Fri 10.07

It was still night when I took taxi to the airport. I said to driver I have no hurry and I have to spend as much time as I can so we went to fill up fuel. After that he drove like a madman. Israelis dont know how to drive slow or how to speak quietly without swinging their hands.

I did try to sleep at the airport but did not manage to do that so when finally get into plane I fell asleep instantly. I usually dont miss breakfast or lunch but this time I did. Zzzzzzzz.....

Now I've been home for months and already planning my next visit to Israel, which will be 26. June - 1. August 2010. I hope this story of mine does help people who are going to do Sar-El for the first time. It is excellent program! I love Israel!

I apologize at heart if my statements, writings or pictures do offend some of you fellow volunteers at any way. If so, contact me and I will remove whatever you may find insulting. I still have not contacted any of you, because this blog was not ready. Now I will send link to everyone of you! Thank you so much for making my summer unforgettable! Shalom!

Thu 09.07.

Not able to participate flag raising, since we already had civilian clothing and not everyone had their hats on. Cleaning and inspection.

Here is Nachshon, our Madrich. He did great job taking care of us adults behaving like preschoolers. He never forgot to ask us personally are you ok, do you need anything. He was truly great and I hope to meet him sometime again.

This is David the truck driver.

He gave me very special gift. I never got a can of fish before as a present.

Took all our luggage with us. Bus took us to Ben Gurion's house in Tel Aviv. He was the first prime minister of Israel. Strange man as I learn in his house, which is library today. You can actually come here and read his books. There is plenty of them!

Then it was time to say goodbyes and give hugs as everyone went their own ways. I left my backbag to a friend's hotel room and went for a lunch and to beach.

Sparrow without a tail looking for crumbs.

Lunch near the beach.

Then back to my friend's hotel room, take shower, leave my bag at hotel lobby and went out again. I did not have my own room since was leaving at night. Not so smart thing to do. Some rest would have been nice...

Evening walk at the promenade.

Cake with berries and ice cream, delicious! Strawberry margarita is my absolute favorite. This one was quite strong, I felt drunk after only one drink. I have to get into this restaurant next time. LOL

Wed 08.07.

It was our last day at work. We would be having our Sar-El half day trip tomorrow morning before our three week program would end.

We did sing Hatikva at flag raising, it was nice.

My boss really liked me. Ha ha!
Almost empty courtyard.
Almost full courtyard.
My working station for several days. I did pack and seal hundres and hundreds small medical kits.

Since it was our last evening we were having pizza party! Together we gather up money, made order and some of us walk to the main base gate to pick up piles of pizza and soft drinks.

Pizza is always good! And no need to mumble or count how many slices some are having since some kind person paid more as treat for others. Yummy!

Tue 07.07.

Pretty young thing from US was a real heartbreaker. Guys went crazy with her and they were buzzing all over looking for her. I think it was hilarious. Here is couple kids we met.

This man has done Sar-El 76 times. Amazing!
My roomie has a matching shirt.
Look what we found from shekem, small kiosk. It is easy to make friends.
Evening activity and time to get our diplomas. Everyone told why has come here. It is obvious we all support Israel and want to help - so no need to mention that. Try something different for a while. I state my reason to be here: Israeli men are good looking. Ha ha!

Mon 06.07.

Next door neighbors start to talk out loud 06.00. How nice to wake up almost one hour before you have to. Still people dont show up to flag raise on time. *sigh*

Bread, eggs or pies, sometimes cereal, vanilla or chocolate pudding, cottage cheese, yogurth or sour cream thingy, jam, tomatoes, cucumbers, instant coffee. Very typical army breakfast.

Lunch time! Bread, fruits, many different kind of salads and vegetables...

spicy tomato sauce, hummus or tahina...

more salads...

more salads...

couscous, rice, potatoes or pasta...

and meat, fish or vegetarian dish. All this food is from one single lunch, so we definitely got some good food to eat!

Our tv-room is dairy only.

Doing laundry. I heard there is not washing machine in every base, so you have to be prepared for everything. There is not always soap so you might want to bring some of your own.

We were given form of 13 questions to fill so in the evening meeting everyone had ready answers on their papers called "My House". Question were like this: Three books that will definitely be in my house are ____________ or My children will be raised in a ______________ or My house will be __________ . Then we did discuss various things. Among other things we did learn about free abortion and adult's circumcisions in the army. How fascinating.

Sun 05.07.

Said goodbye to my friend as she was going back home. Then off to work. From Harav Kook, Jerusalem, I took sherut to Tel Aviv Central Bus Station, cost 22 shekels, took 1 hour 20 minutes since the morning traffic in Tel Aviv was quite jammed. Arrived at the meeting point McDonalds 08.27 and this time everyone was almost on time. Again we had some new people in our group.

Heard rumors about oink flu at the big base.

Me and my team did voluntarily work one extra hour, we were good girls!

Here is our new group, we are from Australia, Finland, Belgium, South Africa, USA and Canada.
Time for our evening meeting! One of us was late and one did not show up at all. Hmm, guess for some it tooks few more weeks to know the schedule, ha ha. We were talking about Aliyah - Jewish immigration to Israel. History and beginning, how it is today and who can do it, what it takes to move into different country and what benefits will you get. No wonder there is so much immigration from poor countries... And most interesting part comes here: If you marry a Jewish you can live in Israel but you are not making Aliyah. If you come to Israel with visa you can not move into Israel and convert. You have to convert in your own country first and we know that is not easy thing to do. But if you are willing to go through with all that (takes one year minimum) they will pay your flight to Israel, you need to go to ulpan - hebrew language lessons for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 5 months. If you are under 30 they will educate you. There is also some benefits, like with apartment amenity, money, taxes and healt insurance.

Sat 04.07.

This morning we did not get breakfast so we just took instant coffee and eat our own food since we had some yogurth, cheese and crackers in our fridge. Later on I hear that sunday morning there was no breakfast either and my friend had to wake receptionist up - he was sleeping! I think that is why we did not get breakfast on saturday morning... Receptionist was certainly not Jewish so keeping shabbat was not the case. LOL

Then we went to Italian synagogue, if I remember right it was on Hillel street. It was my first time, I was very excited and curious. Even I did not have a clue what was going on or what was they saying it was very special. There was special prayers and bar mitzva. After a while poor boy was so pale almost green I was afraid he was going to faint. After that we had kiddush outside. Wine, fruits, all kind of pasteries... Very nice! Thank you Irina for taking me there!
Walking in the old city. Have to say I absolutely hate those aggressive salesmen. Dont be so slippery when try to sell me something, dont yell at me, certainly dont touch me. It is better if you dont even look at me. Ha ha, it is better that I stay away from those over eager quarters, uh it is disgusting. Some of them try to get on a date with my friend. I luv yuu, yuu buutiful, wat ar yuu doink tonicht, cal me, we go out.

If they get too close or too pushy just tell them you are not here to buy anything, you came to praise to lord! Works every time. If you try to fool them by speaking Finnish they might even know what you are saying. They have met few Finnish people here before.

We visited few different churches, really not my thing but it was interesting to see how it was.

Little walk as waiting shabbat to end, then we went to dinner with our friend. She was also at teachers' seminars in Yad Vashem.

Fri 03.07.

Shopping at Ben Yehuda and Jaffa streets. Wow it was fun.

I've been carrying these postcards so long, was very happy to get rid of them.

Later walk in a park.

They say crane is a national bird of Israel:

Noisy rave party and very drunk people just before shabbat near Ben Yehuda and Luntz.