Crazy Israelis

The weather here has been pretty horrible since I got here. I think there have only been three days where it has not poured. I know Israel needs the rain very badly, but it is not fun getting stuck in it! The Israeli streets aren't designed for this kind of deluge, so there are puddles everywhere. I have still managed to run on the beach four times, which I absolutely love. It's just like any other beach--with people running, walking, and biking on the sand and boardwalk. I have noticed that older Israeli men prefer to wear short shorts!
Since ulpan and attempting to learn Hebrew, I have actually learned that I know much more Spanish than I thought I knew!!! Since I know really no Hebrew, I feel all of a sudden pretty good about my Spanish skills! Everything we learn in Hebrew, I can say in Spanish and I often fool around in class and speak Spanish. And Spanish seems so much easier compared with Hebrew!
Today in the shuck (market place) Rose (one of my closest friends here) and I were schmoozing at one of the kiosk type places (thats all the shuck is..a bunch of kiosks filled with fruits, vegetables, breads, candies, clothes, jewelry, etc). The man running that particular kiosk asked us if we were going to buy anything, and we said no. So he literally snarled at us to get away then. I thought he was joking and started to laugh, but he was dead serious! He told us again that we were a waste and to get away. Wow. Can you imagine a sales clerk saying that to people in America just because they didn't necessarily have plans to buy anything?! Israelis can be tough creatures.
I finally ate falafel for the first time since I've been here! It was delicious. I have also been eating a lot of hummus and this Israeli chocolate spread (like Nutella)! Many Americans would not be able to handle so much of what happens here in Israel. Americans are very OCD, while Israelis are so laid back about many things. For instance, dogs are everywhere here, and they often come into restaurants, stores, malls, etc with their owners! And mind..these are not seeing eye dogs. So it's definitely unsanitary but Israelis don't seem to care at all.
I got my ear cartilage (upper ear) pierced yesterday. I'm not quite sure why, but one of my other roommates wanted to get her nose pierced, so we went together and just did it!! It felt odd to be sitting in the room getting pierced in Israel! It looks pretty cool, it was only about $35, and I can take it out whenever I get tired of it!