“No
one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his
head on his old, familiar pillow. ” (Lin
Yutang)
Going from Bali to Israel was a very long process. First
and foremost you have to pay a fee to leave Bali. Ok so I paid for a visa to
come in and now I have to pay to leave after I spent a ton of money there?
Seems incredibly stupid to me. Anyway the plane was delayed for about 30
minutes (which was fine with me considering the length of my layover awaiting
me) but once we boarded we were off. I had two seats to myself and was asleep
for the entire 6 and a half hour flight! I got into Seoul around 8:30 in the
morning and found some food. The airport is enormous! If I had had more money
it would have been the best layover ever! However everything awesome was
obviously very expensive. Therefore I could not go to the lounge, get a
pedicure, or take a shower. Oh well. Finally I decided it was time to head to
my gate and I was greeted with a very strange site: a choir of Asian people
signing Israeli songs. It made me smile none the less and made me excited to
finally get to Israel. The flight was about 11 hours (if one of my favorite
shows had not been an option I would have been screwed!) but surely enough I
made it! I wandered off the plane and
got my bag and somehow managed to make it through immigration and finally found
my driver. I fell asleep for most of the way but finally I was in Hosha Ya and
T and Y (my cousin and her husband) where there to meet me! They had a nice
little room with had an air conditioner and I was asleep in no time!
I had a most epic sleep! When I finally woke up I still
felt groggy but so much better! I got to take a hot shower in which the
showerhead did not make the entire bathroom wet! I had time to myself to take a
breath and look at my surroundings. I walked their dog around their
neighborhood and smiled at how incredibly beautiful Israel is. T came back from
work and we hung out and talked which was really nice because we never really
have before. When Y got home we went to dinner at Aroma and then I got shoes
for the wedding and a gift. It was a really nice night. We were all happy and
talkative and the weather was beautiful (not unbearably hot!) and I just felt
really happy.
The next 4 days (Thursday through Sunday) were all about
the wedding! The wedding was in Jerusalem (right across from where E and Y were
married) and it was beautiful. I was the cleanest I had been in almost 9 months
and it felt good and weird at the same time. I got to see all my cousins and E
and Y’s girls, which was amazing. The ceremony was outside while the sun was
setting and I still couldn’t believe that I was actually there. That 8 and a
half months ago I was invited to this wedding and that I was not only there but
it had gone the way I had planned it. For an Israeli wedding it was small
(300-400 people) but there was a ton of food and dancing and an overall
wonderful night!
On Friday I had breakfast with T and then we went shopping
for a bit and then I got on a bus to Jerusalem because I was going to spend
Shabbat with Y and E. I immediately went and played with the girls until it was
time to go to dinner (at E’s aunts). I got to talk to S (E’s cousin) and her
boyfriend J and I really like them both. They made the evening fun and we all
ate and talked and relaxed.
Saturday was pretty laid back, I physically went to shul
but I was outside playing with T the whole time! Then there was a luncheon
after (which wasn’t really my thing but it was fine). Then in the tradition of
Shabbat I went back to Y and E’s and had a nap! That night we (me, Y, S, J, and
other friends and cousins) went to the Old City to see the light show! It was
so cool! There were all different decorations and things all playing with light
in a different way. I thought it was really beautiful and I felt happy because
I hadn’t been to the Old City in a long time and it is a place I really love. There
was one thing that was really bothering me though. I hadn’t seen any of my
friends. I understood that they all have their own lives, families, and
friends, but I had just thought after months of some of them telling me how
much fun we were going to have when I came to visit that it would actually
happen. I am trying not to get upset but it’s frustrating. Everyone here has
children or is married and I just wanted some “young person time” with my
friends.
Sunday was the last of the wedding festivities. There was
a brunch with absolutely amazing food (spring rolls and pad Thai)! Then I
babysat for both of the girls! It was really fun! We colored and played and
they were so sweet and good…I just want to put them in my bag and take them
with me! We had dinner in and just hung out and talked for a while. Then I
finally found a website which allowed me to watch Game of Throne…. clearly that
was what I did the rest of the night!
Monday was awesome! I went to the Israel Museum with E and
M where we met S and J and T (E’s aunt). We saw the Herod exhibit which was
really interesting and then went outside and saw all the sculptures and took
lots of pictures. E and M left and then the rest of us went back inside and saw
some amazing exhibits (Seven Winters, Displaced Visions, and Shadowplay). I was
really happy because I love art and going to museums and although I have been
to many temples lately, I have not gone anywhere like this in so long. I
remembered how passionate I am about art and it made me happy that although so
much about me has changed, some things remain constant. After the museum I went
to the shook with S and J. We walked around and got falafel and then made our
way back to Y and E’s neighborhood. We met with everyone for dinner to say goodbye
(S and J are going back to the states tomorrow). I was sad to say goodbye but I
am so happy I met them and S and I already planned a date in NYC this summer!
Nighttime was obviously all about Game of Thrones!
Tuesday was also really amazing! I spent the day with O!
It was so great to see her and all my frustration went out the window in a
heartbeat. We went to Machne Yuddah for breakfast (too good to describe) and
then walked all over the Center of Jerusalem. She took me to some amazing
little stores and then we met her friend (who is going back packing for 6
months next week) and the 3 of us got food and sat forever talking about
traveling. It was so enjoyable talking like that because O obviously understood
everything I felt, and her friend was interested in everything because she was
doing the same thing. I think another reason it was good to come to Israel
before going back to the States is because it has allowed me to talk a lot
about my experiences without any negativity or backlash. I have come to
understand that when I go on and on talking about places my friends have never
been and how amazing it was that they may feel jealous and annoyed instead of
interested and excited. Not everyone loves what I do as much as me and I can’t
blame them if they don’t want to hear about it all the time or why they might
feel annoyed or even offended when I say how much better other places are then
the States. In Israel so many people have traveled that they understand and
enjoy hearing and talking about it. So maybe since I talked so much about
things I won’t need to as much when I get back.
On Wednesday afternoon I went to the pool with E and M and
the girls! WOW! The three of them LOVE to swim and go in the water! It was so
adorable. They all were splashing and playing and having the time of their
lives! I personally see no reason why anyone would not want his or her kid to
be in the water (pool or ocean) as soon as possible. When I was playing with T
and mother started talking to me and asked how old T was. She told me her
daughter was a little older and was scared to go in. I mean yes, some kids just
have a fear of swimming, but I say try your best to get them to love it!
Swimming is such a joy and so much fun. After they swam they played in the park
(right next to the pool) and they didn’t want to leave! Bottom line, it was a
great afternoon!
Thursday was the beginning of the formula 1 race for
peace. We took the girls to the train station and got food and let the girls
run around for a while. We tried to go see the cars but there were so many
people we couldn’t see a thing! I thought it was just fun to be out and walking
around (it was gorgeous out). The girls got to run around all afternoon and we
let them have rebar smoothies and the sun was starting to set by the time we
headed back. For dinner I went out with E and M! We got amazing sushi and
talked for such a long time. They told
me that since I didn’t have any siblings they would be by stand in sisters. I
don’t think they knew how happy that made me. Recently (in the past 4-5 years)
I have come to really understand what being an only child means and have been a
little sad that I didn’t have anyone. I do have step-siblings but we aren’t
close. Maybe that will change one day but we are all really different. Anyway
it means so much that E and M really like me, I hope they can really be there
for me (they have children which I know is more than a full time job) and we
can still be close even when I’m not around.
On Friday I went to a birthday party with Y and R. It was
dessert heaven! Cupcakes, cookies, and lollypops everywhere! There was even an
Aldo stand (delicious ice cream)! What was even better was that it was in the
beautiful park full of trees and flower and big open spaces of grass. We
weren’t there for very long but I enjoyed myself thoroughly! Then I took a bus
from Jerusalem to Haifa to stay with E! She picked me up on her motorcycle
which was awesome…except that I had all my stuff with me! When I leaned forward
my back would hurt and when I would lean back my stomach would hurt. It felt
like a very long ride to her place but we made it…then I got off and was so
eager to be off the bike that I got off on the right side and obviously burned
my leg on the muffler. Lovely. I took a much needed shower and then we (me, E,
and her boyfriend I) took bikes and went to the mall (a much more enjoyable
ride). We met up with N (a friends of theirs) for dinner and then went to a
movie! I hadn’t been out to a movie since Nepal so I was really excited! We saw
“Now You See Me,” a cute and fun movie that I would never have paid money for
back home but since I was away and with friends I enjoyed it. After the movie
it was time for bed and I was very grateful!
Since E had worked a night shift at the hospital (she is a
nurse) we didn’t go out until the afternoon on Saturday. We took the bikes
(beautiful ride) and I am not completely sure where we were (near the Japanese
Museum) but there was the most amazing view of Haifa! I also kind of forget
about Haifa (I was here once about 3 and a half years ago for T and Y’s
wedding) because I am always thinking about Jerusalem, which is such a shame
because Haifa is really awesome! It had the feel of a city (like Tel Aviv) but
that relaxed air (like Jerusalem) and that for e is a great combination. We had
a late lunch/early dinner and just sat forever talking about TBT and our
friends and Nepal. It was cold on the ride back so we got into pjs and watched
a movie (“The Dark Knight”)! It was really awesome to just hang out with E. She
is a really interesting and kind person and I am happy to have a friend like
her.
Sunday was my last day in Israel and unfortunately I spent
it exhausted. I got maybe two hours of sleep. Maybe because I slept late, maybe
because I am subconsciously more stressed then I think about going home, maybe
I was just too wound up. Whatever the reason, when I finally fell asleep it was
light outside and the birds were signing. Add that to having to get up at 8:15 and
that is how I felt. I gave me a ride to the bus station (with all my stuff
again) and then I waited for the bus to Nachsolim beach where everyone had
stayed for Shabbat). The ride was only 30 minutes but when I got off it was in
the middle of nowhere! In Israel there are bus stops literally on a highway
with absolutely nothing in site. I thought about almost 9 months ago when I had
been at a similar bus stop and panicking that my bus wouldn’t come. Now, after
all of my adventures I just smiled. I found a sign for Nachsolim and only had
to wait a minute before I saw a car. I flagged it down (E told me it was safe
to hitch a ride) and the guy took me most of the way. Then I got out and found
signs for their hotel. I could have flagged down another car, but it wasn’t
that far and I decided to walk. It was as if this was some sort of test. All of
my triumphs and failures of the past 9 months had led up to this: not only
being able to handle life’s little jokes, but being able to do it gracefully
and maybe even see the humor in it. I found their room and didn’t even mind
that I was sweating (this was nothing compared to Cambodia!). They were all so
impressed that I found them but E’s dad just looked at me and smiled and said,
“if she can do Asia, she can certainly do this!”
The rest of the day was really nice. We drove back to
Jerusalem (E and I talked and the girls slept) and then we went to the park
with M. Then we met Y for dinner out and sat outside and ate good food. I came
back and packed and showered and now am ready for bed (it’s like 8pm)! I am so
tired from not sleeping and I have to be ready to leave by 3am so I think an
early bedtime is ok tonight. It’s hard
to believe that in a little over 24 hours I’ll be home in my own bed. I am sad
to leave but I think I am ready.
Signed,
Homeward Bound
