Tree "Planting" (Haircutting...) in the North!

Hey All!

First week of classes finished, and so now I can FINALLY give a list of courses I am taking!  In addition to Hebrew, I am taking Archaeology of Jerusalem, Murder, Rape, and Other Original Sins: Genesis and its Interpretations, History of the Modern State of Israel, Jewish-Non-Jewish Relations and Rescue During the Holocaust and I am auditing Biblical Figures and Stories in Jewish, Christian and Muslim Art.  I know...only a few classes...suuuuuch long names!!

What else has happened...well, in the absence of a microwave in the dorms, Deborah and I had to think outside of the box because we wanted popcorn (we also haven't seen it pre-packaged ala Smartfood).  Luckily the grocery store near the Kfar had plain kernels of corn, and so I, having worked at Silver City for the summer, devised a plan to make popcorn sans microwave - it was very serious.  See, working at the movie theater this summer DID teach me things!  We ended up putting kernels into a pot with some oil and salt, and then I shook the pan back and forth while the kernels popped and Deb melted the butter. 'Twas delicious!

In other news, today I went up north with the school to the Carmel Forest - a forest that was devastated by a fire a few months ago.  We surveyed the outer rim of the damage, and then we were supposed to plant trees, but this being Israel, plans changed and we ended up going to a different site (that had been burned about 15 years ago - new trees were growing).  At this new site, the trees had been growing naturally and sporadically in the area we were in.  Our job was to, as I like to say, give the trees a "hair cut".  We had to cut the branches off the bottom 1/3 of the tree so that if there was ever another forest fire, it wouldn't spread as easily to the tops of trees, and therefore wouldn't destroy the entire forest.  We also had to cut down diseased trees and trees that were growing too close to other trees - again for fire safety.  On our way down the hill (we were cutting the trees on a mountainside, it was quite the experience =P) we found an animal skull - the person who works for JNF assumes that it belonged to either a cow or a boar, which Deborah gleefully proclaimed as "Pumba" and many pictures ensued.

That's all for now!!

Dale

Before...

After!

Damage from Carmel Fire

Some goats near the forest

The Loner Goat (Dad)

Destroyed forest

Trimming the Tree

Action Shot!

Schlepping a tree down the side of the hill

Deb and I with the skull

The Skull

The Skull

Start of Classes, Hail, and a Sandstorm!

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's been a while since I last updated - it's been busy here! Regular university classes have finally started (good-bye 5.5 hours of Hebrew class a day!) and stuff has been pretty crazy.  I haven't finalized my schedule yet, but when I do I'll  be suuuuuure to post the courses here! What have I done since the last update...I went to a Hadag Nachash concert in Jerusalem.  They are an Israeli music group, very popular here!  I booked my trip to Europe over Passover break - Rome, Venice, Florence, Paris, here I come! Any suggestions of things I must see while I am away? Post suggestions in the comments section (yes, this is for you, Barry...).  The weather has been super crazy here.  A few days ago there was a thunderstorm, followed by hail and today it has been so windy that the sand and dust from the surrounding Judean Desert is being blown around (see picture on Facebook).  I'd post pictures here, but I'm not totally sure how to get pictures here from my Blackberry.  Maybe one day soon!

The situation here with regards to what is happening in Egypt is cautious - Israel, in general, is worried that there is a possibility that whoever gets control of the country might cancel the Camp David agreement, which is (obviously) a very important (and the longest lasting) peace agreement between Israel and any of its neighbours.  Also, the unrest in Egypt is spreading to the rest of the Middle East, and Israel is worried about it becoming more of an issue in Jordan, since that is also a fairly peaceful border.  Other than that...well, it's Israel! They just go with the flow, and whatever happens happens!

Onto better and brighter things...This past Saturday night I trekked out to Talpiyot, all the way on the other side of Jerusalem, because that is the ONLY place in the city that has a bowling alley.  It was a friend's birthday, so we decided to schlep out!  It was super fun, and in the same building as the alley they have go carts.  My friend, who is from Paris, had never been go carting before, so naturally we went with her for her first time! I am proud to say that I came in first (shoutout to Eric! You taught me well).

That's pretty much it for now, I promise to update more frequently now that everything is becoming more of a routine!

Time to eat a Flake Bar (yup, they exist here fresh all year around, not just Passover!!) =D

Dale

Hadag Nachash

The haaaaail

Me in the go kart. Notice that I am in Kart 1

Me, Roma, Myriam!

That's right. Kart 1, first place.