Israel - 03.01.2011

I bet you’re all awake at night wondering about my life here in Tel Aviv. Nothing that newsworthy happened the week before I went to Jerusalem, so I decided to just take some time and wait until some good material came about to share with you all.
Jerusalem was great. Jacob and I hitched a ride with his boss for the 45 minute journey towards the Old City. We were dropped off at a street with one of Jacob’s favorite places to get a “memulawak. It’s just a heavenly flaky dough wrap filled with Tahini, hummus, labaney cheese, tomato paste, egg, zatar spice... Jacob called it an appetizer, but I call it lunch AND dinner, the way it was so filling!

We walked over to “Fresh’s” place (Jacob’s cousin), where I met him & his girlfriend Sunny, from Russia, and roommate Yaron. They had a sweet but dumb cat named ShuShu, who had jumped out the 3rd story window awhile back. I also met their sweet dog named “Yuki,” who they were watching for their friend serving in the IDF. They were making sushi for dinner, it was ta’im me’od (very tasty). I asked if they made Shabbat dinner every Friday, and they told me they were atheist. I thought that was amusing, that I was in Jerusalem, eating Japanese on Shabbat with “atheist” Jews.

They had a bunch of people over that night, bringing not only good company but some licorice-esque hard liquor called Arak and After Shock. At first I was surrounded by people speaking Hebrew. Fresh occasionally called out loud, “Speak English!” I didn’t understand a single conversation around me! It was really funny, and a very unique experience. After a short time their attention turned to me, and everyone wanted to practice their English and find out about my life, and vice versa. It was a really cool night.

The next day we slept in, which seems rare for me these days, and it was fantastic to get some real sleep on the Jewish Day of Rest. When we were ready to take on the day, we wandered over to the Old City, literally a 5 minute walk away. On the way, we went down Mamila Street. Apparently, a long time ago, the building was to be moved over, and they wanted to make sure it was completely replicated, so they numbered every single brick, which you can see clearly. There’s also an art exhibit down this street, and this day (it alternates every couple weeks to new art) had sculptures featuring biblical characters. It was very impressive.

We walked to an extremely busy restaurant called Lina, which looked less than appealing outside, but served the best hummus and Tahini in Jerusalem, according to the locals. I now fully agree. I felt almost stoned after this meal it was so heavy, as is a lot of Israeli food, and we strolled up and down the corridors digesting, checking out the vendors and just taking our time and listening to the sounds and taking in the sites of the Dome Of The Rock and the like. It was great to not be hustled around by a guide or a group.

Great weekend get away….

This week has been pretty crazy because we’re gearing up to start volunteering. I start tomorrow!! I’m so excited. I am ready for some routine in my life, although I rarely say that. I was in the Takhana Merkazit (Central Bus Station) yesterday, looking to buy myself a weekly planner, and maybe some new, cheap sunglasses since mine just broke on me. But as I wandered around aimlessly, I started to feel claustrophobic, panicky, and agitated. People shove by you to get around this place, which is like a hectic mall, where dance music is blasting out of every store, and you get first hand Israeli attitude, which is to be rude and with no respect for personal space, and more often than not they don’t speak your language, or don’t want to. I had just had it! I never felt scared, really, just overwhelmed and frustrated. It was a hurdle that I had to overcome that day. A reality that this will not be the last time I have to endure.

On the upside, we went to “Dialogue in the Dark” that night as a group. It is a Blind Museum, where you feel your way through the dark, led by a blind or visually impaired person. One of my volunteering places will be at the Blind Center, so this experience was one I was really looking forward to. It was incredible. Our leader, Sadiot, was cheeky and mischievous, and led us through a maze in complete darkness. Every room was a different setting, and all you can do is use your other senses to get around. Following his voice into the maze, we “traveled” to different aspects of daily life, such as smelling the fruits at the shuk, walking along a city street with cars honking, sitting in a buoyed motor boat, feeling the wind on our faces and the current taking us. There was a music room, and at the end a café with a bartender, who you could hear leave the bar to play the piano and sing (with an incredible voice). It was truly enlightening. I am really excited to work with blind people. I have never worked with anyone who’s had to strictly use other senses or abilities to get around.

After experiencing Dialogue in the Dark, I feel so petty when I recall my panic attack in the bus station. I am so lucky to have my vision, to have my senses (including common sense) to get me around. So now I optimistically look to the immediate future, as in tomorrow, to dedicate myself to helping people who need me to guide and assist them in their life. And I really believe they will help me, too.
Tomorrow night I start at Etgarim. Etgarim is a program designed to help kids and young adults with certain disabilities learn how to ride a bike. Many times I will be riding a tandem bike, with me on the front seat, and a youngster on the back seat. There are also special bikes that look like a hybrid of a go-kart and a tricycle. Those you pedal with your hands, in such cases where you don’t have the use of your legs. I will be riding alongside the kids using these as well. I am thrilled to start. I wonder how it will be with a language barrier…?

Stay tuned for more stories and information about my other volunteer places, the Blind Center, Mesila, and Omanoot soon!