Let me catch you up on what I've been doing since the International Exposure at my work ended.... CHANUKKAHHHHHHHHH!!!
It's been really fun to experience the holiday in a country where a majority of people celebrate it: It has also really really thrown me. Walking around the streets seeing decorations everywhere and menorahs everywhere and candle lighting with strangers on the street or in big city squares--its very surreal for me. I enjoy it, and Its been so fun and nice lighting beautiful Safed candles every night in my apartment with all of my program-mates, but It doesn't automatically register to me that its holiday time. I think it's a mix of the weather, the general Channukah-everywhere-ish, and the general absence of my family that is making me feel like it's not December. Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely grateful for this experience and think it's amazing, but the American in me is craving snow and fireplaces and Panera soup and red cups with snowflakes on them from Starbucks and ironic and corny red-and-green motifs everywhere. Sigh, ok enough whining.
Last week was adventure-tastic as Michal and I FINALLY WENT TO SEE NEW MOON SHE CAN"T DENY IT AND YES I"M A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO LIKES TWILIGHT AHHHH. And then we sat like adults and sipped lattes and got on a sheirut (shared taxi) to Jerusalem to go see our roommate, Jax, and our friend Abby in the Jerusalem WUJS program play a show at a bar. It was reaaaaaally small and crowded but I'm glad we went, it was an adventure. Afterwards we got hot cider from my favorite little bar in Jerusalem, and had a very surreal experience there too as we lit Chanukkah candles in a bar on upside-down aperitif glasses, and everyone in the whole bar sang along. Very surreal. I don't overuse that word at all....haha
Work has been going well: both of my bosses are not here this week (Claudio is out of town and Rachel is getting an operation on her teeth) so I am winging it and being productive, yay. Michal also had a tough night the other night so we decided to get a light dinner at this little cafe around the corner from our house that we always pass and mean to go to but never find the time. I am so darn glad that we went--when I tell you people that understand that we got like an Aunt Martha platter of veggies, you must know what I mean--we got this platter that had little dishes of pickled something and just straight radishes and sweet butter and perfect wine crackers with some black something seed in them that i cant remember but was awesome, and light cheese and almonds and raw cauliflower and olives and salami for the carnivore (ha ha) and it was just the lightest most perfect veggie meal ever. And it was ridic cheap, which is always a plus when you're living like a college kid still in a foreign country. yayy.
Becky's parents are in town, so last night they took us out to a late dinner. This was, of course, after our weekly fun program of karaoke, which they had set up at the music school for us nextdoor. Really fun, but we invited some music kids to come and boooooy did they show us up. Haha always think twice about inviting actual singers to karaoke--OI. Anywaays, dinner. We went to moon, a sushi restaurant in Tel aviv that has gotten stellar reviews from both my friends and from magazines I have seen. Now, let me say something about Sushi in Tel Aviv. it sucks.
You heard me right, it SUCKS. Granted, I have only been to one or two sushi restaurants in Tel Aviv, and they've been on the cheaper end (duh), but its just not good. I dont know how to describe it, but if you eat sushi you know what I'm talking about. not. good.
Moon--totally changed my mind about sushi in tel aviv. not only was their miso soup stellar, but their rolls were good and inventive, the fish was just plain awesome, and they had masago (flying fish roe). Raven and I have this slight obsession with flying fish roe, and at moon not only did they have a piece of a roll just stuffed with flying fish roe, but they had WASABI FLAVORED ROE. i died. AND, the roll was wrapped in salmon, which makes me die more. It was really awesome of Becky's parents to take us out for sushi, and it was aweosme becuase it was the first time all four of us have been together in awhile, and it was a really nice time.
Enough about food--onto the holiday season. I think that I am going to join Becky and her parents in Bethlehem for Christmas Eve--not only is that a huge tradition here, but it will also be really interesting to see that part of Christian culture. Triply interesting becuase bethlehem is in the West Bank. I am quite excited to experience this, and will update you all on my plans. As of right now for Christmas, I am just planning to skype with the family and open my stocking that Gran shipped to me (!!!) And probably get some Chinese, just because it's a when-in-Rome kinda thing. Do like the jews do!! haha
Happy holidays, happy new year, and as always, Love from the Motherland.
HWOTD: Yom. it means day. i thought that was really necessary since you all get words of the day from me but prolly dont know how to say day. It can be used as in days of the week, or as in "fun day" (yom kef).
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