Shabbatt Shalom

Yesterday I spent some of the day on the gorgeous Haifa beach, it was supposed to be more of a whole day thing but my roommates and I decided to get lost on the other side of the mountain and then get ripped off by a very interesting cab driver who kept asking me if I was from Holland or France- and refused to take my answer of America as truth.






We finally got to the beach where we met up with some other people from our program and relaxed on the ultra fine sand. When I wanted to cool off I waded into the clear, warm, salty Mediterranean and fell in love. Not only was the view spectacular but I could see my feet and not be worried that hypothermia was going to set in at any minute (thanks climate change!)



We were on the beach until 5 and then realized that it was the beginning of Shabbatt therefore none of the buses ran so we had to take a taxi back up to the school, this taxi was much more reasonable and did not ask me about my ethnicity. I got back in time for my first ever experience with celebrating Shabbatt. The international school invited us all to partake in a semi-traditional service including a Shabbatt dinner which had THE BEST BABA GHANOUSH EVAAA!




The whole evening was a very nice and different from anything I am used to. I sat with a few American Jews who were able to explain to me a little bit more about the practices and such so I left with a whole new understanding of the Jewish religion and culture- chalk that up to a win!


Today I spent all day doing Arabic homework because I have school tomorrow... I don't know if I will ever get used to the fact that Sunday is just another regular day here.  This is a picture of my Arabic book which luckily has the explanations, definition, etc. in Hebrew so I can understand it perfectly...

I'm now off to shower and get ready for one of the Israeli's birthday celebration tonight. He is in a band that is playing in one of the venues on the beach and we are all going to support him/spend time with him on his birthday. Finally the sun has set so we can use the buses again. I have a feeling that this whole Shabbatt thing is going to be very hard to get used to.

xo