Hi guys!

I just got back from our orientation trip a couple hours ago, STILL no internet, STILL no phone (sorry family!), but wanting to write a little down so I don’t forget everything we did this weekend. On Friday we got up early and got on a bus that took us to Sde Boker, the village where David Ben Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, lived until he died. That was ok, I’d been there before but it was nice to see it again. Afterwards, we went on a little hike to this cool waterfall in the desert, it was really pretty. And a nice easy hike, which was nice.

Afterwards, we headed over to the kibbutz where we were spending Shabbat. The mattresses at this place were WAY nicer than the crap we sleep on in the dorms and we were all joking about stealing the comforters and pillows for here, except I don’t think any of us were really joking. After we settled in a little, anyone who wanted to lit candles and we did Kabbalat Shabbat, which I led! That was my first time leading ever which was kinda cool, except I kinda forgot how to do some parts.

On Saturday we just played some names games and went over this orientation packet they gave us with different kinds of information. I played cards with some girls from the group for a while trying to stay awake to ward off the jetlag which I think is finally under control. We left the kibbutz and could choose to be dropped off in a shopping center where I bought a blanket, a small rug (the floors here are really cold, especially after showering…) and some food. Then caught a taxi with some other girls (thank god my Hebrew is functional enough to do that) and came back to my room, where I finally met one of my roommates. Her name is Moran, she studies sociology, and she’s from the Jerusalem area. She offered to show my friends and I the computer room with internet so we all went down and I got to talk to my family which was really nice and sort through a bunch of emails I’ve gotten. Hopefully I’ll have internet in my room in the next few days (you’ll know when I do… cause you’ll be reading this) and I’ll be able to use Skype to talk to everyone.

Then when I got back from the computer lab, I met my other roommate, oh gosh, I just realized I already forget her name. Great start. She’s religious and keeps kosher which is convenient, except I sort of missed how she told me to use the microwave. Turns out another girl from Tufts who was abroad last year was her roommate then… small world, huh? Anyway, I drank tea with her and Moran and she gave me some cake and they seem really nice. There’s a third roommate, Larissa, who isn’t here right now; they say she’s hardly ever around. I guess I’ll meet her eventually. Ok I’m gonna go shower while the hot water is still on (I learned about hot water hours the hard way on Wednesday) and get to sleep since we have an early day tomorrow. I’ll talk to you soon! Miss you all.

Love,

Ilana