Sorry I left you waiting!

Hello all random people who have decided this is entertaining! I know it had been awhile since I wrote you all and I am sorry about that. I promise that life really is this exciting an I truly don't have time to write here and talk about everything that I want to say as it is happening. I'll try to give you the FULL experience. Rosh Hashanah was absolutely amazing. I have never felt so religiously connected at a service in the last 8 years if not in my entire life. I felt like what I was saying was actually connecting to G-d. It was amazing. I was also REALLY sick the first day so I ended up going home from services but night time services the night before were amazing. The second day I went to Yedidya which was also an amazing time and we were hosted away for lunch. There 13 year old son was checking me out. Best Afternoon Ever. Then this past week after the Chag we had school and I GOT A 93 ON MY WEEKLY HEBREW TEST and it was all spelling which means I actually know...maybe....kind of what I'm saying! SOMETHING SO OVERWHELMINGLY FANTASTIC HAPPENED! I had religious enlightenment...at the church of the holy Sepulcher. I know that sounds a little bit ridiculous because, you know, the whole jewish thing but it was so spiritual. The person that actually caused this change was my Jerusalem History teacher. As we were ending class me and my friend Laur went up to Keren and talked to him about how spiritually connected we felt while in the church. How we could tell this place completely over whelmed people and even brought them to tears and how we, as a jewish people, didn't have something so tangible that could bring us closer. He then proceeded to look around and question us. He told us that we were standing on the Tangible. That everything surrounding us, from the walls, the stones, to the people could be traced back and that was our tangibility. That we were still there. I HAVE NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE FELT SO CONNECTED TO JERUSALEM AS A PLACE AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE AS I DID IN THAT EXACT INSTANT. It was so fantastic but even when I told my sister she said great and proceeded to ask me about my BOY situation. Which is non existent but i love making my daddy nervous about it. Shabbas was nice...I slept through everything and ended up staying on Base. Tomorrow is Erev Yom Kippur which means a lovely day of fasting and cranky teenage friends. I'll update when I can!!! LOVE YOU GUYS! Keep it Sassy Miriam

Well Hello Chagim!

So! Hello! I'm doing this a little earlier than a week because not only is it shabbas this weekend, it is also Rosh Hashana! For all of those who don't know that is the holiday that celebrates the new year. That means I won't really be able to write a post on Sunday night while I'm at shul! So what happened on Monday? We went to school and then we came home and ON IMPULSE I pierced my nose. It's lovely and studly and everyone tells me how nice it is! I love it. It's fantastic and it's clean and perfect. On Tuesday we went to class but we have our second class top which pretty much means we talk then wander Jerusalem and see where everything happened so we went to Hezekiah's tunnel which is pitch black and filled with water. It was awesome! Until, we had to walk back to base which was like 25 minutes away because our bus ditched us. Then we got home, changed, not showered, and went to a soccer game. Israel lost. No one was surprised. Then last night we had accapella for the first time which was also very cool. Different, but still awesome and I convinced my friend to come too so it was worth it. Tonight is Thursday which is like Friday so I shall enjoy my night and have a good shabbas and happy new year!! Keep is Sassy Miriam

I've arrived, I've legally ordered, and i'm learning

Hello everyone! I have officially arrived safe and sound in the lovely land of Israel! I left this past Monday and traveled on a plane from Newark for 10 HOURS so I could get to this great place and I’ve finally arrived. I know everyone wanted a post sooner (if you didn’t please lie. It makes me feel awesome.) but you have no idea how intense this week has been! We got in on Monday and had a small orientation for the actual program we are on which is Nativ. On Tuesday we had the real, long orientation for the program and I ordered MY FIRST LEGAL DRINK! Probably one of the most exciting moments thus far I must say. I had myself a nice little mojito because it made me think of Family Guy which, in turn, made me laugh. On Wednesday we took a tour of the city of Jerusalem and I kid you not, my dormitory is in the middle of one of the most exciting cities in the world. I can take a walk to Ben Yehuda. I can waltz over to the Kotel if I get the inkling. I can EVEN walk across the street to an extremely packed full super market that has all of my needs. That night we went to a nice bar-b-que so that all of the group could bond and we have a nice evening out at the park! On Thursday I had my first day of classes! We took a bus to Hebrew U and had our orientation for classes and since I have to actually learn Hebrew before we start the true semester I had to stay for 4 HOURS to learn some letters and words. Don’t get me wrong it was nice and interesting but that didn’t mean I had to like sitting there for that long. I was put into the beginner instead of intermediate classes but looking at how fast paced the classes are I’m very glad I’m getting a refresher before I start classes in October. My uncle also came to visit! He was brining me a sim card but it still made me feel great seeing him. Literally everyone except me went out partying this night. Instead me and my friend stayed in and watched the second Sherlock Holmes movie (I didn’t like and it I was so distracted! Sorry, bud.) and watched people slowly stumble in. FRIDAY AND ITS SHABBAS! Since I was still in the Ulpan classes we had an extra day to make sure we made up for the crunch time. I got the pleasure of waking up at 7:30 AM on a Friday (which here is like Saturday) while everyone else was sleeping off hangovers or just sleeping off the terrible jetlag (which was are slowly but surely getting over). After class we enjoyed a calm day without any pressures and the knowledge we had a day of rest coming up. We davened at a site where we could look into the past and also see the future of Jerusalem and see where we actually were getting to spend a year and see its significance. Saturday we went to shul. Each of chose our own and small groups went to different places to try it out. Mine wasn't exactly what I liked but eh, I have nine months to decide what's really for me. I took a three hour nap so the rest of it is a blur but that night my uncle, cousins, and step aunt all came to visit me and it made my night. I also got to talk to each one of my family members which is more than I have for most of the time I've been here. Sunday we have school. Its the worst feeling in the world to wake up at 6:30 on a sunday with the intention of 4 hours of intensive hebrew, 45 minutes for lunch, and then 3 hours of a History of Jerusalem course with a total of a 45 minute break between them all. Although all are fun, I could do without waking up that early. WE got home around 4 and the day has been spent hanging with friends, doing homework, and trying to fight the need to sleep. (Jetlag still sucks) Its now sunday night and i'm sorry I haven't been so up to date on this whole experience. Believe you me, its been a hectic and over whelming week but its also been so amazing and eye opening that I am absolutely loving it here. I'll start posting pictures when I remember to start taking them! Hope America is as fun as it is here! Keep It Sassy Miriam