Final Words From Israel, at Least Until I Get to The Airport

Sunday, March 23, 2008
7:15 am
At the tachana for my last shift- unless I get a night shift.
I spent Shabbat by Eli; it was nice.
Thursday I worked a shift with Ohad, Fund, Avital, and a MDA 71 girl, Bianca. It was a day full of fainting calls. 2/3 were cancelled, and one unconscious turned out to be a fainting. Our last call was a lady who supposedly had fallen and had been lying on the ground for 2 days. I don't know how long she was actually there for, all I know is that it stank in that apt.
Thursday afternoon I went to Elkie and Yehuda's to bake. We baked some blueberry and mostly chocolate hamentaschen. Went to Yehuda's family for megillah, then went to Eli's and got there about midnight.
Shabbat was nice-- Friday night we ate at Mo's with about 15 people. Shabbat lunch was organized by Doron. I took a nap, then went to mincha, then had seudah shlishit at someone named Sarit. It was really chilled-- her, me, Eli, her roommate, and one guy who ate and ran.
Then we went to daven, made havdalah, then I came into Jerusalem. Met up with Eden at the tachana hamerkazit and we went to the SHearim Purim Shpiel; it was cute. We got there late, but saw about half of it. We slept over at Naomi, Debbie, Katie, and Leah's apt. then came to shift this morning.

I really don't want to leave. I know I'm coming back in may, but I just-- don't want to go.
I know I have to take my boards and get a job for when I get back, but I don't even know what I want to do! --cut because this is a trip journal, not a "What Kind of Job do I Want" journal-- But back to Israel-- G-d, I don't want to leave, even though I know I have to go back.

10:15 pm
Doing a night shift! Yay! And it's with Eden! We're working with 2 guys both named Shlomie. I'm so freaking tired-- I actually feel myself being clumsier and slower. But on calls I'm good-- it's the rush.
I want to take a nap, but I'm watching our stuff-- mostly the fleeces. Really, those are the things most likely to get stolen.
I can;t believe that at this time tomorrow I'll be in the airport, waiting for my flight back to NY. It doesn't seem like it's real; it'll probably only hit me when I'm on the plane or back in NYC.

10:26 pm
No call, just a conversation break.
It'll probably hit me when I see a Starbucks-- or take the subway.
Or call/text someone and hear them. Or when I look at the clock and go, "So-and-so is on shift now." Or whatever.
G-d, I'm going to miss this place.

Monday, March 24, 2008
3:30 am
Birth! I just had a birth! That makes up for the other not-so-exciting calls that we had. We also had a drunk who couldn't walk, but refused to come with us anyway, an old lay who couldn't walk and had leg pain, and a guy who had suspected recurring pneumonia.
Birth made up for these calls. She delivered within 2 minutes of getting into the ER-- a girl. It was awesome!

5:46 am
I think I just came back from my last call-- for now. Chayal, was going into a building, someone(s) thought he was a robber, shot at him and started beating him-- sof-sof, he had a couple of scratches and maybe a slight head injury. But more scared thatn anything else.
Hmmm-- skipped over yesterday; I was going to write earlier today, but it really was yesterday.
Morning shift I did with Rivchi and Shiran. It was not a normal morning-- there was no shibutz (where we pick who we're work with-- assignments)-- basically find-a-driver. There was a new MDA 71 guy there-- poor guy, it was his first day and this is what he got...But he worked with Shira and Leah, so it was a good team.
I was in the Knesset until about 11-11:30 when we got a call. We had a couple of calls-- nothing terribly exciting.
After shift I went with Eden to the Purim seudah that Kaufy and Elinor were co-hosting at their friend's apt. It was really nice-- there were about 15 people there for the meal, and then some more showed up at the end for dessert and Apples to Apples.
Then I went back to tachana merkazit, met Eden, and we came to the MDA station. I attempted to nap before shift-- it didn't work too well.
I ended up switching and working with Yair and Dikla (I did the avtacha at the bar mitzvah with her and Gal). I don't know why, but at least 3 out of 5 of our calls were in Pisgat Ze'ev, so Yair told the moked that after our last call we weren't going to bother coming back to the tachana, just stayin Pisgat Ze'ev as a konan (first responder).
Oh, I forgot! Shloime stopped by the tachana to say bye. Ryan was going to, but he was a little bit out of it. He might come this morning-- later today.
I'm so tired- but I don't want to go to sleep now- I have officially 45 minutes left to my shift, but the morning shift people (aka those doing sherut leumi and MDA chul) will be here in, like, 15-30 minutes.
I wish I could do an am shift, but it's just not happening. I have to go to Marzipan, get Gilah's gum if I can find it, and go home to pack.
--cut because my day planning is boring--
Boaz just got here, or at least 42 did-- think I'll go brush my teeth and then go hang out in the machsan for a bit.

10:20 am
On the bus back to Chashmonaiim. I just sent a text to Eden and Shloime-- "I'm on the bus and it just fucking hit me...I'm leaving. And I'm going to cry." More on this later when I'm not about to throw up as well.

More updates!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
11:37 am
Been a few days.Technically a couple.
I passed. I'm just a nut about exams.

4:40 pm

Un-f'ing-believable. I'm on a bus back to Chashmonaiim and apparently the first 5 rows are for men only? There's nowhere for the women to sit-- so I went and sat back down. A guy mumbled at me that the first 5 rows were for men only, and there were still plenty of seats, so I moved a bit back. Well, now the seats are full and the front was 1/3 empty, so I moved back up. If he has a problem with me sitting here, he can ask me-- NICELY-- to move. Not mumble at me that the first 5 rows are for me. Besides, it's not an official rule, just an unwritten one that people are assumed to know.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

16:45

Right. So yesterday was my first day. Went well. I got there a few minutes early- but better early than lare. Today I was late. More about that later.

So- first shift. I had an orientation with Boaz, the volunteer coordinator at the Jerusalem station. (Oh, yeah, I'm at the Jerusalem station, not Petach Tikva.) I was on an ambulance with Elkie, a driver, Mickey, and another guy who was doing ride-alongs, Simcha. Spoke mostly Hebrew, which is good for me. First call was a car accident- single car crashed intoa guardrail; guy had actually already gotten out of his car, so we put a Philadelphia collar (a type of neckbrace, one that I like) on him, and put him on the backboard on the bed. The next call was supposed to be one guy who fell at a construction site, but it turned out to be two guys who fell...anyway, there were a few other calls, then at 2:45 we got a call-- on the other side of town. Mickey put on the lights and sirens and floored it. Because it was 2:45 and our shift ended at 3.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Third day. My second day was also okay.

7:18 pm

Wow, I need to back up.

Starting from Monday: I passed the exam. Yehuda, Shloime, and Dan called us in individually and gave us our results. Yehuda had my test rolled up, and he, Shloime, and Dan were sitting there stone-faced. Yehuda said, "Lauren, I'm really disappointed in you. I expected better." So now I'm convinced I failed-- did horribly, bombed the exam. He handed me my test, rolled up, and I opened it-- 99. Apparently the look on my face was priceless, or so Shloime told me a few times. It was the math questions I messed up on-- I knew I messed that one up. After that I went upstairs, showered, and came back down all ready to go to the Waffle Bar with people. We (Elkie, Eden, and I) sorted out the sweatshirts, then everyone closed, and most of us went to the Waffle Bar, ate dinner, then went to Zolli's-- a hookah bar-- to celebrate being done. I had one drink and sips of other people's, and did not get drunk. Some people did, and others were relaxed and some were totally smashed. I think the quote of the night come from Arie Jaffe-- "Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!" There is definitely a reason he had to be drunk (read: very, very drunk) to tell that one.

Tuesday morning: It was snowing! Yay! The downside was that we had to leave anyway. Coby had told us that if there was snow and the buses didn't run, we could stay in the hostel another day and have just a chilled day. Yeah, so it snowed, but the buses ran so we didn't get to stay another day. (I ended up not being able to get the bus form the hostel to Chashmonaiim, so they driver took me to the Superbus that I usually take in.) --Insert story about bus to Chashmonaiim here-- I called Aryeh to talk to him about my station, and he was able to get me into Jerusalem. Yay! Petach Tikva is also close, but it would be a 3 buses, which is a huge pain in the butt.

So now I take one bus, but it gets me to Saraei Yisrael, right by the Tachanah, at 7. And I'm supposed to be at the station at 6:45 to get on the schedule. So I'm going to call Elkie in the morning. But that comes later.

Continuing on to Tuesday: Got to Rita and Dov's, spoke to Aryeh, foind out that I should be at the station at 6:30 am, and slept at Chaviva's (whose roommate is Ms. Gordon!). --Insert first day's story here--

Thursday: Day 2: So I waited for the 5:55 bus that comes about 6:15. And I waited at the bus stop outside the yishuv, because that's where the bus compny said it stopped...yeah, not so much...it stops INSIDE the yishuv until 8 am...so I missed the bus. Another one came about 10 minutes later, and I got in about 7:24, which is late. I got on an ambulance-- one of the girls was leaving at 9 and hey were switching divers, so I got on then.

Friday: Nothing. Day off! I went ot the Old City in the afternoon and met the Grosses at the apt. Shabbat was nice. The apt.- not so nice. The electricity blew twice, then the Shabbos clock switched off and the neighbor found an Arab to come fix it. There was no heat (because we pulled out the heaters when we though the electricity blew and it was the Shabbos clock), but the heater in my and Sho's room didn't work anyway, there was tons of food left in the fridge, and open package of cookies left on the table, coats on the hooks-- it looked like the family just left for the weekend- which they might have done. But if you're renting out an apartment, it should look and be proper. This was not.

Besides that, there was an NY NCSY trip and we went there/had seudah shlishit with them.

Today-- Wait, Motzei Shabbat- went to Ben Yehuda and met Eden and Benny, and one of Benny's friends, Lenny. Benny called Kaufman and I called Arie, and neither one came. Although Arie sent me a text and I called him back and I'm not sure what I said...

Today: had a shift in the morning. My driver was Gabi and the bat sherut was Leah. Whatever. At 2, my driver switched and I was with Shmulik and another mitnadev, Yakov (I think). We had one call-- it was actually exciting-- it was an unconscious pt. in Har Adar- roughly the middle of nowhere, Yerushalayim. We were supposed to meet a Natan-- we were basically out of the area and the Natan showed up. The pt. was breathing and had a pulse but was non-responsive, even to pain. Shmulik put in an IV and that was that. Got back at 4 pm, then came back to the girls from MDA 69.

Monday, February 25, 2008

7:09 pm

Today was a 10.5-hour shift. It wasn't actually supposed to be, but it turned into one. At 1 pm, my driver left and Alfasi took over. I should have been done at 3-- well, I sort of could have left at 1 om, but then Alfasi wouldn't have a team and I couldn;t do that. But I can deal with him-- he actually cracks me up.

We had a couple of interesting calls- we got called to the Knesset and Dave broke all the rules-- he wore jeans and didn't have his passport. Those are the rules for going to the Knesset-- no jeans, and have your passport. There's this whole security process that you have to go through to go into the Knesset, but when it's a senator in an emergency call (okay, it was emergency because it was a senator, but whatever), you get to go in as long as you're with MDA. There was also a car accident- 3 cars. No blood-- at least on my pt.-- but yes backboarding and took him to the hospital, obviously. Anyway, I'm getting very good at opening a file. I also know how to fill out the forms and the hitchayvut (the thing that says who is responsible for the charge and how much the charge for the ambulance is). Yay!

I have to confirm the tiyul on Thursday. I'm trying to get all the info, but the guy is not getting back to me. Not helpful. -pause to call him- Okay, he told me to go to the Stagerim group on Facebook and get the info there.

In other news, I thought that one of the guys who gave us a couple of lectures was cute, but apparently he wants a tall, thin, blonde or redhead. I don't fit any of those categories. Oh, well-- clearly I'm heartbroken...

Motzei Shabbos, February 2, 2008

8:02 pm
On the 2 bus, waiting-- wait, nm, it's moving-- TBC...

10:50 pm-- no, wait, 11:25 pm
(continuing from the pervious entry that ended with, "Then Imma and Abba called") and they both think I should stay until Thursday...but I don't think I will. Lis's theory-- we went through that. Anyway, so Imm and Abba called, Abba gave me a bracha, I talked to them, etc. Then my hosts called and said I could come over, so I did. I then called Andrea and Yoni, and Bubby and Zaidy, and talked to them. And Rita.
Anywya, Shabbat was ncie. I ate at my hosts' the Borensons, Fri. night; there were 9 other people there-- 4 guys, 5 girls; very Lubavitch crowd, actually- and one guy who goes to 2 yeshivot-- the Mir and something else. Yehuda Aptow-- and we both feel like we've met, but we can't figure out HOW.
Anywho, I went to the Kotel Friday night, and as usual it was great. I had a great conversation with a woman named Bat-Tzion. It also occurred to me, when I was watching the chayalim dancing-- that would never happen anywhere else...it's an incredible sight to see tons of uniformed soldiers passing around kipot and start dancing...
Anywho, so I slept well. I went to shulo with Mis. Borenson, and there was a kiddush in honor of one of the member's b-day. Then I went to the Kotel because (a) I wanted-- eeew, yuckyuckyuckyuckyuck, eeew. Smush, deaddeaddeaddeaddead- there was a bug. It's now dead. In case you didn't pick that up...back to (a). I wanted to go to the Kotel because (a) I wanted to, and (b) to hear Bircat Kohanim at the Kotel. So I did. Then there was another kiddush, this time in honor of Shabbat, and then I went to lunch at Rabbi Stern's-- a Chabad Rabbi. I ended up leaving early because I was exhausted and not hungry. So I went back to my hosts, took a map, then Chana (Lustiger-- one of the girls I met last night who ate at the Borenson's) woke me up for Seudah Shlishit, and we had that, then Dr. Borenson came back from shul, made Havdalah, I packed up my stuff, helped clean up, then came back to the dorm, said bye to Pnina (who is feeling a bit better), and went downstairs to hang out with the girls from the 6th floor, who will be moving up here shortly.
Oh, I forgot something important that I found out on Friday-- Israir cancelled ALL their flights in March and are re-booking everyone on different airlines. SO the travela gent, Batya Lebinger (...?), emailed me asking when I'd like to come back. So I said the same time-- midnight flight-- but on Monday instead of Sunday. So we will see how that goes.
And on that note, I'm off to read a bit of Tom Sawyer, followed by going to sleep because I'm tired. And it's 12:30, and I'd like to TRY to get to school early tomorrow...maybe?

February 1, 2008

9:33 am
In my bed, because down comforters are warm and the dood isn't ready for me to have a hot (sort of, sometimes) shower.
So, updates on my Shabbat plans: Penina is sick, so she's not going to the Old City with me. Actually, it was supposed to be me going to the Old CIty with her; she made the arrangements, and then yesterday she got sick. She was hoping to feel better by today, but she's still coughing and has a fever. And she has to fly out motza"sh, so she's going to stay home/in the dorm for Shabbat. I called Sandie (dorm mother) to let her know; she's going to see if any of the girls from the 6th floor (who will be moving up by Monday anyway) will be around for Shabbat.
So I'm going to the Old CIty for Shabbat alone- it'll be good for me, right? I'm a little nervous about getting there on my own because I've never taken the bus there myself-- I've gone with Rachel, who only takes cabs. If Shabbat is 4:30-- the person I'm staying at told me to come at 4. But I don't know what time the buses stop running-- I think it's 2 hours before Shabbat. But anyway, I think I'll shower at about 11-11:15, assuming the dood is ready, then eat lunch, and leave around 12:30-1. It takes an hour to get to the Old City by bus, but that's once you get on the bus; the bus I need only runs every 1/2 hour or so. Worst thing that happens is that I wander around the Old City myself. Anyway, once I get to the Old City, I want to drop off the thing of rugelach I got for the people we're-- I'm-- eating lunch at, so that'll take time, and I want to see if I can find a place to use Internet, then I'll go to my hosts' house.

3:05 pm- In the Rova
So I'm early-- REALLY early. I took at bus in at about 12:40, got in, davened mincha at the Kotel, then went to find my hosts for lunch to drop off rugelach. After that I went to try to find an internet cafe-- No luck; it's erev Shabbat, so everything closes early. I went to find my-- wait! exciting interruption! I just got asked for directions and gave them! (shut up all of you who are mocking me-- I successfully gave direction and it's, like, my 5th (?) time here.) We now resume our regular programming-- I went to find my hosts for the rest of SHabbat-- and I did that successfully, too. Now if only I was so successful about figuring out what to do about Shearim...
Mom and Dad both think I should stay the last 2 days. I'm just so...not happy. Lis says, "You went to Israel to have fun! Have fun!"...but ls leaving early quitting? I've never been a quitter-- I'm stubborn as hell and don't want to be wrong. Ever. I just hate being wrong.
I digress. Where was I? Aha, figured out where I need to go. Then I was on my way back to the Rova to sit and wrote and I bumped into Yariv! Let\s discuss random, shall we? Although really, there are no coincidences in life, it's just G-d staying hidden. Playing "hide-and-go-seek." Then Imma and Abba called/

More updates!

January 19, 2008
Motzei Shabbos:

First Shabbat in Har Nof. It was nice.
Wait, first finish the budget-- a kartisiyah (bus ticket) is 44.80 (44 shekels and 80 agorot) and you get 10 rides on it, but it's only for inner-city buses. Sunday I'll be staying within the city, but Monday I'm supposed to go to Bar Ilan (the university that the play is at)- or maybe Wednesday- depends if Chani and Oren are going Monday- so I have to take a bus to the Tachanah [HaMerkazit] (Central Bus Station; like Port Authority in NYC), or Eli said something about a bus from Knisah La'Ir (the Entrance to the City), but I'm not sure, and then a bus from the Tachana to Bar Ilan.And Tuesday I'm supposed to go to Sheva Brachot by Rita's. If I don't go see the play Monday, I might got to Zippy and bring her stuff then, and go to the play on Wednesday. I really have to see what Chani and Oren are doing.
Anyway, so Shabbat. The school set up meals for me and Penina together. Friday night we went to the Cohen's-- it was so nice- not only the food was delicious, but the Rebbetzin was so sweet. There was another woman there that Penina knew from neve, Shulamit, and the three of us were just talking with the Rebbetzin for at least 2 hours; we left there about 100:30 maybe?
Came back hom, read a bit, then Penina and Lauren and I stayed up talking for an hour or so; went to bed at 1 am. My alarm rang, but then the phone shut off- not helpful- and I woke up when Lauren came in at 10. So I missed shul. Meh.
For lunch, Penina and I went to the Movsas, another person from school. Again, food delicious-- Hey everyone, I was FLEISHIG!...but then again I don't have any dairy nosh here. After that I played Rummikub with one of the daughters, followed by coming home and going to sleep. I slept until after Shabbat, then woke up and made Havdalah. Tonight we're having a party for my roommate- for Lauren- who is leaving Monday. Now I'm off to shower.

January 21, 2008
Yesterday I was sick. Today I'm not as sick. I don't feel great, but I feel better. I told Annette- I'll see how far I can get. I have to go to Talk'n'Save today; I called them twice and they didn't get back to me. Now I feel pretty tired already, and it's only 8:50; I've been up for an hour, roughly. Maybe I'll go to the first class and tell the teacher I don't feel well and might have to leave early, take a nap, and go back, I'll see.
I have to go to Talk'n'Save because I need a phone that works. They have a plan for students for $59.99/month, including 500 minutes in the US, Israel, and Canada.
4:24 pm:
Waiting for the last class of the day to start. Called Eli- we're going to "Arsenic and Old Lace" on Wednesday; Chani and Oren aren't going tonight, because Oren is sick.

5:50 pm
Class was over at 5:30, but I went to use the computer; quickly; gave someone else a turn, and I'll go back when she's done.
Anyway, I suppose classes are okay- I'm actually not liking it- I think it's because I'm bored. I wanted it because it's small and was very recommended, but- I'm just...bored. I'm translating meforshim (commentaries) that I've been doing since elementary school! I feel like I'm teaching-- no, not teaching-- well, kind of. I'm leading the chavrutot (paired/grouped learning sessions) that I'm in...I'm just...bored. I didn't come halfway around the world and I'm not paying so much money to be bored. I'm going to talk to Miriam, the person who works with scheduling issues. Maybe I'll do this part-time and volunteer the rest of the time. All I know is-- the teachers are great, it just seems like a lower level of learning than I'm geared for. I've got 12+ years of a background in this. I want classes on Jewish Medical Ethics, a WIJL (Women In Jewish Law-- a class I took in high school) kind of class, a class on women in Tanach (the Bible)-- MORE. Not straight reading! The only class I really liked, besides the morning Navi (Prophets) shiur (class/lecture) was the Megillat Esther (Book of Esther) class. I also really liked the teacher. Anyway, so that's that. Still waiting for Talk'n'Save to call back; I might end up going down to them tomorrow. I also have to go to Rita's for Sheva Brachot, and then Wednesday I'm going to bar Ilan to see "Arsenic and Old Lace."