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| View of the Galilee from our hostel |
The first two weeks of the program, which are spent in Israel before heading off to India, are designed for training, orientation, learning about the group, and meeting with experts to provide us with a brief overview, or their opinion, on diverse topics and relevant issues. We have traveled around the country, packing each day with meetings, activities, events, touring, skill-building, and a lot of listening (and hopefully absorbing). With minimal free time and so much to grasp, I have been struggling to really process everything that I have heard and seen. My brain is jumbled with thoughts and questions, not sure which thoughts should be a priority and which can get pushed aside for the time-being on my "to process later" mental list. The subject matters have been intense and overwhelming, discussing issues so complex and often emotional or disconcerting. I have made a list of terms to Google, of books to read, documentaries to watch, questions to ask, people to consult--all in hopes that I will develop a stance on such multifaceted issues...or at the least, a stronger understanding. All the while, I am combating jetlag (did not sleep the first 3 nights!), adjusting to the culture, trying to learn Hebrew, constantly meeting new people, preparing mentally and physically for India, and attempting to internalize what I've learned and what my goals are, or should be. Anyhow, since most of you have not received a solid update yet, I figured that I would at the very least report a brief outline of what I have been doing during these two weeks of "learning." I've also recognized that once we arrive in India, the readjustment period (and insanity) will renew itself all over again, so better report on this now while I still have some time and energy.
Forgive me for not going into much detail, but here are some highlights of what we have done:
- Traveled up North to Poriya, where we stayed for three nights in a hostel with a beautiful view of the mountains and the Sea of Galilee.
- Visited Kinneret Farm, a former pioneer training camp, founded in 1908. We learned about the history of Israel and what life was like for all those who made Aliyah on their own and lived in communal villages, well before Israel was established. We learned the stories of certain individuals who lived there, and had a tour of the nearby cemetery where many influential people were buried.
- Traveled to Beit She'an where we met with staff from the non-profit social action organization, Bridge to the Future, to learn about "comprehensive community change" and social activist projects.
- Ate an incredible home-cooked Israeli feast for lunch one day and learned about local tourism projects at the home of an active community member.
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| The first course of our home-cooked Israeli lunch |
- Visited the Meir School and participated in making flower mosaics with children at the after-school program. For me it was a win-win-win situation: I got to play with kiddies, do art, and learn Hebrew (while the children giggled at my horrendous attempts at proper pronunciation)!
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| Making tiled mosaic flowers with the Meir School children. |
- Drove golf carts around Agmom HaHula--Hula Valley for an early morning birdwatching tour.
- Went to Kiryat Shmona to meet with local social activists. We learned about their projects in Israel and their perceptions of the success and failures of various movements.
- Took a fascinating night tour of the ancient Roman and Byzantine archaeological site in Beit She'an--it was a really unique sound-and-sight experience with theatrical lights, music, and sound effects.
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| Ancient Roman bathhouse |
- Went camping at She'ar Yashuv, which is up by the Syrian border; hiked along the Banias River (feeds into the Jordan River); learned about the Golan Heights on historic, military, political, and moral dimensions from our local tour guide.
- Relaxed during Shabbat--slept outside Friday night at a campground (equipped with its own outdoor kitchenette!), cooked delicious poike (which consists of many vegetables, garlic, broth, wine, and spices in a huge pot that cooks over open fire), hiked, swam in the Banias, and did yoga--most of the girls on my program are equally yoga-loving, which will make for some great yoga experiences in India!
- Watched a documentary, Bitter Seeds, on the critical problem of farmer suicide in India.
- Traveled to Tel Aviv to meet with Dr. Mike Naftali, founder of Brit Olam and Topaz (the organization that sponsors LIFE); learned about international development and Israeli civil society.
- Visited the community of African Asylum seekers in Tel Aviv; met with Ismail, our director's close friend, to hear his story of escaping from Darfur and seeking asylum in Israel.
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| Poike prior to cooking |
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| Ismail's computer shop that he started after settling in Tel Aviv |
- Met with the Israel-India Friendship Association.
- Went to an Arab community in Jerusalem to attend a special screening of a documentary, Two Sided Story, on Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Met with Dr. Mark Zober, the LIFE Deputy Director for International Placements, to discuss international development.
Last night we had the evening off, so I was graciously invited to dinner at my friend Lisa's. She lives in Jerusalem, only a couple miles away (err..kilometers). She and I grew up in the same town and both went to Pitt, so it was really nice seeing a familiar face and spending time with a friend from home! She has also offered to keep one of my bags with "Israel-only" clothes, so that I can travel lightly to India.
Tomorrow, we will have some more "learning" in the morning, and then we have off for Shabbat! It will be interesting to have my first Shabbat in Jerusalem, since the whole city shuts down. Hopefully it will provide some peace and tranquility before heading off to the land of chaos and over-stimulation.
