Wait I have how much time left...

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the delay (Meg).  There hasn't been much going on because it was midterms - yes I actually "study" from time to time here.  The real reason for my lag in posts is because my stupid computer would not let me upload pictures BUT I just got that fixed yay!

Anyways We had a mandatory shabbat in which we went to this biblical park and that is where the sheep herding took place, it was hilarious we had to get them to move from one area to another, and then we had to attempt to seperate the goats from the sheep, which sounds much easier than it is.  For some reason they like to go together.

 

Me before with some of the animals before we started bothering them.

Me, attempting to stand as far away as possible while still poking the sheep...

 

Getting the hang of this... I might have a future career in sheparding.

Me with my poking stick... I bet those animals hate us Americans!

Me crushing Zatar- a special Israeli spice! 

After that we went to our hotel in Abu Gosh.  Funny story, a man from here won a 20 million dollar lottery in new york and came back and opened a really fancy restaurant in this city- so if you New Yorkers are wondering where your tax dollars went.... There you go! We had shabbat dinner at the hotel and I wish I could have taken pictures of the food because it was a buffet X100.  There was so much food and about 20 kinds of dessert after every meal it was amazing.  We had some workshops etc. and then came back the next day but it was a nice little getaway.

That week we went to a food festival in Jerusalem and tasted a bunch of interesting treats.  We also got to weave a basket at the festival which was an unusual experience, mine didn't turn out very good!
The next day I went shopping with some friends and made some new friends who own this really cool little shop in the old city.  Whoever gets souveniers from me, they will most likely be from here! Its always an adventure there and I always meet such interesting people.

Before picture of the baskets! Can you believe we made baskets out of those sticks!

 

After picture of the baskets! 

The majority of the rest of the time I have been working on my midterm and independent study.  Passover break starts in 2 days and I will be doing a hike from sea-to-sea that is 3 days long and so I will have plenty to say about that and then I will be spending the Passover holiday with my friend Leora and her family.  Then just a few days later I am off to ITALY! Just booked our Rome hostel and about to book our Venice hostel and then I will get to see my lovely friend Hannah in Florence!

Once I get back from Florence I have less than a month left of being in Israel! Its bittersweet because I love it here but I am so excited for summer with all of my friends and family back home!

Much love,
B