I feel like every time I say "Well, it could be worse", God decides to prove me correct. Not that I'm complaining; it could STILL be worse, but seriously, this is ridiculous.
So I was all excited last time I posted because we were able to have one air conditioner on in the apartment, but, funny story: I got home from that coffee shop that afternoon to discover that our power was out, again. Since then we've had power sporadically, but haven't been able to use the air conditioning. I've been sleeping on the roof, on the floor, in the basement, wherever I can to stay cool at night. Our madrichim are joking with us that by the time we get air conditioning (or even reliable electricity), it'll be cold and we won't need it. They're joking, but it's probably true.
I started my volunteer work at City Tree, and then abruptly ended it. It's a very cool place in a beautiful part of the city, but the woman has like twenty five cats, and they're EVERYWHERE, and I couldn't breathe the entire time I was there, so, much to my disappointment, I had to quit. I had a little bit of a hard time finding somewhere else to work, but it looks like I've figured it out, and I'll be working at the neighborhood beit sefer (school), which is where I take my classes in the afternoon, working with high school students in reading and writing in English. Apparently right now the 10th graders are reading Shakespearean sonnets, and they're about to start All My Sons, so I'm really excited to help out, and hopefully make some Israeli friends.
Yesterday I had a mostly free day (Tuesday is field trip day), so I spent the day trying to get to know Tel Aviv, which is slowly growing on me (although I am still 100% a Jerusalem person). I walked from my apartment all the way down my street, through a bi-weekly artist market, ending up at Shuk HaCarmel, which is the biggest and best shuk in Tel Aviv (and maybe in Israel). HaCarmel has everything from mangoes to switchblades to underwear, and it's a blast to walk through and explore. I bought about $20 worth of vegetables for probably $7, and had leftover cash to buy a fresh squeezed pomegranate orange juice, which is one of my favorite things in this country. Then, masterfully, with my giant bag of produce, I figured out which bus to get on to get home, and got off at the correct stop three blocks from my apartment, and came home to four very impressed roommates. I felt like a real Tel Avivi.
Yesterday afternoon we had our tiyul (field trip) to Old Jaffa, which is just... beautiful. We had a tour guide and we were supposed to be listening to the history of the city, but I was just sort of taking in all the cobblestone alleyways and gazing at the turquoise harbor. After the tour, a bunch of my friends and I went to the Old Jaffa marketplace, which is a sort of sketchy series of alleys selling clothing, hookahs, swords, and various other goods. Then a friend and I went for shakshouka, which is this really yummy food thing. I'm not quite sure how to describe it, except as a frying pan full of deliciousness. There are tomatoes involved, and fried eggs. It's just really, really yummy. If you come visit me, I'll take you experience it for yourself. :)
Currently I'm sitting in one of the boys' apartments (the air conditioned one) just hanging out enjoying the cool air. I have class in an hour, which I'm actually really excited for. I really like all of my classes so far. I'm in Level 2 Hebrew (crazy!), and it moves SO fast, but I LOVE it. I'm also taking this awesome literature and philosophy class, where last class we got into a spontaneous debate about the value of Homer's work in Greek society. So. Cool.
Anyway, I should go find some lunch before I have to be back at school. I may not post again before Yom Kippur, so g'mar chatima tova to all, have an easy fast, and good luck to my mom and sister with their Torah/Haftarah!
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