Mommy!!

This morning we had morning services (gross). Then we had a normal day of classes. During Jhist we had a nice freak out sesh b/c we learned that the cleaning people have been stealing from our rooms! Several people have had a ton of U.S. dollars stolen, shekels, and even make-up. So we all ran back to our rooms to check and lock our doors. Luckily I don’t think anything of mine was taken. After Jhist. Mommy called me and told me she was on her way. As I finished lunched I got a text from her asking for grammy and poppy’s room number and I then realized she was here! So I helped her get her key, showed her my room, and introduced her to my roommates. Then I had Yael take her to lunch while I went to class. Physics today was about 10 min, long b/c we had very little to learn. So I had another half hour free. So I went to hang out with mom. After math I went back to hang out with her while we waited for grammy and poppy to get back from Masada. I also took mommy on a tour of the market b/c she wanted to buy chocolate and I had to get bananas. When grammy and poppy finally got back we called a taxi to take us to dinner. We went to a restaurant called Karma (it was Italian). It was so good! I had ravioli, poppy had pizza, and grammy and mommy had a noodle casserole thingy. Then in honor of alex’s birthday we got apple pie for dessert. Which was also really good! After dinner we bought wine to take to grammy’s cousins for dinner tomorrow night and then went back to Tzuba. We skyped with Alex for a while and then they went to bed and I went to hang out with my friends. Then at rooms in my roommates and I had some bonding time and now we are going to bed. And I am excited b/c tomorrow is late wake up and breakfast isn’t mandatory I just have to be on the bus at 10:15!

Adopted family dinner

Today was a regular school day. We woke up at normal time and then had Hebrew class. Because our families were in class we learned how to say family terms. After Hebrew, we had Jewish history (Grammy and poppy also sat in on that for a while). Then we had lunch and general studies. My classes went well and I took my teachers and classmates cookies (that way I wouldn’t have to eat as many and gain all the weight). During English we all taught how our home schools have us write certain parts of papers (I did overall structure, Sydney did thesis, eleni did paragraphs, and leah did body paragraphs). I went to my tutoring with D Sol, but he forgot we had class so I just gave him my homework and had a free period. At 7:15 all the EIE kids go on the bus to meet our families (or adopted families) for dinner. Grammy, Poppy, Yael, Sydney (we adopted them into our family for the week b/c their parent's didn't come on the trip) and I went to a restaurant named Olive (it is owned by Yael’s cousins). It was so good! Poppy and I shared a sirloin, and a flank steak. I also had a salad and mashed potatoes (we think they had some sweet potatoes in them too). For dessert Yael, Sydney and I shared a fresh sorbet thing that had a scoop of apple, a scoop of mango, and a scoop of raspberry sorbet. Poppy had a walnut pie or pecan pie tart thingy and it was really good (I had a bite). I have to say having real food made me feel so good! Then we got on the bus and went back to Tzuba and went to bed.

and all rachel's friends and counselors were happy with food

This morning we had to get up super early! I woke up at 6:10 to get grammy and poppy up and get ready. At 7:30 we got on the bus and attempted to start our full day tiyul but our bus broke. So we had to wait for it to be fixed. When it started working we started our drive up north. We got to our first destination, reviewed what we learned in class yesterday and then learned about oral law becoming “written”. After going through some burial caves, in which we found non-kosher coffins, we got on the bus and went to destination number 2. When we got to destination number 2 we had lunch. In an effort to show our parents we actually have ligit food we had pizza, which was cooked right in front of us. They made mini pizzas with cheese, onion, corn, pesto, garlic, olives, and much more in a variety of combination. It was soo good! Then we continued learning. We learned about how it was ok for jews to now have art with faces. Then we got on the bus and headed back to Tzuba. When we got back at 6:40 I took a fast shower and took my hw and baked goods to grammy and poppy’s room. (the baked goods came for safe keeping). Then yael and I went and hung out with them until they finished their glass of wine. Dinner was a normal meat dinner but grammy seemed to try everything! When I finished I went to grammy and poppy’s room to do homework. I also called to make a reservation for dinner tomorrow and picked out a restaurant for dinner on Sunday. When grammy and poppy came back I hung out with them for a while and continued homework. We also ichated with Rachel and Keri who were extremely happy to see grammy and poppy. At about 10:30 I went back to my room, fed some friends and counselors, and then had a 40 min. long chill sesh with Lior (one of our madrich). By the time he left it was lights out but we really decided not to follow it.

Our families are coming, our families are coming!

This morning I woke up to my friend Dory screaming about how her parents and brother were coming today (keep in mind she is in a different room). Everyone was really antsy. Hebrew was good and so was Jewish history but we all really just wanted the parents to show up. During econ. the parents showed up and even though Mandy and I didn’t have parents on the bus we were still really excited and hyper about the situation. Then during physics, dory brought her little brother to class. After English I was walking around and Hadas told me I was in trouble, I went with her to her room and she said “room 145” I was really confused and then I realized it was Grammy and Poppy’s room number! I was so excited! I ran there and knocked on the door. Only to be greeted by a crying Grammy (happy tears) and what would you know raspberries that she brought on the plane for me! I really only got to say hi b/c I had to go to class But I saw them after their parent’s meeting. We went right to the market so they could buy water for tomorrow and then had dinner. They went back to their rooms after dinner and I went to announcements. Also by that point a great deal of my friends had met grammy and were so happy that they finally got to meet her b/c I talk about her so much (they all legitimately freaked out). After announcements we all skyped with Preston’s mom b/c today is her bday and he wanted to do something special. So we all sang to her over video chat. Then I grabbed my computer and some homework(didn't end up doing the homework) and went to grammy and poppy’s room. When I got there they showed me everything they brought me (I don’t think I have ever been so happy). Within the 42 lb bag they brought me was a ton of mondel bread, oatmeal raisin cookies, choc. chip cookies, 2 boxes of cereal, 2 boxes of chewy bars, 2 boxes of nurture grain bars, 2 banana breads, a box of sour watermelon, a box of sour gummy worms, peanuts, raisins, graham crackers, and some non food items. I was shocked that she brought so much and so happy! After we looked through all the stuff, we talked about what day we would go to dinner and what day I would miss classes. We also talked about what I had been doing and I showed them pictures. It was really nice to catch up with them. Then poppy went to sleep b/c he was tired and Grammy and I took some of the food to my room (I left some in her room so we wouldn’t eat it all at once). I showed her my room and some of my friends tasted some cookies and thought they were amazing! Actually a lot of people have now tasted Grammy’s food and realized all the hype I had added to it was correct. Apparently my grammy has the best cooking skills of all the food that was brought ☺. Then I relaxed in my room, ate a bit, and wrote this. Now I am going to bed b/c we have a busy day tomorrow.

I am so happy grammy and poppy are here and can’t wait to see mom in a few days!

Schools: creating them and participating in them

This morning Yael and I got up with Mor at her regular school wake up time b/c we were getting on the bus with her and going to her school. When we got there we met up with all the EIE kids and Mor’s classmates from our partner school. We did a few activities with them comparing Jewish American teen and Israeli teen culture and how we feel about Judaism and Israel. During the break we had a snack, which included crembo, an Israeli winter treat (it has a marshmallow inside and chocolate shell) which we were all told we had to try. It was pretty good but a little too much marshmallow at one time for me. After the break we had a program in which we split up into groups (mixed of EIE kids and Chevruta [their school] kids) and created an imaginary school for American, Israeli, orthodox, reform, etc. Jewish teens. It was fun to try and think about how to mesh all the beliefs and cultures into one school and we ended up creating a school that united them all. After that we said our good-byes and got on the bus to head back to Tzuba. We got back in time for general studies. General studies were good today, except math because we took a test. Today I also had extra econ. with D Sol but I didn’t mind b/c I like econ. class and he makes it easy to understand. Then I had dinner, announcements, unpacked, and took a math SAT2 practice test. When I got back to my room, ready to finish my Jewish history paper I realized I left my outline in math journal that my teacher had. I called him and got my quote page numbers and then copied the questions from my friend Sydney. Then I finished the paper and showered. Now I still have to do the rest of my homework and submit my paper. Yay for school!....NOT
But it is all ok cause Grammy and Poppy come tomorrow!!!

Lazy Days

Yael and I woke up at 1 pm today. After we got up we had breakfast and then since we all fell asleep watching the movie last night we finished the movie. Then I showered and we ate lunch. After that we all attempted to get homework done. After awhile we needed to get outside and get some fresh air. When we got back from our walk we attempted to do homework again. At 8 we went to the mall but were tired so we only stayed for about 45 min. When we got back to Mor’s we had dinner and then Yael and I packed up our stuff and we all got ready for bed.

New experiences

This morning there was no set time for wake up. We just had to be in a classroom by 8:30 for a 5-hour study hall. I woke up at 7:45 and by 8:30 was sitting in the library b/c it was the quiet room and I wanted to be able to work without distractions. The first hour I did a U.S. history SAT2 practice test. Then I did my physics and started my Jewish History essay. I got about half of the essay done and then I couldn’t deal with sitting there doing homework anymore. So I packed, ate lunch, cleaned my room, and my roommate Leah straighten my hair. At around 2 we got on the bus and head for our host families up north. We got off at a bus stop near Mor’s house at around 3:30. When we got to her house we relaxed for a few minutes and then walked to a market so that Yael could go to an ATM and get some snacks for the weekend. Then we went back to her house and just hung out until we went to dinner with her and her mom. For dinner we went to an oriental (Arabic) restaurant. It was pretty good, we just had to be a little careful cause we weren’t exactly sure what we were eating( we shared a grilled meat plate that had kabob, chicken, chicken heart and liver (we avoided the chicken heart and liver). When we got back to Mor’s house her and her mom wanted me to sing for them so I sang one or two songs. Then we relaxed for a bit. Then the taxi came to take us to our Israeli teen experience. It was interesting. Now we are back at Mor’s house and are watching the Last Song and going to bed. ☺