Tel Aviv, New Host, and my how time fliiiiies

Bonjour mes cheries!

(in case you don't know...that was french). So what has happened in my life since we last met? Great question, I'm so glad you asked

1. I went to Tel Aviv for the weekend. A great mental health choice (my liver wasn't so sure, but it was one weekend). I needed to get away, go out at night, and just take a breather from Lakiya. If there is a place to go for a weekend to do that: it's Israel. I couchsurfed as usual, but with a guy named Vladi. He's Russian but came to Israel after the fall of the USSR.

Nice guy, showed me some classic heavy metal which i must say i liked (well Iron Maiden...which is poppy but w/e). Hung out with him in the evenings and got to see the Russian side of night life, which was fun. We had the usual local russian bars and russian cover bands of russian muscians (talk about obscure references!). As well as the hippy band that wore rastafarian clothes, recited poetry, and shouted songs. I was also a fan of the 10 NIS (aka 3 dollar) glasses of champagne there.

I found it ironic that I went from one subculture of Israel to another. I showed him the Simpsons episode on Israel as well as Zoolander (i may have been reciting the lines most of the time but it was cool) Certainly gave me another view on Israel!

I also went to numerous coffee shops, read the newspaper, and wandered around Tel Aviv. I can't say it was the most eventful weekend, but it was fun. I met up with another American who now lives/works in Tel Aviv. She was nice/gave me some great tips for tutoring. Hopefully we can meet up again next time I come to Tel Aviv.

2. So after a weekend away, I was ready to be back in Lakiya again. And then... i moved houses. It was a suprise for me too. But I'm glad I did. The new family.... ummm i don't know all of their names/their family  name yet. I'll get on that. Totally different part of town and a different clan. It's a beautiful house, I have my own room (once again...they are being way too nice but its the Bedouin hospitality). Here's more of a bullet pt breakdown of the family

• The dad has two wives. I'm not sure if the one I am with is number 1 or 2. His father has....SEVEN. Polygamy definitely still happens here but it's off the books.
• The mom is from the north, not exactly sure where. This means her dialect is somewhat different so i have a hard time understanding. The kids use a blend of bedouin/levantine accent. It's cool.
• The mom is also a teacher in middle school. 
• Seven kids, 5 girls, 2 boys. Ranging from senior in high school to first grade. They are super nice and I enjoy playing with them. More on that later.
• They have internet on a net stick. I'm trying not to abuse it... and reduce my need for it. 
• THEY HAVE A HORSE AND I AM GONNA GET TO RIDE IT. i'm so pumped

So it's been an easier transition to their house. I have also been super busy with work, and tutoring this week. I'm glad I'm doing it, but now getting to the house where I tutor is like an hour long walk. Not so bad when the sun is setting, but afterwards it's dark... so i'm gonna need to get rides back/take more time  because of it.

Other things: we had a giant BYU group come yesterday. Mostly amazing because their group from last semester had come when I was in Israel for just two weeks. where has time gone? I felt far more confident with this group, my arabic is a million times better, and I had more fun with this group. Also shows how much I've adjusted here: they were all saying thank you so much. All I could think of was "why are you saying thank you...wait. omg I'VE BEEN ADJUSTING TO ISRAEL WITHOUT KNOWING IT!?!?!?!" I knew this would happen, but it's rare when you get to see it in yourself on the ground until you go home.

So i'm enjoying my new host home. I was playing with some of the girls this morning, showing them yoga poses, soccer, pushups, and a bunch of other things. Super fun, but needed some time to myself/to write this before Shabbat. I'm trying not to use electronics on shabbat. it doesn't always work, but i enjoy it so much when i really take that day like that.

Not much else to tell right now.. Looove y'all and have a fab weekend!
~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