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[jennnkap-blog]

Will I Ever Fit In?

So on Wednesday I joined my summer program “Onward Cleveland” in Jerusalem for orientation. Attempting to get there took several bus/train attempts, but eventually I made it. At this point I'd been used to exploring on my own, so it was a change to be around 150 new-coming Americans gathered in a JCC-style building in Israel.

The next day we would arrive in Tel Aviv where a group of 50 Clevelanders would do numerous reassuring events that let everyone know we were clearly tourists. 

Upon arrival we took a group tour- all 50 of us single-filed on a cramped sidewalk down the always hectic Allenby Street, Tel Aviv. Of course we took our group photos, discovered what a grocery store was, and some other obvious places. This way we could let the locals know that we couldn't even feed ourselves without a tour guide.

Since I spent some days in Tel Aviv prior to the program, a herd of 30ish Onward participants assumed I knew my way around quite well. What I actually knew was that turning left on Allenby was a straight shot to the beach and maybe two or three other places, give or take.

At 2 a.m. I led most of that group through Tel Aviv to a little bar known as "Mike's Place" to watch the Cavs finals. I joked that I felt like Moses leading his people and parting the red sea.

Anyways, our first night as a group in Tel Aviv was spent at the most American-wings/burgers/bud light-style bar watching basketball with 70 other Americans.

I happily noticed two Israelis hanging out at Mike’s Tourist Trap. They both had their heads against the wall sleeping because the game took place in the middle of the night. I wanted to fit in with these Israelis, so I started to shut my eyes, or maybe I was just exhausted myself…. (Side note: when David Blatt, an Israeli Citizen, is one of the final team’s head coaches, the NBA should highly consider the time difference. It’s not necessarily easy to watch these games at 3 & 4 in the morning!)

The next day a smaller group of us went to the Pride Parade Festivities together because at this point we learned that we would never fit in when we “rolled-deep” to places.

So many spirited-crazy-self-assured people were gathered at Pride Parade. The event was amazing to see, and for a second I thought, I don’t even need to fit in.

But in reality, half those people were tourists from Europe, and I still needed to stay on track with my current operation.

Within the next few days however, I was beginning to fit in. Between meeting locals at a hookah bar, spending my Fridays celebrating the beginning of Shabbat, and my Saturdays in a coma on the beach, I was pretty confident that I was living like an Israeli.

Not to leave out the fact that my last name is a road in Tel Aviv, just saying…

(I even figured out the public transportation system well enough to make it to work on my first day, but more on the subject in my following blog).

[jennnkap-blog]

Stepping into my comfort zone:

Not sure why I waited until I was 19 to come to Israel for the first time, but I guess that's when it seemed appropriate to take advantage of my free trip to the promised land. That was a year and a half ago and I came here with many expectations. I also saw the country in about 3 sleepless weeks, met my 3rd and 4th cousins for the first time, and explored Tel Aviv with my sister (we always end up following each other everywhere except home).

This time I decided to come here with a lot less expectations. The few I had; to spend more time getting to know my family and Jewish culture, learn about this amazing Start-Up Nation, and have the most fun I can have with probably my last opportunity to do something like this for the furthest I can see down my career path.

I also remember Israel feeling like a second home. I've been out of the country prior to my trip, but never have I felt as comfortable as I do here.

Some new and familiar parts of my trip so far: 

(The part when my "blog" becomes a picture book)

-The same man was serving falafel in the market that I bought from a year and a half ago. 

-Sabras hummus isn't real hummus, even if an Israeli did come up with the brand. 

-Aroma Coffee = Starbucks (Except Aroma is better because they give you a piece of chocolate with every coffee purchase)

-Coffix = Dollar stores (Well 5 shekel stores that serve coffee and other better beverages for college appropriate prices)

-Gold Star = Bud Light ...but you already know why Gold Star is better. 

-The only place in Tel Aviv that you should shop for anything you need, I mean anything, is Shuk HaCarmel (AKA the market)....(Food, books, tapestries, phone cases, purses, underwear if you really want...)

-It's acceptable to be on the beach during work hours. At least I think so because I've done it 3 days in a row so far...

-People in cars are just as careless as students walking in the middle of the road at OSU. Luckily, I've yet to get hit.

-My sister's apartment is probably the way most people live in studios in NYC, except it didn't cost her $2K/month. 

-These Hebrew words are literally what they are in English; Bank, Falafel, Shawarma, & Cafe. So if worse comes to worst, at least I can take money out and find something to eat.

...and lastly it's time to start replacing my ketchup usage with hummus. HUMMUS ON EVERYTHING.