3rd week in Israel

So what have I been up to you ask? Trying to learn Hebrew, and adjusting to life in Israel. I really like it here! I think I could stay! (Well, you know me, so that means 2,3, maybe even 5 years!) The funny thing is that I've been here now almost 3 week and I haven't seen the Temple Mount, any of the "Old City", or any of the other tourist places-yet-- I'm just living here like an Israeli-it's nice, I'm experiencing what life is like for a new immigrant. I'm in Hebrew school with new immigrants, and 1 of my 2 roommates is a new immigrant, so she's still furnishing the apartment and getting herself settled in as well-both roommates are from the States, so they're still learning Hebrew too.

And most people take the bus here-there are lots of cars, but the bus is very, very common-so in the mornings I take the bus to school and then I walk home afterward--about a 30 minutes walk. I might start walking to school, but I tried it one day last week and there's a pretty steep hill I have to go up and I had been sick (really bad chest cold, the cough hasn't completely gone away yet) and I just couldn't do it. So I think I'll give myself another week and also leave earlier in the morning to give myself more time (so I can tackle the hill slowly) but I would like to try walking to school when the weather's nice.

Next week I start my volunteer work with the organization Christian Friends of Israel (http://www.cfijerusalem.org/ check 'em out!)-It’s a great organization that does all kinds of stuff for the people of Israel, and I'll be working with them maybe 18-20 hours each week. They help victims of terrorism, they visit Holocaust Survivors, and they work with a lot of new immigrants (giving out clothing and basic necessities to move into a new place, like sheets and towels and pots and pans, etc.-those can be from anywhere, and they also have a special program to provide school supplies for the children of Ethiopian immigrants-they tend to be poorer than many of the other immigrants). They even have a bridal center where the immigrants can come and get designer wedding gowns and accessories if they're getting married and can't afford the stuff on their on. I first met with them last week and I was really impressed. I start on Monday, so I'll be busy, but it will be good.

Oh, and this Thursday I finally get to have a tour of the Old City. I'll probably have to wait to see more of Israel-but I have 2 friends from Richmond who have both immigrated (it's called "making Aliyah) and they live in Tel Aviva and farther north, and I'm hoping to get together with them soon and maybe we can see more stuff.

And I made a friend-a girl in my class from Italy-her name is Leah and she's really sweet and she's already cooked pasta for me twice and she lives really close by-we're planning to go into the city on Sunday for the Purim Festivities. Purim is supposed to be about the story of Esther-well it is, but they've added in dressing in costume-so I'm thinking that Sunday here will be similar to LA/Hollywood at Halloween, but less extreme-Anyway, it should be an interesting time-and you're supposed to drink lots of wine at Purim (and we seem to have plenty of wine around the apartment, so...).

Well that’s it for now-Lehitraot!

Blessings from Jerusalem!