Progress...finally!

This has been an interesting week for me in Israel. I have continued the apartment hunt and realize just how easy we all have it in America. In the US, you find a place you like, the leasing office either has something available or not, and if it is available and you want it, then you sign and you move in. Here, everything is through the owner of the apartment and there are no leasing offices to deal with. It doesn't matter if you were the first person to see the apartment or the last because the owner decides who they like the most and gives it to that person. Apartment hunting here is a popularity contest which is why it takes so long for people to find a place to live. I know people who have searched for one month or two months so I am lucky that it took me only a week and a half. I am moving into an apartment in the center of Tel Aviv with an Israeli roommate! I couldn't be more excited! The other thing I had to get used to was the idea that apartments basically come empty. You have to bring your own refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, etc. You are responsible for getting whatever you want for the apartment. When I was looking at apartments in Atlanta, I made sure to get an apartment with a full-sized washer and dryer and not the stacked ones. Here, that is the last thing I have to think about because the apartment either has the hookups or it doesn't and you have to buy them yourself. I was spoiled in the US but my apartment here will be great too (and close to the beach!).

I am never amazed by the crazy things that may happen in Israel. As I walked down the street the other day, I spotted something interesting. There was a horse parked on the street attached to a little buggy that carried building supplies. People joke that they commute to work on camels here but some still use horse and buggy. Also, in America we are very conscious about using cell phones at the office and using work time to have personal conversations that last a while. As I was checking out in the grocery store (no self-service lines here), the cashier got a call. Of course she didn't think twice before answering the phone because I am sure it was very important.

I spent Shabbat in Herzliya with my Israeli family. I have known my friend Einat for 10 years now and whenever I would come to Israel, we would see each other. I would also stay with her family in Herzliya so I know them well and it is so great to be back with them! We had an amazing Shabbat dinner consisting of just about anything you could think of. Einat and her sister Nofar made fresh sushi, which was amazing! Her mom knows I love schnitzel so she made some special for me. There was also soup, salmon, vegan lasagne, potatoes, cauliflower, salad and pad thai! It was a delicious meal (definitely had to eat the leftovers the next day) and they made a special vegan chocolate cake for dessert that said "brucha haba'ah" (welcome). Einat showed me a beautiful national park, Hof HaSharon, right along the coast with incredible views of the Mediterranean. We stood on top of cliffs overlooking the beach and the sea and it was just breathtaking! We said we will go back one evening for the sunset which is probably even more amazing. It's nice to know that I will get to see her more often than just once a year if I would visit Israel.

Today I had an appointment at the Ministry of Absorption to finalize the rest of my paperwork. You have to make an appointment to go and being the American that I am, I arrived 15 minutes early. Bad idea. The woman I was supposed to meet walked out of her office, asked when my appointment was and was shocked because she couldn't believe I would sit and wait. She was not going to start early, which I expected. She then got her coffee and went to go chat with the woman down the hall in her office. Believe me, I understood what they were saying and it wasn't business. Eventually it was time to meet with her and I did all the paperwork. Even though I already had my Teudat Zehut (Israel ID card), now it was really official that I was here and made Aliyah. I got my voucher for ulpan (intensive Hebrew classes) and will start in April.

Some days have been a little rough since I arrived on the 19th. It has been frustrating at times but I have managed to make it through. There is an adjustment period and I am just starting this new life. I have already met some great people here and I know I will meet many more. I am also starting a list of all the little tiyuls (trips) I want to go on within Israel. There is time to get through that list but let me know if you want to join :)

Attempting to get settled in

Wow! That is all I can say after these past few days. There have been ups and downs but gotta love Israel! I will start with the apartment hunting experience in Tel Aviv. I knew my standards would have to change because the good apartments here are close to bad apartments back in Atlanta. I have gone to see apartments where someone is looking for a roommate and ones where I would move in with my own roommate. One room I saw didn't even have a real door and the curtains blocking it "would not be here anymore" once I moved in...great! Needless to say, I am not moving in there. The neighborhood you are in is very important. Being in the center of Tel Aviv (I cannot give a description because everyone will tell you that is the center no matter where you are) is the place to be. I saw a few beautiful places with amazing views of the Mediterranean. I also saw some great places that weren't right on the beach. It's a tough decision process and I have to find the place that is right for me. Hopefully that will happen very soon (fingers crossed!).

On another note, I had a little family reunion in Tel Aviv this weekend! I got to spend time with my cousin Marissa who is in Israel doing a volunteer program. She came down to Tel Aviv for the weekend with her entire group. We walked through Nachalat Binyamin which is a street that has an artists market every Tuesday and Friday. We also stopped to grab a real Israeli breakfast featuring shakshuka, eggs, salads and spreads. It was so nice getting to be with family during this time. I am still adjusting to being here and being an Israeli so it's good to be with family and have a piece of home with me.

I was finally able to have my first schnitzel last night! My Israeli friend Einat, who I have known for over ten years, came to meet me for dinner and that is all I wanted to have. The meal was great but it was so nice to reconnect with my friend.

 Today I was with another friend from Atlanta and walked around Shuk HaCarmel where they have so many people selling fresh baked breads, fruit, cheese, meat and candy! I of course had to pick up some fresh pita with za'atar, which is a spice you can really put on just about anything. You can find anything you could imagine at the shuk including household items. It is so much fun walking around and seeing what everyone is selling. It gets very busy on Fridays when people are buying things for Shabbat. It is also crazy in the summer when every Taglit Birthright group comes to visit as well.

I love that this city is always so alive! There is so much to do and so many places to explore. It doesn't matter how many times I have been to the artists market or shuk because every time I discover something new.

I'm Israeli and it's scary!

I landed at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel yesterday. It was a rough flight because I was thinking about what I left behind in America and didn't know what I was going to in Israel. I didn't sleep well but did get to watch one of the Oscar-nominated films that I missed  - Philomena. I kept thinking about having to find an apartment, a job and figure out my life in a foreign country alone. Right before dinner was served, one of the flight attendants came over and we figured out we knew one another but we could not figure out from where. She happened to be an Israeli who I got to meet a few weeks ago while she was visiting in Atlanta. Knowing someone on the plane and having her support (and that of the other crew members she told my story to) was really encouraging.

As soon as I got off the plane, there was a sweet older man waiting for me at the top of the escalator with a sign welcoming me to Israel. He is a volunteer who goes to the airport once a week to greet new olim (immigrants) to Israel and help them navigate the airport and government offices. I walked up to passport control to get my border pass and then was welcomed again by a woman from the absorption office. My first stop was to get my Israeli ID number and of course they could not resist taking a picture of me since everyone looks great after a 10-hour flight. That picture is now all over every important Israeli document I have. Since this is Israel, the other office I had to visit figured they did not need to be open yesterday. Luckily, a man from the office came back after lunch to help finalize all my paperwork. I was given my Israeli ID with the beautiful picture along with many other things I cannot afford to lose.

The first thing I did after dropping off my stuff at my friend's apartment in Tel Aviv was walk over to Dizengoff Center to get an Israel cellphone plan and make a quick stop at the grocery store. I got a great deal on a cellphone plan (American plans are so expensive!) and then picked up a few necessities at the grocery store.

There is nothing like Israeli dairy products. You can't even compare them to the American versions because they are just so different and so much better! The chocolate milk is so delicious and the cottage cheese is amazing! I am already running low and there will be another trip the grocery store tomorrow. I love going Friday mornings when there is fresh-baked challah and everyone is shopping for Shabbat.

Apartment hunting begins tonight and there is so much to look forward to! I am excited about getting my own place and getting settled instead of living out of suitcases. I am enjoying just being in Tel Aviv and walking around and exploring. I know I will meet many new people and get to reconnect with old friends. I will eventually find a job, but for now, I am just going to have fun.

L'hitraot

It wasn't until last Sunday that I think it sunk in that I was moving across the world. My day started with a brunch to say goodbye to my family. My day ended with a dinner with friends to say goodbye to them. It was a bittersweet day and I caught myself tearing up many times throughout the day. I just have to remind myself that this is not "goodbye" but just "see you later." 

I finally finished my packing and have been spending the past couple of days in New York City with my mom and sister. I have been lucky enough to see old friends and spend time with them. Now that I have left my home in Atlanta, this is all real. I am in NYC because my flight to Israel departs from here. I am enjoying my last few days in America by being a tourist in a city I once lived in.

Today I had to say l'hitraot to my sister. We had such a fun couple of days eating our way through NYC and seeing some Broadway shows. We've had lots of laughs and there were even a few tears as I opened my going-away present (a framed picture of her). We were out closing down a bar and having a great time together. These are the best memories to have- fun times with my family.

These are my final goodbyes before my plane departs on Tuesday. They have been tough, but there is so much I have to look forward to in Israel. I know I will see everyone again soon.

To My Family and Friends...

T-minus 15 days until the biggest adventure of my life begins! I am nervous and overwhelmed but the support of my friends and family has been amazing!

The decision to make aliyah was not an easy one. At first, my parents were definitely not on board with the idea. They let me run with it and complete the paperwork, probably not believing I would actually take the final step and book my ticket. As soon as the flight was booked, they really came around and have been very supportive. I am glad I have been able to spend time with them having early birthday celebrations and enjoying my last few weeks in Atlanta. Next weekend, I travel to NYC where my sister will meet me so I can have one last weekend with her in the US. She has traveled all over - to Ghana, Ecuador and Israel - but she always came home after a few months. We usually go a few months without seeing one another since she doesn't live in Atlanta, but me living across an ocean and large sea, will makes things very different. Thanks to Apple and FaceTime, I know we will all be able to stay in touch and not just on the phone hearing the other person's voice. It is so amazing to be so far away and talk directly to the person and see their reactions. It doesn't make it seem like you really are that far away.

These last two weeks in the US are filled with lunches and dinners (so much for a diet) with friends and family that I will truly miss. It's so hard to say goodbye but I know some already have plans to visit me in Israel and I will see them again when I come back here to visit (I'm also not forgetting about FaceTime and Skype with friends). To hear everyone saying how happy and proud they are that I am following my dream, has been so encouraging. I've never really been one to not plan ahead and just "go with the flow" so this is huge for me. Their support has meant everything to me.

My friends in Israel have also been amazing. They have all reached out to see if I need any help or if they can answer any crazy questions I may have. I know I would go crazy over there if it weren't for them. I am lucky to have such a great support system in Israel and I can't wait to see them!

To my family and friends - you always have a place to stay if you find yourself in Israel. I am looking forward to having lots of guests and showing off my new home.

Thanks for all the support and I look forward on keeping you updated on my adventure!