Shalom Eleichem !
I just came home from a wonderful Shabbat. Yes, you read right -- a wonderful Shabbat. I finally found a Jewish community in the West, in my own city, which is the most amazing part. It's literally -- right in my backyard. One of the English professors told me about it, and today I went out to find it. He said it was on the road one takes from El Mani. I spent a while searching, with everyone looking at me weird. Ha ha. "Jews? Here? Where?" After a long, long time through tiny, crazy roads... I finally found the community. I had to leave my car on the outside area, since the road was a downhill crazyness, and I was afraid for my car. Well, more like scared to end up down some ravine. Ha ha!
Once I went in, I was received so nicely. It was so amazing. I tell ya, I spent the entire day there, taking part in the Shabbat meals, the study of the Torah, and all kinds of nice conversations. I felt so, so happy to finally be able to spend time with Jewish people. In order to get to the shul there is this brigde over a river. It's made of wood and is one of those ones you see in the movies, with little planks. Ha ha. So cool.
You see, I went to a Christian temple, Theopolis, a few weekends ago, just because I gave up on ever going to shul again. But, now I don't have to sit in a meaningless service. Now, I can do the things that truly fill me with joy. Oh, to hear those Shabbat songs, and to see all those men reading Torah and joking about challah. To be a part of that again, wow. I'd missed it so much. Back in NYC I went as much as I could. I could jump with joy!
>> Yesterday
Dimaris came to get me at 6pm, and we drove out to Rincon to a Yoga class. The place was so incredible. We had the beach to our left, the stars above, a cool breeze all over. Restful, incredible area, and the people there were so nice, and so cool. They made me feel quite welcome. Me and Dimaris left at 10pm or so, and got home safely, after joking and enjoying the night breeze together. Yoga left me destroyed, all over. That candle pose! Grr! Oh, and the Salute to the Sun. Oouuuch! But, cool. When I got home, Jd, Mamakin and I watched boxing. Puerto Rico won two medals alone, in the matches we watched.
Un Meme
1. Are you named after anyone?
Maria, after my mom and grandma and the Virgin. Isabel, after mom's fave aunty and the queen of Spain. Providencia, after the Patron virgin of my homeland. Rachel is my Jewish name, after the first person who let me share shabbat with her.
2. Do you have your children's names picked out already?
Christopher, Alejandro, Alexander. Crazy names like that, ha ha.
3. If you were born a member of the opposite sex what would your name have been?
Juan, probably.
4. If you could re-name yourself what name would you pick and why?
Alexandra, Natalia, or something funky like Tuesday.
5. Are there any mispronunciations/typos that people do w/ your name constantly?
The most common: Mavi. Funny thing is, that it's an awful drink Meister, Rick and I hate! Marisavel. My UK paper work seems to be coming with Amarisabel as my name. Weird. I hated when I lived in the South and ladies said my name as "Mohw-ree."
Once I went in, I was received so nicely. It was so amazing. I tell ya, I spent the entire day there, taking part in the Shabbat meals, the study of the Torah, and all kinds of nice conversations. I felt so, so happy to finally be able to spend time with Jewish people. In order to get to the shul there is this brigde over a river. It's made of wood and is one of those ones you see in the movies, with little planks. Ha ha. So cool.
You see, I went to a Christian temple, Theopolis, a few weekends ago, just because I gave up on ever going to shul again. But, now I don't have to sit in a meaningless service. Now, I can do the things that truly fill me with joy. Oh, to hear those Shabbat songs, and to see all those men reading Torah and joking about challah. To be a part of that again, wow. I'd missed it so much. Back in NYC I went as much as I could. I could jump with joy!
>> Yesterday
Dimaris came to get me at 6pm, and we drove out to Rincon to a Yoga class. The place was so incredible. We had the beach to our left, the stars above, a cool breeze all over. Restful, incredible area, and the people there were so nice, and so cool. They made me feel quite welcome. Me and Dimaris left at 10pm or so, and got home safely, after joking and enjoying the night breeze together. Yoga left me destroyed, all over. That candle pose! Grr! Oh, and the Salute to the Sun. Oouuuch! But, cool. When I got home, Jd, Mamakin and I watched boxing. Puerto Rico won two medals alone, in the matches we watched.
Un Meme
1. Are you named after anyone?
Maria, after my mom and grandma and the Virgin. Isabel, after mom's fave aunty and the queen of Spain. Providencia, after the Patron virgin of my homeland. Rachel is my Jewish name, after the first person who let me share shabbat with her.
2. Do you have your children's names picked out already?
Christopher, Alejandro, Alexander. Crazy names like that, ha ha.
3. If you were born a member of the opposite sex what would your name have been?
Juan, probably.
4. If you could re-name yourself what name would you pick and why?
Alexandra, Natalia, or something funky like Tuesday.
5. Are there any mispronunciations/typos that people do w/ your name constantly?
The most common: Mavi. Funny thing is, that it's an awful drink Meister, Rick and I hate! Marisavel. My UK paper work seems to be coming with Amarisabel as my name. Weird. I hated when I lived in the South and ladies said my name as "Mohw-ree."