Summer 5767

Just a few more days

2007-06-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

This is me the last time I was in Israel. At this time next week, I'll be there. And it will be Shabbat. And won't that be great?

I have some memories to replace. I couldn't be more excited about doing that on my own.

Love, Lex

Album Cover

2007-06-12T12:48:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Jim.

2007-07-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

Part II comes to an end

Hello friends and countrymen.

I am a little sad today because my friends are leaving tomorrow. The last two weeks have been so totally great. We have had the best time and I have made some friends that are so awesome, I can barely remember not knowing them. We've had the most excellent time and seen such amazing things. That's a lot of adjectives. But it's true. Did I mention to everyone that I rode on a camel again? even after I had sworn off camels for the rest of my life after the last israel camel fiasco.

exhibit a:

The kids come on Wednesday. I am looking forward to it. It's going to be a totally different expierence doing all these things I've just done with them. And lucky for me, we aren't doing exactly the same stuff. Going to many of the same places, but doing more walking, more hiking, more outside stuff- which as you know, is totally not my jam. But this counts as working. And that, my friends, is totally LEGIT.

I feel like I have been gone for about 9 billion years. It has been 3.5 weeks. I miss everyone a lot but feel like my time here as allowed me to come into my own a little bit. Don't worry, the new person is strikingly similar to the old one. But I feel like I have some clarity I didn't have before. And that's a great thing.

OH, here's a good story. So, last night we had Shabbat services near the Western Wall in a residential neighborhood up the hill from it. This neighborhood is Orthodox. We got in a big circle and started the service, the rabbi leading the talking and prayers and me leading the singing. I have a big voice anyway, but when I am leading the songs, I sing a little louder than usual. We get to the middle of Oseh Shalom and this crazy Orthodox man comes out of his apartment on to his balcony and stares right at me and starts yelling SHA! SHA! SHA! This means "please shut the F up or else". I sort of froze for a second, but the Rabbi just got very stern and sang louder. I didn't get it at the time, but afterwards figured out he wasn't mad because we were singing too loudly. He was mad because I am a woman and I was not only singing, but leading the service. Both are big no no's for orthodox people. Bummer for that guy because I really like doing it.

Today is Shabbat so everything Jewish is closed but we can not be stopped. We went to the Christian quarter and went shopping. I got perhaps the most beautiful tapestry in the history of the world. Seriously. It is hand made and all different colors of red and pink and purple. This is my jam.

It's time for Havdalah (the closing service of Shabbat). Later tonight, we are going to the waffle store to finish out the trip correctly. 100% delish.

BYE! And see you in about 2 weeks.

2007-07-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

Living the highlife at Kibbutz Gezer

A few days ago I said I was concerned that I might not have cell phone reception here on the kibbutz. I also thought there was no way I would have internet, especially not high speed. Yeah, about that... I was pretty much 100% wrong. Not only is this one of the most beautiful and modern homes I have been in since I've been here, but they have every ammenity you could ever desire in your entire life. Not joking. Oh, and ps: it's beautiful.

evidence:

David Leichman is the Rabbi's husband here on the Kibbutz. He picked me up at the airport when the congregational group left. I'll say, to be brief, that he is one of the nicest, most interesting guys I've ever met. After he picked me up, we went to a restaurant in Ramla called SoHo. I had teriakyi (pretty much positive that is spelled wrong) chicken. It was delish. I also had a margarita. We have tried many times to order margaritas in Israel and they are always hideously disgusting. This one was good. Really good.

Anyway, suffice it to say that I really am looking forward to my time here on the Kibbutz. I will be letting you know how things are going here on a regular basis because I have a computer in the bedroom where I am staying. And that computer? It has high speed internet. Booya.

Talk to you tomorrow.
Love, Lex

My last post from Israel

2007-07-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted for over a week. While I have been really busy, I really just wasn't sure what to write about. I have gotten to do so many unbelieveable things while I've been here... it's hard to sit down and write about them. I will. Just not now.

Anyway, I'm leaving in a few minutes for the airport to come home. Home! I'm leaving here a little bit sad but happy to move forward in my life with a renewed sense of purpose. And that, more than anything, is what this summer has given me. A reason.

See you when I get home.
Love, Alexis

Back from the Dead Sea Again

2007-07-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

YO. I am back from the dead sea. It was a good two days. I slept in a goat hair tent for the second time in my life. That's funny. I could've sworn I said I'd never do that again the last time I was there.

Today, we are taking the kids on a bike ride down Burma Rd. Should be cool. Not literally cool. It's supposed to be 100 degrees. YESSSSSSSSS! Later this afternoon, we're taking them to Jerusalem to the Holocaust museum (3rd time for me) and to Mt. Herzl to see the military cemetary (also 3rd time). They get to go shopping on their own tonight which is great news. Tomorrow we are going North to the Golan, passing through Haifa and the B'hai gardens. COooooooL. We're spending the night with the Druze. They have a secrect religion and "delightful" cuisine. I'll be the judge of that. When we come back it will be Thursday. And after thursday, it will be Friday. And Friday and Saturday the kids spend with their host families for Shabbat. And Saturday, when we get the kids back at 7:30pm, we have a goodbye party and sunday, I'M COMING HOME!

Originally, the I'm coming home had 10 or 24 exclamation points. But that seemed a little too eager. Ok, check you later.

Peanut Butter, Brie and Onion Jam

2007-07-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

Today I was privledged to introduce David and his wife, Miri, to powdered peanut butter. They liked it. So much that they mixed it with Brie (gross) and Onion Jam (siccccccccccccck) and spread it on challah (yum). They are tasters. They taste everything and mix things different ways. It's fun to watch, disgusting to try. But they know all about my picky eating. One of the only things that I am excited about coming home for is the freedom to eat whatever I want. I am also eager to see the fam, both related and unrelated.

This afternoon, David and I went into Ramla (the next town over) to get some things for a barbeque tonight. Another family is coming over and we're going to celebrate July birthdays. The family who's coming have a daughter who is turning 21 today. David and Miri's daughter, Eliora, is turning 26 on the 25th and I'm turning 24 on the 29th. It will be fun.

Tonight, I am going with the kids (who have Friday night and Saturday off to spend with their host families for Shabbat)to see someone named David Broza (sp?). I think you would like this a lot Mama because it's supposed to be like Stomp or Blue Man Group. All percussion. I'm really looking forward to it. Tomorrow, we're going to the archiological dig site near here to hear from the archiologist... that's def. spelled wrong... then we are moving on to the Negev to sleep in goat hair tents with the Bedouins and climb Masada the next morning. From there, we will swim in the dead sea. And by we, I mean the kids because I am dead sea'd out. That, and a I lost my swimsuit. After the swimming, we'll drive all the way up to the Golan Heights and spend one night there. We'll be home on Tuesday, i think. I don't have the schedule of events because it's in Hebrew so at best, these things are a guess. I don't really care though. My job is to make sure the kids are happy and not homesick. I'm doing that.

I come home in 1 week. I feel like I haven't been here at all which is so funny... see as 5 weeks ago I would've given up waffles or my left lung to come home. The past week here with David has been the most consecutive fun I've had while I've been here... but more than anything, these last 5 weeks have been the best and happiest I can remember having in the longest time. Which is why I deem this summer the best. summer. ever.

I have gotten to do everything I wanted, when I wanted and then more than that. I've slept late, gone out everynight, met new people, learned some hebrew, gotten over some things, written some songs, played my guitar an infinite amount, had some of the best conversations I've ever had, tried so many new foods, figured out the way home on more than one ocassion without a map or calling someone... but perhaps most importantly, I have felt so great and so happy nearly the entire time. What a tremendous feeling that has been.

I am writing so much and telling so little. When I get home, I will tell you everything. For now, I'm going to help them do prep for the barbeque. Most of you know I about as helpful as a punch in the face when it comes to cooking and kitchen related things in general, so it should be a really good expierence for all involved.

See you very soon.
Love, Blex0r

Last day of freedom

2007-07-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning, very early, the kids from KC arrive here in Israel. I am meeting them at the airport and work starts from then. They will be here a total of 10 days. One travel day on either side. Travel day one was today. This means I will be home in 11 days. It also means I have already been here for a month. That's pretty crazy.

Today was a great day. The last three days have been great days. I have spent them hanging out with David, sleeping late, going on some tours, playing with kids, watching baseball, being a picky eater, talking for hours and hours and in general, just having the best few days of my entire trip. David is really a blast and it's been really fun hanging around with him on the kibbutz.

We went to a mondo grocery store today. The only grocery store in Israel that sells pork and shellfish. It also has 4 restaurants inside of it. It's like costco on drugs. Incredible. I bought half a kilo of zatar for almost nothing. I also had 5 diet cokes today. This is starting to be a theme. Not good.

Well, that's what I know. Mostly because it is so late and I have to get up mega early to meet the kids. Check you later.

I forgot about Special K

2007-07-10T04:59:00.000-07:00

On top of all the new food I've been eating, I have tried and fallen in love with Special K. This is good news for me as I usually won't eat cereal that isn't Reese's Puff's cereal. But really, if you haven't tried that, I'm going to seriously recommend that you do. Honestly. It's life changing.

Speaking of life changing, I couldn't love being on the Kibbutz anymore. I had lunch today with the Israeli woman who will be helping us with the kids when they get here thursday. They leave tomorrow morning. I'm sure they are very excited. I am very excited to see them.

Tonight, after the baseball game, David is taking me to a grocery store for dinner... a grocery store much like Trader Joe's. It's going to be GREAT! Especially now that I eat like a grown up. PS: I had salad for lunch. With tomato in it. And cheese and nuts also. WHOA!

I got to talk to David for several hours last night and our conversation was one of the most meaningful I have had while I've been here, and maybe in my life. He is one of those people who can relate to almost anything you say and that isn't shocked by anything that you say. So all the things I have been thinknig about while I've been here- all the questions I have- all the frustrations and struggles I have... we got to talk about all of them. Before I knew it, it was almost 4am. Talks like that are my favorite. And that was one I won't soon forget.

That's what I know. Two posts in one day, aren't you LUCKY!?

2007-07-10T01:19:00.000-07:00

Special K and Professional Leauge Baseball

I have to write this quickly as I have somewhere to be at 12:00 and it's already 11:20. Life on the Kibbutz has not only been totally different from what I expected but it's been totally fun. Yesterday, I woke up at 11:00 and walked over to David Leichmans' office. If I haven't written about him before, he is the director of Pinat Shorshim, the biblical garden in the middle of the Kibbutz. He's also the guy who picked me up at the airport. I'm staying with him and his wife. She is the Rabbi at the synagogue on the Kibbutz... right now, she is in America as her mother is ill.

Anyway, yesterday I met up with him to go to a meeting he had at lunch time with some folks from Leawood. There's no way I would know them he said, they aren't Jewish. He should've been right. I dont know many people who live in Leawood (as opposed to Overland Park) that aren't Jewish. We walked in and he was right, I didn't. They asked where I work. I told them B'nai Jehudah. The wife said to the husband, isn't that where Leah got married? I said Leah who? They said Leah Hedrick. Yeah, I work with her Mom. They are her aunt and uncle. Totally weird.

After we met with them, we went to lunch at this crazy place in Ramla called Samir's. Before I left, I would've had nothing to do with any of the food that they make/sell there... but now, having forced my pallet to change, it was so delicious. I had falafel and hummus and pita and kabobs. YUM! So that's good news. I'm eating more grown up food.

Last night, I went to one of the first professional baseball games ever to be played in Israel. A professional baseball leauge just started ehre called the Israeli Baseball Leauge (IBL). You probably heard about it on NPR or PBS or NBC or CNN. David and Miri, his rabbi wife, have a son, Alon, who plays on one of the teams. It was so fun to go and actually know one of the players. Afterwards, I went with David and Alon and had dinner in Tel Aviv with a couple of the VERY christian players from the states. It was an interesting dinner. One I'm glad I went to. And the food was delish. Again, never food I would've eaten before I got there. Yay me.

That's what I know. Today, I'm going to some meetings at Pinat Shorshim. And that's about it. Tonight, another baseball game. Tomorrow, another baseball game. Thursday, the kids get here. This trip is really flying by.

BYE!
Love, me

Oh, annyoing...

2007-07-05T03:47:00.001-07:00

So I am typing this on an arabic computer in the jewish quarter of jerusalem. all that means is i have to type backwards for it to appear correct for you, the audience at home.

things are really lovely here. my congregation is still here and we have recently arrived in jerusalem, concluding our trip around the northern and central part of the country. I will write more about our adventures around Israel in a future post but I will mention briefly the coolest thing I got to do during our journey. We visited a place called Beit Sh'an... an ancient city that was just recently uncovered. i mean like, uncovered in the last 30 years... and the place was a city about 2000 years ago. it is so well perserved that the mosiacs are still in place on some of the floors. you could also see when the city was taken over by the romans, as they brought with them marble and granite, both mediums not native to the region. the statues still partially stand throughout the city. anyway, in the center of the place there is a large ampitheatre. the seats and stage are still intact. here's what was cool... the people from our trip went and sat in the seats (this is a huge place, thousands of seats) and I stood on the stage and sang this song called Oseh Shalom (To Make Peace). The accousitcs were so excellent in the ampitheatre that even when i sang in my quietest tone, they could hear me in the back. after i sang the song we all just sort of stood/sat there like, whoa... it was exactly like this 2000 years ago. So bizarre to think about but so cool that I got to do that. Something I'll not soon forget.

Anyway, we are truly having a great time. I will be sad to have to them go but look forward to having a few days more before the kids get here to run around with Solo. Pics of Solo have to wait until I get home but fear not, unlike some boyfriends I have had, pictures of Solo DO exist!

Ok, that's all I know for now because we have to go to a museum. I say 'have to' like I dont want to go. There hasn't been anything I haven't liked yet. But getting to sing there was my fave. Picking turnips for a harvesters type of institution was a close second

Talk to you a little later then.

BYE! Love, me

PS: too bad about the rain on the 4th of july. I was singing at my friend's wedding on the evening of 4th but was thinking of being at home at Mama's. And annihilating everyone with water balloons. which i totally would've done. despite the rain. bye for real.

Solo... as in Han.

2007-07-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

This is going to be very quick because it's very late here and I have to get up at 6AM. Yick. Today, we are in Tiberias at the Sea of Galilee. It's all so beautiful. The congregation is here now and it is so nice to have people here to see all of these things with. I loved being here on my own, but having friends here is a huge comfort.

Today, I was able to be a part of the conversion ceremony for two of my friends. I'm not sure why, but it was one of the most moving things I have ever gotten to do. Like, in my life. So cool. i will write more about that later.

We're headed to the Dead Sea tomorrow. I am gaining so much weight on this trip, what with all the bread i'm consuming (YUM), i'm pretty sure i'll be the first person that sinks in it. I'll report back soon on that.

I hope you're doing well. That's what I know for now. Take care!

Alexis

Wednesday. My last day alone for the next month.

2007-06-27T01:10:00.000-07:00

Yooooo fooooooools.

So, today is it. My last day in Jerusalem alone. As predicted, I am a little sad the time has gone so fast. I'm excited to see some friends and parents of my youth groupers tomorrow, but I have been having such a good time with my friends here and hanging out with Solo. I'm glad I got this time. I know how to say so many things in Hebrew now, too. I guess Orly was not such a bust afterall. That would've been an expensive bust. I digress.

For the rest of the day, I plan on going on a big walk to see all the things I have discovered over the last two weeks. I have taken almost no pictures, so I need to do a little of that today. What I have taken pictures of are stray cats and a few of Solo. That's it.

Things I have learned since I got here:

1. Never say you're American. Everyone knows, but no one likes to be reminded.
2. Never cross the street if you don't have a light. You will get a jaywalking ticket here. And the cops? they aren't nice. Just ask Solo.
3. Only visit the waffle lady a few times a week. If she starts to recognize you, no matter your size, you will be known as fatty american. And no one likes to be called fatty american.
4. Don't ever ask to pay for something with American money. They all will take it from you and then charge you double. For being so stupid.
5. Don't waste your time with vacation apartments when you could stay the whole time at the DPAF. This is not a joke.
6. Bring a water bottle with you everywhere. If you don't, your throat turns to sandpaper in about 3 minutes. Also not a joke.
7. Don't pretend you're mute if you're just going to forget. That's going to cost you some major bones.

I will be traveling to Tel Aviv at 9:00am tomorrow morning... meeting the group who arrives around 10:00- I THINK. I called the tour guide who we are touring with for the next two weeks and he thinks they don't arrive until the afternoon. I think he is wrong, but then, what do I know exactly? That's some information I would really like to have and one of the times when I really, REALLY hate the time difference. By the time I find out what time they are getting here tomorrow, it will already be night time here. Thus, too late for me to call and change the time the shuttle is picking me up at the DPAF. Sucksssssssssssss!! !! !! !!

Well, that's just about all I know. I'm hungry. Which in hebrew is Ani Ra-ev. Ah-knee rah-ev. I'm going to go to Apple Pizza. Because it only costs 10 shekl. Not because it's that good. Talk to you the next time I can get to a computer.

BYE!!!!!!!

It's Tuesday now.

2007-06-26T00:49:00.001-07:00

Wait a second. I just realized that I haven't had a comment from Mama in DAYS. WHAT GIVES???

Ok. So, yesterday... I have continued to spend more and more time with a guy I met here named (I thought) Nissan. It turns out that his name is Solomon Nissan. For short, Solo. Didn't I feel silly calling him the wrong thing? He waited until I had done it four or five times before correcting me. Anyway, he is pretty much the coolest person in the world. We met at the Coffee Bean which is a coffee shop where lots of people who are between probably 25 and 35 hang out. They also have tea. Back to my story. He was reading a book about cameras and I was writing somethings down in my notebook when he came and sat at my table. At home, this would've alarmed me but here, I guess people do that? Just come and sit at your table. Whatev. So, he came over and we talked for a little bit. About where I was from, what we both do for a living. We figured out we were about the same age... blah, blah.. anyway, he asked if I was busy that afternoon. Of course, I am never busy in the afternoon, only the very early morning. So, I went on a walk with him and he showed a few places I hadn't been brave enough to walk alone. Not because they are dangerous, but because they are outside of the mile radius from the Dreamy Playland of American Finery. So, we walked around and he taught me some phrases in hebrew. Anyway, I ended up spending the entire day with him. And the next day. And the next day. He works for El-Al Airlines, the airline of Israel so he left yesterday, but will be back on Monday. I would've thought the whole airline thing was a lie, but he has about one billion El-Al items at his apartment. And collecting all that stuff just trick American girls into thinking you worked for an airline would be such a hassle.

Last night, he took me a restaurant called RestPub Cafe!! (Two exclamation points. why? because everything has two exclamations point here. homo dog!!). We got through our entire meal before he told me that this specific RestPub Cafe!! had been blown up twice in the last five years. Then he said... terrorists are so stupid!! they forgot they had already been here!! Oddly, that did little to calm my ever growing nerves about being blown up here. Fortunately, we were not blown up. But that will probably be my last visit to RestPub Cafe!! I'm just saying. So, we walked around for awhile more after dinner and he was telling me about all his siblings. All of whom live in the USA. And how he is there many times a year. And how he has been to Kansas City before and likes the fountains. Interesting. Anyway, he is going to be in the midwest again in the end of the summer. We will get to see each other then too. Pretty cool. So that was my date(s), Abbdar.

Everyone keeps saying Yom Tov. I thought you only said that on holidays. IS TODAY A HOLIDAY THAT I DONT KNOW ABOUT? I don't think so. Hmmm.

One more story and then I have to blow this joint and go on a field trip. SO- Solo and I were talking about how I have a mortal fear of the busses and that I would only take taxis or walk everywhere I wanted to go. He agreed that it was a smart move to stay off the busses but asked, didn't the taxi drivers try to rip me off because i'm american? Well, yes. Yes they do. Especially after the find out I'm staying at the DPAF. So he asked for a piece of paper and wrote down the following in hebrew:

I'm Mute. Please take me to the YMCA.

Foolproof, right!?!??!? Yeah, it would've been foolproof if I wasn't such an f'íng idiot. So, I get in the cab. Give the drive my piece of paper letting him know of my condition. He gives me a sad face and nods that he will take me to the YMCA. It's like a 10 minute ride... but you KNOW how my mind wanders sometimes. Well, my phone rings and what do I do? oh yeah, answer it with a big american HELLO.

The driver looks at me in the rearview and glares a little. Needless to say, it cost me double what it would've normally. Double the normal american rip off fare. Bummer!

So, that is what I know. Never pretend to be a mute if you're only going to forget about it 10 minutes later.

BYE!

THAT'S HOW YOU CALL ME!

2007-06-25T02:34:00.001-07:00

To call me in Israel, which you def. should do... you dial:

972(2)601-4161

Amazing.

Mondayyyy = Mind Change

2007-06-25T02:02:00.000-07:00

Wiser heads have prevailed and I have decided to wait to go to Tsfat (city of Jewish mysticism) until next week when my congregation is here. Why? Well, as excellent as I have been feeling here lately (and I still do), I'm not sure how I feel about traveling 3 hours by car with people I just met about 4 days ago. Just a thought. I did, however, go on a DATE since I last wrote. More about later. First I have to tell you about the YMCA or as I like to call it THE DREAMY PLAYLAND OF AMERICAN FINERY.

So, I am sure that there are fancier hotels in Israel. Infact, I am sure there are hotels that offer more luxury on the same street as The Dreamy Playland of American Finery (henceforth called DPAF). THAT BEING SAID- compared to the apartment where I have been staying, and don't get me wrong... I liked it there, the DPAF is a breathtaking palace of airconditioning and cleanliness. It has a swimming pool. Not that I'll be using it... but it DOES. It gives you breakfast everyday. It has American TV. This means you could watch MTV 24 hours a day, if you so chose. I won't be because I only a few days left in Jerusalem by myself, but if I had time to kill... it would be watching MTV. It is also just a five minute walk to the Waffle Lady of Jerusalem.

Dreamy Playland of American Finery + Waffle Lady of Jerusalem= OMG!OMG!OMG!

I am feeling just great. The congregation comes on Thursday morning. I'm thinking about traveling to Tel Aviv on Wednesday so that I won't have to make the trip on Thursday very early. They get in at 9:45am. But leaving on Wednesday would mean one less night at the DPAF. Decisions, decisions.

Yesterday, I found a Bedouin jeweler on Ben Jehudah Street. Ben Jehudah is like the Mass Street of Jerusalem. Lots of jewelry, lots of clothing stores, some music stores, many restaurants (remind me later to go into detail about fancy burger king)... things like that. Anyway, the guy who makes all the stuff in there is named Edan. Ee-don. He was very, very nice and gave me 40% off because I got two things, a necklace and earrings. Two things that are going to be my birthday present to myself for the next 10 years because I spent about 9 billion shekls on them. And it would take me two days to earn that much money at home. That means, according to my calculations, that I'll only have to wear them 8 thousands times to get my money out of them. There are worse things, I suppose.

Oh yeah, on the way to the internet place this morning, I saw a little girl wearing a shirt that said "HOMO DOG!!". It had two exclamation points. All I could think was... people speak English here. Surely one of her parents would recognize that something was not quite write about that. Who knows, though. People say nigger and negro here a lot. My friend Ben (who is American, but moved here 13 years ago) says they say it to mean the same thing as idiot or stupid, that they don't understand the connotations it has for Americans. I guess I can see that, but I still don't like it and it makes my tounge sweat everytime I hear it. No one likes a sweating tounge.

Pretty much, that's what I know. I feel like my trip is almost over, even thought I have about a month to go.

Seeee yaaaaa.
Alexis

Another Sunday

2007-06-24T01:15:00.000-07:00

Well, Hello.

I was just on here not 12 hours ago but... to stay in my routine, I'll write again. In the time since I last wrote, I discovered what will soon become my biggest regret of my time here alone in Jerusalem. What discovery? Oh, the discovery of the one and only WAFFLE LADY OF JERUSALEM. Many of you know about my, we'll say, fondness for waffles. If only I had found her last week when I wanted to go home so badly. Rabbi Schuster had told me about the waffle lady and how addicitive the comforts of her waffely goodness could be. I ignored the warning and had three of them. In one sitting. With chocolate on them. And now, as soon as I finish writing this, I have to go back. Back to get more waffles. Chocolate waffles. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. if i could bring them home, i would... try. but i know i would eat them on the plane.

So anyway, I'm officially going to Tsfat with my friends! Tsfat=city of Jewish mysticism. I'm not sure I'll be able to update my blog from there so if you don't hear from me for a few days, that will be why. I'm really looking forward to it.

You are so lucky you didn't call me at 6:15 this morning. Seriously.

I read over my journal from my first few days here yesterday. It shouldn't surprise anyone that I wrote about 50 pages about why no one should ever come here. I hope I'll get to come back again while I'm still working at B'nai Jehudah. They are coming again next summer. I think I'll do it again. I'm also going to go to a camp for jewish musicians next summer. It's called Hava NaShira. I had been talking about going to Ethiopia... but I think my time will be better spent at the camp and here. At least that's what I'm thinking right now. Abbdar- I have a new plan for our anniversary trip. Don't worry.

Ok, that's what I know. Again, If I don't post for a few days, know it's because I'm in Tsfat. I'll be back Tuesday or Wednesday. Depending on what time you check this.

Bye! Alexis

Saturday night! Saturday night!

2007-06-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

I have ventured out from my apartment at night. Night beyond 7:30 which is when I usually like to be safe within the confines of my neighborhood. Tonight, I am downtown ON MY OWN and it is almost 10:00pm. I know, right?

So, I have almost nothing to report. Shabbat was great. I went back to the Wall, to a new synagogue and out with a friend. That sounds almost like what I would at home on Shabbat, except there's no wall in my usual version. I am starting to feel more and more at home here which is great consider (and as I have told many of you) I would've sold all my internal organs to come home about a week ago. boy, am i glad i didn't!

Israeli trick of the day:

Let's say, for the sake of this story, that you are me. and that you read hebrew but understand almost nothing. You walk into a 24 grocery and go back to the bottled water. you have to get new bottled water everyday because 1) if you don't drink water here full time, you'll sweat yourself to death and die. 2) because of that stupid article I read in an Oprah magazine about the germs that collect in the caps of water bottles that go on to eat parts of your brain and render you barren. ok, well, that's not true, but it can make you really sick. And I have OCD, I think. so anyway, new water bottle everyday.

You walk into the 24 hour grocery, see the bottles and go to pick one. But it's all in hebrew. this shouldn't be that hard but all the bottles have different colored caps. what does that mean? You think hard for a moment and think, that can't just be decorative. Surely the color serves a purpose. You avoid the pinks and reds, assuming that that will mean strawberry and instead you choose light blue, thinking... light blue means just plain water, right? WRONGO BONGO. Light blue means melon. IN WHAT UNIVERSE DOES LIGHT BLUE EQUAL MELON? That's what I'm saying. I didn't have the cap off for 10 seconds before I could smell that something wasn't right. I took one drink, spit it back in the bottle and kissed all 11 shekls that it cost goodbye. I don't know about you, but I hate flavored water.

Spending this much time talking about flavored water should be an indicator to you that I am doing much better. I love the people I'm meeting. I might go on an overnight trip with some of them this week to the city of Jewish mysticism!!! (Don't worry, Mama).

In other news, I have been trying to assimilate myself as much as I can. What this means is plucking my eyebrows a little more than I would normally (Israeli women keep about 5 hairs on other side), walking with smaller steps and yelling all the Hebrew words into my cell phone. This would be more effective if I knew how to say anything other than BANANAS! WHERE'S THE BATHROOM! I NEED A TELEPHONE!

Well, that's what I know. I still miss you. I will see you in 5 weeks. Unless you are one that I don't usually see. In which case, see ya when I see ya.

Love, Alexis

shabbat shalom, my friends

2007-06-22T04:07:00.000-07:00

well, hello. Here are the facts. Yesterday, I did find my way to the gay pride parade. it was relatively uneventful and sort of like what I have seen before. not so different from the gay pride parade and events at home in that it's just a lot of drunk americans. that's what it was here too. a lot of drunk americans. that being said, seeing all their sings in hebrew was cool because i could read them. read them, not necessarily understand them. i can tell i am getting a little better though. which is good since that's why i'm here.

now, i'll tell you what i hate. americans. not americans at home, americans here. why is it that every one of them that i meet, run into, sit by, overhear is ALWAYS like a caricature of what you would expect. all the girls are about 20 and show the midrifs full time and say things like "oh my f'ing god, are you on crack????" and the boys are all super fratty and say things like "seriuosly, shalom dude". Yick. And the ones that are 20 or fratty are wearing giant fanny packs with big hats and sunglasses, yelling at their kids to get in the picture they are trying to take along with 30 other tourists. i am guilty of the picture taking part. but not of the fanny pack. or saying shalom dude.

tonight, i am going to a new synagogue. well, new to me. it's almost shabbat now so the stores will be closing soon. that's why this post is a little shorter. i have to secure food for the next two days. then i have to go home and take a shower and change clothes and walk to the new temple before services start. tomorrow, i'm going to go back to hebrew union college. Monday, I move to the YMCA. It feels like I have virtually no time left before the congregation comes. Then I remind myself that I have the exact amount of time I have been here alone to do again before they get here. Oh yeah. Dango Bango? Wrongo Bongo. I miss you too.

That is it! I will post tomorrow, assuming I can find a computer that works on shabbat. check you later.

Love, Blex0r

Thursday! YAY!

2007-06-21T03:08:00.000-07:00

Today was a big day. So was yesterday. So I'll tell you about both. I should actually say that today IS a big day. Because it's only 1:15pm right now. 13:15, if you are from here. Or anywhere that isn't the USA. ANYWAY.

Reasons today is a big day:

1. Today is the Gay Pride Parade on the street where I am staying. Ordinarily, I would think this was a fun thing to go to. I would be wrongo bongo about that. Here, Gay Pride Parade is like a civil rights march. It's not for 4 more hours but there are literally about 300 police officers lining up on the streets, huge baracades, sandbags even. I'm not sure what the sandbags are for. A flood? A holy intervention?

2. I met with the Cantor at Hebrew Union College who is a mentor of Sharon's. He was very, very nice and he likes Sharon a LOT which in turn meant he was super nice to me. Good news for me though, I think he is probably that cordial to everyone he meets. Anyway, we had a good talk about my cantorial intentions and he had some good advice to give. He said he thinks it is really great that I've chosen to stay in Kansas City for a few more years before I start school. I do too. That's why I'm doing it. He also thinks it's great that I get to work as closely with Sharon as I do. Again, I do to. He invited me to come to the orientation for new Cantorial students on July 11th. I will be able to because that is one of the days I have free between the time Rabbi Nemitoff and the congregation leave and when the kids get here.

3. I am meeting up with some 'friends' tonight at an American pub. I use friends casually because they really aren't my friends... and really, REALLY wouldn't be my friends were I am home. But they speak english. And that's really the only qualification to be my friend here in the holyland.

Reasons yesterday was a big day:

1. I had some questions for God, so I wrote them all down and marched them to the Western Wall. I still feel totally unmoved when I go there but putting my questions in the wall made me feel a little better. It was a really lovely walk home. It was very breezy and I got to think for awhile. Often, I am too distracted to think while I am walking. Both because I'm not always sure where I am going and I'm just the sort of person who likes to know exactly what is going on around me.

2. I made a reservation at the Fancy shmancy YMCA across the street from where I am now. And no, it is not that I need fancy per se, but more that my time runs out where I am staying now and a new American tourist is coming to boot me. I only had this place until the 25th and part of my adventure while here was to find somewhere new.

3. I got a good email from a friend who told me that she doesn't find the Western Wall that holy feeling either. She has found her 'God' in other people. I like this idea a lot. Especially when I think about the whole being created in the image of god thing/ . That makes much more sense to me and offered me some solice. Enough to allow me to fall asleep at 2am when I once again, couldn't fall asleep due to the strays who apperantly live on the street outside my apartment. This time I am talking about cats. Cats who are in heat.

So, that's what's going on today. I am thinking about going to watch a little of the parade. The cantor who I met today warned me about getting too close. So I'll watch from afar on the off chance that violence between the religions does, infact, break out. A good tip.

That is all that I know. Seriously. When I know more, I will tell you. That's a deal.

BYE!

OMG! Tuesday and Wednesday in one! OH MY!

2007-06-20T02:07:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday I was trying to take an internet vacation because until today, I had been spending 1.5 shekls a MINUTE to use the internet. for those that don't know, 4 shekls are in a dollar. Do the math.

So, now I have gone from liking Israel to loving it. This is good because about 4 days ago, I would've cut off my left arm to come home. I could list out the things that I love, but that would take forever and while it's not 1.5 shekls a minute anymore, it still costs money. Someone is smoking next to me. VOMIT. That's one thing not to love around here. Everyone smokes. Haven't they heard the news about the CANCER involved in smoking? One would think.

So, anyway, I have heard that some of you have tried to call me. The bummer for you (well, more me) is that the phone number I posted on here isn't RIGHT. To find out how to call me for real, ABBY will have to post how to do so. So get on that, Abbdar. Seriously.

Today, I am on a hunt to find another place to stay for the three days before Art and the congregation gets here. I'm a little sad about that because I really like where I'm staying. I am going to try and move to the fancy schmancy YMCA that is across the street. Now, I know at home one usually wouldn't associate the words fancy or schmancy with YMCA... however, here in the holyland, it's like the Taj Mahal. At least it is to me. Be careful about using their internet thought. 1.5 shek a min. Burn.

Well, I could go on about all the things that I am doing but then I wouldn't have anything to tell you when I get home. And no one wants that. PS: MAMA OR LISH- how about coming to get me at the airport when i get back? Flight information to follow.

I lauve you.
Bye. LEX

But now it's Monday

2007-06-18T04:32:00.000-07:00

So, someone is in love with me. Which, ordinarily, would be the thrill of my life. I was talking to my sister the other day, telling her about how many stray cats there are here. Well, come to think of it there are just as many stray men. They just walk around asking for the time or if you have a dollar for cigarettes. I wouldn't have either, but I bought a watch yesterday. I'm like a real grown up now.

So, anyway, the man that loves him... his name is Avraheim. He's a carpenter and he won't leave me alone. Again, my dream at home. Not so much of a dream when I don't speak his language and he comes to my door at 2am. It won't be happening again because I told the owner of the place where I'm staying.

Today, I'm going to check out some artists studios and maybe walk to the old city. It's so beautiful here. I can't figure out how to get any pictures on here so just suffice it to say that it's pretty and I'll show you when I get home.

The homesick part is only bothering me a little. Good news! I'm sure my phone bill from my first two days is going to be about seven billion dollars. but it made me feel better. and that's what matters.

That's what I know for now. I'm going in search of God. I'll let you know what I find.

Love, Alexis

It's Sunday

2007-06-17T04:19:00.000-07:00

I found Ben Jehudah street today. Big accomplishment. To safe guard myself from getting lost, I write down the streets where I turn. Everything looks the same here to me. It's all white stone. Anyway, I'm having a good time. Figuring out where to go for what and everything like that.

I started my Ulpan (the hebrew immersion class) and I'm going to find a different one, if i can. The one I went to today is just me and a lady. A CRAZY lady at that. I mean, she's nice and all but she speaks almost no english (which, yes I get that the point of an Ulpan is that you don't speak english)... but it's EXTREMELY frustrating to not be able to understand anything. We'll see. It's only been a few days, but i miss hearing english. Actually, I just miss being able to talk to people.

Speaking of which, I made a friend. His name is Ben. He works at Steve's Jerusalem Packs which is like a backpack store. He is orginally from New Jersey but moved here 13 years ago with his family. We're the same age, which is cool. Anyway, if this Ulpan thing doesn't work out, he's going to be totally sick of me by the time the congregation gets here on the 28th.

Last night, I couldn't sleep at all. Every noise "woke me up". I use woke me up loosly as I never really fell asleep. Finally the sun came up at about 6 and I pretty much passed out. And woke up at noon... to the sound of the woman upstairs yelling at her son. I know they were fighting and not just talking (as it seems to me that everyone yells here pretty much full time) because the son kept yelling back "LO LO LO, IMA!" which means NO NO NO, MOM!. I'm going to start using that one at home. Good news for the people I live with.

Yesterday, I found the Western Wall and hung out there for awhile. Please remember the next time you are there that you have to walk away from it backwards. If you do'nt know that like, say, ME, then people will yell at you in Hebrew. People will also yell at you in Hebrew if you walk into their OPEN STORE and then are on break. How do you know they are on break? Because they say "LADY, this is break, no?".

About the western wall, I have been many times now to the wall and each time I expect it to be something it isn't for me. Maybe I should say something it isn't yet. I put my prayer in the wall just like everyone else and I touched my hands to the white stone, just like everyone else. But I don't feel anything. Maybe this isn't the place that is supposed to feel holy for me. I hope there is a place like that.

Anyway, that's all I know. Well, that's not true. But it's all I can think of right now.

I miss you a lot. And that's a fact.
Love, Alexis

I'm HERE!

2007-06-15T03:33:00.000-07:00

Helloooooo. I survived getting from the airport in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem!

I am writing from the YMCA in Jerusalem. Why? Because it's the only place I could find that has a computer, not just WI-FI. Anyway, I found the place where I am staying... it's a vacation apartment in a neighborhood called Yemin Moshe. It's very close to the King David Hotel and about 5 minutes walking from Hebrew Union College (which is where the cantorial school is).

The flights were long but not so bad. I watched the movie Music and Lyrics 3 times. And Bridge to Terabithia once. I guess I forgot that the little girl DIES. I've even read the book. No one likes crying on airplanes. (Abby, it was A Perfect Storm all over again).

Anyway, I'm going to go back to the apartment and lie down for awhile. I feel really good about the neighboorhood where I am staying and will venture out a little further tomorrow. For now, I'm going to take a time out this afternoon and try to adjust to the time difference.

This is going to be really great. Really, really great.
I miss you.
LEX

MY CELL PHONE NUMBER IN ISRAEL

2007-06-13T15:12:00.001-07:00

From the USA you dial:

011-52-601-4161

Call me. Please. Especially in the next two weeks.

Ok. Bye.