My first date with the Mediterranean

The last 48 hours have seen very little sleep. My sleep patterns are far from normal at home and even worse here. Monday night, my first night here, I couldn't fall asleep until almost 5 am. The difference is at home, I have no one to commiserate with when I'm wide awake at midnight whereas here, I can call people to talk at 4 am because it's only 9 pm with you guys! And that makes the insomnia a little more enjoyable.

At around 1 am Monday night, I walked into our living room and decided to go on a walk with one of the guys living in my apartment, CJ (a rabbi's son and the most religiously observant one of the group). One wonderful thing about this city is that while it's sweltering during the day, the evening brings the most beautiful breeze and drops the temperature outside just enough that it is intoxicating to step outside. I was excited to walk to the water because I hadn't been yet, while other people had had time to go to the beach the day before. So we walked and walked, not really sure where we were going, and finally ended up at this outside hookah bar that is right on the sand. We bought waters and walked, barefoot, down the beach and into the water.

If anyone has worked out with me, they know the second I lift weights, I get this ridiculous smile on my face that is all from the endorphins. I felt the exact same way feeling the water on my feet for the first time. It was the most beautiful and peaceful scene I could imagine! Nobody else was on the beach and I could just stand in the water with the waves hitting my ankles. The moon was big and dark orange and it was truly beautiful. I told the kid I was with that I had to just stand and stare for a minute to take in the breathtaking view.

The next day (yesterday) we took the bus with Irit, our coordinator, first to a spot called Jonah Hill (not the actor) for some icebreakers and then to one of the three malls so we could see how to use the bus system and finally get out of our small neighborhood. We learned that we are in the very south, and most developed and affluent, part of Ashdod. As you move north, it gets less developed and poorer. It was really interesting to see the difference in just a few neighborhoods north of us how much less upkeep it has. It didn't look like a third world country, by any means, but just...schmutzier.

Jonah Hill is so named because Jonah from the Jonah and the Whale was either buried there, or spit out there by the whale (a very likely story, I know). We shared one personal item that we brought with us (mine was the necklace you gave me, Erica), played a few games, and then wrote down expectations on a piece of paper and put them in a wine bottle to break at the end of the program.

The mall was completely averagely mall-y. Not very remarkable, but there was a good coffee place called Aroma (which they apparently have in Canada, too). But the real highlight of yesterday was going to the beach.

A group of us walked down and spent just an hour and a half there, but it was fun! First of all, they block off the areas where you're allowed to swim that has something to do with the current pulling you back more that makes it harder to get out. So there's a huge span of coast, with a tiny sliver that you're allowed to swim in. They have black flags where you're not allowed to swim and a red flag where you are but, naturally, the silly Americans had no idea of this. So we were wading and jumping waves and we heard a lifeguard yelling over the loudspeaker, but obviously had no idea what he was saying so we didn't think anything of it. Then when we didn't respond, a lifeguard ran over to us and started yelling at us and everyone was staring. So we finally understood and got out and walked to the correct part, but it was pretty funny.

The water is as warm as the air so, while beautiful, is not exactly refreshing to jump into. And the saltiness made my eyes sting really badly so I might get goggles. But nonetheless, it was pretty magnificent to be in there at sunset. And the saltwater made my hair look great!

Okay this is a lot, I know so I'll try to make the rest quick. Last night was actually kind of the first rough night I've had emotionally. I've been so numb to this whole experience that I think last night I had the emotional response most people probably had months ago. It finally set in that this was for 10 months, not 10 days and that even if I don't like the people I live with, I really don't have a choice. So I was a little sad, but that was probably due to lack of sleep. All is better now. I feel much less volatile.

This morning we learned a little Hebrew slang which was fun and then later in the day we got to meet Ofer (or Ofir) who is the director of all of Oranim, the header organization that we're a part of. He told of us lots of details about the trip and the program and living in Ashdod. One of the most shocking (and exciting) things was that unlike in the US where we have to buy plane tickets weeks in advance to get the lowest price, Israelis get the best deals the NIGHT BEFORE. Apparently people say here, on a Wednesday for instance, "I'm going to europe this weekend, want to come?" And the other person would say "Oh what country?" And they would reply "I don't know, it's only Wednesday! We'll decide tomorrow!" - People even pack a bag, go to the airport, and go to tables they have there and say "okay what do you have for me?" and decide right then and there! How fun and spontaneous! I really hope we get around to travelling soon!

After the talk we walked to a little shopping area near our apartment for dinner (I had schwarma for the first time!) and then me and my friend, Rosie, found this great park with tons of kids and a lot of open space! I'm excited to get coffee and come here to read or something. 

Now it's 10 pm and we're going to go hang out on our balcony for a while. Tomorrow's my first day with nothing to do so I'm excited to (finally) get some sleep and go to the beach! Thanks for reading, I'll write more soon!