Zimbabwe and Israel
Well, I'm travelling again so I guess that it's time to pull out my old journal and wipe off the dust it's been accumulating over the last year...
I wrote an email to my family about a week ago, but I forgot to post it here, so I'm doing it now - better late than never...
Hello from Zimbabwe!
I hope you are all doing well. After spending two weeks in Israel, I arrived in Zimbabwe last Sunday. I have been here for almost a week, so I decided it is time for an update. Unlike last year, I am here without the three other girls from my school. It's a bit different being in the house alone, but my sudden fear that this would be a terribly lonely three months were alleviated when I got to the ZiCHIRe office on Monday and recieved so many warm greetings. It's kind of amusing - everyone is concerned that I am lonely, and as a result I've received more offers to spend time with people than I can commit to!
One of the main suprises I'm experiencing here is the weather. Last year I was here during the end of winter, and now it is the beginning of summer. I was trying to prepare myself for the weather because everyone here keeps complaining that it's so hot. Strangely enough, I think it's quite comfortable during the day, and I've been cold in the morning and at night! I forgot that Zimbabwe is a land-locked country, so it heats up and cools down with the sun.
Israel was quite the opposite. It was hot during the day, although not as bad as I expected, but it stayed hot throughout the night. Overall I had a great time in Israel and I'm very happy that I decided to go back again in December on the way home. I was staying in Ashdod with my friend Elad's family (I met on the Birthright trip when I was there in June). His house was only five minutes from the beach, so I took lots of nice walks when we weren't out travelling around the country. The ocean there is so warm! If you go to watch the sunset, you can walk in the water and it feels as warm as the shower.
I spent a day in Jerusalem and visited David's Tower, which gives a great history of Jerusalem, and how its inhabitants have changed over the years. I also spent a few days in Tel Aviv, and had fun going to the markets and an old port that is now lined with stores and restaurants. At the port, I went with Elad's mother and two of her friends to an exhibit of crafts made by women designed to increase their economic independence. I also had a chance to meet up with the tour guide from my Birthright trip, which was great because he knew all of the secret places to get the best views.
So far there isn't too much to report about Zimbabwe, other than what's been happening at the office. I've been here all week trying to finish an application so that I can get approval to start my research project. Right now, I'm waiting for some information from Seattle, so I'm hoping it will get here before Monday. (For those of you who have had to put up with my constant complaining about my research advisor, you can understand why I'm doubtful, haha).
I hope that you are all well and happy, and I look forward to hearing from anyone who wants to write! For those of you who will be celebrating tonight, happy new year and I wish you all the best in 5767! (Also, Elad was asking me why Americans say "L'Shana Tova" instead of just "Shana Tova", which is apparently what they say in Israel. Does anyone have an answer for him?)
I wrote an email to my family about a week ago, but I forgot to post it here, so I'm doing it now - better late than never...
Hello from Zimbabwe!
I hope you are all doing well. After spending two weeks in Israel, I arrived in Zimbabwe last Sunday. I have been here for almost a week, so I decided it is time for an update. Unlike last year, I am here without the three other girls from my school. It's a bit different being in the house alone, but my sudden fear that this would be a terribly lonely three months were alleviated when I got to the ZiCHIRe office on Monday and recieved so many warm greetings. It's kind of amusing - everyone is concerned that I am lonely, and as a result I've received more offers to spend time with people than I can commit to!
One of the main suprises I'm experiencing here is the weather. Last year I was here during the end of winter, and now it is the beginning of summer. I was trying to prepare myself for the weather because everyone here keeps complaining that it's so hot. Strangely enough, I think it's quite comfortable during the day, and I've been cold in the morning and at night! I forgot that Zimbabwe is a land-locked country, so it heats up and cools down with the sun.
Israel was quite the opposite. It was hot during the day, although not as bad as I expected, but it stayed hot throughout the night. Overall I had a great time in Israel and I'm very happy that I decided to go back again in December on the way home. I was staying in Ashdod with my friend Elad's family (I met on the Birthright trip when I was there in June). His house was only five minutes from the beach, so I took lots of nice walks when we weren't out travelling around the country. The ocean there is so warm! If you go to watch the sunset, you can walk in the water and it feels as warm as the shower.
I spent a day in Jerusalem and visited David's Tower, which gives a great history of Jerusalem, and how its inhabitants have changed over the years. I also spent a few days in Tel Aviv, and had fun going to the markets and an old port that is now lined with stores and restaurants. At the port, I went with Elad's mother and two of her friends to an exhibit of crafts made by women designed to increase their economic independence. I also had a chance to meet up with the tour guide from my Birthright trip, which was great because he knew all of the secret places to get the best views.
So far there isn't too much to report about Zimbabwe, other than what's been happening at the office. I've been here all week trying to finish an application so that I can get approval to start my research project. Right now, I'm waiting for some information from Seattle, so I'm hoping it will get here before Monday. (For those of you who have had to put up with my constant complaining about my research advisor, you can understand why I'm doubtful, haha).
I hope that you are all well and happy, and I look forward to hearing from anyone who wants to write! For those of you who will be celebrating tonight, happy new year and I wish you all the best in 5767! (Also, Elad was asking me why Americans say "L'Shana Tova" instead of just "Shana Tova", which is apparently what they say in Israel. Does anyone have an answer for him?)