TV recap

HIMYM has been saved from having its bubble burst, once again.
Yay!!

I hope tonight is is announced that the Davids will be finalists on American Idol. I love them both, but I love you the most Michael Johns.

Both Brothers and Sisters and Gossip Girls were intense this week. If you agree, comment.
I also would talk more about it, but things are so juicy I dont want to give anything away if you haven't seen it.

B-L-O-G-O-R-O-U-S

Today, while websurfing, I realized how much I enjoy reading other people's blogs, and how much I hate it when they don't update too often. First of all, it makes it harder for me to procrastinate.
I do not think too many people read this blog, so I am ultimately not disappointing too many, but I have high hopes for the future.

I was thinking today, I have been reading www.beingfamous.com since I was in 8th grade (that was 8 years ago) Back then, it was just a pet project of Offer Grinwald's roomate, Amir Blumenfeld, wherein people submitted pictures and if they were lucky, would have their 24 hours of fame, or in my brother's case, humiliation (He ended up crying the day a photoshopped picture of him in drag ended up on the site.) Anyway, people could then submit funny comments and they would end up on the site every time the page was refreshed. From this, Amir got hired at college humor, turned beingfamous into his personal blog, and now has thousands of readers each day and 100+ comments per post.
Blogs are really powerful, magical things.
I only read blogs that make me laugh, or make me cry from laughter.
I hope that is not the case for the reader of my blog, because that is a lot of pressure.
Here are links to some blogs I really love. Check em out.
http://lolliblog.tumblr.com/ This is the link to Amir's co-worker, Jake's mom. Really roundabout but I think she is funnier than Jake and Amir put together (no offense)

Jake and Amir

Joshua Heller

There are more that are on my links page, and even more that I will link later.
Some you can find linked to Josh Heller's blog. Like the fabulous Jen Marmor, Erica Goldman, or Laura Katz.

God Bless the Cinemateque

Before arriving in Italy from Israel, I made a stop in Texas.
Well, close enough. Elise's aunt lives on the U.S. Airforce base near Venice. I don't think I have ever missed my country soo much when we went to the commisary and bought marshmellows, ranch dressing, and egg beaters, all in US dollars.

That night, we saw the movie 21. Before the previews were about to start, everyone rises. At that moment, I realize what is going on, and say, oh too loudly, "Are You Kidding Me?!?!". Every soldier, high school kid that lives on the base because their parents dragged them there, and blond haired wife, stood up, put their hand over their heart, and sang God Bless America. Hands down, most interesting thing I have seen so far.

Europa Europa

Today is my fourth day on a whirlwind 24 day eurotrip.
One day we were in Israel, Budapest, Vienna, and Italy in about a 24 hours period.
So far, Vienna is my favorite city. It was gorgeous.
Venice is a close second.
We also drove to Slovenia on a whim.
The people in Slovenia are exactly how you would imagine them being. I would have taken a picture, but I think one of them had a gun. Crazy Slovik mafia men.
Now we are in Florence. David blew me away, but I am not as impressed with the city as I thought I would be. Maybe because the buildings are so high, you dont get a sense of the entire space. It is nice that everything is so close though, and our hostel is soo nice. PLUS hostel for anyone that needs a hostel in Italy. It was also oddly the cheapest out of all of them.
Off to Cinque Terra tomorrow, sooo excited!! Hope it doesnt rain.

PiCaSa

I posted some new pictures on Picasa.
CLICK ON THIS LINK. I will post more when I get a chance.
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http://picasaweb.google.com/gveamouseacookie

Also, my friend Elise has posted pictures, a lot of which I am in, so check those out as well.

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http://picasaweb.google.com/levy.elise

ENJOY!!!!

The dollar is a piece of shit

Yay!!

I have have bought just about all of my major modes of transportation for the ultimate Eurotrip.
Costing. drumroll please... a mere $1273. That includes Eurail, flight rt to budapest, and a flight from Paris back to Budapest.
Thats right. That is the cost of fun ladies and gentlemen, if fun is getting from point A-point B, which don't get me wrong, may be half the fun. The other half of fun will probably cost me around $2000+ dollars. But hey, its just money.
Speaking of money, my wallet was stolen. Someone did nicely take the 1000 NIS + my bus card and then toss the wallet to the side for a nice lady to pick it up, go through the trouble of calling the university, and then calling me to return it. I really appreciate that a lot. Some people in this world are kinda cool. I don't have any money though. Well, I have American dollars, but a load of good that will do me. All I have to say is good thing this didn't happen to me in Europe, but why do my lessons always end up costing me 300+ dollars. I think this is actually the cheapest lesson I've learned in a while.

Summer Poll

I have three pretty amazing choices for the summer. Voting available through comments page.
1. Go home right after the semester ends/shortly after the semester ends. Get an amazing internship (hopefully on a really cool TV show) ((anyone have connections????)) and a pretty sweet job ($$$) and an L.A. apartment.

2. Live in Israel for a month -2 months. Rent an apt. in Tel Aviv and get an internship (Ha'aretz is already an option). Live with Rebecca, basically my best friend ever. And lay on the beach. Travel within Israel and possible travel to Cyprus or Greece. See people that are hanging out here for the summer or traveling on Birthright.

3. Go to Thailand for three weeks after the semester. Then, either come back to Israel and crash at friend's places for like 2 weeks and see people on birthright, etc. Or go straight home and still be able to get summer internship.

Other info: a) I am taking a semester off, so I could get an internship in the fall in L.A.
b) I would be immensely happy with any of these decisions.
c) Please help. I don't know what to do.
d) I don't really have any money.

In a perfect world: I would go to Thailand for 3 weeks, tool around Israel for 2, and come home to an internship that starts July 1st.

Temporary Living

I have been living in the same dreadful building for almost two months now. Yet, the security guard still asks me Gara po? Yes, dumbass. I live here.

We're going to Europe!!

As of now. April 10-May 4
Budapest-->Prague-->Berlin-->Paris???-->Madrid-->Seville-->Grenada-->Barcelona-->Switzerland???-->Milan??-->Florence-->Cinque terre-->Rome/Vatican-->Budapest
The flight was $439 round trip, taxes and all.
We will also prob. get a eurorail 21 day pass.
Suggestions, advice, etc./places we can cut out because we are going to be exhausted but want to see everything, would be much appreciated.

Wine Conossieur or Wino? Whats the difference?

Shai, Josh, and I went wine tasting last week. Instead of tasting though, we just drank. Red wines, dry wines, sweet wines, white wines. Olives, cheese, etc. Obvi, it was lots of fun. I was shwasted, also obvi. We toasted to almost every glass, so hopefully the month of Adar will bring us luck and grant us some of our wishes.

HOF V'YAM

I have not been writing in my blog mostly because I have been going to the beach a lot. It is a surprisingly tiring task. It takes about an hour and a half to walk to the Tayelet (the boardwalk) and then we lay out for a few hours and then walk to the shuk to buy produce, and then take the bus or walk home. You can see, that after all of this, who has time to write in a blog.

Just kidding, I always have time for my loyal readers. (mom)

Care Packages show you care...

Sarah Nathan
The School for Overseas Students
Tel Aviv University, Carter building
Ramat Aviv 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel

Letter home

I don't want to write it all over again, so here is some recent scoop, from a email I wrote to my Grandparents.

Dear Nana and Papa,
Turkey was absolutely Amazing!!! It did snow/blizzard one day, so it was harder to tour and there were one or two sites we had to skip. All in all we saw gorgeous mosques and the Hagia Sophia and shopped/haggled at the Grand Bazaar and spice bazaar, which was a lot of fun. Nana would have loved it. Lots of great jewelry and scarves and bags. I bought a necklace, a bag, a bracelet, and a headband. Ill post pictures of my treasures. I just got back an hour ago and went to the market to stock up on food, so now I am posting pictures online. Look in a few hours at my blog www.mayanimmotek.blogspot.com and I will post links to all of my photos so you can get the real Sarah Nathan Tel Aviv travel experience.
Anyway, Just wanted to let you know I am having a fabulous time and am unbelievably happy I am here. When I came back from the airport today it didn't feel like I was still traveling, it felt like I was coming home. (Don't worry though, I am not moving here, or even thinking about moving here)
Right now I am planning my Spring Break. Hopefully it will consist of Italy, Spain, and then hopefully either morocco and portugal or prauge and budapest. Unfortunately it means missing Pesach in Jerusalem, but there are plenty more holidays to celebrate here and my friends and I will find a Sedar abroad. Oh, and to answer your question. Yes, I have made lots of friends. You will be able to see all of their friendly faces in the pictures I post. Everyone on this program is so great.
I am starting classes tomorrow. I am taking Songs of Slavery and Zionism: African and Jewish culture and literature in the Diaspora, Jewish Education: The vision and the reality, Middle East from Print to Press ( a communications/media class), Israel and the environment, and Israeli Companies: from local to global. I am excited for all of them.
I love you so guys so much.
Sar

Habua

Tel Aviv University took us to see a movie called The Bubble on Wednesday. The movie was good until the ending. I dont want to ruin it for you, so I won't tell the ending. It is a gay love story between an Israeli and a Palestinian. It has a really good message until the end of the movie when it retreats back to stereotypes. Why does every israeli movie have to be about the Army and Suicide Bombers.
Anyway, I loved this shirt:
I wish they sold it in real life.

I also love the soundtrack. I am thinking about buying it, or an Ivri Lider album.
If anyone else has suggestions for any other Israeli music, leave a comment.

Eating makes my mouth happy and my wallet sad.

Went to the Nemal (the old Port) today. Went to an expensive fish restaurant with no menu. Tried lots of new things inc. sea bass and eggplant roasted and eggplant french fries. All was delicious, and healthy. It was one of those places where you dont know what or how much you ordered but they keep just bringing out the food. Delicious.

Also went to Max Brenner yesterday and got the Marshmallow crepe. As far as a list of what makes me happiest, smores is right on top. The crepe with marshmallow, chocolate, ice cream and gummie bears may have been a close second.

Other things that are like smores in Israel. Crembo. They have chocolate, marshmallow, and a cookie on the bottom.

If I could live on one food item for the rest of my life it would be jelly bellies. If I had to choose only three flavors, they would be licorice, pomegranate, and smores even though none of those exactly go together in any form. I am all about the variety though. Why does Israel not have Jelly Bellies. Please send Jelly Bellies if you love me. (will post address later)

Other food items Israel is without. Limes, Rum (well they have one brand from Jerusalem for 22 NIS ($6) but its pretty nasty. Either way, making mojitos yesterday was interesting. Maybe i'll stick with the pomegranate martinis. Yet, sadly, I think pomegranates are going out of season as I did not see as many in the shuk as usual.

Things they do have in Israel. Frozen Yogurt, except it is completely different here. You tell them what you want in your yogurt (I get strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries--an assortment of berries, you get the gist--sprinkles, little mekupelet, and sometimes pecans.) They mix it all together with the yogurt in the machine and it is seriously like a party in my mouth. Indeed, best thing of my entire life. Only problem is it runs about 16 NIS. That is like $4.50. Chai tea also seems to be a lot. Why do they charge extra for soy milk. It is not my fault I am a lactard.
Also, went to the Shuk where I bought a spiffy Tel Aviv University sweatshirt. It was on sale now because it is finally getting warm.

Well this is a summary of my purchases/eating habits. Hope you enjoyed.

Pictures, first. Stories, later.

http://goucher.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017844&l=5679d&id=41401226 <--First week of Ulpan.

http://goucher.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017845&l=6f93d&id=41401226 <--places I saw

http://goucher.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017847&l=4210f&id=41401226 <--people I love

http://goucher.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2017921&l=f19c1&id=41401226 <--1/2 of turkey

More albums to come along with narration. Hope this will hold you over until the internet becomes stable.

Chinese Biology

If some of you do not know yet, my roomate is Chinese. She has come to Tel Aviv from Beijing as a Hebrew major.
As you may expect, there are a plethora of cultural differences ranging from how we do our laundry (she handwashes everything and I am pretty sure she wears the same outfit every day) to the way we cook (I do, she doesn't know how to). But, not to offend anyone, I think her taking care of her friends plant was the funniest thing I have ever seen.
Her friend went to America for a week, and asked my roomate to take care of her potted plant. Jasmine, my roomate, explained to me she didn't know how to take care of it, she had only had a plant in the sand before. "A cactus" I said. Sure.
So I told her to put it in the sun and water it everyday. Pretty self explanatory. A week later, she asks me to look at the plant. She thinks the flowers have died and her friend is returning that day. I said to move it away from the shade and asked if she watered it. A minute later she comes back with a bucket and starts to splash water on the leaves and on the ground around the pot. Anywhere but in the soil. I finally got up and told her to dump all of the water in. 15 minutes later, she comes back with a bowl and starts delicately splashing water again.
I asked her if she had ever taken Biology. "No, I don't like that subject." haha. So, indeed I explained how a plant gets water from its roots, etc., etc.
Well, maybe you had to be there, but it was pretty damn hilarious.
I'm glad I'm not a Hebrew major in China.

Tel Aviv vs. Team in Red and black jerseys

I stumbled into a pro handball game by accident. Surprisingly, it is not the game where you throw a ball against a wall ands yell absurd rules like "pops" "roller" and "tree-tops".
It is actually a mix between basketball and soccer and is really big in Israel.

I left after 25 minutes, so I dont know who won.

Turkish Delight on a Moonlit Night

I am going to Istanbul (not Constantinople)!!!
I will be traveling during the break between Ulpan and classes. Feb. 14-17.


In other traveling news, I am also spending this weekend in Jerusalem. I am crossing my fingers that it snows.

If you have suggestions as to where to go in Turkey, please let me know.

Edit: The Jerusalem trip has been canceled due to impending snow. On top of that, we have to go to class. I want to skip class just to see snow in Israel. Too bad I skipped today....

Whiskey a go-go

Sexy BU boys and Thursday night cubbing.

Places I want to go outside of Israel

In the next 5 months, or more if I stay, I want to go to
Greece
Cyprus
Turkey
Thailand
Spain
Morocco
Rome
Petra
Egypt (when its safe)
more of Europe if anyone wants to travel with me when summer begins.

hevdele tarbut

I joined the gym in order to get a beach bod and improve my hebrew by taking classes such as step and Pilates.
They use different sayings to describe different poses in Pilates.
When you turn your leg it is called "Charlie Chaplin"-such a random American reference
And instead of child's pose it is pose "muslamit"