And as the weekend comes to a close.....NO

This weekend was honestly a blast. But of course I get to end it on my first Israeli fever of 99.3. That and a sore throat has landed me in bed for (at least) the day. Which sucks.
But lets talk about this weekend!
I'm trying to think back to Thursday...ah yes. Thursday evening: Ben W., Hannah, red-head Danielle, Alec Z., Rayn, and I played a really fun game called "Cards Against Humanity" Its like an adult/racist/really funny version of apples to apples. Not reccomended to kids under the age of 16. Josh D arrived from Arad at some point and Hannah left, and then all the gentlemen returned to their own apartment to let us ladies sleep.
On that note: Gideon, Jeremy, Ben, and Alec---Thank you guys SO much for letting Josh crash at your place for the past few days. You guys seriously rock. I owe ya'll pastries or something.
So basically the rest of the weekend was a lot of beach. I got crazy tan. I know I keep promising pictures of stuff, but its not happening this post. Cause I'm sick.
But overall the weekend was good fun with good friends. Our Rosh Hashana dinner was cooked by Josh, because we (the girls, Danielle, Danielle, and Rayn) were WAY too lazy. I had intended to make a real feast for all of us, with chicken and salad and cake. But the thought never dawned on me that everything would be closed. So...we had to make due with pasta and tomato sauce with cooked peppers, still delicious!
That was a downfall to this weekend for me: the lack of food in our apartment and the lack of cheap public transportation. I need those things.
Tomorrow I'm volunteering again, lets hope I'm feeling better.
Shana Tova my friends
As always,
Julia Rose
P.S. sorry for the lame post, I'm falling asleep and grumpy.

Its Shabbat and the beach is far.

So here we are, I'm sorry I haven't posted at ALL in this past week. Life got busy! Here are some highlights:
-Rayn, Nir, Josh L, Hannah, Danielle S, and I tried to go to a nice club in Tel Aviv following the Israel vs. Slovakia basketball game (Israel won, duh!). The plan was to have one or two drinks, but all I wanted was to dance. That night, a group from Section 1 (they're in Jerusalem right now) had rented out a floor or something for the night. So about 50 or so YC kids show up at this seemingly sketchy club located in a mall all saying that "we're part of the group!" long story short, the six of us stood in a inactive mosh pit waiting to get into the club. After about an hour and a half of waiting around in other people's sweat, I gave up. I led this mini group to the nearest gelato place. So that night was a bust, but the gelato was pretty good.
-We went on a three kilometer hike somewhere in Israel. It was pretty. I got nice and sweaty. We climbed through these tiny caves and got really dirty too.
-I got most of my class assignments! I'll be in Zionism with Alan, who read a story about a man named Bancha and compared him to the struggle of the Jewish people. ...that should be interesting, right..? I'm also in Israeli Film, and for our first day of class (which lasted three hours), we watched a movie called "Walk on Water" which was long, but still kinda interesting. Don't ask me my teacher's name because I can't remember it to save my own life.
-I also received my volunteering assignment! Avi G, Rob S, and I will be hanging out with a bunch of cute old people on Mondays and Wednesdays. I'm supposed to be volunteering all day on Thursday too, but the community center isn't open that day! So I get a beach and/or laundry day all by myself...yay.
Also I almost drove to Haifa at two in the morning with Rayn, but we didn't have a car...so we didn't.

So now its Rosh Hashana weekend and its Shabbat, so there is NOTHING to do in Bat Yam. This week I've kinda found my group of people, I think. I'm going to say the people who are in my apartment currently as my group...cause they're at my apartment. yeah.. The ladies (all of whom slept here last night actually): Me, Becca, Danielle S (my roommate), red-head Danielle, Danielle M, Rayn, Josh D (who's here from Arad), Josh L, Jeremy, Alex, Alec, Ben W,  and tall Jake (who turned 19 yesterday, happy birthday!!!)
Ummmm so yeah. I apologize again for my lack of blogging. I've been so busy. Also I got my bus pass! So now I can go anywhere in Tel Aviv and some of the surrounding suburbs! Except for today...cause its Shabbos..so yeah.
If anyone has any ideas on what we could do today, we're really really REALLY bored. The beach is out of the question because its like 20 minutes away walking and taxis only hold four people per cab and are extra expensive during the weekend cause its frowned upon to drive a car. We wanted to have a picnic, but alas we have to picnic basket. So email me! I miss you!
So I'm done blogging for now.
As always,
Julia Rose

P.S. Soon enough I'm going to put some pictures up of like my apartment and friends. Eventually.

My mommy was right!!!!

So its Shabbat right?! I get all dressed up nice, put on my nude pumps, and head out. We walk all the way out to the Ulpan (or however you spell it) and sit in a hot room with the rest of YC section 2 and light candles and then we get our assigned Shul, where we will be attending services that night. Ours was on Anna Frank (which is a street here in Bat Yam). We walk up once, we don't find it. Walk back. Walk up again. Walk back once more, before finally getting directions down a smallish side roadish thing that leads to the synagogue. We walk up four flights of stairs before reaching the top floor where we, the women, look down and watch the men pray. Everyone else falls asleep, I tend to my injuries.
What injuries? you may ask.
I don't just have one or two, I have six blisters on my feet. Four on my foot with the pinky toe cut and two on the other.
My mom was right when she said I didn't need to pack those shoes.
As always, (in pain)
Julia Rose

Shabbat Shalom...HEY#1

SO tonight is my first Shabbat as a student living in Israel, cool right?
We'll get to that in a second, first I want to talk about yesterday in Jerusalem!!

super mega casual.
I went on a lovely hike in Jerusalem before a quick visit to the Kotel! After which I attended the opening ceremony for YC. I had lots of fun with lots of friends, and it was just like a sign that this year is going to be awesome.
So I'm getting lazy and I think I'm just not going to write anything about Shabbat dinner until later.
Shabbat Shalom snitches!
As always,
Julia Rose

Let's go to the beach, each let's go get away (because EVERYTIME someone says 'lets go to the beach' someone has to sing these lyrics.)

I have NO idea how many days its been since I last blogged. The days kind of just melt together here, and by days I mean time.  I feel like I've been living here for a significant amount of time, except I still don't know my way around.
The last few days have been "orientation" days. Booooo. Its been sitting in a kinda air-conditioned room, listening to the rules and other stuff that's boring. Two nights ago a bunch of people went to the beach! Which was crazy crazy fun. I went in in my clothes (YOLO, right bro?). Yesterday my roommate Becca and I went to the beach! It was so pretty and awesome and OF COURSE I didn't get tan (not everything changes abroad). But I still had fun!
Roommates! that reminds me!!!!!!
1. Becca F! She lives in Michigan. She's really nice and cool. We're sharing a room!
2. Rayn D! She lives in Georgia! She's absolutely adorable.
3. Danielle S! She lives in New York! She's totally chill. I love it.
4. Adi!!! She lives IN Israel, cause she's ISRAELI! She's precious. She laughs at all my jokes and is always sweet and nice. I like her. She's the best scout EVER!
I was lucky, I got a nice small apartment. BUT I didn't even tell you the best part! My bedroom has AIR CONDITIONING! That's right my friends--every single morning I get to wake up freezing cold, while the rest of YC (year course) is sweating their faces off.
This weekend will be a closed weekend, but today I'm going to Jerusalem! For opening ceremonies (whatever that is)! I get to see Josh D (remember him? from the plane? He's not in my section, but we've decided we're still gonna be best friends, so whateva)!
I'll be posting photos (on Facebook and on here) soon!
As always,
Julia Rose
P.S. Estie, I'm trying to figure out the postal situation as fast as I can, don't worry! Your letters are coming soon!

EVEN BETTER UPDATE!!!!

I was trying to unpack my clothes (P.S. Jenna I got your letter, I love you and miss you SO much!) when I stubbed my pinky toe and blood just starts rushing out of this little tiny crater. My apartment has stolen a chunk of my pinky toe. Even now as I type, I feel it bleeding more as the pain slowly increases.
GREAT START!

This just in....

I've made it! Yes ladies and gents--I'm sitting here in my apartment in Bat Yam on the internet machine instead of unpacking and showering. Be right back.
OHKAY back. I had to get a refreshing glass of water. My past few hours have just been a blither, but I'll try to cover it the best I can.
I left my dogs tearfully and headed for the airport. Daddy, I miss you a lot, and it was really nice of you to be so open with your emotions. I miss you a lot. Fish, I think you actually hurt my nose when you hugged me that hard. And Jenna, I just miss you! Make a facebook or something (but not really...)
My mom and I headed to NYC a day before my flight to Israel. We saw my Aunt Holly and David, which was great! We also saw Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark. Which...was....an experience...
SO my flight, right! After a tearful goodbye with my mom (love you). I could not sleep a wink! But I was fantastically entertained by the lovely Josh D. Amongst other avid readers of my blog and cool chill people.
We arrived safely in Israel! Obviously. Aaaand now I'm sitting blogging in my cool apartment at like 11:10 at night. I kinda have to pee though.
You might've noticed that part of me is lacking in my usual writing voice, which I apologize for. I'm a little out of it.
Problems of the moment: Daddy--none of my converters apply to Israeli plugs...so......yeah. Also check Mom's facebook inbox for more info. :)
As always,
Julia Rose
P.S. Shout out to my Italy photo friends and my Classic italy homies! I keep talking about you guys. I miss you!!

My last post from home

Well this is kind of sad. Today my flight out of Chicago to New York City leaves at 1:11 PM. I'm going to be with my mommy. So don't worry about me. I just wanted to clear up some serious confusion I was faced with a few days ago.
On Thursday, Jenna (my younger sister) and I went to a salon to get our nails done. The woman was painting my nails when she asked my age and if I was going to college and such. When I explained to her about my gap year, she says "Oh so you'll be living in a tent, yeah?"
So to clear up the ever-so-common misconception that I'll be living in a tent for nine months, I have to say this is unfortunately untrue.
So yeah that's my story. 
As always,
Julia Rose


P.S. Mazel Tov to Amanda and Ricardo on gettin' married yesterday!