A pillow? not quite...a bed? not really...it's 11:45 on Tuesday, my first day in the land of Milk and Honey, and to be honest I am kinda killing myself to write tonight. I have never been more exhausted...and as a college (theatre) student...that's saying a lot. For most of you who don't know I got up at 3:30am yesterday even though it's like today, to get to the airport by 4:20 for my flight at 8am. I was surprised that such a small part of my group was on delta. We made our way just fine to JFK. So technically I was in NY for all of two hours! By the way I'm sick, like sick! at this point I can't hear very well or swallow my throat is so sore and the air pressure/dryness on the plane is not helping!
Our next plane left at 8:00pm so we could arrive at 2pm Israel time. I have by now chosen to forget the discomforts. The 80 (+) birthright folk, loud and crazy behind me impressing each other with college drinking stories. The smaller than any international flight should have seats. And the window seat, which is both a blessing and a curse because I barely got up the whole 10 hours which caused my feet to swell to a very plump size. With the help of my "sleeping aid" and some good old prayer , I got through it.
As I got of the plane I was met with Israels warm humid air finally! Customs was much easier to get through than you might think and finding the rest of the group was a breeze ( things are already getting better in Israel!). All 75 of us split on two buses and we were off to Jerusalem!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE I AM HERE! It's too good to be true. All my childhood till now I have been thinking about this first trip and it's finally here!
Next we stopped off at a few key sights, one being a panoramic view of the Holy City, our tour guide Ossi was wonderful at explaining the buildings in both rough form/religious context. She had so many good things to say, and I'm forgetting now, it's just every teacher and student here has something beautiful to say a lot of the time. That makes me more sure of the reasons I chose this trip.
At the end of our day we had the classic "Welcome to Israel" Dinner with tomato/cucumber salad, rice and humus. I CAN EAT THIS STUFF!!! After a bit of orientation we had a circle with Rabbi Katz ( meeting number 1 of many to come :) ). He also of course had some brilliant things to say that are faded with my exhaustion. I just hope they are still in my soul, little thoughts resting in the deepest parts where all the truth lies, waiting for me to need them to show themselves. That's the thing about this trip I've noticed in the first 24 hours is that you really have to take what people say to heart and if you do you will get more than you can imagine and be able to give more than you ever thought you could.
Now I am in my dorm room, sitting on a piece of foam and wood with my over sized twin American sheets attempting to dress this place like home. Little do the sheets know...they don't need to do that. I sleep alone tonight as Sara has yet to come. I have made some great friends already Rachel Hannah and Shelley! EVERY ONES NAME IS SOO JEWISH! Here everyone is like "Jimenez?", "What is that?" and I say "It's ME!" whatever that means...I am the third Rachel here, but the only RachAel..needless to say it gets confusing so I am gonna go by Rae. Now I will rest my 8hrs and wake up with NO JET LAG! I WILL NOT! if I say it like that then maybe it will be true.
To my swollen feet, propped up on a suitcase
the Israeli women mumbling in the ally ( did I say I am staying in a place with only women )
And my not so pillow not so bed
LILA TOV!
I love the name rae, and I think it suits you.
ReplyDelete