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
Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Another Sunday
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
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, June 23, 2007
Saturday night! Saturday night!
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
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
Friday, June 22, 2007
shabbat shalom, my friends
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
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, June 21, 2007
Thursday! YAY!
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!
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!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
OMG! Tuesday and Wednesday in one! OH MY!
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
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
Monday, June 18, 2007
But now it's Monday
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
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
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