X on the Map

Sad but Necessary

2011-07-30T04:37:00.000-07:00

Although we are sad to give her away, we are searching for a loving home for our beautiful dog, Goldie, who is currently living in Maryland. We would keep her if we could, but circumstances at the moment do not allow it. This healthy, adorable, six year old dog is a type of Louisiana mutt. Being that she is sweet-as-can-be, she has never bitten someone, but makes a great watch dog with her gorgeous hound bark. Goldie loves to run… FAST – so having a yard is particularly fitting! She is smart and intelligent (having quite a few tricks up her sleeve), however a bit rambunctious, so an owner that is a patient trainer is perfect! With Goldie, you will always be greeted by a loving, joyful, and playful dog!

If you or anyone you know is interested, please email me at: dadadina@aol.com or message me on facebook: Adina Kory

Yea

2010-03-14T01:40:00.000-08:00

Yea, yea, yea.

I'm one of those. People that started a blog to let people peek into thei life and adventures and keep them up to date while channeling a side of their creativity. Using interesting photos paired with prose that is catchy and unpretentious... and then fails to be disciplined and therefore goes months without showing any sign of life. only to pop back into the blog world for an apology mixed with an update. Yep, as of now that's me.... maybe that'll change... I would like to hope so.

For the update part...

The one month countdown until my army service has officially begun. April 14 is the date. So, what are you doing to do, Adina, over the next month? Great question, I'm glad you asked. I figured that if I am going to be serving in the IDF for 2ish years, I might as well enjoy this free time I have. Taking it easy while grounding myself in a sort of way. This will probably include things such as continuing with my recent start of my journey with the guitar. Pressing in more with voice work and song writing. Studying plus actually doing more baking and cooking. Going to the gym. Travelling a bit to see friends in other areas of Israel. Getting my Israeli driver's license. Yea, that sounds good. And blogging regularly ; )

Here is a photos of my beloved dogs, Goldie (left) and Lola (right). What connection do they have with the post? None... I just love 'em.

Time

2009-12-11T22:38:00.000-08:00

Is Flying. I seriously cannot believe we are already about 1/3 through December. What? How? Well I guess there is no point of letting more time fly while I'm sitting here trying to figure out where it all went. But it's doubly hard, since I'm going to be 18 in two days. That's weird...

When I was 9ish, well even younger, 18 seemed like the "never age." Always being around my brother and sister and their friends, 18 year olds were SUPER cool, mature, weren't restrained as much as to where they could go, what they could do, and when. They always were having fun and hanging out with friends. They could pretty much do whatever they wanted (or so I thought). 18 year olds were awesome! It was the age my friends and I dreamed of being, but it seemed like it was an eternity away. We would "never" be 18. But yet, here I am. And I still feel like a kid in many ways... I guess when you are little everything seems much bigger and extravagant than it really is. My small bedroom seemed gigantic, a box was perfect for a spacious car, and riding bikes down a driveway was a test of one's courage. All of the lights and glitter have faded away from 18, and the reality is what's left - not to say that I am not excited to be turning 18. It's just funny to look back on how I percieved 18 and what it is to me now... Looking back is why I'm really fascinated by things like birthdays, the new year, and drastic changes in life (i.e. moving to another country). It's the beginning of another "chunk" of my life, on which I will get to look back on when that period is over. When I turned 17, I thought, "Here starts chapter 17 of my life. I can't wait to see what takes place!" So now I get to look back in retrospect of year 17 and start 18. Where will year 18 take me? Even though to be 18 seems a little odd to me, experiences to come such as Gabi&Cat's wedding and going into the army, give me this feeling that 18 is going to be one great year. I sure hope so!

On a side note... you might remember that some posts ago, I said I would being showing you pics of our apartment in Israel... well, that never happened. And now we have moved... So, you didn't get to see what are old apartment looked like - sorry - but you will get to see what the new one looks like! Once we get everything unpacked and set-up, of course : D

Happy Chanukah!!!

Strolling Along

2009-10-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

The fall holiday season of 2009 is over. Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. The hustle and bustle of the "domino" holidays has come to a stop. Time to get back to daily life.

Just for fun randomness -

Last Shabbat morning, I was walking in Jerusalem. It was calm and quiet... seems like an oxymoron, hahaha. Only on Shabbat can one find Jerusalem a quiet, calm place. One of the main streets in the center on the city is "King George St." I looked up at the sign to find this -

The person that did this, I quite enjoy their humor. It's not laughing out loud humor, but "smirk" humor.

Retrospect

2009-09-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

Well...
After a very long hiatus from blogging, my return comes on a special day. Today is the one year anniversary of my mom's and my move to Israel. A year used to seem like an immense amount of time. Twelve whole months. 365 days. HUGE! But I have come to realize how fast one year passes. There is a part of me that wants to yell "Freeze! Slow down! Wait up!" Because before I know it, my life will have run its course. But that of course is not how this world works. This world is temporary and quickly rolling through its story. From the beginning of time until this very second, generation after generation, life after life, death after death, over and over again. The time we spend on this little earth seems like a blink of an eye. Poof! All of history itself seems to be like a snap of the fingers. This is not to say that this life is pointless. The opposite really....

With this little amount of time I have been allotted to humbly live on earth, every minute is a gift. A gift to make the most of every moment, every choice, every word, every person I meet, and so on. And by "making the most," I do not mean the bland phrase about living life to the fullest, and living BIG as if their is no tomorrow. What I am trying to say is that every part of life is a gift of purpose. It is all fulfilling my individual, unique purpose of why God put me here. Every part being a piece of the puzzle that in the end creates the "big picture."

I was looking back in retrospect on my time spent in Israel... was it easy? No. Was it picturesque how I'd imagine? No. Was it absolutely splendid? Many times no. Was it way tougher than I thought? Most definitely. It was, hands down, a struggle. But, all this being said, I can be peaceful and joyed, because living my life with a perspective toward God, I know it was beautiful - his artwork. His masterpiece. My life is his canvas. And until the day I die, it will never be quite yet down. Each moment a gift of purpose, a stroke on the canvas. Just as humans, we are already His art work, but even more so, through our actual lives, God creates another unique masterpiece. Each one a "one-of-a-kind." Therefor not a single persons' life is useless. It's as if the person holding the canvas has to make the decision if they will turn it over to an artist. There are many "artists" they can chose from, they can even try to paint it themselves, but there is only One who really knows what They are doing. Creme de la Creme.

Corny? I wouldn't be surprised. True? For myself, yes. So today I celebrate another piece of my life that, in the end, is part of pretty freakin' tastic picture.

Generally Speaking

2009-03-17T10:22:00.001-07:00

I know, I know...

... I am way over-due for a post...

... and...

... to start the tour of our apartment over here...

Well, here is the new post, but it will not be about the apartment...

Rain check.

I am not too sure what I am writing about this time around.

Maybe just a general update.

I have about a monthish left of ulpan (Hebrew immersion classes). Woot!
I am presently taking fourish dance classes per week.
After a winding, problem-filled search, if I am not mistaken, I believe that I have received a job working at a fun, little gelato shop in the center of Jerusalem. I am really looking at this job as a source of provision, both financially and in the area of progressing in Hebrew - prayer appreciated.
I am looking forward to visiting the states this summer!!!

... well, generally speaking, that is about it. I actually kind of like where my life is right now... not because it is so completely wonderful, fantastic, fun, and dreamy (quite a bit from that), but because there is room from growth, improvement, climbing up the ladder to reach a more awesome life than what I have now.

The future is a giant, sparkly, ribbon topped present, placed at the way top of the hall closet, with a little girl, staring, wide-eyed at that big box, ecstatic of what lies inside, knowing that the Person that created and put that present together, knows what she wants to receive more than she knows herself.

: )

Writing Untensil

2009-02-26T05:52:00.000-08:00

I really like this:

I was sitting on the bus in the morning on my way to ulpan (Hebrew immersion classes). I had not done my homework the night before, and was planning on doing it on the way. However, I had left my one pencil at home... Needing to write stuff + nothing to write with = problem.

Hmmm... what to do. Ok, find someone - without getting up - approachable to ask for a pen or pencil. On the crowded bus, the few people sitting next/across from me did not appear to know Hebrew or English... Man.... now what? Who's behind me? There we go. A not too intimidating Israeli lady. I ask for a pen and she lends it to me.

Writing Hebrew on a cruising, bumping, winding bus... not the easiest. I am about 2/3 finished, but the bus is just about at my stop. Well I guess I can use some orphaned dull and too low of quality for sharpening without breaking pencil in the ulpan. I hand it back to the woman and I thank her. She asks, "Do you want it for the day (of course not expecting the pencil to be returned)?" "Really?" I ask. "Of course!" she responds. : )

Humans genuinely being nice towards other humans - sounds good to me : )

Seaweed

2009-02-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

May I just say one thing?

Well it is my blog...

I love sushi.

Do you know what makes it all the better?

While in America, I read the menus at sushi restaurants, glancing over amazing sushi creations, knowing that Kosher-wise, many/most items were "off-limits." But here, most of the sushi restaurants are Kosher, so I can look at the menu, knowing I can eat any weird concoction presented to me. How fun : )

~Adina

Interesting experience...

2009-01-17T01:40:00.001-08:00

Well, to start, I have gotten one charger to work... we will see for how long.

Second, someone is currently borrowing my memory card loader = house pictures on hold

For the interesting experience...
I was sitting in my ulpan (Hebrew immersion class) just chillin while the teacher was checking work. An ambulance was heard weeeoooo wwweeeooo weeeooo (that's the sound that the siren makes). However, the sound wasn't really passing.... it stayed for a while. And the siren had a really weird sound. Like two different sirens roped into one. My teacher and I look at each other half smiling and half puzzled....
Everyone goes to the window. "Is that THE siren" I ask. With that half smiling half puzzled look, my teacher replies, "I think so." There is a second of silence... listening to this eerie eerie siren. Everyone starts trying to decipher if the warning siren is really going off in Jerusalem (because it never goes off in Jerusalem). "Oh my gosh, it's really the siren. Is this for real?" Students start chattering about how rockets don't come over here... "Under your desks!" Instructs my teacher. For real?... Okie dokie.
Each one of the students in my little class crawled under our desks, giggling at the sight of one another and the thought of the whole thing. None of us actually think this siren is for real... at least we don't think... But then again... why is it going off? The teacher goes to her position, and we all wait. All laughing. I ask, "Did you ever imagine in your life that you would be living in Israel, hiding under a desk, with the siren going off??? Everyone was chill, maybe it's a test... maybe it was an accident.

I thought of the times in America with the whole Russia thing, and the kids would hide under their desks....

While I was hiding under my desk, it would seem to be a scary and sad position to be in... But the crazy part is that it wasn't. This has become expectable and... dare I say... almost normal?...
In the end, it turned out to be an accident. Nothing happened. Back to same old. Everyone was able to laugh and smile about the whole thing... joke around.

I think laughter and humor is very important over here. To the people whose country is always in pain and especially to the people that really are in the middle of the danger...
It's like, "Can we please just get on with our lives? Can we live in a little peace already?"
Hmmm....

Well...

2009-01-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

Due to American to Israeli plug changers (I think), both computer chargers are... well... done for.
So, my blogging might be a little inconsistent. Maybe some Internet cafes await my future.
Announcement: when I receive a working charger, I will start my first blog series. This series will be a room by room tour of my family's apartment here in Israel. Grab some popcorn. Or not.
I guess I should think of a title for this series... "The Apartment???".... ehh....

: )

Whad'ya'think

2009-01-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

Apparently my last blog layout was very much on the pink side of the color chart. Maybe so pink that maybe people were experiencing medical side effects, maybe. So, I decided to take a more simple route. Nice, easy reading, without any harmful side effects. One day... I will have some really awesome, decked out, interesting but not overboard background/layout... but until then, I think this is good.

Goodnight : )

From One Thing to Another

2008-12-23T04:04:00.000-08:00

Here I am at my mom's work, sitting at some lady's desk... What led up to this?...

Well on my actual birthday I woke up at 6:20/30 and headed to Ulpan. I made a cup of coffee in a thermus cup, and grabbed a delicious oat bran muffin and some beautiful cut-up cantaloupe that I prepared the night before. I was greeted at Ulpan with some "Happy Birthday"s and even a few gifts. From my Brazilian friend I even received an authentic Brazilian soccer jersey. After Ulpan, way more people than I originally thought walked with me to Aldo's, my favorite gelato place here. I had a good time eating ice cream, working through language barriers, interacting, and laughing will people from all around the world, all shoved into this little gelato shop.
Afterward I went to a coffee shop in Jerusalem, and when my sister arrive in town, we begun the search for a restaurant to eat at with my mom for by birthday. In the end, we settled on La Guta, a beautiful, French style restaurant. There I received a call, and was wished a happy birthday from my dad and my brother. I even accomplished something I had wanted to do my whole life - eat steak tartar (finely chopped raw beef). Because of my birthday, the chef, gave the three of us a complimentary tasting of it. It was actually good, it its own unique weird tasty but yet I would never order it way. Afterward we walked to another little place and split a mini chocolate ganache thing and cheesecake.

The next day was my dad's birthday and the day that we moved into our first apartment in Israel! Our belongings were all brought in, we ate Chinese food, and I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up to wish my dad a happy birthday. I made sense, which really surprised me, because of the fact that I was still half asleep. The whole night felt like a daze.

The next day was my צו- רשון (tsav-rishon), which translates as "First Notice." I received the letter of notification about two weeks after my arrival in Israel. I was to arrive for my tsav- rishon at 8:00. My sister was given permission to be my translator. Knowing we were in Israel, we were in no rush to arrive promptly at 8:00. We arrived around a little before 9:00 to be informed of two things: my sister would not be allowed to come and in translate for me, and two, that girls will not be taken until 10:30 (here we go...). I come back, and groups of girls are called. As a part the 3rd/4th group, I ended up waiting for 2 hours. I go up to the top floor to wait and then complete a Hebrew test. I go down a floor to wait and wait a while to complete an eye exam. Wait some more, height, weght, blood pressure tests. More waiting, fill out health informations sheets. Then with a doctor, re-read through what I filled out, touch your toes, roll up, stand like a falmingo, now on the other leg, lay down, breathe stongly, finished. I then go back up a floor to wait for a while, and more, to eat a little, and then complete two series of computer tests with puzzles and what not. Then the third test, but wait - this test isn't it English! And there's 50, that's right 50 questions. Example: If you were in X situation how would you respond: a, b, c, d, or e. So, a soldier had to come and quietly translate each and every of the 50 questions and the 5 possible answers for each one. I ended up finishing everything 4:45, I think. I was beat. I went out to eat for a friends birthday/temporary going away party, and arrived home later than night. I was beat. The tsav-rishon was long, but I think it went well.

Skipping to two nights ago. I had a warm and family feeling Chanukah party with one of my two congregations. They told the story of Chanukah, the little children played a trivia game for gelt (chocolate coins), everyone brought Chanukah food, people talked, Chanukah music in the back, kids trying to toss a ball into a box for more gelt, talking with teens outside, us walking to a cafe and walking back. I enjoyed it.
Yesterday, my Ulpan had a party/presentation for Chanukah. First, my class my spinning tops, not exactly a driedle, but it was still fun. Afterward we went from classroom to classroom, building giant Chanukiahs out of I guess trash and art supplies, Chanukah question race, Chanukah question board game, and Chanukah Scrabble with a giant driedle all in Hebrew. We then went upstaors to a room decorated for Chanukah with all the teachers and some parent of students. We begun with the Chanukah blessing at I participated in the Chanukah choir. I then was one of the singing narrators for a funny little skit. With a representative from my our class, my class won the Chanukah trivia game, and then the choir rapped things up. Oh yea, three Australian brothers broke out a base, and two small middle eastern drums and did a song or two. The whole room became loud for an encore. My teacher said for us to go and dance (yea, she's pretty much awesome) so, I decided to be brave, grabbed my friends hand, and up to the front we went. Clapping our hands, turning, dancing, knees bouncing - I had a blast. My family later went out and had a great time with friend's of ours at an Asian restaurant. We went home, relaxed, and later lit the Chanukiah, the second night.

Today - my first day of Chanukah break. I appreciated sleeping in, even if my inner clock only let me sleep in 50 minutes - until 7:40. I did what I had been wanting to do every morning - nothing. I plopped myself on the couch and turned on our new cable. It was a nice feeling - wearing glasses and fleece PJs, sitting on a couch in our 1/3 set-up apartment, my mom in the kitchen, watching some American sitcoms, cuddling up in two soft and warm blankets, and having my mom bring me a cup of coffee. My mom called me telling me how to walk down to her work, because they were having a catered Chanukah lunch, and I was invited to join. I ate delicious food, talked with some of her coworkers, looked up some recipes, and so here I am. At this lady's desk, drinking coffee, and realizing how crazily long this post is, and how I never like reading long posts, so I am not sure if other people will...

My Last Night Being 16

2008-12-13T13:11:00.001-08:00

Well, as you can see, one thing I need to improve on is becoming more consistent with my blogging.

Well, tonight is my last night as a sixteen year old. Sweet Sixteen is done. Kind of sad. Kind of exciting. Kind of sad. Kind of exciting. You know why exciting???

Because the day after we move into our first apartment here!!! YAY!!!!!!!! I am so excited. Even though I know it's temporary, I am so looking forward to it. Having a home. In Israel. It's what we've been wanting. I have never moved into a new place (of our own) before. I think it will be fun to decorate, set up, and design rooms from scratch - especially my bedroom , which I will be sharing with my sister. That day is also my dad's birthday!!!!

I miss him. I miss Gabi. I miss Catherine. I miss Gabi and Catherine together. I miss Lola and Goldie. I miss my youth group. Especially around a time like my birthday, it's tough.

Nutcracker time too. The Nutcracker is in sessions - actually probably as I type right now, the girls are in the dressing rooms applying their makeup. This is my first year in nine years, not being there for the Nutcracker. MBT is any amazing family. I miss it. I love you all. I pray for the best on all your performances.

Missing all this around my birthday was leading to be being bummed about my birthday. I just saw my birthday coming, eating with my mom and sister, and that's it. Just another day. No friends, no cards, I don't know. Just a birthday in which I would actually find myself crying. But God showed up, and what-do-ya-know... Every Saturday I have been hanging out with a youth group. We go to the youth leaders office, order pizza, watch a movie and/or play video games. Anyways, I was already a little "tender" over realizing that today, the day I saw some friends before my birthday, would be nothing special. Just another day. When somehow my birthday was brought up in front of my youth leader, he said, "Really? You're 17th birthday? You should have told us. We would have gotten you something." I wanted to cry - people didn't even know my birthday was tomorrow. Then, when we arrived at the office, he pulled me and two sisters aside. he told us that every week he is stuck cleaning up everything, so there is now a rotating groups of cleaners. And lucky me, today was my turn. We walked towards the office, and I open the door and see a purple balloon sitting in a seat, then look up to a little office full of people, flashing cameras, tons of balloons, homemade cake, pasta, and a big "SURPRISE!!!" I was surprised. So surprised after feeling so blue, I cried. I love them.... He knew the whole time it was my birthday tomorrow : )

Anyway, I am really going to try to write consistently. Thanks for listening to my talk. If you have snow, please enjoy it for me.

~Adina

Daily Schedule

2008-11-14T06:48:00.000-08:00

This is very accurate but then again not accurate... Enjoy!

6:10 - Alarm goes off - snooze

6:20 - Alarm goes off again - get up

6:52 - Drink coffee and eat toast with butter

7:00 - Leave the house and climb up the 117 zig-zagging steps

(These pictures really don't do it justice - like REALLY - if you look at the top of the picture on the left, up in the distance you'll see this little gray railing - look really hard - that's not the top. There is still about four more small sets of steps after that)

7:06 - Breathing Heavily walk down to the bus stop and catch my breath

7:11 (or later if the bus is late : /) - Catch the bus

7:30 - Arrive at the Central Bus Station

7:?? (hopefully in the next 10 minutes) - Catch my next bus

8:05 - Get off the bus and walk down to my ulpan and say "boker tov (good morning)" to David - the always smiling guard.

8:15 - 9:45 - Hebrew, Hebrew, Hebrew

9:45 - 10:00 - Eat a little

10:00 - 10:15 - Talk/Play games on the whiteboard

10:15-11:50 - Hebrew, Hebrew, Hebrew

11:50 - 12:00 - Eat a snack and try to communcite with minimal Hebrew with people who also only know a minimal amount of Hebrew... and some Spanish

12:00-1:30 Find some more room in brain to shove in more Hebrew

1:30 - Walk down to the bus stop and wait standing for a while - seats go to the elderly first

1:55 (hopefully) Catch the bus - but all the seats are filled - balancing time!

2:07 - be stuck in horrible traffic due to construction of the rail way - a seat opens up Yay!

2:30ish - Arrive at the Central Bus Station and walk over to the next street

2:40ish - Catch my next bus

3:ish - Get off the bus and walk down a hill

Still 3:05 - Walk back down the 117 zig-zagging steps (definitely not as bad as walking up them)

3:30 - Put on sweats and eat

4-7ish - Combo of facebook, other Internet stuff, calling America, homework, calling my mom at work, drinking coffee and eating chocolate, and cooking (soon, God-willing, this time will be filled with dancing!)

7:15 - Eat Dinner

8ish - Watch a movie/TV with my Mom and sister and finish homework and study for a test/quiz - Oh yea, drink some coffee

9ish-10ish Check facebook and talk with Americans and Kiwis.

10:15 - Get clothes, book bag, homework, lunch, and misc. stuff ready for tomorrow.

10:35 - Take off makeup, wash face, PJ's, etc.

10:45 - I don't even know... maybe eat Chocolate

11:00 - Think of everything that I still need to get down this week and/or everything I should have done last week

11:15: get in bed... hopefully....

6:10 - REPEAT

I love it... in a weird sort of way : )

Prayer Request:

As I wrote in a blog earlier, it turns out my mom and I have no "rights" -mainly no financial assistance from government. And being that I have no true job at the moment (not due to laziness, but due lots of traveling, Hebrew immersion classes, and soon, God-willing, to have dance filling my day), I could really use this small amount of pocket money. However, a suggestion was made to my mom to appeal it being with my dad not being able to come over yet, she is a temporary "single mom." The appeal letter has been sent. Please pray for favor and God's provision - whatever He wills be done. Thanks : )

Holidays galore

2008-10-22T04:24:00.000-07:00

A bunch of holidays has just wrapped up over here, and time off of school is done tonight.

It began with Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year), during which my mom, sister, and I enjoyed the company of other families while eating food, singing songs, and ending the next day with the blowing of the shofar.

I went back to school for a few more days and then was off again for Yom Kippur (a time all about atonement - fasting takes place). One is supposed to go away from their home, and stay somewhere else - yea, I never knew that until now. Tradition or instruction.. I don't know. Anyway, so my family joined a bunch of people and stayed at a beautiful boutique hotel for a night. It was very beautiful, post-modernesque. There were some services that people could attend, and there was time to chill and relax. Break fast - no not breakfast, but a breaking of the fast - followed, surrounded by old and new friends.

Back to school for one day, and then on break again for Sukkot! One of my faves! As I would be on the bus, Sukkot (reminiscent of the temporary dwelling tenet type structures the Israelites set up as they wandered) were scattered through the apartments. They are much different looking from what I had seen in America. There is a frame over which a material of sorts is wrapped around. Many of these sheets have pictures of Jerusalem on it. It is really beautiful to see them everywhere. I spent the first night of Sukkot with a family that my family is very close to. It was a very nice time. I love dinners at good friends' houses.

Oh yea! Guess what?!?!? We found a place to move in to! It is not completely official, because we could not sign on anything because the lawyers were on holiday because of Sukkot, but we will asap. It is in Mevaseret (sp?), 3 bedroom... well more like 2.5 bedroom apartment. It is small, but nice - not squished. It is in very good condition, and I love it! This is a place to rent and is not permanent, and we got it right around Sukkot (which is the holiday remembering when the Israelites had to set up temporary dwelling places as they wandered). So my mom mentioned how this is our temporary dwelling place in Israel. It was neat. It is our temporary "x on the map." We are on our way to finding our permanent one. But we'll just take it one step at a time. Once we can go back to the house again, I'll get some pictures and put them up! To find this place was such a blessing! I praise God for all of his provision for my family! Once we can go back to the house, I'll get some picture and post them.

Speaking of posting pictures... someone is coming to Israel from America and is going to bring a memory card reader to me. I will then be able to finally load up pictures! I'm so excited! I'll get it during the first week during November.

Also, due to complicated internet/technical stuff, the phone system we got will not work until we get our own place, but I still have Skype : ) Also, if you have calling plan, my number is 52-301-2237.

I go back to ulpan tomorrow, and my next vacation won't be until Chanukah. That's fine with me though. The more I learn, the better.

By the way, I went to the shook (oo as in cook) - it's an open air market I guess. Anyway, I got three beautiful, bright, and crisp yellow peppers and 2 red ones (bell peppers - not hot, little peppers). Anyway, for five great quality peppers, it was one dollar and some change!!! Can you believe that!?! To me that's crazy. So inexpensive... it's wonderful!

I think that's it for now. Spell check isn't working... so sorry for typos. See ya!

Prayer request: I am going to look into "full-time" ballroom dancing. Please pray for God's instruction, direction, provision, peace, and favor in this venture.

Almost 3 Weeks

2008-09-29T03:21:00.001-07:00

Tonight is Rosh Hashana! Celebrating the High Holy Days in Israel is very special. It is such a different feel compared to celebrating them in the states. People get off the buses and say "l'shena tova" (to a good year) to the bus driver. They say it to their waiter, the taxi driver, friends, and strangers. Everyone looks forward to the Jewish New Year! It is such a special time.

On another note I have two bummers:
First, I had been taking pictures with my mom's camera, but she forgot to bring the charger and the uploader to the computer... so still, I cannot put up pictures. I;m working on it...

The other bummer is a bit more confusing. When a Jew moves to Israel, they get financial help along with other benefits -rights. However, if a child under 17 goes with their parents they are going under their parents and therefore have no "rights." So I was going to declare my return after my 17th birthday this December. And we were told, that then I would receive my rights. However, we were told wrong. This would only work if I moved here after my mom had already been living her for a year. So, I have no rights, no financial assistance. I was/am really in need of that assistance, but God has a reason and a way. It was a bummer, but I know everything will be ok.

We should be getting the phone set up (so you guys can call me - I'll explain the details later) and my cell phone working soon. We have begun checking out apartments, and friends, going way back and also recent, have been showing the care and love, helping us with the process.

Oh yea, about a week ago I got my first army papers... already?! I have to go in for my first meet December 16... or is it the 18th? Sometime around then.

Also, I got to hang out with Jen and Troy (they are in Israel for a little bit)! Jen is my mom's co-worker from America, and she was married to Troy two days before we moved. I don't really even know Jen that extremely well, and I only met Troy when I hung out with them here, but it's like I have known them for years. I had such a good time. They are so loving and fun to be around. I am hopefully going to see them again this Friday! Woot!

Ulpan is going well too! We had a field trip to a kibbutz with lots of animals this on Tuesday. I met a girl that was also recent to the ulpan and we quickly got along very well! At the kibbutz, we held a snake around our neck, rode on a big tractor, wandered in a citrus orchard, played amazingly fun teamwork games, rode camels and donkeys, played archery, and made pita. It was a blast!

I'm sure I'm forgetting something... but I think this is enough for now.

Apples and Honey for a Sweet New Year!

Much love,
Adina

First Week

2008-09-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

Well, here is my first blog. Here is where I get to look back a year and the rest of my years and see what journey(s) God has taken me on. My blog is named "X on the Map" for a very specific reason. As of now, my family finds ourselves without a home of our own (we are living with a a family we know, the Karps)... but my mom keeps saying, "Our family has our X on the map [of Israel]. It's somewhere out there. God has a place for using Israel - our X on the Map." So, through this blog, you can travel along with me as my family follows the treasure map (God's instruction) and find our X.

Well, to give a little catch-up, it's been a bumpy road. On the first night I arrived in Israel, it struck me that I'd be living without my dad, brother, Catherine (who is at our house about every day), and my dogs. I missed the feeling of being in my house, which I never thought I would miss. I just wanted to transport back to My home, sitting on the couch, watching TV, Lola and Goldie chewing bones on the floor in front of me, my mom on the computer, my dad making dinner, and Gabi opening the door for Catherine to come in. I just miss the feeling of being with my family in my home. But i know it'll come back again.

I am happy to be here, but it takes a while for things to get going here. but the wheels are slowly starting to turn. I started ulpan three days ago, and it's going well. it's challenge, but a wonderful one! I have been able to check out two youth groups and a home-type group - there's still more to see. i got my haircut by Lior, this guy that I got my haircut by the last two times I visited. I love it! I am going to put up a bunch of pictures of a bunch of stuff as soon as I can I also check out Vertigo, this contemporary/modern company I was interested in. I would really appreciate prayer for. It is for what they call the "workshop." It's four days a week, five hours a day. It looks wonderful, but I have not been dancing at the same level I used to for the past year, and I know I can get back up there, but I hope they can see that. It's intimidating, scary, embarrassing, and uncomfortable, but I am just trusting in God that His will will be done. And, in Him, I will have peace in whatever the outcome is. But also, even if the outcome was being accepted, do want to have four days out of the week when I have absolutely no free time. I would start ulpan at 8:15, get out at 1:45, take a bus to the center of the city, grab a bite to eat, do some homework, and then start dance at around5 and end at around 10. So, it is relieving knowing that God will take care of it all. He'll have me where he wants me : ) So if you want, you can keep that situation in your prayers.

Anyway, Shabbat is tonight, and man am I looking forward to it! And I am looking forward to where God takes me. What an adventure!

Much love!