One Month in Israel

I'm finding it somewhat difficult to write a blog this time around, because I feel as though I already blogged about so much of the Israeli culture and random "only in Israel" moments last time around! So I won't be writing nearly as much as last time, but I'll do my best to write whenever I encounter new experiences.

Last week the Masters students all went to the Dead Sea. I actually never went to the Dead Sea on Career Israel. I did go on birthright, but considering those ten days four and half years ago were such a blur, I almost felt like this was a brand new experience. We went to Ein Gedi Spa where we all put on our bathing suits and made our way to a tremendous barrel of thick, viscous, black mud. We scooped it up by the handful and slathered it all over ourselves-head to toe. The object was basically to not allow even a minute part of flesh to peek through the mud. I'm confident we all succeeded in this goal! The mud from the Dead Sea is supposed to work wonders for the skin and act as an exfoliate and emollient. We walked about a quarter mile from there to the Dead Sea, while the mud hardened and caked on our bodies. The water used to come up right to the spa, but the sea is apparently receding at a rapid pace. We walked timidly into the sea...the place where bathers are allowed only goes up to the waist or a bit higher. Yet as soon as you attempt to lower your body in the water and lift your legs off the ground, your legs immediately fly to the surface of the water and you're inadvertently floating--you have no choice in the matter! You could truly sit on the surface of the water and read a book if you were so inclined. However, beware if you have any cuts anywhere on your body. Oceans and seas are normally about 3-5% salt. The Dead Sea is 30%...so you can only imagine the pain that would result from an open cut! Not fun. Putting your face in the water is probably the worse idea imaginable. One drop of water splashed into my eye and the ten minutes of pain was interminable. But the water is also supposed to work wonders for the skin. We all know the Israelis who hustle us all to buy Dead Sea products in the malls throughout America!! But hey--everyone loves soft skin. We stayed in the sea for about 15 minutes, which was quite enough for us (and about the suggested time limit).

Look Ma, no hands!

 Yesterday I moved into what will be my permanent residence for the next year. We had previously been staying in a temporary apartment while they readied these. I'm living at the Port (called the "namal" in Hebrew) in north Tel Aviv. It's a wonderful area with upscale restaurants, stores, and nightclubs. I have an amazing, perfect view of the Mediterranean from my bedroom window. Right now I'm staring out the window at the expanse of blue ocean and dozens of sailboats cutting through the water. Every night I'll have a perfect view of the sun setting into the water. We also live about a one minute walk from Hayarkon Park-a large urban park that extends along Tel Aviv and into a neighboring suburb. The Yarkon River runs through the park and reaches the Mediterranean at the park's western edge. Runners, cyclists, rowers, playgrounds, dogs, picnickers...it doesn't get much better than that. The apartment is cute. Small kitchen, decent sized bathroom. I have my own bedroom, which I'm thrilled about!!

View from my bedroom window, not too shabby

Tomorrow is my last day of classes before I have two weeks off for Pesach break! I have no concrete plans for the break, but hopefully I'll travel a bit or find some exciting events to attend. Pesach in Israel is really special. It seems like everyone in the country is traveling and having fun, and restaurants serve matzah instead of bread! I'm going to Ari's best friends in-laws for seder. Ari actually won't be there (he is attending a seder for lone soldiers with the head general of the IDF) and these in-laws apparently speak no English. Should be interesting!