Monday, September 19, 2005

New Roomate in an OldNew City

Well, as things go here in Tel Aiv University in the dorms (or at least the Lowy school), my new roomate called me and said he was moving in later today. Most things are accomplished by a select few who know the fine art of complaining. Now, for those who are not as talented in this art, or at least in engaging the correct people for their talent, things may seems rather difficult to setup. Although rumors abound that a civil conversation will be fine enough, and I have had luck this way, there are many who take the firm and unaltered belief that this is the only way. However it happened, I have a new roomate and he is quite a congenial chap. Perhaps we shall both be lost into a pile of our books (the stacks on the desk being, to all eyes, created equal).

The OSP finally had a academic orientation, which seems quite interesting as we now get to choose our courses. In the States registration is a frenzy or fervor of waiting for a deadline quite a few months in advance of any real praticality and in general makes us feel quite cosy with ourselfs. The Israeli's (and Europeans too I hear) take the astute view that things will be done when they will get done, meaning the day before class. Maybe they have to much to worry about today. ;)

Also, in other news, I finally made an "ayin" like sound emit from my vocal cords. This is the oddest letter that ever did appear. Arabic food, made with a pinch of familial love, tops the connaisseurs list of "perfect tasting, really dang good food".

Another thing, why don't blogs have a spell check feature? I know that physics is not conducive to spelling at all, and neither is learning to spell in another language. Perhaps I shall forget english entirely before I leave my sojourn in Israel.

Cordially yours,

Monday, September 05, 2005

An old trip to Ezfat

Well, the past few weekends I have been so buisy doing things, that I haven't been able to write about them. I will start off with the trip to Ezfat, before I forget the whole trip.

So, after a short bus ride to the north of Israel, up some low mountains and past the Gillilee Lake we arrived in "the mystical city of Ezfat" as the brochure put it. Our whole trip was organized by a private group under the name of the director Jeff Siedel. For a 100 shekels we got to stay in a nice hotel with several wonderful meals. Great deal if I might say.

The first thing we did when we got there was walk up to the hotel. That may seem obvious, but the bus was not allowed to drive up to the hotel, as the street had been closed for Shabbot. Everything is closed for Shabbot. Ezfat is a very religious city, second only to Jerusalem in Israel. We had a barbeque and went to a Klezmer festival. Klezmer music goes hand in hand with the Orthodox community living in Ezfat. The festival brought the peaceful little city alive with singing and dancing adrift in the soundtrack of Fiddler on the Roof.

The next morning we had breakfast which had entirly no breakfast food in it. Well, maybe thats just me, but I pine for pancake and eggs in the mornings betimes. The end of breakfest led us to embark for the hiking trip nearby. Now most of Israel is a dry deserty region, albeit with the amazing irrigation things grow here, but not like this. The area is used as a water supply for the city, but amounts to nothing more than a small creek. The path is lined with trees and plants and fauna of every type. It reminded at times of the south, and Heather at times of her Hong Kong. Quite beautiful place.

The trip ended with a lot of tired but content people, who mostly slept on the way back. After a nap and some time, it became time for the Shabbot service. Now, this is the part of the weekend I understood the least. The city of Ezfat has served as the center point of Jewish mysticism, kaballah and general religious themes. I am still not entirely sure what congregation this service was, or what there denomenation of Judaism they were, but it was impressively different than a visit to Church would be in the US. First, everyone sang, in Hebrew, the welcoming of Shabbot and praise to God, the Creator and sanctuary of the people. Then, the men started dancing ( I don't know about the women, they seperated the sexes from each other for the while) and dancing in circles and pairs all around. I don't think dancing is even allowed in a lot of American Churches, so it is interesting to see the jewish men dancing and singing in a ferver. For they are Zealous.

Now we were all tired, but we couldn't sleep yet for the best part of the trip was to come. The Shabbot Dinner. Now, in the States we aren't to fond of making noise at dinner or in general breaking our silent rules of space and conduct. The jewish people have apparently never had a problem in showing a communal spirit. The night started off with the blessings and the prayers. Then came the food. At first thought, the food didn't seem very impressive in either quality or quantity. Luckily I was proved very wrong, for that was just the first course. So then the food started flowing with the wine and people, it became quite a time. Everyone started singing and banging on the table and eating. There isn't really quite a way to explain the Shabbot dinner. Well, I shan't try too much, for fear of embarrasing myself or the memory of the night.

The next morning was rest. Shabbot is really underappreciated at least for this very point. Sleep. The rest of the day involved more meals (really big 3-4 course meals with drink and merriment). Then free time and more prayers and praises.

Well, there is much more I could write and written more eloquently, but I shall rest here. My friends have some pictures of the weekend that I shall try to post.

Shalom!

Sunday, August 21, 2005

A Hebrew Tinged Sleep

Hebrew is really an interesting langauge. They don't seem to have many connecting verbs (except et). This seems a little odd, or perhaps childish if translated directly to english. But it makes sense in Hebrew (well except for my occasional confusion about words like shel, which i still don't fully comprehend). The langauge is apparently very apt for singing worship songs, although many would bemoan a hebrew love song. As a singer in a club here told one of the girls in the OSP program, "I would sing you a love song, but it would sound like I was clearing my throat."

Overall I haven't done to many new things for the weekend, there is nothing new under the sun. But sleep is really an amazing thing. After studying so much physics, and not sleeping near enough I believe my body is rebelling. It always wants sleep, then I feel fine, but still sleep is good.

There have been many books that I have started reading. These are whole events in and of themselves, as they exist in a very real way in my mind. To many a book may not seem much, but they can tinge my whole way of thinking and enliven my heart. The world is out there and we can interpret it as we want but we get what we put in. Sometimes I forget that I can and should actually do things. The people here are mostly friendly, and usually very open for discussions. Sometimes a little bit too much.

Well the time is quickly passing midnight so I should take leave for now. I will try to post more, but not to much has happened of late. Or did I talk about Heather's trip up here? Maybe I forgot... Anyways Heather seems reticent to post online, so maybe this will be a one person ordeal afterall. Oh lamentations, ;(

Shalom!

Tuesday, August 09, 2005




As I promised, pictures! These are from a friend of mines on our Jerusalem trip. He has a digital camera, so here they are. I don't have time to write very much. I could make up some kind of good story, but hey. Hebrew is interesting, lots of gender specific cases and forms of words. I never though about how little of that english has as a language.

Well, Shalom!
laila tov!

Sunday, August 07, 2005

God promised this land, and it is a land of Miracles

Shalom,

So, Israel is getting more interesting. I found the non-american parts of things, and they are good. Cheap vegetables and fruits, and great pitas and hummus. Also, with my vast lack of knowledge in French, I have decided Hebrew has way to much in common with French. I know, nothing really, but everyone who speaks French here pronounces Hebrew like a native.

My program took a field trip to Jerusalem.

Must go again, I have found it amazing, and fascinating in so many ways. To walk on grounds that are two thousand years old. Where the second temple was built, and Yoshua walked. But its the spirit of the city, heavy with so much rife and strife, yet still spiritual and longing to God in a way. Maybe the whole myth about The world being founded from there is true.

The city is still very human, but very beautiful stone everywhere and narrow streets and ... I almost keep longing that I had applied ot go there instead, it just seems so much more interesting for a persone of my tastes and inclinations. Parties and beaches are fun for a week with me (maybe that long). Is it possible to transfer study abraod programs, ;) ?

But Tel Aviv is getting much more interesting, especially as I meet more people. Jewish people are different. Friendly and warm almost all. More secular people seem to goto Tel Aviv though, so thats a different culture in and of itself.

The description of Israeli's as "prickly pairs" is apt. I got yelled at by a Russian or Jewish lady and thoroughly frightened. Also, I was sitting in a coffee shop early in the morning when I group of Israeli women came in and setup a video camera and started what seemed an interview seesion. Then they started arguing about clothes or soemthing, next time I looked up one of them was just finishing putting back on her shirt. I guess its normal to change shirts at the coffee shop. Hmmm?

Hebrew is an interesting langauge. I just started learning it, must go now, so now see you later!
Shalom!

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Everyone speaks Hebrew ... in Israel

So,

After much weariness and much searching my plane landed in Tel Aviv Israel! The searching, other than the soul seaking kind, was mostly through my bags. Trying to tell my story to or explain my circumstance has always been interesting, but talking to the custom agent was particularly interesting. They ask a lot of questions, the most difficult being "Why did you choose to study in Israel?", apparenly "on a lark" isn't a very good answer. Therefore I have decided that my new definition of brave would be going through Israeli customs for fun... especially if you aren't jewish, don't know hebrew and have no real reason to study here.

So the dorms ... are also very interesting. The air conditioning requires special mention, or the lack thereof. Everything is in Hebrew, but most road signs are in English and menus can be had in english. The language seems quite interesting in itself, although I still have not reason to be studying it. I might be able to read some of the Old Testament (though I don't mean old in the depracated sense of the word... just older, like a wise granfather).

Some things are a little more expensive, especially fans... I neeed a fan. And there are no Walmarts... as much as I rag on Walmart, it is very nice to have one place with decently priced goods for a normal life... such as that fan, then the bedsheats and all of that.

I have been lucky to meet some great people so far. Everyone is friendly. So, that is cool. It is quite interesting being a "born again" christian, even a new one, in a Jewish land. Things are different, as in the US almost everything has a Christian basis (though doesn't seem to many of us follow through on what is said, I'll leave you to find what Jesus said about doing what you say).

Shalom,
Jaremy
Tel Aviv,
Israel

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Dans Des Outres Neuves

Shalom!

Welcome to the first post to about my trip to Israel. This first post comes at a time when I should be finishing my packing, but it would be odd to break stride now and do something on time.

If you have never travelled abroad, well then you would be just like me about now. Of course, in a few days time I will be able to talk about studying abroad, but right now all that can be said is something about alternating cycles of feeling and confusion about this whole thing.

Leaving the world of Physics for so many unknown things.
Leaving the little town of Laramie for a big one.
Leaving an old life behind for a foreign life.
Leaving Good friends for unknown ones.

I bid ya'll grace and peace and I will write as the writing comes,
Jaremy