1/27/09
I cannot believe I am in ISRAEL!
The plane rides were miserable. I did not sleep at all. Molly, Chloe and I had so many mixed feelings about coming here. We kept asking each other what we were thinking when we signed up. So many little things kept happening to us that just made us want to leave. I lost my iPod, Molly sat on coffee and Chloe didn’t have a seat next to any eie-ers on the plane. When we got to Newark, we had to go into a group room where everyone from the trip met up. It was kind of intimidating. So many people knew each other from camp, but I am so thankful I had Molly and Chloe with me. I feel so bad for the people that came here without knowing anyone.
Today is our first full day on kibbutz Tzuba! My room/roommates are amazing and so nice and I am meeting a lot of really cool people.
We had our first t’filah (prayer). It was so beautiful! It was the first time we were all together, it felt so nice. Prayer really does connect people. Singing together gave me an incredible sense of kehillah (community).
For the rest of the day we mostly did orientations and went over rules. I met my teachers, they all seem really nice and easy and the class sizes are amazingly small.
We have the most awesome madrichim. They are willing to help us with anything and they are really easy to talk to.
I know this took forever but I have been so tried because I am sick right now.
1/28/09
Today was the best day yet! After breakfast we met with our Jewish History classes. My teacher, David, is AMAZING! He so nice, and I can tell he is going to be a great teacher. Also, I am really happy with my classmates. Jewish History will definitely be my favorite class. Even though it is three hours long, I do not see how it could get boring with the classmates and teacher that I have. We will learn about biblical times, modern times, and everything in between. I am most excited for our tiyulim (trips). In what other program can you visit the places that you have been studying about? I think it is fantastic.
We actually had our first tiyul today in the afternoon. Not only was it fun, but it was really cool to actually be there. We went into caves used by Jews 2,000 years ago to escape from the Romans. As I climbed through the narrow tunnels and sat in the short, cramped rooms I imagined what it really would have been like. They had to conserve all of there food and water, take care of children and make sure their enemies had no clue they were down there. It was scary to think about what would happen when Romans would come through the tunnels. We went to tombs, houses and wells, and it was so cool to know that people 2,000 years ago were in the same spots we were.
So about life on the kibbutz. The food is going to take some getting used to. Maybe its because I am sick right now but I’m sure I’ll either get used to it or buy my own food from the marcoleet. I love the rooms and I love my roommates. The only problem is I don’t have a lot of free space.
Tomorrow we have our first full day of classes!
1/29/09
Today we experienced what will be our normal school days here on kibbutz Tzuba.
After breakfast I went to my Hebrew class. I am in the group a little bit better than beginner. I have already learned SO MUCH! Just in that one and a half hours I learned a lot. I am confident I will achieve all of my Hebrew goals.
Jewish history also went really well. I cannot get over what an amazing teacher David is. Instead of talking about geography in class, we went on a mini-hike throughout our beautiful kibbutz!
My Algebra, world history and Spanish teachers are all really nice and helpful! English did not meet today and chemistry Is well… I want to switch into a different class.
So basically we have school from 8 am until 6 pm. It is long, but fun!
After dinner we had Danny Seigel come and talk to us about tikun olam. If you don’t know who he is, look him up. He is so inspirational.
Tomorrow is SHABBAT!!!!!!!!!!! I am so exited. I love Shabbat.
Oh so this is a compilation of the past three days here. It is so hard to find time or internet!
