Were in the home stretch people! I'm officially home in 2 days, or 3, time differences and planes rides can't be calculated in my head no matter how much I like math.

We spent the last 3 days in the Golan Heights otherwise known as the "finger of the north" on the Sea of Galilee. Let it be known that even though some crap is going down there at the moment with our neighbors, it's really beautiful place. We went on a cool water hike and saw some really nice views (when do you not in Israel), we went to an olive oil mill where "the best olives in the world" are located and where the "most organic" cosmetics are made with the olive oil. For those of you who know my obsession with Bath&Body Works, know that I can never say no to lotion or any skin care product that's good for you and smells nice. Afterwards where did we go, but the Naot factory. My dear lord. What. A. Place. It was kinda obvious, but I dropped a couple sheks up in the Golan...

Today is packing, packing, and more packing. I HATE IT! Tonight is final banquent. Within 48 hours I'm back in my bed. It hasn't hit me yet that I'm leaving, I guess that's why everyone feels so crappy a few days after they've been home and they realize they're no longer in the land of milk and honey. Walker Brothers pancakes and dance classes will hopefully numb the pain.

As for this, this will probably be my last blog post ever. It was fun to divulge the memories of these past 4 months to all you readers. It got me excited to write these weekly posts. See you suckers at home. Love, Peace, and Increase!

How is one expected to study and know this much material for this last JHIST test. It's 2 tests combined into one. One test alone is the equivalent of a final and we've had at least 3. Whatever, you know what my moto here is? Don't stress about work and school, you're in Israel.

Taking a break from studying, let me inform you on this past week. Shavuot gave me some chances to tan by the pool, catch up on some tv shows and movies, and learn how to play Settler's of Catan, in hebrew! I just rack up those Barzel, Chita, Aitz, and Levanah like there's no tomorrow!

Thursday night was the once in a lifetime opportunity, unless someone does this program twice...weird, EIE PROM 2013!! It was your typical getting over-makeuped and dressing up, king and queen, dancing to dubstep, taking too many pictures in cliche poses kind of Prom. What could be better? Let me tell you. Being that it was prom night, what do my roommates and I do but watch "Prom Night!" (Scary movie, rated PG-13, worth the rental) and order TalBurger at at 12 AM. Perfect way to end the day.

I'll be home in 2 weeks, I've started to buy gifts, and throw out things that should lighten up my bag. Soaking up the last of that Israeli sun!

We're in the final stretch people! This week we don't have school (when do we ever) today and tomorrow because of the holiday Shavuot.

Yearbooks are being made, shirts/sweatshirts/boxers are being ordered, and classes are ending. I can't believe I leave this place in a matter of weeks. It's gone by faster than a NASCAR! Today we had a program and we had to bring an artifact from these past 4 months that represents something we loved. So what did I bring? A McDonald's receipt of course, but not just any McDonald's receipt, a McDonald's receipt from Massadah. Probably one of my favorite days in Israel. 

From now until we leave is going to be extremely difficult. Not just because of finals and saying goodbye to these life-long friends, most of whom I wont see for a while. No, no, something much more challenging. . . . getting 50 lbs into 2 bags. When I called my Dad to see if he'd rather pay for the 2 overweight bags or pay to get a 3rd bag, he just, "I'm sure you can fit everything in there." CLEARLY he's never lived with 4 other women. We have clothes, shoes, makeup, toiletries, towels, books, pictures, movies, laptops, food, tampons, IT JUST NEVER ENDS! Sure, I've gone through my 4 lbs of lotion without a problem, but I've gotten shirts, jeans, coffee, Israeli foods, and other paraphernalia that I'd like to bring home from this marvelous country. I'm screwed.

Wish me luck on my last 3 weeks here!

Feelin' Tzuba fresh! I haven't written here in a while because I've had to write paper after paper after paper in the last 2 weeks. Let me first discuss Poland...

There's not much I can say except for the fact that it's a weird country. I kept a diary over the course of the 5 days and debated sharing it with all who read this here blog, but decided it was too personal. The important things you need to know about my trip were going to Majdanek, Birkenau, Auschwitz, and different memorials. I got no sleep and watched 3 movies during up to 7 hour bus rides across the country. The trip was the least favorite I've ever taken and it was depressing to say the least. The best advice I can give you if you ever go Poland is to 1)Bring tissues 2)Prepare to be amazed 3) Don't keep valuables such as Ipods, phones, and wallets in the front pocket of your backpack because YOU WILL GET PICKPOCKETED! I'm a first hand victim. The dude got my cards, license, and 300 shekels. Whatever man! Good luck spending shekels in Krakow!!

We've been on a few trips since Poland. The 1948 trip sent us to Latrun to see a whole lot of tanks that were fun to climb on. We also went to a quaint little bullet factory underground. About the size 3 large New Trier classrooms. It was as if the people working down there way back when were miners, and actually had to have a "tanning room" in order to get that good old Vitamin D! Yay healthy!! The 2nd trip we took today was to Ammunition Hill to walk and play hide and seek tag (not really, I wish) in the War of Independence trenches. The best part was when I could walk through and see that I was taller :) The War of Independence had some connection to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, so we ventured off there to learn about their upcoming programs. YAY COLLEGE!

It's been a trying few days leading up to Poland. Yesterday we watched "The Pianist" and went to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. Feelings were already triggered from those 2 things so far. This week is going to suck in both a good and bad way. It'll also be incredible memorable and apparently even life changing, but what on this program isn't? We're leaving tomorrow morning at 2 AM and going to Warsaw, Krakow, and Majdanek over the next 5 days to see the concentration camps and have different ceremonies at each. Wish us luck!

L'heat

So things didn't go exactly as planned on Tuesday due to the מזג אויר (weather) and we only found out minutes before we were suppose to leave that we were not going to go to Tel Aviv beach. This pissed off some people not just because we were weren't going to the beach, but because people had spent the majority of the morning deciding which bathing suit looked best.

But there was no need to fret, we had a good old יום ספורט (Sports Day) and each JHIST CLASS competed against each other doing different maccabia games. There was wheelbarrel racing, ultimate frisbee, balloon popping, passing balloons covered in vasaline, you know, the classics.

Of course who be better to win יום ספורט than David Adom's class! 1st prize was a Jewish star medal, glory, and first in line to get lunch. I'd like to thank the academy...

Afterwards we took a good hour long bus ride to Tel Aviv. We walked along the port, getting soaked by the waves and eating from our chocolate syringes that we got from Max Brenner's. All in all, not such a shabby day!

A week has passed, I'm a little older, I'm a little wiser...

These previous days have been hectic with homework, tiyulim, midterms, new roomates, papers, IT JUST NEVER ENDS! We've been studying the types of Zionism in JHIST which led us to a trip to a museum, Kibbutz Kineret to visit the graveyard of famous zionists including Naomi Shemer who wrote "Yerushalim Shel Zahav," and Israel's famous date store. We went absolutely nuts at that store, dates this dates that. I kid you not when I say everyone had tamar fever! Where do we go to study cultural zionism but the modern, cultural city of Tel Aviv the next day. We journeyed to Independence Hall where Israel was born and from there, continued to be tourists and spend money at the Shuk (market). So zionist, I know.

Today is Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) and it's much more meaningful here than say, oh, I don't know, the US! We've gone to several ceremonies and heard many stories of fallen soldiers in battle. One vivid ceremony that'll stick with me forever was going to the Kotel along with half of Israel to hear  the President speak and see soldiers salute him. I could see tears streaming down people's faces as Hatikvah was sung. Tomorrow will be a better day as we retreat back to Tel Aviviviviv to have an "Al Aish" or BBQ on the beach as we celebrate Yom Hatzmaoot! Aka another Israel snow day: No school.

L'heat!

Yams and Lambs

When your first Israeli Passover seder involves you reading hebrew like a kindergardener from a feminist Hagadah, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME!

If you're a former Mosh camper from OSRUI and have gone on Yam L'Yam, you and I both know that it's a complete Joke. Sure there are beautiful views along the trails, and the seas are fun to take a dip in, but you don't actually start from the Kineret, and you bike the last part, which with 85 people going 0.2 mph is so completely frustrating. Along the way, we slept on rocks, but with mats and in tents that were setup for us. We carried backpacks weighing less than 15 lbs. Sure we made our own food on the road, but at camp it was all matzah and chocolate. Now, I dont if you know anything about matzah besides the fact that it tastes like crap, but it's worse for you than bread, and does certain things to your digestive system that is making Tzuba this week a very stinky place. Our tour guide was pretty chill. I wont tell you his name, but our cheer was SHARK BAIT HOO HAHA and.... we found him.....  Idea you can get from my tales: If you come to Israel for an extended period time, do Yam L'Yam, you get a certificate at the end.

I spent 2 days after Yam L'Yam in Haifa shopping around Druze villages and being stuffed into a room with 7 other girls with a desperate need to shower but only given cold water. I guess you could say I'm pretty happy to be back at Tzuba where there's real food, showers, and mattresses.

Zionist Youth Farm

I'm not going to apologize for not blogging the last week. We were kicked out of Tzuba and we'd been staying at a youth hostel in Jerusalem for 5 days which didn't have any Internet. Hard life I live.

The Goldstein youth village, otherwise known as the Zionist Youth Farm, is another New Trier aka PRISON! It was boring beyond belief, we still had school, the food was inedible, a rooster would scream it's head off at 6 am, old people partied until 3 am blasting 90's disco music in the building next door, it was just sheer horror. Never going back. The good things happened only when we left the hostel.

My friend from school/camp was in town and broke us out of jail to go to J-town and get some candy. We took a טיול (trip) last week to a community called נחלאות (Nach'laot) where we saw the orthodox cleaning all their dishes before Passover started. We took a slight detour to FINALLY go to מחנה יהודה (Machaneh Yehuda)! for those of you goyim who don't know what that is, it's Israel's busiest, craziest, yummiest food market in Jerusalem. I got tea, cheese, apples, cookies, nuts, and pomegranate juice. The perfect pre-Passover meal.

Yesterday I came to Tel Aviv for פסח at my aunt and uncle's and it was another Thanksgiving. There'll be leftovers to last them for months, no joke. What was interesting was that we reading from a feminist Hagadah, which was different to say the least. 12 hours later and I can't eat breakfast because I'm still full from last nights Seder. You can just never avoid getting fat here.

להיטראות!

Israel has made me completely forget about St. Paddy's Day. No one here cares really.

On Thursday we went to a Mosque literally down the hill from Tzuba in Ein Rafa. A Muslim woman originally from London told us the jist of how Islam works and what their beliefs are. Ladies had to wear Hijab head coverings, ankle-length skirts, and wrist-length shirts in 90 degree weather while sitting behind the men who were simply in T-shirts and shorts. The trip made me reflect back to Freshman year World History when we learned all about Islam and the 5 pillars: fasting, pilgrimage, belief, worship, and charity. It was refreshing.

I've spent the week with my family in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There was shopping, beaching, and SO MUCH EATING! Noodles, burgers, pre-seder dinners, odds are I've gained my Gadna weight back.

Next Week I look forward to Passover and Hiking from the Sea of Galilee to the Med. Sea!!

Back at good ole' Tzuba. The 11 hour classes and shnitzel are as refreshing as ever. So is a wake up door banging from my parents. Remember when everything was fun and peaceful in Eilat? Let me recap...

Arrive at Youth Hostel, settle in, get a shower after 5 days, head out to the boardwalk, shop, go on the fireball bungee, long walk on the beach, sleep.

Next day: Wake up, hot as an oven outside, beach, snorkeling, Red Canyon, SHABBAT, dead-bed.

Shabbat: Tea, coffee, cake, services, boardwalk/mall/beach, packing, BEDOIN TENTS! Best meal of the week (rice, chicken, potatoes, pita, humus, pickles), bonfire song session, cold, cold night.

Sunday Funday: Breakfast of chocolate on chocolate, Camel riding on Sari, שבין הסלט (Between the Salad Farm) Found my love for kumquats, had the best strawberries of my life, white, purple, and yellow carrots, Habanero peppers, hours of bussing it, Tzuba, unpacking, sleep.

צבא הגנה לישראל

Well I thought about the army... What a long strange trip it's been. I'm finally in a luxurious bed in the comfort of a youth hostel in Eilat relaxing after a type 2 fun kind of week.

Tonight I'm going to be dreaming of the phrases "Eser Sh'niot" (10 seconds) "Cain Mefakedet" (Yes commander) "Tom Hazman Acshev Hamefakedet" (Time has ended, I'm listening commander) and not running into 2 lines or a Chet shape (ח) with our water bottles in a perfect order. I won't have to wear any more vomit colored clothing that was once a man's. I won't have to have a bed with a bar in my back. I won't have to wake up at 5:45 to screaming Israelis. I could go on and on about why you shouldn't join the Israeli army, but lets focus on the pros...

... Chocolate on chocolate, making your commander laugh, M16, mud, tree disguises, your own bathroom (mostly), placing bets on what we think our commander's name and age is, skipping an hour long jog because you screwed up your knee along with at least 4 other people, planking and army crawling competitions, singing and washing dishes, bringing your own toilet paper to the bathroom because there is none, ever, comparing bruises, not showering for a week. getting punched with respect, and the guy with the chocolate croissants.

It was a good week in the army and I learned many things. I'm left with memories, 2 pictures because my phone died, bruises, survival tips, a sea shell from field day, and a burnt face in a helluva lot of pain.

This week I can look forward to snorkeling, shopping, and relaxing in the Vegas of Israel with my friends. Then them old folks come... Then it's back to school, back to school.

Shrine of the book, J-town, Masada, Dead Sea. The best and most painful day of EIE so far.

Wednesday: Head to a ballin' fountain that the Dead Sea Scrolls were underneath. It was a museum inside a water fountain. INCEPTION! This is were some of the oldest pages of the Jewish bible were located, protected from glass which I'm guessing was made on this kibbutz.

Thursday: Back in good ole' Jerusalem. We wondered through some secret passage ways under, around, and above the city. People were handing out red pieces of string like hotcakes! A few hours of free time, shawarma, ice cream, שמע ring, stickers, and a new t-shirt for someone...

היום: I've rewritten the lyrics to a pretty bangin' song to describe my experience at Masada and the Dead Sea for the 1st time:

2:15 AM wakin' up in the morning.
Gotta be fresh gotta head to the ח.
Gotta have my bread gotta have my pudding,
Seein' all the lights I have a headache.
Tickin' on tickin' on everybody's rushing,
Then I gotta get down to the Mapal Bus.
Gotta get to the back, I see my friends.

Kickin' in the back of my seat
Hitting them from my front seat
Gotta calm my mind down
Cuz I wanna go back to sleeeeeeeep

It's Friday Friday
Gotta get down to Masada
Everybody's lookin' forward to sunrise services
Masada Masada
Gettin down the snake path
Everybody's lookin' forward to the Dead Sea
Muddy and Salty, YEAH!
Muddy and Salty, YEAH!
pain pain pain pain
Lookin' forward to showering!

Lots to catch you people up on! Too much happens in these Judean Hills.

Thursday night, back to Jerusalem mall. For what you may ask? My purim costume!! It's genius. I can't believe how creative I am. It's so simple...I'm a princess kissing, lily pad hopping, fly eating frog. Green tutu, headband with eyes, and other green paraphernalia will be worn on the day of Purim. So stoked. Don't worry I didn't spend 2 hours just hunting down a costume, I obviously went back to Re:bar to get the "Relax" smoothie with mango, pineapple, and passion fruit. In the midst of all this wonderfulness I forgot Starbucks existed. How could I? I really don't care... don't miss it.

So Friday, Yom Shishi! Bomb shelter parties. Need I say much else? I mean it's a bomb shelter party with Israelis who love to party and have a good time!! I really wish that were true though. 5....maybe 6 people went. It's loud, obnoxious music with some strobe lights and being babysat by adults. Life of the party alright! So yea that night was a bust. Except the hamster wheel and teacup ride in the park. No one can say no to that. Ever.

Saturday was filled with 10 year old Israelis claiming they were 18 following us around. There wasn't a single one without an ear-piercing. It started with them singing what I'm guessing were love songs outside my neighbors balcony. Then trying to run into our rooms and hugs us. They cuties!! Taught me some good words I need to know for the future...

But the weekend's come and gone. "Back to school, back to school....to prove to Dad that I'm not a foooo." (Billy Madison for those of you who live under a rock.) Week 4 has begun!

Ok I'm dropping the days thing, I can't keep track.

Ladies and Gentlemen I just took a JHIST test that was more stressful to study for than a final. We have covered a lot of bible in 2 weeks give me a break. After making at least 60 notecards, coming up with pneumonic devices for 7 fruits/grains, the 5 books of moses, a timeline, and the kings, and what felt like a 4 hour study session with everyone screaming...I KILLED THAT TEST!! CELEBRATIONNNNNNN with strawberries and Hashahar (Nutella)! That's 3 tests down for JHIST, US History, and Physics, one more to go for Pre-calc. Bring it!

Day 16: Sorry I haven't blogged the past few days, just got back from Tel Aviv! Lemme tell ya something: Lunch in Abu Ghosh, kind of something you need to do before you die. They hold world records man! I don't know in what but it's probably kick-tuchas!

But now I have returned so I can report to you from the Holy land. We made our way back to J-town today after a marvelous sleep in. First came the taping of us that'll be sent to NFTY Convention in LA. Let me just say that it's horrible! We all said different things and only did half the cheer, sorry conventioners, we're a little off. Afterwards we spent time taking pictures of the נופים or views. Any chance I get to take panoramas of anything, I go for it! Another bus ride, made our way to עיר דוד (City of David) to go through the Hezekiah's Tunnel. In a nutshell: Narrow short tunnel, which was perfect for me, that's 5 football fields long, above your knees in water, and takes about 40 mintes to get through. It was fun while we were trudging through the water since I forgot my water shoes and had to settle for Nikes. The time passed as we walked and sang "Some Nights," "Sweet Caroline," and "Seasons of Love." At the end, we literally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank God right? It was more stairs... where's my bed?

Day 12: Oh Sataf. Backwards you're every person that walks out of McCdonald's. Forwards you're a beautiful trail with too many thorns and some bangin' waterfall caves that we got to go into! Got kinda soaked :P We got to see how some old Jews' water system worked way back when. If  you're confused, google Sataf. If you're confused by any Israeli-like thing I say, google it. I assure you, it works.

Making this short because I need my beauty sleep and its 1:30 in the morning, gotta love our Sunday-Thursday school weeks! We just arrived back after a hoppin' shopping night at Ben Yehuda St. in Jerusalem. There was jewelry, clothing, ice cream, shawarma, dance parties with people in costumes, (celebrating Purim a bit too early) a guy spinning fire, former counselors, it was a pretty awesome night. Luckily the "rip-ff" bug didn't bite me and I didn't get scammed by anyone trying to sell me things that they said were on sale :P I mean, 400 shekels for a bracelet? ($100) I did unfortunately get a bit touristy and bought a Tzahal sweatshirt. BUT IT'S FLEECE! I'm wearing it right now and I  love it! 

But guys I need your help, seriously, Purim is coming up (Jewish Halloween) What should I be?! The only dressy materials I have are rosta-leg warmers, shutter shades, a scarf, a hat with a bell on it, and multi-colored cheetah-ish sweatpants. What can I form out of that? Suggestions Please. Lilah tov, Shabbat Shalom!

Day 9: Finally shorts weather!! Thank the lord!!

Recap of yesterday: In the morning we took a little field trip to a town in between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The place we went to was called "Tel Gezer." Huh.....gezer is carrot. I didn't understand either. It was basically an archeological sight were we believed the first Jews were established in 2000 BCE. That's right, I'm paying attention in JHIST WHADDUP!? They were called the Canaanites (Or the Habiru, not really sure, it's up for debate) and we kind of saw how they defended themselves, how they got water, food, and their gate. Pretty dang cool, along with breath taking views! After all that walkin' and talkin' we had to go back to general studies :P

The other day I failed to mention the funniest thing that happened right before we went to bed. In comes the counselor to check in on us, she leaves the door open AND IN RUNS A DISEASE-RABIES FILLED CAT INTO MY ROOM!! I've never been more afraid of a cat. What does the counselor do? Starts yelling at it in Hebrew! Dude, cats don't understand that Ivrit, they speak cat. Honestly. Eventually it did leave in the arms of my roommate who didn't care if she got sick or not. "Can we keep him?" She was 100% serious.

Today: We finally got to do some more exploring of the Kibbutz. We walked through some rows of the vineyards, turned at some paths, and arrived at a cave. What? Caves? the kibbutz has caves? Lots? That makes it probably 98469283693845643 times more better. Except for the fact that they got dead guys in there. Kinda not what I wanna be standing on when I come in, but still pretty bangin!

אני לומדת הרבה עברית פה. אני רוצה לנסות לכתוב בעברית יותר! אני אוהבת ומתגעגעת אותכם! לילה טוב

Day 7: My roommates and I are having way too much fun. We just had a laughing attack after seeing them tackle each other to answer the door. Why you may ask? We're really high off Jerusalem.

We made our way towards the Western Wall, walking past cats, orthodox, the Holy Bagel, and a huge menorah where our counselors told us a story of 2 bros owning a farm. We had to take 5 mins to be touristy and take edgy instagram pictures of us looking at the Kotel which will probably end up being our profile pictures. Yea, we're that fricken cool. As we approached the Kotel, our counselors gave us rosemary so we could smell it and remember that we were here next time we do. After God and I had our little chat at the wall, I put my note towards the bottom knowing it'd have less of a chance of falling out. As I started to walk backwards so my back wouldn't face the wall until I was out, an orthodox woman asked us if we knew the prayers. Before we knew it she was guiding us in prayer as we were staring at the wall. We were repeating them after her, word for hebrew word. I didn't know which one it was, but it had the Sh'ma in it. It was emotional for us.

After seeing the holiest of sights, made our way out to get so PiZzZzzZzA! yum yum nom nom. LATER! We attended the finest of concerts put on by the Hebrew Union College in honor of Debbie Friedman. There were lovely songs sung by FCITM (future cantors in the making) and a hard rockin' song session at the end that are bound to be stuck in my head all night. Tomorrow we travel on our first tiyul (trip) to some caves or something. And they're still making us go to classes, what weirdos.

Day 6: Think about this, the worlds most tiny splinter, ok? You got it? Now imagine it in the arch of my foot. Yes the same foot that had a fish hook in it and stretched a tendon. Right foot is immune to everything apparently. So that's how my day started, going to the nurse where they pinched and tweezed the crap out of it until it came out because I. dont. do. needles. Tip of the hat to the Mir! (Nurse)

It was finally time today to venture off to J-town mall! Jerusalem couldn't be more beautiful. The bus ride was everyone taking pictures of the landscape because were so gosh darn touristy. I had a bit of luck at the mall, finding an appropriate sized traveling mug so I can take my tea to J-Hist and not fall asleep :). That was the extent of my shopping spree. Except for getting the most DELICIOUS smoothie called, "Relax." Passion fruit and pineapples. I'm just discovering some great drinks on this venture so far.

But tonight and tomorrow is the time to rest, for it is shoibos. So after my 3 hour nap in the afternoon, I bid thee all farewell as I leave to now go to hangout in the Zula. Shabbat Shalom, Lilah Stove!!

Day 4: Its kind of a huge downer when it's 60 degrees in Chicago and 45 degrees here with rain and HAIL! People are slippin and are getting hit in the head with it. What's the deal nature? I wanna go to the beach. But seriously, the grey, cloudy skys are putting people down, especially after our first day of school and overload of homework. You should see my bed, more textbooks and papers on it than at home. Why did I come here again? ;) Joshin'

11 hour school days calls for a lot of caffeine. My new fixer is Wissotzky Peach tea. Hebrew, Jewish History, (J-HIST) are chill. Literally. My Physics teacher is hilarious and English, goal for that class, make him my new best friend. English is going super great when you get to write an essay discussing how you feel you connect with Jack White. But the day is a little lest than a double school day, going to take  A LOT of Peach tea to keep me awake.

Day 2: It's weird to think that while I want to go to sleep at 9 pm here because I'm so jet legged, that my friends are in their 6th period class.

I'm on the invisible/waterfall/Mapall bus. While heading towards beautiful Judean hills we passed SO MANY FRIGGIN COWS!! And a lot of nature, I still can't believe were here. Arrived at the kibbutz, looks the exact same it did 6 years ago just aged. Got our rooms and mates. Got a kick tuchas view of Jerusalem from my room along with our balcony. Later came the orientations which everyone slept through, with love. You have to understand that most of these kids havent slept in literally 2 days and we just had a 9 hour flight passing however many time zones.

FYI the internet couldn't be more horrible so I'll do my best to skype, facebook, blog, facetime, whatever. Lilah

Day 1: So far there a lot of new friends, but my only enemy is lines. Checking baggage lines, security lines, check-in lines. Immigration's going to be heaven when we get there.

JFK couldn't be more different then O'hare. Security people and TSAs are all smiles. It's a lot cleaner and emptier than O'hare, it's very very weird.

What I love about NFTY is that everyone is so welcoming and will always introduce themselves to you. At least 4 people have told me I have a Chicago accent and I'm feeling very embarrassed and self-conscious. What a surprise when I say the Canadians are the nicest people.

On the plane as we speak, flight attendant is talking in Hebrew and is going WAY to fast! Guy next to me is already asleep so I'll feel bad if I wanna go to the bathroom. This'll be a long flight....

Day -2: From 8 am until 3 pm I've been a dancing machine. Perfect way to leave school, on one of the best days of the year: Northfield Dance Day, where instead of learning, you watch modern dance all day.

I know on kibbutz tzuba there aren't any dance classes, but if there isn't at least a yoga or Pilates class, somebody's gonna get smacked. I also know we'll be army training and hiking everywhere but I gotta do my own thang!! Otherwise I'll come back to school with no technique and will look like a damn fool in the studio!

Switching subjects..THERE IS FINALLY SNOW IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA!! How can I leave!?

Day -4: Who needs packing when there's a new episode of Criminal Minds?

Last day in classes. Got my final grades back and ZOOM I was outta there! No more school for this chica...except Friday. Technically I'm disenrolled from NT now, yay. It's kinda nice telling my teachers that assigned homework tonight, "HA, I'm not going to do your stupid homework. No need sucka!"

I've actually begun packing clothing and toilet-trees which begs the question: How the hell am I supposed to fit all my Bath&Body Works products into one bag? I'm a girl, gotta smell good. Soon enough, I expect my friends to come over and take stuff out of my bags since every time I mention packing they give me a death stare. No guys, I was just planning on wearing one set of clothes while I'm there. I'll call it "The Meg Griffin" because she'll never take off that dumb hat.

Northfield Dance Day and the NDE showcase ($5 in the Cornog, Friday 7:30, tickets at the door) That'll be my last hurrah before I leave all my wonderful friends :(

Day -5: So in 6 days I'll be in a different bed in a different country. How often does that happen around here?

So this blogging world is kinda interesting so far. I could've done Twitter, but at heart, I'm no tweeter.

Thee last few weeks have been all about GETTING STUFF DONE, CROSSING STUFF OFF THE LIST. Got enough pants? check. Did your bags come in the mail? check. Do we need to get you more vitamins? check. Is your laundry done? Room clean?  Are you disenrolled from school? Do you know your grades? Done packing? That's all no. Packing is all going to be done 2 days before I leave. How am I supposed to fit 4 months of my life into 2 rolling duffle bags that can only weigh up to 50 lbs?

Among all the chores I have to do, I'm trying to spend as much time as I can with my friends. Usually, every weekend means everybody's sleeping over at Carrie's. Where will they have to go now?? But seriously guys, you can still sleepover. it's not weird. My parents are your parents. If you don't I'll feel bad. Saturday was the last sleepover :( and tonight was the girlfriend American themed dinner. How can I leave these people?