Hod Hasharon--first weekend away

Wonderful time with Nitsan here. Ate roasted pecans with her mom and dad. They made the kitchen smell burnt and delicious for the entire weekend. 

..Then went to three parties. This is a picture from the last one, which kind of exemplifies it all... everyone spoke with everyone and was off in complete different directions, but were all together, and it was wonderful. I only knew a few people there, and I felt more welcome and comfortable than I had in a while. 

Season 8 of Scrubs is magnificent; I love Ted. 

Now I'm back. From outer space. I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face...

Took the 921 from Hod Hasharon to Hadera, and from Hadera I thought I was supposed to take the 63, but it ended its route before I got there... Took the 823 to Afula and got off at the Barkai junction.. I met this really nice pair of brother and sister who had been there to greet me on my entrance onto the bus in Hod Hasharon, and live in Pardes Hanna. They're very sweet. We didn't exchange information, but we talked about how people assume that Americans are snobby and stuck-up, but they've never met a mean one. They were cool. And they told me I should go walking in the orange groves in Pardes Hanna because they are very pretty. Maybe I'll do that next weekend ;)

Ashdod

It is Monday today... I think... the days are flowing together more than I would like, but at least now I have a camera. Pictures will be uploaded once I get back to my kibbutz--I wanted to travel light, so I have enough close for a few days, my teeth-kit, and the camera. Yay.

So, I have missed two major smile moments while I was at Nitzan's place:

Saturday we went to yad2.co.il (i think that's the site? yad=hand, 2=2, so secondhand... cute, eh?) and we checked and then refreshed the page and there was this... camera! 900 shek, really really nice, and they lived 20 minutes away! It was shabbos, but we called and went anyway, and it was beautiful. It kind of looked like a drug deal going down. The kid looked 5 years old (more like 15, but young...), but it was fully functional, basically brand new. Very nice indeed. Ps bought with my own money.

From there, we continued on our shabbat adventure to Aboulafiyah in Yafo of Tel Aviv. I love Aboulafiyah, let me tell you now. They have very delicious food, some of the best I have had, so you can be assured I took a thousand pictures of everything we ate. Actually, we ate at the place called Aboulafiyah across the street from the place I know as Aboulafiyah, but it was all delicious--just more of a meal quality than a dessert-like quality.

We watched 3 episodes of 24 (I am now addicted...oyy....) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. My vote: watch it. Good movie!

Yesterday (Sunday) we woke up early, packed up all my stuff, and took off for the Magen David blood donation center. Nitzan had her three yellow cards, I had my one card, but I passed! Unfortunately, Nitzan did not have high enough iron, so it was up to me to be weak and feable. I got free coffee... ;)

Out to the train station, up to Binyamina on the express to Haifa, where Deerector picked me up. He shall now be called Deerector for the duration of this blog. He's way too cool. And hilarious. And speaks about 5 different languages.

One of the girls showed up while I was there; she's 17 and speaks 8/9 different languages. She is going to get another two under her belt while she is here... whoa. However, she is not stuck up at all and I believe she really loves to learn. And she loves books. Basically like a Julia, except she's a young(er) genius. I think (hope) we'll really like each other. She's pretty cool.

Spent the afternoon chilling with the Deerector and the girl and her dad, then took the train from Herziliya down to Ashdod.

And here I am! Watching Israeli kids tv shows with the smaller of my cousins. I love being with the fam... but I think I'm going to head up later today or early tomorrow. Who knows....

From Or Yehuda to Pardisiyya (oops!) to Hod Hasharon

Hiiiii I'm here in Hod Hasharon with Nitsan (yay!) after a long day of adventuring (read: getting lost). 

Last night we celebrating Dani getting out of the army after a long two years with many chips and potato chips and poker chips and soda and juice and blankets and good people. The most important part. OH, and music. It was fun. (LOVE FOR OFER!!!)

Slept at Idan's on the sofa in Ramat Gan; actually was a very good night's sleep, better than lately. Aaaand woke up to talk with Adi about her lovely book collection. She has the best sci-fi taste everrrrrr. And used to flamenco dance. So cool.

Then went to Orange store--I have a number!! It's on facebook. Haha. Ha. It was busy and I was lugging a suitcase and being ungraceful, so whatever. 

Note to self: Yesh lo /= Ain lo (Nitsan gets it)

Took the bus then the other bus then went waaaaay too far to Pardisiyya. Incidentally, went by the area that JNF dropped us off at for lunch on the last day. MMMMm good falafel there. Ordered food at McDonalds, but didn't feel like such a tool because I did it in Hebrew. Sort of. 

Then Nitsan and ha'imma shelach swooped in and saved me. It's really pretty out here. I love this country. Weeee insert patriotic theme song here.

Also, apparently we both like intellectual smart boys. SO watch out.

+D