Ulpan is over!! My four weeks of intensive hebrew learning has come to an end.

1. Unfortunate conclusions: Sixty (seisheim) and thirty (shloshim) sound suspiciously similar when cab drivers are telling you prices, salesmen at the market (shuk) have no patience for helping you practice your speaking skills, and hot guys think it’s hilarious when you try to order a drink at the bar.
2. Happy Conclusions: I feel way more confident traveling by myself and with others, I can ask for an English menu, and I can have small chitchats with new friends on the beach.

All in all, I’d say it’s been an awesome experience…but I definitely have a lot more to learn. Good thing I’m continuing Hebrew all semester….at 8:30am Monday-Thursday! What a great time of day to be awake and struggling to speak another language. Sadly, it looks like I won’t be able to continue studying Arabic this semester like I wanted because of class conflicts and credit priorities. Time to buy Rosetta Stone, I think.

Regular classes will start on March 8th, so I have a whole week off to go on adventures! For day 1 my roommate Danielle and I rented a car and drove north. First: I do not recommend driving in Israel to anyone, at all. Israelis make New Yorkers look tame, and that’s coming from a born and bred Jersey driver. But it was definitely more convenient than a 3 hour bus ride, so Dani was a trooper and braved the crazy drivers to bring us safely to and from Caesarea.

It’s the first time I’ve been able to really explore a city on my own terms again like I did throughout Europe, and it was a blast. It was a beautiful day, almost 80F. Not only did we get to wander around the ruins, we got to dip our toes into the stunningly blue Mediterranean sea, and we watched a fisherman go diving for his phone. It was a great reminder of why I’m really here…Not to have a set routine and never sway from my class/gym/eat/sleep schedule, although it has gotten very comfortable…but to see the land I am living in, and to explore the magical places that I have access to for such a relatively short time.

I can’t wait to see how the rest of my week off goes!! Until next time friends….keep your toes pointed <3 

It’s a real struggle watching my favorite relaxing day of the week, Sunday, turn into the dreaded first day of the week (יום ראשון). Here in Israel the weekend is Friday and Saturday, so on Sundays at 8:30am (while those of you reading at home are finishing up a fun Saturday night) I head off to class for four and a half hours of intensive Hebrew immersion.

The ulpan (Hebrew immersion) class is much more interesting than I expected, and I’m really enjoying getting to know more useful words than closet (ארון), and really start working on full phrases and things that I can use to get around in day to day life here. Just this evening I was able to ask for the check to my delicious sushi dinner (אפשר לשלם את החשבון)…don’t even ask how much it cost, I’m trying not to think about it!

The food in general here is incredible, and I’m so lucky to be able to try so many different kinds of foods…I’m avoiding Italian just because I know it could never compare to the amazing pasta I just had in Italy, but the falafel is homegrown and it’s incredible. The vegetables and fruit are also amazing, and the deals at the market (שוק) are making my wallet much happier than the supermarket around the corner. I’ve experimented a lot with chicken, and I’m finding that I’m not a bad cook! Gotta do what you’ve gotta do, I suppose.

I still miss Mommy’s cooking though…and Mike’s!

1. Chocolate macarons with a glass of milk is heavenly.

2. So is panna cotta.

3. Don’t be self conscious- whoever you are and whatever you’re doing, own it.

4. Selfie sticks are the worst.

5. Get up early- sleep isn’t worth the extra lines you’ll wait in when everyone else wakes up too.

6. Make friends everywhere you go.

7. Be outgoing- go up to the girl in the bar and say hi! She may turn out to be your sister.

8. Don’t be afraid to be with strangers.

9. Talk to strangers.

10. Rock the tourist look- if you’re being a tourist but you’re pretending to blend, you won’t get either experience, really.

11. See the sunrise.

12. See the sunset.

13. Sit on bridges…there’s something freeing about dangling your feet over the water. Don’t fall off.

14. Look at the ground.

15. Look at the sky.

16. Notice the little things.

17. There is no “real” Paris, or Granada, or Madrid..etc. There’s only the experience you make of it.

18. Not having service can be a good thing.

19. Don’t put in headphones unless you’re going to sleep. Even then, fall asleep to the sounds of wherever you are.

20. Wander. Get lost. You’ll find everything eventually.

21. The things you find by accident are often cooler than the things you google map and go directly to.

22. Make friends with waiters…they’re as local as it gets, and they usually speak English.

23. Wear layers.

24. Eat alone, and eat slowly. Enjoy your own company. Get to know yourself. You’ll find you’re actually pretty cool.

25. Walk alone. Don’t compromise on where you want to go.

26. Walk with a friend. Explore things together, and get excited together. Share details you know.

27. Don’t buy souvenirs. Save little things- train tickets, memories, notes, small change. They will matter more than a cheap trinket in 10 years.

28. Wear red lipstick.

29. Don’t regret anything you do. Know the consequences, learn, but never regret.

30. People are more important than places.

31. Never ignore anyone. Smile at the beggar even if you won’t give them change. If someone asks you for directions, answer them patiently. No one is unworthy of a moment of kindness.

32. Call nothing “weird” or “strange”. Say “different”, or you’re claiming it’s somehow lesser than what you’re used to.

33. Invest in good shoes.

34. Take pictures of everything. Living in the moment is great, but in a day the moment will be gone and you’ll want something to help you remember.

35. Get dressed every day, don’t look like a slob just because you’re traveling. You’ll look better in pictures, and you’ll feel more confident in places you’re unfamiliar with.

36. Sunglasses.

37. Extra socks.

38. Walk in the rain…enjoy it. Don’t let the peddlers force you into buying their umbrella.

39. Reflect at the end of every day. Live it all twice. Remember the high points, low points, and little moments.

40. Make little moments.

41. Bring your own hot sauce- if it’s not in a sausage, Europeans don’t understand spicy.

42. Smile.

43. Don’t be in a rush. Don’t overbook your day, allow yourself to have time to just look around and breath, or take extra time to talk to the waiter over lunch. See #22.

44. Don’t drink too much. Eventually no one will take care of you.

45. Don’t be a wimp. Try everything.

46. You get what you pay for. An 8€/night hostel is going to be crap, a 100€/hotel probably won’t be. Choose wisely.

47. Splurge on food. Gross inexpensive food tastes bad and will make you sick.

48. When trying new food, use the three bite rule: One bite to be brave, one to taste it, and one to make a decision if you like it.

49. Don’t make eye contact with street peddlers if you don’t want them to follow you down the street.

50. Be a witness to the current events going on right now. History is incredible and cities are full of it, but the people that live there in the present day are more important. Recognize them, their lives, and their community.