Hi all!
I have made it to Jerusalem, safe and sound.
I just spent my first FULL day here. BOY am I tired. This city is incredible. There is so much to learn and do and I can't wait to grow here.I did so much already in the last two days. Let me try to recount everything for you!
     Yesterday, I flew through Munich (which was really neat) Having never been to Germany before, it was really cool to see such a different type of airport. The people were not as nice as Pittsburghers-- a little more standoffish. No one wanted to discuss the Stillers, how great/horrible the weather was, or how bad every other Pittsburgher is at driving. So instead of making new friends, I ate breakfast at this out of place fancy restaurant situation, which had chandeliers hanging in the middle of the terminal. They had veggie salads and fresh lox (so that's what I did!)

     I then got on a plane full of Americans to get to Israel. There were 6 or 7 families with young kids that had been split up by the airline-- their kids (all under 7) were sitting alone. It created some major chaos while they tried to figure out who should sit where, who needed to trade seats, etc etc etc.
After that insanity, the flight was full of 4 hours and 15 minutes of screaming religious children. It was super, although I was able to sleep through most of it (face down on sweatshirt on tray table.-- it's the most workable method.)
     Once I got to Tel Aviv, I was so excited! I got my bags and right away got through customs and out to the public part of the airport. It was really nice to see people reuniting and I thought about how I can't wait for that to be me! (God willing) I then proceeded to go to the phone store (which didn't have my SIM card... still waiting on this. ) Then I got a sheirut (the Israeli version of super shuttle... only Israel had it first) Basically, this story ends with me not having enough shekels to pay the guy, so I gave him all the one dollar bills I had (16.) He got really mad at me (rightly so) and so I asked him to give me his phone number so I could call him and give him the rest of the money. He did this, and I called him today.
He was NOT nice and then hung up on the Student Life advisor Nancy when she tried to call back. I think he was shocked I actually called him--- but he wanted to get together in the evening in a place that I hadn't heard of... so OBVIOUSLY I refused this. Nancy stuck up for me, thank God, and then he hung up on her. I might try back one more time tomorrow-- I'll just have to see.
Last night I met a lot of the kids on my program for a drink and nosh at an INCREDIBLE rooftop bar with a 360 view of Jerusalem. I had my own veggies and stuff, so that was fun! Then we went to the Jerusalem festival of Lights (basically like those rows and rows of houses with crazy light up Christmas decorations) It was cool, and they had some neat things happening, but I hit a wall and couldn't deal anymore-- so I didn't. We went home.
Today I went to breakfast at a cute place near the school (SO good. Shakshuka-- eggs and tomato sauce and brilliance) then to the College for the first time. HUC's campus here is stunning. I was taken aback by the amazing stone, the courtyards, the life. It was cool.
Then, Jordy (my friend from Pitt; we overlapped tow years there) and I went to the shuk for fresh veggies and lunch.

GOOD CALL on the shuk. I love it there. I went back again to get veggies for dinner.
Tonight I ate dinner at the place that will be my apartment in about a week or two
I'm so excited to continue my recovery process here,!)
As you can see, I'm making grammatical errors right now. I'm SO tired.

With love to all,
Alicia