Sickness, Time, Self Reflection, and JERUSALEM.

Hello faithful readers/captive audience. I enjoy coming up with creative ways to address you (still funny to think people actually read these entries... but so far I haven't had any complaints. if you do: KEEP QUIET AND GET OUT. jk love you all. but seriously: why are you still reading if you hate it?) I had written a huge post earlier...and it just got deleted. damn you blog.

So: update on my life. After two weeks of sickness: I am healthy! First a wicked head cold that wiped me of energy and then a stomach bug that was only beat by my experience with Indian Ice... gah. After nearly a month without travel I was getting antsy sooo i am now in Jerusalem: the city of many nicknames. The city of gold in hebrew, the sacred place in Arabic, the big mess in Katie. It's a fascinating city, and I hear more English here than anywhere else in Israel. Talk about feeling at home!

Other good news: I AM LEGALLY IN ISRAEL! Tourist visa: extended. Paid: nothing (cuz im jewish...seriously. it's free for jews). AND CAN LEAVE THE COUNTRY WITHOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE POLICE. i'm only slightly terrified of them (although...  imagine meeting future spouse because of a run in with the police. Child of relationship asks: mommy how did you meet daddy? well... mommy had some trouble with the law and daddy was a nice officer who helped her through with these issues...).

So after (finally) getting my visa I hopped on a bus and came north. interesting bus because it went through the west bank and stopped at a lot of settlement towns. Settlements are towns of Israelis who purposefully moved to the west bank. Here's what I noticed:

1. Ext high levels of security, even for Israel. These communities are almost always on top of hills (traditional places of defense). They have a secured gate that patrols who enters and leaves the community, and a lot of israelis soldiers. Essentially: they do not feel safe with their neighbors, which i get. If I were arab, and Israelis were trying to essentially colonize my land in the west bank I would be upset too.

2. Almost everyone I saw was traditional religious. The women covered their hair, the men had on traditional garb such as the black hats, kippot, and peyes (where their sideburns are awk long). Basically these communities are almost all ultraorthodox or haredim. Partly I think because they feel it is their religious duty to make Israel along the biblical boundaries, which include the west bank, and some very holy jewish sites there (including the tomb of many patriarchs/matriarchs).

3. Look exactly like Israeli towns in other parts of Israel. Nice upper middle class homes, parks, decent roads and sidewalks. Essentially: full services/better than most Israeli Bedouins get inside Israel.

I have a lot of problems with these settlements. Politically: they are a huge roadblock to peace, because they are Israelis essentially trying to colonize the land and claim it for Israel. Not cool. Additionally: the security needed for these towns comes from the army. Thus, they are a huge drain on security/on taxpayer money. Which I think is ridiculous for being outside 48 boundaries. Finally, I do not know this about the haredi in the west bank, but many haredim do not work. They study torah and live off of welfare. If that is the case here too: then not only are they a drain because of security, but also drain the welfare system for their lifestyle. Really makes me angry.

But: i'm glad i saw these towns, even for just a bit.

In the end, I got to Jerusalem. I had plans to go exploring with some couchsurfers, but it fell through. Which was okay. I wandered around, made it to the old city. I tried to go to the church of the holy spulchre, but i got lost in the soq. Next time I need to just ask. In the end I went to a musuem, talking about the history of jerusalem with some excavations. It was hard because I had all my stuff with me, and it was killin my shoulders.

In the end, I went and wandered around Jaffa and Ben Yehuda street. Met a cool older guy volunteering in Jerusalem for a year. Had dinner, bought some postcards, and took in what was before me. My observations:

1. Abnormally high number of religious people live in Jerusalem. Makes sense: they go where it's holiest. And that for jews, is Jerusalem
2. A lot of Americans. So much english. I felt very at home oddly
3. While arabs and Jews live in Jerusalem, they live very segregated lives. Somme parts are all arab, some parts are all jewish. Some mixing with shopping. that's it.

Well the thing about America was both comforting and odd. Because of sickness I have had a lot of time for self reflection and i feel so distant from America. Partly because christmas passed without any hubub, and i feel so disconnected from friends (even though we skype...when i harass you. someone should harass me about skyping). But also, America itself just feels foreign. which is weird. Like seeing the trailer for the new movie New Years. It's such an American movie, and that feels odd to me. Like somehow it no longer shows my experiences. Which is true: i am an american, but i'm in Israel living like a Bedouin. sort of. But it's just another stage of living abroad, and it makes me even more curious about how the transition will be when i go home.

The other thing I realized is time and how we truly measure it. It doesn't feel like the end of the year. It doesn't even feel like December for me. All my traditional markers: exams, winter break, channukah, christmas, all fell to the way side. We don't really understand time unless we have markers. Another way: next time you are in the car and not driving, find a way to lay down and look out the window where all you see is blue sky. When you stare at it long enough: you won't feel like you are moving. Why? you need objects to show change in place to tell you you are moving. It's similar with time, except we mark it with events, like holidays, rituals etc. And right now: i feel like im floating. It's not bad, but it's weird.

And yet, I DO miss those holidays. It was sad not being in NC for christmas. It was weird being too sick to try and celebrate channukah. I have said it before and i'll say it again: i miss having a jewish progressive community. People to celebrate the holidays with, to discuss torah with, to be jewish with. It's something that I realize is super important and will be a factor in choosing my next steps after my crazy travel in Israel.

Also: i'm not homeless in Jerusalem. I am actually staying with a client from Lakiya Weaving at her lovely home near the German Quarter (aka nice Anglo area of the city). She's a feminist therapist, her husband is a conservative rabbi, and they have 3 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 4 chickens. It's a fun house, and i'm looking forward to staying with them for Shabbat. I'll let you know how it goes: they keep shomer shabbas (aka strict shabbat, no work, no electricity, etc). They have english books so i'll be entertained.

alright. it's late here and I need to sleep. love you all and have a happy and healthy new year. and please: stop with the I'm gonna lose x lbs for new years. Focus instead on: i'm gonna eat vegetables 2x/day or something easier. Because you are beautiful as you are. Maybe you wanna be healthier? cool. But loosing weight does not equal healthier person.

anyways, getting off my soap box and into bed. lilah tov loves!
KAS

A beautiful moment

No picture could do the moment justice.

West of Lakiya are these beautiful hills with dirt tracks for cars/perfect for walking. After losing a few hours to the internet, I went for a walk in the hills. The sun was setting, and the world was a series of browns, oranges, pinks, purples, and dusty purples. I enjoyed the silence and a chance to be in nature, alone.

As the sun was setting, I returned back to the house. On my way, the call to prayer happened. With five mosques in Lakiya, they each have a muezzin, or someone that calls people to prayer. It sounded like a weaving of voices, natural rising together to become one large piece unintentionally.

As I arrived back at Khadra's I found the back door to the salon locked. I was about to knock when in the dim light of dusk I saw Khadra there, praying. Initially, I wanted only to be respectful and let her pray in peace. As I watched, I found her movements beautiful. Stand up, kneel, bow. Stand, kneel and bow. She wasn't praying with just her heart and mind, but also her whole body. The rhythms reminded me of dance, and at that instant I wondered what it would look like in Mecca during the Hajj with MILLIONS of Muslims simultaneously praying like that.

While I didn't want it to end, Riham saw me and opened the door. I was kind of creepy standing in the door way, not doing anything/hard to see in the darkness. But I'm grateful for that moment.

What moment took your breathe away today?
Much love,
KAS

Stories from the unrecognized villages

Part of my struggle with this blog is telling the stories of people I meet AND keeping you updated on my life. Today I will try and do both (again)

At Sidreh, we have a wonderful relationship with BYU in Jerusalem. Not only are they having an exhibition at their gallery of our carpets, but they also just generously gave us 1000 school kits to be distributed in schools in the unrecognized areas! Today, they came down to deliver these goods and help distribute them. I went along as the resident photographer (Hanan has my camera...photos will come up soon!).

What an experience. We were mostly rushing around all day because of time constraints with the truck. When we finally got a chance to sit and talk at the Alsira village, I was touched by the head of village, Khalil Alamour's, story.

First: unrecognized villages, as a reminder, have no government services. This includes, roads, water, electricity etc. Additionally, it also includes the threat of demolition of their homes. Khalil was kind enough to invite us to his house. They have an electric generator,solar panels and laid down their own pipes to distribute water in the village. They even have their own system to get wifi in the village. Like many Bedouins, he has his own chickens and turkeys to help provide food for the family/not rely too much on buying groceries. These small acts were acts of rebellion, showing that not only will they stay here, but also that they will sustain themselves.

Khalil then told us about their 6 year fight with the government over housing demolition. Recently, a court ruled that they could not demolish their houses, the first victory of its kind! He told us how his mother could finally sleep at night, because she no longer feared that soldiers would come the next day. To this day, Khalil has the sign, notifying the residents that their houses will be demolished. They don't use names on these forms: but numbers signifying each house.

I was impressed: his resilience, his courage, and determination to face such odds were incredible. They even used humor in the face of it all: creating their own signs for the village, and a mock warning sign (the traditional white triangle outlined in red) of houses being demolished. I'm happy that they no longer have to worry about their houses being demolished and hope that I too will have the courage to stand up for justice like them!

So: that was my day today. On a humourous note: still couldn't go anywhere without getting something to eat or drink. Even when we were rushing out and didn't have time to sit, they gave us drinks for the road! Very funny... and very Bedouin.

Also: OUR WEBSITE IS FINISHED!!! take a look at sidreh.org. We have a great catalog that shows a lot of our pieces and tells so much more about our organization. I'm so proud to have helped with it. If you have any comments/concerns about the website please let me know!

Much love,
KAS

Food, and the ongoing culture shift

Hello, Friends, family, and random strangers that stumble on my blog,

So: what's new in my life? fantastic question. thank you for asking.

`1. Bureaucracy. Went AGAIN to Beersheva to talk to the interior ministry. because my visa expires tomorrow and i still hadn't heard anything from the Jewish agency. They said they hadn't heard anything and wait for a phone call. I reminded them about how my visa expires. they shrugged. I wanted to laugh. In the states this would be  A BIG DEAL. but being an american jewish girl.... it isn't. so. we'll see what happens. *sigh*

2. I'm sick. head cold. colored mucus. not fun. tea. honey. lemon. salt. soup. also: biscuits with honey is delicious and makes my throat feel amazing

3. Still busy with work. Went to Jerusalem for a bazaar on Thursday. A slow day, but I think we made some good contacts for the future. Plus we might get some tourism out of it, so it wasn't a total waste. just a frickin long day. and this cold has taken my energy. blegh.

4. Getting geared up for sending holiday love back home. I won't say anymore: but you'll know when you get it.

Other things going on in life: clash of cultures continue! Basically here's what happens. I don't mind meeting people and being a guest. It's flattering, but I can't do it for like 3-4 hours. Most of the time in Lakiya, that seems to be the norm. You sit down, usually for tea. You chat, you stay for a meal, or a snack. And you really can't leave until you have eaten. It actually drives me nuts, for personal reasons.

I won't go into too much detail: but I have had a long and complicated relationship with food. Diets, emotional eating, social eating, it goes on and on. I don't really want to explain it here. What i do want to say is at this point in my life eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm full is important for me. Additionally, I can't forbid or restrict foods: it takes me to a really negative place.

Normally,at Khadra's, it's really chill and I don't usually worry about it. When I'm at other people's houses, it becomes a totally different issue. Leaving without eating becomes an insult. And then they pressure you to eat a lot. I get it: food is still a big deal in their community. Many people 40s and up experienced hunger. But I can't explain my relationship to food to every house i go to, nor can i do it justice in Arabic. I try and strategically plan it now, but at times I get frustrated that it becomes impossible to leave someone's house.

Which is what I did today. I had to go over to my old host family: the Abd'ullahs, today to hand back a cord i accidentally took with me. I came around 1230, having a small snack before I went. We had tea, and then I went with them to the grandmother's house for a big family lunch. It was nice, I really enjoy that extended family, and it looks like I will start tutoring one of the kids in English! But after lunch, tea, and dessert, i was tired and ready to come back to Khadra's.

So, somethings still take adjusting to. I'm hoping to start putting up more photos. They aren't the best, but i'm going to try and start being more proactive in taking photos/having photos of me here as well (especially for you mom).

That's all. super tired. gonna hit the sack. Much love,
KAS

Rumination on photography and living to the fullest

Blah, computers. I had started writing this post, and BOOM. GONE. So annoying.

Anyways: back to the point of this blog post. Me ruminating about photos.

As you know... I didn't have a camera for the first two months I was here (dear god, where does time go?). I didn't really notice it (other than wishing I could show y'all photos of here). And now, that I have both my awesome fujifilm instant photo camera and the digital one, I've been thinking more about the importance of photos, memories, and how it relates to travel (there's a reason I went to william and mary...).

So let's give some back story on me and my less than enthusiastic photo taking. couple of reasons

1.  I forget to bring my camera with me
2. I forget to take photos. Caught in the moment of doing things
3. I feel awkward taking photos. Especially of strangers (which I love to do)
4.  I know way too many people that take too many photos
5. I am far more future focused than past

I think the last two the most important. We all know the obsessive photo takers. They take photos as you are leaving a place, entering a new one, need 5 group shots, and another 3 of you eating. It becomes exhausting, and you get very sick of the camera. Plus, it feels like you care more about preserving the present than LIVING IT. Ironic...

More fundamental to my personality: I have always been thinking about the next thing. It can be good: you don't worry so much about the past. mistakes, etc. But it definitely means I don't try and preserve some of these moments for the future. I will not always remember exactly what Lakiya looks like. And, I want to remember my time here. Perhaps not every moment, but some.

So I'm starting to take photos. I love the way people show up on my fujifilm camera (i'll hopefully get near a scanner soon to show more of them). Mom wants me to have photos of my daily life. With people taking photos of me all around. Perhaps I'll get around to doing some of that. We'll see....

I've also realized that taking photos can be a memory as well. I saw Ghadir and Emir this evening sitting and chatting on their bed (as they usually do) and i wanted to take a photo. Grabbed my fuji camera and took one. They of course, got interested... and a 15 photo shoot ensued. Initially, I was very guarded about my film (it's expensive! It goes so quickly!). But: if I don't use it: what's the point? And we had so much fun, I showed them how to use the camera (easy pt and shoot) and they loved watching them develop. Plus, I gave a few to them (i kept my favorites...). And we took some great ones. Ghadir is especially photogenic. I was able to take photos of a few pretty well. But hopefully I'll get the rest up later. here are some now: 
1. Ghadir
2. I really hope you know who that is.
3. You know who and Emir
if you guess Voldermort, I may actually use cruciatus curse. I had to look that up to make sure I used the right word for that. For those of you who are confused: Google.

Other highlights this week:

Went into Beersheva Thursday and met another couch surfer! Her name is Andrea, originally from Ecuador. She's really nice, and we went to a party/bar and I met some of her friends. It was nice to have a night out, and have a bit to drink.

As I was waiting for Andrea at one point on Friday, I had a conversation in Hebrew, which was remarkable since I don't speak Hebrew. Luckily... it was very basic. And I know Arabic. Still, amusing how much you can convey without language. or limited use. 

Saturday: what was supposed to be a lazy day turned into a mad rush to Sidreh because a group that supposedly spoke Arabic... didn't. Sigh. They were nice. And a group of Americans from the Embassy came down to shop. Left with two special orders, a wall hanging, couple pillows, and two smaller pieces. Basically: I sold around 6,000 shekles. That's like 1600 USD. I was proud of myself.

Sunday: Sidreh helped organize a protest for the Prevar plan (the one that threatens to move 30,000 + Bedouins from their homes to officially recognized Bedouin towns). Al Jazeera covered the protest. I didn't go because I had worked the day before. Thus I sat around all day on my computer.

It's true: I am addicted to my computer. I'm getting better... I think. I'm gonna go now and spend the rest of my night reading the 2nd book in the stieg larsson trilogy. And dream about learning Swedish to read more swedish crime novels. And talk to Alexander Skarsgard.

That's all folks. Much love as always,
KAS

I may fail 99 times,but I'll get it right the 100th time.

So another day in Lakiya. It was actually an exciting one: we had a team of designers from NYC. The high fashion, they wear their own design types. They were very sweet, and super interested in working with us in some of their future projects. Plus they bought some rugs, which is good in my books. Nevertheless, it kind of felt like project runway. Too bad Heidi Klum didn't come with them.

Yet when all was said and done, we left a bit late at 3 pm. and i was exhausted. As I have been for weeks coming back from Sidreh. Except now it feels more pronounced, and then I realized: it's about the time of year i get burnt out. This is when my dad says : how surprising! It's right about finals time when you ALWAYS felt this way.

I get it. ha. ha. ha. Katie does it again. And there's good reason

1. Work. Crazy busy, takes a lot out of me

2. Visas. trying to stay in a country, esp when you get mixed signals on how to move forward?? NOT FUN. (update: I have now gotten this fixed, and should be able to stay until mid may, really planning on being here til mid april and then peacing for the UK for a few weeks, wanted some flexibility in when I leave though)

3. Peace Corps. they want a lot of stuff. enough said. and i am...abroad. makes life difficult.

4. I am terrible at self-care.

And that my friends is the hardest part. I have a hard time switching off. I'm smart, and a good worker. I like getting things done. But the nature of life: there's always more to do. Sometimes you have to switch off. Take a break, drop out and recharge. And that is very difficult for me.

See: I'm an introvert. Not as in I'm shy, because I don't think I am most of the time. I'm an introvert in that I process my life internally. I need time alone, to contemplate, and reinvigorate myself. It's like I have a pool of water: overstimulation is like someone draining my pool, leaving me with less and less water to drink from. And that's a problem in the desert.

Before: I would power through, and recharge during breaks. This became less and less tenable as time went on, but mostly held true. I am now in the real world: i can't blame finals, and I don't have any breaks (that I know of) coming up. I can't pretend to be sick: I live with my boss (strange when you think about it, but it works).

Even worse, I would do activities that wouldn't make me feel better: junk food, internet, tv. Granted, I still love all 3, but when I am tired they don't soothe me.  I need to change it. So what do I do?

1.  doodle. (perhaps i'll post a photo or two later, I and Ghadir both like my doodles. She's 7 but I think she has good tastes)
2.  sing. preferably adele or mumford and sons.
3. dance
4.  write
5.  meditate

Meditation is actually my favorite. It's a total relaxer, and energizes me like nothing else. Almost better than napping. And today, it was even better, because i felt connected to the whole universe, and that the boundaries weren't really there.

Ok, sounds strange, and vaguely cliched but I believe we were meant to trust each other, and try to act from a place of love rather than fear. To see beyond the action to the reason behind it. I'm not perfect at it: I snap at people, I can still be fearful. I'm not saying to through precaution to the wind. Instead, I challenge myself to try and see the spark of the divine within each person. To start from a place of trust, instead of fear. Like Walid from Akko and Gandhi. While I can't describe it, Souza does by saying, 

Dance as though no one is watching you,
Love as though you have never been hurt before,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Live as though heaven is on earth.

And this is how I believe we are meant to live. If I keep trying to explain, I'll never get it, and this post is long already. But I guess being abroad, and really connecting with myself shows me that I must choose this path, of honesty, of compassion, to come into my own, to be who I was meant to be. I don't think it will ever be easy, but perhaps one day I'll look back on this entry and realize that this wasn't the beginning or an end, but another important junction on my journey.

speaking of journeys: shout out to my amazing friend Meghan who sent me a CARE package. Full of: disposable cameras, spray cheese (which i have never eaten before), sun tan lotion and a book by e.e. cummings. It totally  made my day and I love the E.E. cummings book. And, since I seem to put no photos of my life here, I'm going to add a few below

1 and 2: my room, and all of my clothes. yes. that is basically all i have while here

3. what a bathroom looks like. if you look closely, you'll see it also includes a shower. there's no doors or anything, but the tiles around the shower are little lower and thus the water doesn't roam too much

4. Laundry machines are tiny here. so there's constantly laundry going.

5. A view of Lakiya

Enjoy! and much love,

KAS 

You Can't Always Get What You Want But You Get What You Need

So.... lemme summarize my amazing week.


My family was in town! Well, and by family: my mom, dad, and brother. They came in last Saturday, during the day. I had to work at the Holiday Bazaar a bit north of Tel Aviv, so it made it very easy for me to go to the hotel and meet them. Mother was ecstatic that I carefully planned to have her be the first one to see me (yes... I totally planned that Dad would be parking the car).

So what we did: traveled all. over. Israel. We did one day where we went from the south to the north. Luckily, Israel is small, but we spent a lot of time in the car. We had a great tour guide named Rafi, who was always willing to answer my billion and half questions. Plus, he would carry mom's purse. So I think it was a win for her too.

I could go into depth about Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh, the Dead Sea, Massada, Golan etc. But, frankly there's too much details, and there's photos (look here for all the photos). And talk to me personally if you want to know about it. But basically: I was just happy to spend time with my family. It had been ages since I had seen them, and missed them. Family, as family should, let me feel safe, comfortable, and unself-conscious of my actions, a rare break when being abroad.

It wasn't always smiles and rainbows: we fought, they drove me crazy, and I'm sure it was mutual. I love my family: I don't always LIKE them. Still: I was surprised that I was holding back tears (not so successfully) when they left. Frankly, once they dropped me off at the train station it got easier. I no longer felt like crying, but I'm still kind of down from it. But as one of my posters says: all emotions are beautiful. And it just reminds me that no matter where I go, there's always a part of me in Fairfax Station, VA. I'm so grateful that they came at all: it was the best Thanksgiving/Channukah/Christmas present.

It drives my mother crazy, but I don't really like presents, gifts especially around this time. Because I don't need/want much. Experiences to me are far more meaningful. Studies show that experiences create more happiness over the long term because of memory. I agree wholeheartedly, and would rather spend time with people over (most) any present. There's always exceptions :-P

So now? working on all the paperwork for both 1) My work visa and 2) my application for the Peace Corps. Last night: I ran around Tel Aviv for fingerprints. Just so you know: taxi drivers can be assholes. So much money lost.... oh well. it's done, and i can send the paperwork. Now I have to
1) make an appt with the Israeli Ministry of Interior
2) get all my proper docs in order
3)FAX (who the hell FAXES anymore??). for an appt.
4) finally go to the bureau (hopefully) in Be'er Sheva.

Ugh. I hate details. Drives me crazy. Remind me never to be a boring paper pusher. It would be my version of office space. Then again, being here, and doing what I do, I don't feel like an adult. I still feel like...a kid.

Does that ever change? Even if I got an office job, an apt, and had a 9-5 routine with taxes and everything: would I feel like an adult? Or would I feel like I'm playing dress up? In Israel 22 year olds know how to shoot guns, or if you're Bedouin, probably married. They have fully embraced the mantle.

I have always been serious/mature, but what does it MEAN to be an adult? Because all of those things just change your relationship to things/other people. Does it change who you are? Perhaps I'll write more about this in another post. But I have a feeling most other just graduated Americans feel similar. Even with desk jobs, apartments, and taxes.

On the bright side: for all of this stuff I got to stay in Re'anana, a town near Tel Aviv, for a few days and sort of recover from my week with my parents. I have a new charger (!!!) and my computer is working so much better because of it (that will be a nice bday present to myself when i go home:  A NEW COMPUTER!).

So: life is getting back to normal (whatever that is). And I head back to Lakiya today. To the crazy whirlwind of life. 

Much love,
KAS

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

~Mahatma Gandhi

I thought about this quote for a lot of reasons. It began this morning as I was working out in the hotel gym. Yes, I am at a hotel, with my family, in Tel Aviv. Quite strange being a full blown tourist in Israel. but for another time.

So, I'm on the elliptical watching Russian News (shout out to Sophie Kosar) and they were discussing the Occupy Wall Street protests. America has done all of this. We have tried to ignore it, we have made fun of it, and now there is amazing police brutality from use of pepper spray, arrests, and rubber bullets (especially at the Oakland protests). It's an amazing movement, and I think is starting an important discussion. I hope that they can continue on this momentum, and that we really have a discussion in America about class, privilege, and the growing disparity. Because it IS a problem.

Later on, as we (me, my family, and Rafi our tour guide) walked through the streets of Tel Aviv, I thought of it again. A hundred years ago, Israel didn't exist. It was a backwater province of the Ottoman Empire, with a tiny fraction of Jews living there. Tel Aviv, now a major city, was handing out plots to Jews, a small suburb of Jaffa. Herzl, while inspirational, was considered a nut. While I have many issues with the Zionist narrative, and it's omission of the forcible removal of Arabs from their homes, and persecution Bedouins have faced, it is another movement that dealt with this same process.First ignored, then laughed at, and then fought. And then won.

In many ways this is an amazing and ongoing narrative, filled with so much sorrow, and loss on both sides. While, over 60 years old, these wounds live on. They live on in the stories told to the children, in the distrust on both sides, and a military legacy. While Jews won a state, we lost a chance to develop peacefully, and become part of a region. It's created a very high cost of living, a large military state, and a tired population, ready for a change. I believe that change may finally come.

People, I think, in general have a hard time imagining things that do not exist. It is not merely dreamers, but actors that change our world. And while we look back on people such as Martin Luther King Jr, Gandhi, and Susan B. Anthony, at the time they did not have such favorable attitudes. To affect change, you're going to face critique, dissent. People do all that Gandhi said. It takes a strong will to achieve greatness.

Then I saw this video (go to 3:45 just to see the finished piece), and began to think about the current counter-culture "hipster" aesthetic. For me, it is certainly a mixed bag. On the one hand, I make fun of the stereotype because some people are merely about the surface of it, appearing as indie as possible. That somehow the right clothes, and music somehow makes you a better person. it doesn't. It's not really critical of the current American social reality: it's just another face of consumerism and materialism.

HOWEVER. laughing at them ignores something important: the importance of your values matching your spending. This is not a luxury everyone has. Some people can't afford to buy over expensive organic cotton USA made American Apparel clothing.  While I hate Wal-Mart and all it stands for, it does help some people make ends meet, and I cannot argue with that.

However, I believe we do have a responsibility to understand what we spend and how we support different things. Whether it's the meat we eat, or the clothes we wear, when we purchase items, we support how that companies work, and treats its employees, the environment, and how it makes its products. Ignorance is not an excuse.

Still, we must do more than simply buy. Remember 9/11? We were asked to show our patriotism through SHOPPING. We live in a system that depends on us consuming more and more. It's bad for the environment, our wallets, and I think for our actual happiness. We must move away from materialism, and refocus our lives around the important things. Right now: name the 5 things that make you happy. Are any of them based around money or things? Yes, money is important and we need things such as clothes and food. But we can actively refocus our lives around what actually makes us happy instead of what we are constantly told we are supposed to. So what do you want? What do you want your life to look like? And more importantly: what can you do TODAY?

So congrats on getting to the end of this post. I'd love for this to be the beginning of a discussion. If you can't comment on this, feel free to email me, and we can continue the debate. I love a good dialogue :-)
Much Love,
KAS

The Twists and Turns of a Soulless Ginger's Mind

So. I have to be up at like 6 am tomorrow. Its 9 am now. I have a feeling i'm not gonna sleep well. probs cuz an hour ago i had coffee. WOOPS. whatever.

So... my past week. I have been working like a dog. Long hours, crazy days. Some highlights:

We did a show in Herzliyya. The EU Ambassador's wife (who is super cool) is really good to our organization. She has a gorgeous house and has hosted us before for events. This time, it was for the International Women's Club and the Diplomat Spouses Club. I walked in, and I felt like I was at a sorority open house. some things never change huh?

We started off on the wrong foot cuz we were late. People got lost, it was raining (which can be pretty intense/cause traffic around Tel Aviv). So I was rushing trying to help out, and I broke a chinese vase. It was one of those slow motion moments where you're like
No no no NOOOOOOOOO

She saw, and she had this pained look. All I could say was "I'm so sorry". Her reply "it's ok, it was mostly sentimental"

my. heart. broke. Afterward, I was far more careful. Still felt terrible. YAY GUILT! Still, the women were very receptive, and they bought a ton. We sold over 4,000 USD within 2 hours. That's a good day. 

 Since then: I went to a press conference releasing an alternative plan to the Prewar Plan. Background: the prewar plan  is a government plan to move people from unrecognized villages (over 40) into 7 recognized settlements, essentially urbanizing the Bedouins. This will move over 30,000 people, compensate them with only 50% of their original land claims. The Bedouins only claim 6% of the Negev, and much of the Negev isn't even settled. People have been on these lands for generations, and moving them would be destructive, and expensive. It's hard to believe that in Israel, land of cell phones, and cutting edge technology, some people don't have electricity, running water, or access to public transportation.


It was cool because Sidreh is at the forefront representing the women's views on these plans, and making sure to address their specific needs in the alternative. Hanan, who is our community engagement manager, even spoke, being the only Bedouin women to do so at the press conference. It's good to know that Bedouin women's issues are incorporated in this political movement. 


It's interesting to me how Feminism can be different and yet similar in Upper middle class white America and Bedouin Israel. In many ways they differ: issues of mobility, employment, and health are very different for these groups. While in America we fight for equal pay, the Bedouins fight for work, especially those that they can do in their local area. In America, we fight for the right to have an abortion, while the Bedouins fight for the right to see a doctor locally, and in Arabic. 


And yet, in some ways, they face similar issues of being seen in relation constantly to men. The first question I am always asked here is: are you married, do you have a boyfriend etc. Mostly because at 22 I am of prime marrying age in Lakiya, and EVERYONE gets married. There is a huge amount of social pressure to marry. I won't name names, but I heard a story of one woman, who nearly became a 3rd wife. She's around 30, which is old in Lakiya. She almost accepted this marriage, because one of her brothers was pushing this marriage. Women are certainly making strides, but still are seen in relationship to their husbands, and their sons. This can be seen in how you address mothers respectfully. Instead of their first name, you say Mother of x (usually her son).

This pressure to attach yourself to a man, reminds me of the States. People may not like it but in America we have a social narrative of women must marry. Mostly that something is wrong with the woman if she isn't married, and if she fixes it, then she will fall into line


-27 dresses. Neurotic woman, always a bridesmaid, finally reforms and marries.
-In Her Shoes, goes from a work aholic, to an active, happy woman who marries
-Knocked Up, neurotic, work obsessed woman, accidentally gets pregnant. Learns to let go, trust a man (and become somewhat submissive). They get together and create a nuclear family unit. 
-Crazy cat lady stereotype. Never married, all alone, with cats. It is HER fault she didn't marry, cuz she's insane and prefers cats. 


So people say: it's just the movies, it's just a story. These are stories that we tell ourselves, and resonate with us. Like fairy tales, they reinforce certain ideas in our heads. In these cases, we are reinforcing sexist ideas about women, and marriage.The vast majority of the stories we tell about women force their identities to revolve around others, specifically men. Women who don't marry are shamed into feeling abnormal because they are not in solidified relationship to a man. I say that's bullshit, and we must begin to tell stories about women that do not revolve around romance, and men. Even worse, we then make fun of women who overly focus on relationships/finding boyfriends when we create the very pressure on them to do so! This is one of the many reasons I am proud to be a feminist. 


so, that's it for today. I'm gonna leave you with a link to Khadra Elsaneh's story. She is the General Manager of Sidreh/Lakiya Negev Weaving. This is some background on her life and the beginning of Sidreh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvSZHhZO8gQ


hopefully more stories of people from Lakiya soon!
Much love,
KAS

Akko, Nazareth, and changing plans

Hello friends, family, and perhaps random strangers who stumble upon my blog

last you heard from me were my travelling tips. gotta do better on those next time. i tend to eat out too much.

so you ask...how was the rest of your trip??? what did you do? ARE YOU ALIVE?

ok. last question, not so real. it would be cool if i was a ghost and could somehow still access the internet. but i'm alive and well, and still in one full piece.

so: what you actually want to hear: my adventures.

Akko: I figured it would be a nice day trip. beautiful city, some time to myself, see some nice historic sites. and boy... what a shock.
I got off the train, wandered/found (with the help of many strangers) the old city. Historical note: Akko was the northern port town through much of the medieval/ottoman period. Haifa is a far newer city.

I arrived in the town to a HUGE party. Since most of the old city is Arab, many Muslim, they were partying for the muslim holiday (the one i described where they kill sheep). no more sheep, but music, games, food, pony rides. think carnival. It was cool to watch, and I wandered through the market, just trying to get a feel for the city.

I started looping back towards the mosque, you know, to start seeing sights. This older man with a child on his shoulders says shalom to me. I couldn't resist, and replied in Arabic (Salaam walkum). The man got super excited.
Him: You speak Arabic?!?!
Me: yes. Mostly Modern Standard (aka literary arabic)
Him: That's beautiful! The language of the Koran. Where did you study? Where are you from?

And that is how I met Walid, aka the Sufi of Akko. He then proceeded to show me around Akko the rest of the day. I didn't see a ton of sights, but I saw the mosque (for free), the port, the light house, and even met some of his friends. Akko isn't a big town, and Walid seems to know everyone. Plus we chatted about religion, humanity, etc. I didn't always understand him (since it was all in Arabic) but he was a good guy. I was blown away by his kindness. He spent 5 hours with me, invited me to dinner with him and some of his friends, and even walked me all the way back to the train station. I have now promised to return one weekend for a visit and meet more people. and actually see some sights.

I had a good time. but at the same time it was intense. When travelling, you must become very open at times. You can meet amazing people, whom you would never have met before. I feel like we are raised to be distrustful of the world. It's dangerous, people can hurt you, be on your guard. And yes, I suppose on the one hand that is true. On the other hand, when you trust people, open yourself up, amazing things can happen.By responding to shalom, I met Walid. He embraced this quality, and really cares for all people. He is 70 years old, yet he seemed so much younger and full of life.

 Being around Walid was hard, because I'm not fully like that, I have a hard time truly letting most people in. When you are in, you are in, and you stay that way for a long time. When I close the door, it's closed, and very hard to open. It comes from a very different perspective of humanity. When you are open, you are trusting in others, and letting yourself become vulnerable. When you are afraid of others, and how they can hurt you, this is terrifying, and you fear becoming hurt or being rejected.

But being truly open, means trusting others, and trusting yourself. Sometimes you may get hurt. Sometimes people won't like you. Yet whe you open yourself to the world, you allow for more people to meet you, to have more chances of acceptance, and to show to yourself how strong and resilient you are.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. ~ Maryanne Williamson

Ok: so back to my trip

Thursday I spent recovering from my intense day in Akko. I watched TV, got lunch with Itay (who I had met on Tuesday for coffee from couch surfing). We got falfalel and this dish with eggplant and eggs (yummy). I met one of his friends from the antiquities bureau. Ended up getting coffee, and discussing things from underwater archeology to the Bedouins.

Background on Itay:

He's in his early 30s, from a town near Haifa. He went to Haifa University, got a degree in Archeology, and now works for the antiquities bureau. He's studying to become a tour guide, and is a big couchsurfer. He hosts tons of people and loves to travel. He visited some of former yugoslavia through it, and I forget where else. He's a big reader (Neil Gammon, Vonnegut, Kerouac). All in all, a good guy. 

So that night.... i have no idea what i did. Wow. I think i sat around and watched more tv. yeah. 

Friday: worked out, and hung out with Saar some. It was a shame I didn't get to spend more time with him. He's pretty cool. We had some great discussions on cities, what makes serial killers different, and child prodigies amongst other things. His cat, Tigre, is super sweet, and it was nice to get to pet a cat (i miss mine! and my dog). Hopefully next time I go to Haifa we will get a drink.

So, afterwards I went to Itay's that afternoon. We ended up watching Futurama, a french movie, drinking some wine, and then just falling asleep.

Saturday: Nazareth. Turns out its not a cute little scenic town like Akko, but a big arab town with tons of traffic. Driving there was a pain. But I saw the chruch where the think Mary lived. Beautiful, and pretty new building, with mosaics from all over the world. Wandered around some of the old quarter, and Itay and I found a museum filled with local art. very nice. That night: we watched the travel channel (and I now desperately want to do the Camino pilgrimage trail), and futurama. good times. 

Sunday: woke up, and went back to Lakiya. Even was able to put in a full day of work! We had a cool group come in the afternoon, and they bought a ton of stuff. good job tourists. 

Upcoming this week: going to Herzilyya to the Eu Ambassador's place for an exhibition aaaand

MY FAMIY IS COMING TO ISRAEL ON SATURDAY!!!! very excited. should be fun.

well gotta run. off to a welcome home party for someone from the pilgrimage to mecca (you know, the usual).

Much love,

KAS

Katie's tips for travelling cheaply.

ok, so I don't have time for a full post, but to give you a flavor of how I travel

1. when you can. walk. its the cheapest form of transportation. plus, you get a way better feel for a place
2. couchsurfing. i've said it a million times: its pretty cool. Not only can you get free housing (well don't be super cheap, buy your host some sort of gift!) but you can meet some cool people, and find out about new places
3. public transportation. taxis, while easy and will get you there quickly, will suck your pockets dry. avoid them unless truly lost
4. don't eat out every meal. another temptation, and rightly so. but find grocery stores atleast for breakfast. why spend 20 dollars/meal when you can spend like 5? plus, if you focus on getting fruits and veggies, no need to cook, and its super cheap (like my pomegrante breakfast.delicious and nutrituous. and like 2 bucks). otherwise, look for cheap food stalls. local food especially: delicious, culturally appropriate, and cheaper. Mcdonalds is not always the cheapest option. seriously.
5. learn the local language, or two. even if it's just a few words, people will be far more helpful/you never know where it will take you. it has gotten me: free rides, helpful directions, interesting conversations, and the strangest day in Akko. Seriously, I just said a few words in Arabic and suddenly had a tour guid for the day, met his friends, and got a free dinner.
6. If you are student/recently were TAKE YOUR STUDENT ID CARD. i have lost so much money for forgetting that at home... sometimes, it helps just to say you're a student. this only applies if you are in your early 20s. or look like it
7. make friends. visit friends. visit friends of friends. meet new people and get free housing. its a double win.

Well...those are my tips. i'll explain my day in Acre/Akko later. much love!
KAS

HAIFA!

First: Haifa! should be the title to a musical. preferably an arab jewish romance in the late 1940s culminating in the epic 1948 war. Natalie Portman as a young zionist from Eastern Europe. and now I am going to go look up hot arab actors to find her counter part. suggestions are welcome.

Ok, but seriously: I am in Haifa! It's green! Yay!!! Haifa has been on my to do list for ages. Before, I had only been to the port of Haifa. as in, I came in on a boat, looked up onto the city...and got on a bus to stupid big youth event welcoming us to israel (youth programs....gotta love their priorities).

So: i arrived on Sunday. What a crazy day. here's what happened.
1) woke up at 630 am. to allah akbar continuously singing, calling the men to prayer. this is an unusual call because it was Eid Aladha Mubarak. This holiday celebrates the willingness of Abraham to sacrafice Ishmahel (think the almost sacrafice of Isaac, but switch Isaac with Ishmael, from whom muslims trace their connection back to Abraham).
2) cleaning the house (again)
3) Men go to the Mosque to pray
4) the sacrafice of sheep. Each family sacrafices a couple of sheep. This happens outside, near the house, back yard etc. The sons of the family taught how to kill the sheep. They hold down the sheep, cut the throat, and let the blood drain. I watched. It was freaky, I won't lie, but I wanted to see it. I needed to. And I think, that on the whole, I should avoid meat. Something about killing animals just freaks me out.
5) they skin and remove the organs of the sheep (also watched this) and prepare breakfast.
6) Eat
7) hang out with friends and family for the rest of the day. and eat sheep.

So I did this with both my first and current host family, and then rushed off to Ben Gurion University because I thought I had class. Went to the proper room and everything. no one was there. grrr. now i will have to harass the university. or cancel the request and spend the money on learning Hebrew. which would probably be more useful.

Positives:
-got a free ride to the city/got there early
-left for Haifa early
so let's focus on that instead

So, took the train up, got off at Haifa. My host picked me up and took me to his place (thank god cuz otherwise i have no idea how i would have gotten here). I was a bit of a zombie from exhaustion/sickness and went to bed early.

Saar: super nice guy. Early 30s, has an apartment up on Mt. Carmel. He has a cat named Tigre, a beautiful and nice cat. she likes to play with my scarves. plus she's warm, which is nice at night. He works a lot, so I don't see him much, but he's nice, has an amazing collection of movies and tv shows, and has been super chill about me crashing at his place. so it's a good deal.

Monday: got up and decided to just get going. why waste time. so in 8 hours I:
1) saw the Bahai Gardens/burial place of one their important figures
2) climbed the 1000 stairs. twice.
3) saw the german colony.
4) visited 3 museums
5) walked the Louis Promenade
6) walked for nearly 6 hours.
This was all by 430. My feet were killing me, so i came back, and watched tv for the rest of the day. I felt like they balanced each other out.

Today: I woke up, and realized i could have a lazier day, since I saw most of Haifa yesterday. so I chilled with Saar. We made each other watch youtube videos. He was shocked I hadn't seen Labryinth the movie, so I watched it. Then I got ready and left. I wanted to see Elijah's cave, the carmelite church, and Chagall's hosue. Instead:
1. made friends with an old lady at the bus stop waiting for the bus to go to the church
2. made friends with the bus driver going to the church.
3. Saw the church.
4. Took a cable car ride down the mountain. met an American woman travelling. She had an Ipad 2, it was sweet. She was cool, to talk with, just travelling around for a month.
5. Elijah's cave. Where Elijah supposedly fled during his time in the wilderness. It was where he finds God in the still small voice. Especially special to me because it was part of my haftorah portion* for my batmitzvah. got some free cookies too.

*For non Jews: Because of persecution, Jews could not always read the Torah. To get around this, and still have something to read for services/bar mitzvahs they paired other sections of Jewish holy writings (from the TaNaKh) with each torah portion.

6. Found out there are stairs that connect the monastary to the cave. climbed them up and down.
7. Walked along the beach. found out they have strength training machines that use your body weight.
8. Wandered through neighborhoods, passed a military base.
9. Made friends with an Israeli guy who had moved to Finland, but had come back for a few weeks to open a restaurant. Israelis.
10. Met up with someone from couch surfing to hang out for coffee. turned into an epic 6 hours of chatting, including sushi dinner and a ride home. wiiin.

Moral of the story: travelling has made me far more outgoing because being by myself all day can be crazy lonely. but now i'm wiped from hanging out with people all day. sigh.

so tomorrow: Acre (or Akko in hebrew). And probs meeting more people for drinks in the evening.

I highly enjoy this city. It's a great mix of things to see as a tourist and the laid back feeling of a town that people actually live in. It's a city that doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is. I like that.

Anyways. I'm gonna go enjoy some tv. I'll catch y'all later. Love
KAS

Stories...Part 1

So I want to take some time to tell some stories of the people I have met in Lakiya and Israel. So I will start with my current host mom.

Roqiya: A single mother of 5 kids (yes 5) ranging in ages from 16-7. She was married, and I'm not sure if she still is. The husband is out of the picture. She teaches at the local high school, and loves teaching girls that age. She's full of energy and passion. After she split with her husband, she went back to school and got a degree so she could teach in the school. She doesn't speak much English, but she is patient with me, and we can sort of communicate. She isn't ostracized by the community, and she has sisters and her mother live in Lakiya.

Her kids

1) Asiil: 16 years old. She wants to be a psychologist. She has short curly hair, and loves french. Her English is ok, but we can have conversations in English, which means a lot in Lakiya. I don't think she likes Lakiya much. She likes TV and of course hates school. She wants to study in Jordan, and visit her uncles who live abroad (one in Germany, one in Canada).She takes on a lot of responsibility: helping to cook, make tea, and generally be a good hostess to help her mom

2) Milad. He's 14. Um...he doesn't talk to me. Seems that teenage boys become awkward around me. I think it's the social norms. He's the resident technological person in the house aka whenever I try to use the internet he is the one we talk to. He spends a lot of time outside the house, I guess with friends. I really can't say more about him

3) Sausen: she just turned 12 or 13 (i gave her an english book for her birthday). She's nice, and her english is decent too. She's responsible like her older sister, but plays well with Sarah.  She seems to like clothes, barbies, dora the explorer (or atleast has those playing cards).

4) Emir: He's 10 I think. Obsessed with television. Literally sits inches from the television, with it blaring. I don't know him that well, and he's only a kid, so I can't judge. I just worry for his eyes and his ears...

5) Sarah: she's 7. what a little trouble maker. loves laughing, and is quite audacious. sometimes she tries to eat sugar straight.  last night, she asked about different body parts in english and asked about some specific female areas.... *rolls eyes*. she's 7, and doesn't take hints well. then again, neither did I, and now i overread everything. still, her energy is contagious. and she's got a huge personality.

A little bit about my day
-We are on good terms with the EU ambassadors wife. She came down with a friend to show her friend Lakiya weaving. I got to talk with them, and they were great. Really amazing women. The ambassador's wife has lived all over the world including Costa Rica, Israel,and Berkeley. Her friend, grew up in Lebanon, they met in California, and I heard all about her recent trip to Syria. really cool.

-afternoon/evening with Khadra's family. also found out that my plug for my computer is becoming excessively difficult. question now becomes will i try and buy an alternate while here....

-getting excited for Haifa: Bahai gradens, the old city, the beach, GREENERY GARDENS, German colony, and perhaps a day in Akko as well :-D

- being abroad reminds me how much i LOVE meeting people. not the hi how are you, but learning about other people. it's like i thrive off their passions, their stories. looking forward to meeting more people as i travel as well.

next time: previous host family and maybe some israeli stories. yes the blog posts will be long, but you know love reading them :)
احبكم كثيرا
Much love,
KAS

Rockets, and Tel Aviv

So I’m writing this on my computer. No internet access. Correction: I have sort of an internet connection that keeps kicking me off. BAH. Internet in Israel is such a mess. Or at least in Lakiya.  Partly due to the rockets.

Yes. I said rockets. Sadly the few months of peace and the slightly raised hopes after Gilad Shalit are now kaput.  Groups from Gaza (not Hamas) are sending rockets into Israel. Schools were closed yesterday/optional today for those in south (and lucky enough to be closer to the rocket fire). Otherwise, life goes on. Yes, two people are dead and a few are injured, but this is a part of life in Israel. 

Yes, I was freaked out when I heard a rocket. I’ve only heard one, this evening. I know this doesn’t make you feel better. But, it’s still more dangerous to get into a car in Israel (or America) than any rocket fire. I still get into a car every day. And perhaps I won’t sleep perfectly tonight, but I will sleep. Call me crazy or someone who thinks she’s immortal. But I know I’m mortal, I understand the risks. I make my choice to be here.  You don’t have to like it, but you have to respect it. 

So this past weekend:

I finally visited very distant relatives (cousins of my great aunt’s husband kind of distant). They live in a town north of Tel Aviv).  I got in Friday mid-morning, and wandered around Tel Aviv. Note: don’t carry your laptop with you: it’s just dead weight. And boy was it dead weight, my neck still hurts from carrying it. I saw a lot of the residential area of Tel Aviv by the university. Plus a gorgeous park next to a river. Ruth and Kuti picked me up around 430

About Ruth and Kuti: they are lovely people. Kuti was injured during a bomb accident during his time in the Army. I don’t think it was during the war, but he was in the army around 1967. He lost his hands, his vision is impaired, and has trouble hearing. Still he’s brilliant and studies West Africa, specifically Liberia. He was fascinating to talk to.

Ruth, his wife, was a nurse. She’s lovely, and helps Kuti immensely from simple hospital procedures, to daily tasks. I enjoyed spending time with her. She explained a lot to me about Tel Aviv, Israel, and her life and experiences. She was a lovely hostess, and I hope to spend more time with  them while I am in Israel!

For Shabbat, all their kids and grandkids came over for dinner. They’re older than me: the youngest is 30. Everyone was really nice, and spoke English! One was a head hunter for Google, and others were corporate analyst. It was great meeting them.  My mother would have loved the youngest grandchild: she loved shoes and wanted to try on everyone’s shoes. It was adorable. 

The next day I went with Ruth to the Tel Aviv Boardwalk. Turns out things are open on Shabbat in Tel Aviv. Went shopping, and found some froyo! Tons of families were out, and lots of dogs. It was great to see the ocean and get a feel for what people in Tel Aviv do. That evening, we went to a protest in Rabin Square. Israelis are protesting the high cost of living, taxes, and low wages. They want more social services from the government. Protests have been happening all summer. Tons of people came out, filling the square. We left early (well, Ruth and Kuti aren’t the youngest people), and people were still streaming in. 

Sunday: I woke up and Ruth told me about the rockets. I found out that classes were canceled, but all public transport was working. So I went into Tel Aviv, hoping to take a bus to explore Tel Aviv. However, I thought it would go at 12, but it didn’t go til 1. So I got the bright idea to wander on foot towards the train station. Stupid idea. I got lost, and wandered for awhile, not really seeing anything. Eventually, I accidentally stumbled upon the train station! I just took the train home early. Next time, I’m taking the damn tourist bus to see the city. 

Fun fact: at a major mall in Be’er Sheva there is free wifi, which I used to skype my parents. Even if they couldn’t see me. It was fun, and strange to be chatting into my computer in a food court. But w/e. It looks like I’ll be doing that more to keep up with people. 

I should write about my host family. But this post is getting super long. So next time. I’ll let you know where I’m getting the internet (lol new game: guess where Katie is getting online???) 

Much Love,

KAS

Some things change... some never do

Things change:
1. I forgot that Halloween is in two days. Don't care that I don't have a costume or things to do
2. I love family shabbat dinners on Friday nights. It's like a weekly thanksgiving. Sometimes less food
3. I live out of a suitcase/backpack. and I don't mind
4. I don't feel like I need to buy any "things" other than: presents for people, food. and transportation.

Some things don't change
1. I have gotta start watching my money. I went crazy this week and need to calm down on the spending.
2.  I still hate not understanding foreign languages around me.
3. I want to pet all the dogs i see. Except for the wild ones/guard dogs. Still don't like them
4. I still love Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream

Will write more tomorrow: spent the weekend in Tel Aviv and went to a protest! Amongst other things... Plus i'll hopefully have a story of Katie's mad dash to her first day of class...with all her stuff from the weekend. should be comic. so stay tuned!
And now a word from our sponsors.
KAS

Jerusalem, First Day of School, and Haifa!

Hello!

So things that have happened since my last update:

-i am very confused by the orange big talk system. about 20 bucks went down the drain when i tried to top off my phone. i don't know what i bought, but it was wrong. I finally got it fixed with another 50 shekels to them. I am going to look into a short term plan. I might save future money that way
-I went on the bus again! Met some more couch surfers for coffee. Mom don't worry: they were all really nice. I'm also starting to feel comfortable on the bus. Even better: i found another route that goes directly to Lakiya! Much shorter, but it doesn't run as often as the 63. Good to know about though :-)
-Went to Jerusalem today. we had a meeting with the deputy director of Tourism. They're hoping to increase tourism to the Negev and want to promote our organization! Very exciting, and a great resource to help us increase our marketing
-Went to the Arab market. One of the few non arabs there, but it was fine. I spent way too much on Baklava for my host family. oh well, I know better for next time. And I'm moving houses tomorrow! Gotta pack tonight...good thing I only have a suitcase.
- tomorrow: first day of teaching! I'm super nervous. I'm going to have each group for 45 minutes. I've made a short presentation about my family with photos and everything just to introduce myself. Really want to get a feel for where the students are mostly so I can figure out what to plan. I'm worried about it, but it will be what it will be.
-Found out I don't have work the week of November 5th. So I'm going travelling! Going to go up to Haifa for a few days and then over to Akko for the weekend. Trains and buses run to both, so transport won't be an issue. It will be nice to go North and escape the desert for a bit.

Not much else to say right now, might also do some 1-1 tutoring as well. Update you with the details on that later.
Love,
KAS

Meeting people and public transportation

Exciting news: I took the bus for the first time! Yes, I now can get in and out of Lakiya on my own! So there's this great website called Couch Surfing, that connects travelers from all over the world. I used it last year when I traveled to Italy with a friend and we met some amazing people and got a few places to stay for free/the cost of making chocolate chip cookies (that's a whole other story).

So, since I don't know many people/what to do in Beer Sheva, I posted a message to some people in Beer Sheva, asking to hang out/have some help exploring the city. One guy replied and we met up today. So, I took the bus into the bus center, at the edge of the old city.  I was super nervous because I haven't ever taken a public bus before by myself. I got to the bus stop, and got on the bus fine. I had some issues getting off, but I ended up exactly where I wanted. On the way back I had a miscommunication with the bus driver about money. I didn't have exact change and only large bills. luckily, it all worked out and I made it back to Lakiya! I'm sure I'll make more mistakes, but I CAN DO IT! and that's the important part.

So I met up with Shay, the guy I contacted online, and we got coffee and then wandered around the old city. Old City for Beersheva is the city that began with the turks at the turn of the20th century. It was the desert outpost. Unfortunately, on Fridays, things close super early. So we saw the Friday market, went into a small art museum, and saw the old train station. It was just nice to get out, and talk in English for awhile. It was exactly what I needed.

So that was my day. Tomorrow me and Riham, are going to hopefully watch Amelie. Most things are closed, so tomorrow will be a hang in Lakiya day.  But after getting out and about today, I think it will be nice to be here.

Much love,
KAS

Times they are a Changing

This is another post of lists (I am probably running out the door soon so it's gotta be short)

1. Sweets here taste funny. I don't know if it's because it's sugar > butter or if its sugar>corn syrup. I'm not a huge fan.
2. SHWARMA IS DELICIOUS. especially when you haven't had lunch and its 6 pm.
3. I'm starting to speak colloquial! its great!
4. Eggs are still delicious.
5. Salt is the new sugar. And it goes well with raw onion
6. Ben and Jerry Pints of ice cream look so much bigger here (keep your minds out of the gutter). I don't know if it's because packaging is smaller here or if they actually package these pints differently 
7. I have become totally inept at planning farther than the next day. And I often forget what day of the week it is
8. What seems like important news is very different here. 
9. All American TV becomes good TV. except for the doctors. That's just crap.
10. If you don't ask for what you want/need you're not gonna get it. And that's hard for me.
11. I still can go through a pack of gum in 2 days. 

 Alright gotta run. more later. especially since I GO TO TEL AVIV NEXT WEEKEND! turns out i have reaaaaally distant relatives here. who knew?
KAS