January 2010
1 post
A Real Shabbat
Well ladies and gentleman I finally made it to the children’s home! Since my weekly schedules are normally so jam packed,Hava (the director) and I decided it would be best for me to come up and stay with her family for Shabbat so I could go see the kids on Saturday and not feel rushed. I was a little nervous because her family is orthodox and I was afraid I was going to mess up and accidentally...
December 2009
13 posts
Chanukkah in the Holy Land
I hate to admit it and maybe they will take away my Visa for this but…I kinda miss Christmas! It doesn’t quite feel like winter without tacky red ribbons on all the stores, Christmas lights everywhere and Christmas music blasting obnoxiously from all the radio stations. However, despite feeling less like I am AT home in the states, I’m starting to feel more like this IS home. I was at a bar last...
Thanksgiving in Israel
Once again it was time to be a crazy American and celebrate a holiday that no one in Israel cares about. And in true gluttonous American style, my friends and I had 2 thanksgivings! The first one we had was at my friend Ashley’s house. Her and her boyfriend had people over from each of their programs so we could all eat and meet each other. Since I had the day off of work after my stint on the...
Escape from Ichilov
Escape from Ichilov
No it’s not the next James Bond movie, it’s the story of my life in Israel last week. I was there with more problems with my right side of my body like before but the doctors think it is probably just related to stress. Despite their lack of concern they decided to keep me and observe me for 3 days. I am better now and will continue to get some tests runs just to make sure...
November 2009
18 posts
3 Month-iversary
Exactly 3 months after arriving in Israel, Pollyanna has returned…rejuvenated and ready to take on the world. My return to peppiness and positivity began with a wonderful day of teaching on Thursday. I taught a grammar class on the past perfect tense (try to hide your shock mom) where I had the kids act out the actions and draw the events on a time line to help understand when to use which tense...
Eifo Pollyana?
Another inevitable moment in my new life has arrived. Perky, peppy Pollyanna took a bit of a hiatus. While I am still very happy and grateful to be here, I have hit a bit of a wall when it comes to whether or not I am doing what I set out to do. As most of you know, I am obnoxiously idealistic when it comes to the idea that individual people can change the world. I came here to try and make the...
High Schools: The New JDate
On Thursdays I pull students from a class entirely comprised of boys. This normally would not bother me if I did not have to spend the first 5-10 minutes of every lesson trying to get them to stop hitting on me. Today one boy walked into the room and said “Rachel, I get my driver license yesterday! I take you out now, yes?” Umm not quite. The other intern was being oh so helpful when he said “Ok I...
Heartbreak and Hospitals
Yet again I am going to begin my blog with an apology. I really am trying to get better at this, I swear. I’ve got two years though right? So maybe I will improve over this period of time. As for now, I have a lot to catch everyone up on. Since my last entry I have started University, had a visit to Ichilov Hospital and ended things with Motti. Phew!
Let’s start at the beginning. I ended my...
October 2009
5 posts
Sukkot with a Spanish Flare
So instead of my typical night out, on Saturday night I went to a Salsa bar in Tel Aviv. The last time I went salsa dancing I was in Uruguay and I had no idea what the instructor was saying, and I knew this would be the case here as well. The beauty of going to these lessons though is that you don’t need to understand a word. That is what I love about dancing, you can walk into any studio or bar...
Eating, Fasting, Eating More...Typical...
Rosh Hashanah was wonderful. I spent the weekend in Bat Yam with Motti and his family. I had dinner the first night with 22 (yes that’s right 22) members of his family, his Hebrew speaking family. The food was amazing and everyone was extremely friendly but I am fairly certain I spent a large portion of the evening looking like a deer in headlights because of all the Hebrew flying around my head....
September 2009
7 posts
New Year's Resolutions
Alright so I know this is about the time when people have started to lose faith in my ability to actually post a blog entry. And let’s be honest, I cannot really blame you. Combine my lack of internet with my lack of a time, add a hint of laziness and there you have it folks, I suck. But in the spirit of the new year (the Jewish new year that is for those of you checking your calendar to make sure...
Only in Tel Aviv would “Good Shabbos” be a pick up...
I am trying to adjust to this Israeli weekend schedule of going out super late, staying out super late, and then just getting up at a normal time…when do these people sleep??
I started my fairly sleepless weekend after my first day at my school and my first day of Ulpan. I was so excited to go to my school for the first time but it was fairly uneventful. The school itself was HUGE with separate...
Your name is Richard? Like the boy?
I have a home! Allie and I moved into our FABULOUSLY AMAZING apartment this weekend and I could not be happier. We are living on Ibn Gvirol, a main street in Tel Aviv near EVERYTHING! Bus stops, shops, and FOOD (as you all know, this was of course my number one priority). Our apartment is three bedrooms and we are living with an Israeli guy named Amos who is SUPER nice. Him and I watched “Kochal...
August 2009
8 posts
Hello my name is....
Tuesday we had to get out of the “Holy Crap I’m in the Holy Land” phase and get down to business. The girls from the hostel and I went to the first day of orientation. It was your average orientation, the program directors introduced themselves, the participants introduced themselves, and then we tried to figure out what we were going to do since (surprise, surprise) there were multiple Rachels....
Flying suitcases, naked babies and oh yeah I am in...
That’s right I am actually here! I had a bit of an issue on the train to New Jersey involving mechanical problems, my suitcase being thrown down 3 flights of stairs, and me almost getting into a fight with an amtrak employee but I made it to New Jersey in one piece! In the airport before my flight on Friday I met an amazing family from Israel that was teaching me/laughing at my hebrew and...