So, today was my first day of classes at Haifa University, and I survived! Now, you may be wondering what I've been doing here for the last four and a half weeks, but up until now I have only been taking Hebrew classes. Even though the rest of my semester will be taught in English, it is still very helpful to know Hebrew so that I can get around the country.
Anyway, each class offered for International students takes place only once a week, and we have the first two weeks to try classes we are interested before making our final decision. This morning, I went to a Media, Politics, and Public Opinion class, which I found very beneficial and enjoyable, except that it was four hours long... The good news is that I really like the professor, who also teaches another media class that only lasts two hours...!
During class a lot of points were brought up which I have recently been thinking about. First of all, our teacher shared her story of making Aliyah to Israel with her husband in 2001, only three weeks before September 11th. She recalled how she felt that afternoon when she turned on the television just in time to witness the second plane crashing into the WTC, and I noticed her eyes well up with grief. While we spend so much time thinking about how these tragedies effect those on our soil, we often forget how it feels to be an American living abroad, and to feel a connection when such an event occurs.
We also spoke about the elections, and how both America and Israel are experiencing a change of government. However, while most of Americans are elated at the alteration, there is less of a euphoria in Israel. There is always a general support of the government, yet the election process lacks closure. Contrary to the 24-hour news coverage and the constant eye on CNN well into the night, there never seemed to be a definitive decision made. Tomorrow will be two weeks after the elections occured, and there is still a question of what will become of the government. However, there were a few similarities between the elections in the two countries, such as the surge of young voters, and the famous campaign slogan "Yes We Can," which was adopted by Tzipi Livni of the Kadima party.
Anyway, I'm now off to the 'Opening Ceremonies' of the semester for the International students... will write more later!
Lots of love,
Elyse
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I love the shuk...
As I may have mentioned in an earlier post, food shopping is a very hectic activity in a country with a different language and foreign currency. Until today, going to the supermarket has been something I've dreaded.
However, my friends and I decided to go to Hadar, an area with a great shuk, or outdoor market. Everything there was so relaxed, and everyone was extremely helpful. What's even better is how cheap the food was! At one point, I bought a bunch of carrots and an entire head of cauliflower for only 8 shekels, which is the equivalent of about $2 in American money. I couldn't believe it! The produce is also extremely fresh there - we saw a fish market where the fish were actually still moving...!
There was also a great variety of foods, and I was able to buy some amazing brown bread and pastries for about 18 shekels, or less than $5. I also bought a persimmon, a pumpkin-shaped fruit that whose growth is based in Asia. It is the size of a small tomato, and has the slightly rough texture of a pumpkin and the flavor of a peach. While it is fairly uncommon to find this fruit in the U.S., they are all over Israeli markets. Overall, it was a great afternoon experiencing new things at the shuk, and I'm happy to have found a more pleasant alternative to the supermarket.
As a side note, I finally saw Miriam yesterday! (and the rest of the Iken fam.) We went to lunch in Haifa and toured around for a few hours in the evening, in which, of course, it rained again! It was a great taste of home, and knowing that I have someone to share everything with in Jerusalem is a great thing!
Lots of love,
Elyse
However, my friends and I decided to go to Hadar, an area with a great shuk, or outdoor market. Everything there was so relaxed, and everyone was extremely helpful. What's even better is how cheap the food was! At one point, I bought a bunch of carrots and an entire head of cauliflower for only 8 shekels, which is the equivalent of about $2 in American money. I couldn't believe it! The produce is also extremely fresh there - we saw a fish market where the fish were actually still moving...!
There was also a great variety of foods, and I was able to buy some amazing brown bread and pastries for about 18 shekels, or less than $5. I also bought a persimmon, a pumpkin-shaped fruit that whose growth is based in Asia. It is the size of a small tomato, and has the slightly rough texture of a pumpkin and the flavor of a peach. While it is fairly uncommon to find this fruit in the U.S., they are all over Israeli markets. Overall, it was a great afternoon experiencing new things at the shuk, and I'm happy to have found a more pleasant alternative to the supermarket.
As a side note, I finally saw Miriam yesterday! (and the rest of the Iken fam.) We went to lunch in Haifa and toured around for a few hours in the evening, in which, of course, it rained again! It was a great taste of home, and knowing that I have someone to share everything with in Jerusalem is a great thing!
Lots of love,
Elyse
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Just a little update...
There's a song written by Alanis Morissette about the ironic occurances in life, and it includes a little bit about the likelihood of rain on one's wedding day. While this may not seem nearly as drastic, there is something to be said for the fact that, while Israel has been in a self-proclaimed drought for the past few years, it seems to rain on almost every one of my free days here in Haifa.
Although almost two weeks ago, my first Shabbat morning at Haifa was spent sitting inside Sintarella's, a (great!!) restaurant in Mercaz HaCarmel, due to torrential downpours. This past Tuesday was election day in Israel, which is considered a state-wide holiday. We were given the day off from classes, and a hiking trip to Stella Maris and Elijah's cave was scheduled. However, it proceeded to rain on our parade again, literally. For the record, I'm talking thunder-and-lightening, raining-so-hard-it-sounds-like-hail kind of storm. Although it's great for the Israeli farming economy, (try not to think of me as a selfish tourist when I say this) it has been difficult to see many of the local sites.
However, there is a trip to Zichron Y'akov and Ceasarea scheduled for tomorrow, which I am very excited for, and will hopefully post about later. My friends and I are also planning to visit the Baha'i Gardens on Saturday morning, a site which I have been told is like nothing I've ever seen, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for nice weather! (and a continuation of the "heat wave" that Massachusetts experienced this week...)
Lots of love,
Elyse
Although almost two weeks ago, my first Shabbat morning at Haifa was spent sitting inside Sintarella's, a (great!!) restaurant in Mercaz HaCarmel, due to torrential downpours. This past Tuesday was election day in Israel, which is considered a state-wide holiday. We were given the day off from classes, and a hiking trip to Stella Maris and Elijah's cave was scheduled. However, it proceeded to rain on our parade again, literally. For the record, I'm talking thunder-and-lightening, raining-so-hard-it-sounds-like-hail kind of storm. Although it's great for the Israeli farming economy, (try not to think of me as a selfish tourist when I say this) it has been difficult to see many of the local sites.
However, there is a trip to Zichron Y'akov and Ceasarea scheduled for tomorrow, which I am very excited for, and will hopefully post about later. My friends and I are also planning to visit the Baha'i Gardens on Saturday morning, a site which I have been told is like nothing I've ever seen, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for nice weather! (and a continuation of the "heat wave" that Massachusetts experienced this week...)
Lots of love,
Elyse
Friday, February 6, 2009
Nazareth and Tzipori
Today I witnessed something which I have never before, and may never again see in my life.
As one of the many trips offered by the International school at Haifa University, I went to visit the biblically historical towns of Nazareth and Tzipori today. These towns are located less than an hour from Haifa, and contain some of the oldest religious sites in the country. We started the morning with a very early wake-up, and a tour of the archeological digs that are taking place through Tzipori. We saw original tiling and mosiacs from the Roman temples, and learned about their agriculture and lifestyle. We then left for Nazareth, the city which is rumored to be the home of Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus.
Our first stop in Nazareth was to what seemed to be the center of town, which is approximately 85% Muslim and 25% Christian. We were allowed to walk around and find lunch, which is right around the time in which I witnessed my first viewing of the Muslim call to prayer.
I had learned about this ceremony, which occurs 5 times each day, at the Kababir Mosque in Haifa, which we visited earlier this week. However, it was thrilling to see it in action. A voice was broadcasted throughout the city, and we could see men of all ages walking to the center of town, where a Mosque stood. After a while of speaking and rallying together, the men proceeded to remove their shoes and take out their mats to begin their prayers - in the center of the town! It was so amazing to watch these 60 or so men kneel down and kiss the ground as they began to publically pray, and it reminded me of how sacred the land is to so many different people, and how much I can witness by simply standing in the center of town in the middle of the afternoon.
It is now a little after 4 and I am in the middle of my first load of laundry done at school, which will hopefully be a successful one. I'm not sure what the plans are for Shabbat yet, but my friends and I found an amazing breakfast place last weekend which we are hoping to visit again, but the rest is up in the air... updates soon!
Love to all,
Elyse
As one of the many trips offered by the International school at Haifa University, I went to visit the biblically historical towns of Nazareth and Tzipori today. These towns are located less than an hour from Haifa, and contain some of the oldest religious sites in the country. We started the morning with a very early wake-up, and a tour of the archeological digs that are taking place through Tzipori. We saw original tiling and mosiacs from the Roman temples, and learned about their agriculture and lifestyle. We then left for Nazareth, the city which is rumored to be the home of Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus.
Our first stop in Nazareth was to what seemed to be the center of town, which is approximately 85% Muslim and 25% Christian. We were allowed to walk around and find lunch, which is right around the time in which I witnessed my first viewing of the Muslim call to prayer.
I had learned about this ceremony, which occurs 5 times each day, at the Kababir Mosque in Haifa, which we visited earlier this week. However, it was thrilling to see it in action. A voice was broadcasted throughout the city, and we could see men of all ages walking to the center of town, where a Mosque stood. After a while of speaking and rallying together, the men proceeded to remove their shoes and take out their mats to begin their prayers - in the center of the town! It was so amazing to watch these 60 or so men kneel down and kiss the ground as they began to publically pray, and it reminded me of how sacred the land is to so many different people, and how much I can witness by simply standing in the center of town in the middle of the afternoon.
It is now a little after 4 and I am in the middle of my first load of laundry done at school, which will hopefully be a successful one. I'm not sure what the plans are for Shabbat yet, but my friends and I found an amazing breakfast place last weekend which we are hoping to visit again, but the rest is up in the air... updates soon!
Love to all,
Elyse
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