Beach Time and Press Time

I spent my first week in a hostel right across from Kikar Tzion, right in the heart of social-Jerusalem. Its walking distance to the old city where me and danny walked one night.

For my birthday several of us went out to Japanika, a great sushi place, and then to the Irish Pub that is 23 and over, but we negotiated our way into, which you can always do in Israel. Avram bought me a yummy honey-beer.

No stories in the JPost yet. I had a few revised, but i covered a story in Talpiot and took pictures, so i should be credited for both. It was about a Torah that was rescued from a monastery where it was hidden during the shoah. I don't enjoy working for Jpost all that much. I know journalism isn't right for me, which i guess is the point of this whole thing. It was gratifying because the members of the masorti synagogue receiving the restored Torah were really nice to me and really grateful that i was covering their story. They treated me with respect and fed me, which is always nice.

I am Tel Aviv for the shabbos. I went to Schunat Hatikva today, Busi was closed, but i got a good Shipudei Hatikva, which was tasty. There was always a dog at the shwarma stand that crossed the street and looked both ways, and feasted on the dropped shwarma. I think he has passed on since my year course, but there is a smaller dog that looks the same now who has to be his son.

I also went to the beach today. Always lovely, got my color, stopped by the shuk and bought some dates and cashews. I don't really feel the need to spend so much time in Israel. It still feels like home here, but even home isn't home without the people that make it so. As OAR says, "when i'm with my friends i feel home."

I will continue to enjoy Israel, mingle with my fellow Spartans in Jerusalem, find some other friends who are wandering around, but i'm still trying to come home a week or so early to visit camp and settle in at home a bit. I only got 40 hours between moving out of the Grove house and going to Switzerland, so i relish the opportunity.

I am spending the weekend with my friend Ben from Chicago who is in the Paratroopers right now. We are having dinner at the neighbor's house with 12 kids. Should be an experience.

Shabbat Shalom ya'all.