From the Mid-West to the Mid-East

The Jerusalem Hotel (my apartment)

WUJS may be over, but the tradition of communal living and mooching live on!

Our new apartment is fantastic, and everyone agrees so whole heartedly that they have virtually moved in. No, not quite, but we have had quite a few people stay over. There's been Petr, Brian, two of Brian's friends who I entertained while he drank with Petr (whoopee) and who were really very nice, Naomi, Juliet and Evan. Josh and I have even managed to be in the apartment at the same time, something that didn't seem possible the first week we moved in. Josh was in a pretty scary bus crash when he was traveling to Arad for WUJS check-out. Very grisly stuff and I'm glad he's ok except for a gash in his chin that I get to pour anti-septic on while he leans awkwardly over the tub and invariably gets the yellow liquid all over his back and pooled in his collar bone.

Petr has a great love of walking and exploring, which is contagious. It turns out my new neighborhood is perfect for little excursions. There is about one shul (synagogue) per 5 apartments, all either picturesque or so ugly you can't not stop to appreciate them. On our walks we take pictures of exciting apartments, little shuls, hasidic youth playing basketball, particularly ugly cats and pretty doors, the little touches on the neighborhood that date back over a hundred years. It's been so hot during the day, though recently it's cooling down, that these walks are done at night, which make them particularly fun. We once ran into a large group of South African dairy farmers ("We milk the cows" we were told by one of the stragglers), and on another night we happened past a first floor window that was wide open and just inside was an orthodox couple pracitcing the first mitzvah (go forth and multiply), an interesting note, the kippah was on.

Petr, Josh, and I took a daytime walk to the Temple Mount the other day. Visiting times are pretty strict and I went in skirt and large scarf to look respectable as well as carried a passport to get me through security, none of which was needed. It was so beautiful up there, and huge! I had no idea the area was so big. I went up with my family 10 years ago, when you could still go into the mosque and the Dome of the Rock, which are now closed off to non-muslims. The three of us were surprised by the friendly atmosphere and the beauty and spent as long as visitor time lasted to explore the whole area.

I head back to America in just a few days, 3 to be exact. It's going to be an intense two week visit packed full; In New York I have graduate school orientation and hanging out with Shira, her finacee Mike, and Asher, then over to Chicago where I have to pack up the last 12 years of my life, then a trip to Cleveland to see my new "home." And I'm going to try to see some friends in each city. All this with incredible amounts of jet lag. I'm excited though, I'm a bit burned out from Israel and a little time at home for the first time in almost 8 months sounds soooooo good. Like an emotional bubble bath. Myabe I'll come back all refreshed?

Still no volunteering in sight. The YMCA just doesn't know how much I want to work for them, or don't care. Israel you frustrate me so much! FREE labor I scream, FREE. If I don't have it figured out by the time I leave on wednesday then I am goign to try to babysit instead and actually make money. I need to get me some kiddies to play with and fast.

So, next post will either be written when I'm in America, perhaps discussing my impressions of Teachers College, Columbia, and scary NY, NY. Either that or I will be writing once I get back on the 28th about how nice it is to be back in a country where everyone pushing and shoving you is Jewish.

posted by A Mus-Ed Blogger @ 2:32 PM