I made it to Jerusalem!

Hi everyone,

After MANY LONG hours of travel I am finally here! The plane ride from New York to Israel was long but not terrible. I met so many interesting people at the airport and on the plane.  Everyone is so eager to talk and help with learning hebrew!

On the way here I thought of my other lovely AOIIs who are also abroad as I read through the in flight magazine and saw many of their destinations featured in it.... Cat according to Sky Magazine London is "the place to be".  haha

Also trying to explain a sorority is actually impossible.   I am pretty sure there is a poor Israeli man out there who still is very confused, but I did successfully teach him the term "chatterbox" referring the other girl in our row....

It is about 55 degrees and it was super gloomy and rainy when I arrived and probably will be for the rest of the week but it is worth it because after the rainy season it will be WONDERFUL!

When I got through customs my friend Yoni picked me up and we went out to dinner in the middle of Jerusalem.  It was a small really good restaurant in the middle of an outdoor shopping mall which had many of the same stores that we do in the states. I am staying with his friends Chippy and Rivky tonight! They are super sweet girls a little older than me who are also American but live here now!

I've already noticed several small cultural differences.  For instance the waitresses at the restaurants come over when you first sit down but everytime after that you wave them over instead of them coming to check on you when you need something.  Also the driving here is INSANE. There are lanes, however rarely do the Israelis stay in them.  People drive up on sidewalks, stop in the middle of the road, and do all kinds of other road shenanigans.  Half of me thinks its hilarious, the other half wonders how there are not more accidents....

I had so many more mental notes on what I wanted to write but I have been travelling for like 25 hours and can no longer function.  I have orientation tomorrow though! Then I will settle in and try and write again!