XaLBa for breakfast

ahhh finally! This computer speaks Hebrew and it has taken me a while to figure out how to sign in to blogspot. I'm having a splendid time here with Rebecca! The flight here was terrible (I'm pretty sure the space between seats on Delta must have shrunk about 6 inches since the last time I flew them), but I slept for about 9/12 hours. I arrived in TA at about 6:30pm and was a little nervous about taking a sherut to J after dark, but as soon as I got on, I recognized some student-types from the plane and it turned out another girl was going to JUC too, so I just followed her. I was greeted at JUC by Scottish dancing and baklava. The next day I accompanied Ru's Parables class on a trip to a nature preserve where plants of the Bible are studied. It was located about half an hour outside of J to the west. I learned the difference betwen a buttercup and the lily of the vally, shephered some sheeps, and walked around some ancient rocks. Last night Ru and I went to a fantastic coffeeshop/bookstore called Tmol Shimshol. I miss the funky coffeeshops in Nizhnii. Actually, this whole trip is making me miss my drygs & padrygas from Spring 2007.

Ru has a test today, so afterward we're going into the Old City to see the sights. She says this place is all about tourism and no one stays for very long. I remember meeting people who visited Beijing and suddenly realizing one that that they were going back to America (the land I only understood at the time to be filled with dreams, rainbows, Butterfingers, and movie theaters), and I had to stay. I don't know why her describing Jerusalem reminded me of all this, but I know that I am flying away on Friday and quite a few of the kids I've met here are exhibiting some of homesick symptoms I had as a 12-year-old.