy, and explained the basics of Peace Players to us. Apparently not long ago, Jordan Farmer ( backup point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers) ran a clinic there a couple weeks back, and last year Julius " Dr. J" Erving ran one too. We got there and messed around in the gym, playing some two and two and working up an unexpected profuse sweat( there was no air-conditiong, it was rough). There were two practices, one from 4-5 and another from 6-7, the first one being for younger kids. We all participated in the practices, and Mike and I had an amazing time. We worked really well with the younger kids, and stood out as ball players. Mike played point guard in high school and is an extremely athletic guy. Playing with the kids, being goofy and making the kids laugh was a thrill. David was really appreciative of us and thanked us, saying thats precisely what he wanted. It turns out Peace Players is throwing a fundraiser at a "wild club" wednesday night, which is Jeremy's bday, so that should be rad. After Mike and I got back at our apartment around 8, we ate a quick dinner and went to the country club with Jeremy. The bball gym was closed, so I got a lift in. I lifted pretty weakly, but I wasn't surprised. Its only been a week, and Ive already lost 8 pounds. It felt good nonetheless and I plan on going again today. I came home late, my body completely drained. I ate another small dinner, had a beer, played guitar and went to bed. Today was an optional field trip, and I passed on it and slept in, which was sorely needed. Im excited for the next upcoming days though. I have a lot planned, all of which will be documented
Much Love
Jakey
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Crazy day!
Friday night was shabbat, so we had a good portion of the day to hang out, go grocery shopping, and whatnot before dinner. Dinner was pathetic! Godawful shnitzel (I probably shouldn't use that term),but the other half of my section which is staying in the neighbor city of Holon was there, so I got to hang out with friends from there. Afterwards a bunch of us went to a bowling alley and just chilled out. I bowled a solid 45, but I had a great time nonetheless. Weird tidbit, the Israel pooltables are huge, and the balls are small! Extraordinarly difficult, I probably have played my last game of pool here.
Saturday was a wild day! We went to Kiddush prayers in the morning, and after the service my roommate Jeremy and I found a leather couch and brought it to the apartment. Getting it up the stairs was absolutely exhausting, but well worth it. After relaxing for an hour me and three others went to the beach and played around. We didn't do much because at 7:30 we would be heading to the Israel vs. Switzerland soccer match. The stadium was huge, and the crowd was intense! Israel was down 0-2 late in the game before scoring their first goal at about the 75th minute, and then tied it in the final minute! It was amazing, everybody in the crowd was so dejected prior to the first goal, and after the game everyone was buzzing. It was quite a turn of events in 15 minutes. I also found a bunch of friends who came from Jerusalem, including one I made at my orientation named Karen. We didn't see eachother much during the orientation, but she lives in Portland and we flew back together and got to know oneanother. She's such a cool girl, and Im really glad we crossed paths at the game.
Saturday was a wild day! We went to Kiddush prayers in the morning, and after the service my roommate Jeremy and I found a leather couch and brought it to the apartment. Getting it up the stairs was absolutely exhausting, but well worth it. After relaxing for an hour me and three others went to the beach and played around. We didn't do much because at 7:30 we would be heading to the Israel vs. Switzerland soccer match. The stadium was huge, and the crowd was intense! Israel was down 0-2 late in the game before scoring their first goal at about the 75th minute, and then tied it in the final minute! It was amazing, everybody in the crowd was so dejected prior to the first goal, and after the game everyone was buzzing. It was quite a turn of events in 15 minutes. I also found a bunch of friends who came from Jerusalem, including one I made at my orientation named Karen. We didn't see eachother much during the orientation, but she lives in Portland and we flew back together and got to know oneanother. She's such a cool girl, and Im really glad we crossed paths at the game.
Afterwards, my apartment and I struggled to find transportation to a city called Tel Aviv. We had heard of a club called the Loft, and tons of Year Course people were there. We got there around 12:30 and left around 4:30. I had an amazing time dancing; I definately plan on going there again next weekend. I came home, played guitar, and three hours later I had to get up for pointless workshops preparing me for my community volunteering. The exciting part is I found out Ill be working with a program called Playing for Peace. It's a basketball program uniting Israelis and Arabs. It was my first choice and I was really hopeful I would get it, and Im doing it with my roommate named Michael who's an awesome kid, definately someone I would kick it with back home. We're also doing it with this one kid who's an absolute tool and bugs the crap out of me, but whatever. I need to go now, Im listening to a speaker in thirty and then my athletic track is going to visit the country club we have memberships to. Until next time
Jakey G
Jakey G
Thursday, September 4, 2008
More pics from Ein Gedi and Jerusalem
The Muslim mosque next to the famous Dome of the Rock ( the gold one); me with my Israeli roommate Ohad and a woman who I met after this photo named Tel Aviv; pictures of Jerusalem and then of Ein Gedi
Long two days
The waterfall we stayed and swam at; Josh Landis and I looking over Jerusalem, the Holy City
Its thursday night, the biggest party night of the week in Israel, and Ive decided to stay in. My roommates all just left; I just really didn't feel like partying. I haven't been getting much exercise and almost feel like muscle atrophy is taking hold. I'm not too concerned because this first week was orientation junk and next week we'll be in motion.
The camping trip was a lot of fun. We arrived at a camp/entertainment site near the city of Holon, which is hosting the other half of my section. (Quick explanation, their are three sections of three components and they all have they're different order. Im in section 2 doing Community Volunteering for three months, then Studying at the University of Jerusalem, then doing Israel Experience). We split into groups and did corny team exercises which luckily didn't take up much of our time.
This trip was mainly so we could socialize with the rest of our section, considering there was pretty much nothing to do there. I got to meet up with a friend of mine I made at my orientation in May named Gil. He's doing a performing arts specialty track and staying in holon ; I am hoping we will get to room in Jerusalem. He's a really cool guy and I really enjoy hanging out with him , I definately plan on going to holon to visit him sometime in the near future. One of his counselours (madrich) is a friend of mine from eugene, Josh Landis. Josh and I had met up a couple of times in the weeks prior to yearcourse, and seeing him was awesome. He was busy doing his madrich thing early on, but later on in the night after I had been socializing with other YC members we met up and chilled by the bonfire. Talking to him was very easing. We're two eugene boys who are very alike, and it was neat to listen to him talk about an experience that I'm currently on with a viewpoint very similar to my own. After meeting so many new people, a slice of eugene was what I needed. He's definately another motive to travel to Holon, which is really not far. But I digest, whoops I mean digress. After talking to josh I stumbled to bed at around two and awoke at 6:15 to the sound of moans, groans, and the laughter of Israelis pulling pranks on one another ( they're extremely funny people). We ate a bismal breakfast and took an excruciatingly long and hot bus ride to Ein Gedi. We had originally planned to stop at the Dead Sea, but time restraints cut that off. Ein Gedi carries a ton of historical significance, and we had a great guide to follow. Archaeologists say Ein Gedi was first settled in 3000 B.c when tribes out of the Stone age worshipped the moon at a temple there. It is a high profile tourist attraction, and with good reason. It is extraordinarly hot, one of the lowest points in the world. We took a very mild hike, stopping at two different waterfalls, the first of which we swam in. I hung out underneath the waterfall for sometime; it felt like a professional massage. Well I've never had one before, but thats what I would imagine it would feel like. I thoroughly enjoyed the hike as well . The rock face and the vastness of the land really caught my eye. I took pictures, but they really don't show the true beauty of the place. After eating a lunch that was more pathetic then the breakfast, we traveled to Jerusalem. I've been to Jerusalem before when I was six, but we're gunna nullify that experience because I don't remember it. With that being said, this was the most amazing sight I have ever seen. The history behind the city is so extensive, and the look of the city is no doubt like any other. I could go on and on about the city, but this post is already much too long. Jerusalem is a spiritual center, holy to the three monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. You can travel to so many places that are involved in the major texts to all of these religions. I asked Ohad, my israeli roommate, about how the three religions get along in this city. He explained most of them were not born here, rather moved here for the same reason: to be closer to god. The city looks like a holy land! Im struggling to put a sentence together here. It's a feeling a can't describe, and I can't wait to live there. We didn't spend much time in the heart of the Old city and traveled elsewhere to eat dinner around 7. Some YC members who were in section 1 and studying in Jerusalem heard of where we were and stopped by. I met up with two more friends I went to camp with 3 years ago. I was ecstatic to see them, and im hoping it wont be long before i see them again, but theres a good chance it will be awhile. All of my roommates were getting excited on the way back about a party in Tel Aviv, but I knew I wouldn't be joining them. I'm too tired and too cheap ( you have to pay to get in). Jeremy, my roommate who was feeling ill and stayed home while we were gone) is feeling better and should be 100% by tomorrow. Hopefully the guys don't have too much fun, because we need to be up by 8 to get our Community volunteer assignments and take a hebrew test ( I might not take it because ill probably be in the beginner class). But it's Shabbat, so after that we have the rest of friday and saturday off! I can't wait. I was tired before i started writing this post, now I'm exhausted. Sorry if I babbled
Jakey G
Its thursday night, the biggest party night of the week in Israel, and Ive decided to stay in. My roommates all just left; I just really didn't feel like partying. I haven't been getting much exercise and almost feel like muscle atrophy is taking hold. I'm not too concerned because this first week was orientation junk and next week we'll be in motion.
The camping trip was a lot of fun. We arrived at a camp/entertainment site near the city of Holon, which is hosting the other half of my section. (Quick explanation, their are three sections of three components and they all have they're different order. Im in section 2 doing Community Volunteering for three months, then Studying at the University of Jerusalem, then doing Israel Experience). We split into groups and did corny team exercises which luckily didn't take up much of our time.
This trip was mainly so we could socialize with the rest of our section, considering there was pretty much nothing to do there. I got to meet up with a friend of mine I made at my orientation in May named Gil. He's doing a performing arts specialty track and staying in holon ; I am hoping we will get to room in Jerusalem. He's a really cool guy and I really enjoy hanging out with him , I definately plan on going to holon to visit him sometime in the near future. One of his counselours (madrich) is a friend of mine from eugene, Josh Landis. Josh and I had met up a couple of times in the weeks prior to yearcourse, and seeing him was awesome. He was busy doing his madrich thing early on, but later on in the night after I had been socializing with other YC members we met up and chilled by the bonfire. Talking to him was very easing. We're two eugene boys who are very alike, and it was neat to listen to him talk about an experience that I'm currently on with a viewpoint very similar to my own. After meeting so many new people, a slice of eugene was what I needed. He's definately another motive to travel to Holon, which is really not far. But I digest, whoops I mean digress. After talking to josh I stumbled to bed at around two and awoke at 6:15 to the sound of moans, groans, and the laughter of Israelis pulling pranks on one another ( they're extremely funny people). We ate a bismal breakfast and took an excruciatingly long and hot bus ride to Ein Gedi. We had originally planned to stop at the Dead Sea, but time restraints cut that off. Ein Gedi carries a ton of historical significance, and we had a great guide to follow. Archaeologists say Ein Gedi was first settled in 3000 B.c when tribes out of the Stone age worshipped the moon at a temple there. It is a high profile tourist attraction, and with good reason. It is extraordinarly hot, one of the lowest points in the world. We took a very mild hike, stopping at two different waterfalls, the first of which we swam in. I hung out underneath the waterfall for sometime; it felt like a professional massage. Well I've never had one before, but thats what I would imagine it would feel like. I thoroughly enjoyed the hike as well . The rock face and the vastness of the land really caught my eye. I took pictures, but they really don't show the true beauty of the place. After eating a lunch that was more pathetic then the breakfast, we traveled to Jerusalem. I've been to Jerusalem before when I was six, but we're gunna nullify that experience because I don't remember it. With that being said, this was the most amazing sight I have ever seen. The history behind the city is so extensive, and the look of the city is no doubt like any other. I could go on and on about the city, but this post is already much too long. Jerusalem is a spiritual center, holy to the three monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. You can travel to so many places that are involved in the major texts to all of these religions. I asked Ohad, my israeli roommate, about how the three religions get along in this city. He explained most of them were not born here, rather moved here for the same reason: to be closer to god. The city looks like a holy land! Im struggling to put a sentence together here. It's a feeling a can't describe, and I can't wait to live there. We didn't spend much time in the heart of the Old city and traveled elsewhere to eat dinner around 7. Some YC members who were in section 1 and studying in Jerusalem heard of where we were and stopped by. I met up with two more friends I went to camp with 3 years ago. I was ecstatic to see them, and im hoping it wont be long before i see them again, but theres a good chance it will be awhile. All of my roommates were getting excited on the way back about a party in Tel Aviv, but I knew I wouldn't be joining them. I'm too tired and too cheap ( you have to pay to get in). Jeremy, my roommate who was feeling ill and stayed home while we were gone) is feeling better and should be 100% by tomorrow. Hopefully the guys don't have too much fun, because we need to be up by 8 to get our Community volunteer assignments and take a hebrew test ( I might not take it because ill probably be in the beginner class). But it's Shabbat, so after that we have the rest of friday and saturday off! I can't wait. I was tired before i started writing this post, now I'm exhausted. Sorry if I babbledJakey G
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Getting settled in
Things are really coming together right now. The other night my roommates and I went food shopping for the week, and Ive been given the duties of managing our budget of 140 shekels a day ( 20 a piece). Nobody wanted to do it, which I don't mind. I think i'll do a good job of budgeting, Im a pretty cheap SOB. We just finished eating a delicious lunch of chicken shnitzel ( love that word) and rice. Oh, and we purchased the food from the primary market in Bat Yam, the Super Dousche........................................................................................... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. One of my roommates is sick with a virus he got from the food here and won't be able to join us on our camping trip. Once again Im about to be late, but first a few bullet points.
-The two Israelis (Nitzan and Ohad) living with me are not counselours, rather kids my age who are doing community service before they start the army
- I should be receiving an email shortly giving me all the numbers of the members of year course, a huge relief.
- Cats are everywhere. I don't know why, but they flood the streets. Pretty weird
Till next time
Jakey G
-The two Israelis (Nitzan and Ohad) living with me are not counselours, rather kids my age who are doing community service before they start the army
- I should be receiving an email shortly giving me all the numbers of the members of year course, a huge relief.
- Cats are everywhere. I don't know why, but they flood the streets. Pretty weird
Till next time
Jakey G
Monday, September 1, 2008
My flight and first day
Its currently 12:26 at night, and I am completely wiped. My sleep schedule is so distorted, I hope I'll be able asleep within the next half hour. I'm happy to report my apartment has a computer with internet, making this blog very easy to access ( well not very easy, some of the links are in Hebrew). Everything is going better then I could have ever imagined. I love my apartment and everybody in it. I share it with four other poeple on the program as well as two madrichim (counselours) who are both my age. They're all awesome people, and we have gotten along so well so quickly, our optimism for the upcoming three months is sky high. We have an amazing view of Ayalon, the main street in Bat Yam and most of Israel. Tonight we walked around Bat Yam, grabbed a beer and sat by the beach shore. It was a perfect ending to a hectic day. The plane rides to New York and Israel totalled 18 hours, with a hefty layover inbetween. I slept intermittently on both, but overall they weren't so bad. Upon arriving in New York at the International JFK airport I met up with so many old friends from camp that I was happy to see. It had been three years since we had seen eachother, and we picked up right where we had left off. I'm hoping I get to see everyone and stay in touch. We received our Israeli phones, but I have no way of getting in contact with anyone and have no clue which cities they're staying in. Facebook may just save the day.
I must go to bed, adventures await in the morning
Jakey G
I must go to bed, adventures await in the morning
Jakey G
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