A Whole New World!

This is going to be a long one folks, be prepared…(and yes, my title is from the Disney movie Aladdin)

So tomorrow is the big day. Tomorrow is the day we leave for our [half-planned and fully liable to the woes of Murphy’s law] international adventures. Really, we’re just a couple of American young adults (like how I used that term here? Ha-ha I struggled for a few minutes with exactly what to call myself), but here we are, pretending like we know what the next few weeks will bring, when in all reality, we may or may not be in just a tad over our heads? Not to say that we can’t handle our planned trip, we can, and I have no doubt that we will, but…let’s just say that planning international adventures all on your own is a LOT more difficult that one might expect. And for our group of travelers, whose combined solo international travel experiences are not enough to give us any clue as to the best way to go about making all these plans, we’ve done alright so far? I think? I guess we’re about to find out?

But really, I’ve learned a LOT over the last few days, not only about travel planning, but even more about Israel, Israelis, and myself…hmm perhaps I should take a moment to reflect? The time would seem fitting I suppose? OK, sounds like a plan…
So first, about Israel, the weather here is EXACTLY the same-every. day. This is not an exaggeration people. It doesn’t ever rain (at least not during this time of year), and it’s just hot and gorgeously sunny every day. EVERY. DAY. If you don’t believe me look it up! As we’re a bit farther north here, the temperature is a little bit cooler than the rest of the country, but always a steady lower 80s or upper 90s-the temp never fluctuates more than that. Now, as for where I’ll be traveling, aka DESERT, it’s about to be even HOTTER. Which, I guess I’m looking forward to in a way? I want to prove that I’m not just another American who overuses the air conditioning and can’t handle a little heat...or, as it will be, a LOT of heat! Come to think of it..I’m a bit sad I can’t take either of my two fans with me.  Haha..but anywho..enough about the weather?

ALSO: random things are ridiculously expensive in this country…take a tube of mascara for instance, the MINIMUM you can get one here for: $30!!!! How ludicrous!! And, while the bagged milk is HUGE here, it’s still fairly costly..Haha..I just wanted to share my observations…

As for what I’ve learned about Israelis: They LOVE their bakeries, and in particular, their chocolate croissants. This is becoming a problem for me, as it is getting exceedingly difficult for me to walk by a bakery and NOT pick up a freshly-baked-sent-straight-from-heaven chocolate croissant...or two, or three, and/or a few berekas and the like. ESPECIALLY now that our campus grocery store closed...baked goods seem to be my main staple? I mean, I guess it’s good that I finally diverged from pita and hummus but…still, plan of action upon return to Haifa is: MORE cooking…REAL food!!! Having said this, if anyone knows of any simple (I’M NOT A COOK-WHEN I SAY SIMPLE I MEAN A FOUR YEAR OLD COULD DO IT), but simple, fairly cheap recipes that they’d like to share, I’d much appreciate it! (Food is quite expensive here, another reason I’m looking forward to traveling!)

Also, while we’re on the topic of Israelis, I’ve learned that most would never dream of traveling to the places we’ll be going, and continuously warn those that do. Now this, while it is not surprising, has been somewhat unexpected insofar as the extent of the warnings and [in my opinion, unwarranted] beliefs that they won’t be safe in Arab populated areas or countries. For the most part (and I realize I’m generalizing here, and stereotyping, but this is just what I’ve found so far, I’m sure there are exceptions), but for the most part, there is a very real, very prominent fear of traveling to places I’d consider safer than my hometown. Interesting? I think so….
And this brings me to a few things I’ve learned about myself over the last month or so that I believe to be important revelations to have made.

First, I am getting really good at goodbyes. Many of the people I became close with over the last month are gone. POOF. Out of my life as quickly as they were in it, off to their various home countries and lives. And, while I dislike having to say my goodbyes so quickly, I can immediately recognize that I needed these people to be in my life for the amount of time they were in it, and they impacted it greatly. I’m glad that some of my friends will be here with me through the remainder of the semester of course, but those that aren’t, I feel happy and blessed to have known them for the amount of time that I did.

Another revelation? I’m okay with not having set plans and letting my world unfold in front of me. It still makes me a tad uncomfortable, not having everything set in stone all the time, but I’m getting better at “going with the flow” as they say. Take this upcoming trip for example, it starts in Jerusalem for a few days, then we’ll be heading to Amman(I’m staying with my host family again!!! WOOOOOT!!!), then to Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba (all in Jordan), from there we’ll be going to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, Cairo, Luxor, Valley of the Kings and Alexandria. So while, in theory, we have a plan, and, in theory, we have some kind of idea where we’ll be sleeping every night, I’m excited to hit the bumps in the road and figure things out as we go. I’ve never lived my life in such a ‘play it by ear’ fashion before and I LOVE it. I’m excited for what the next few weeks will bring, and excited that I don’t KNOW every detail of what it will be. Before leaving the states, a very good family friend of mine gave me a card that read: “Life is divine chaos. Embrace it.” This has sort of become my mantra over the last few weeks. And I’m fully embracing it :)

As far as updates go over the last week, I had my first kabbalat Shabbat service and dinner with some of my more devout friends here last weekend. It was SO interesting. I’m learning SO much about Judaism, in addition to everything else. I wish I could describe how fascinating it is, to see the traditions and the culture in such a light every day. After the weekend, I took a day trip up north to visit a friend for the day. Then I went down south (not really) to Tel-Aviv to say goodbye to another friend. Then today I RETURNED to Tel-Aviv to obtain a Jordanian visa. It’s been a hectic few days, and while I wish I could have squeezed in a few more hours of sleep in between, I’m [almost] done packing, and couldn’t be MORE excited to start my journeys tomorrow!

I’ll try to update every once in a while, but, as mentioned above, I’m not EXACTLY sure about any of it, so internet access might be difficult in some places? Hmmm..but we’ll just have to see?

Good luck to all my loves with wherever the next few weeks may bring them!

Oh, and in case anyone missed it in my earlier posts, you should be able to see more pictures here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2058438&id=1602270028&l=b94581dbf7


Peace, Salaam, Paz, Shalom…