Another one bites the dust...

And then there was 13.....



I received news tonight that another intern is planning to leave the program. It's not going to be immediately, but she was one of my favorites, and so it makes me sad. But I know she's been unhappy, and therefore I support her in this decision wholeheartedly.



On a much happier note, I just "happened" to venture into a store equivalent to a dollar store (only everything was 4.90 shekels, when 4.50 shekels equals 1 US dollar...whatever, they were being either sarcastic or difficult). Nonetheless...I found these little jingle bell-like things...and bought them. Then, as I was wandering through... (drumroll and hold your breath everybody) I found Christmas ornaments AND lights! Too good to be true! I know the issue of the Christmas tree can be a controversial one in the States...but here it makes a huge statment. And you know what - to be perfectly candid, I don't care if it didn't. I'm insanely homesick, and Christmas tree = reminder of home. I think I'm going to go for the old attach-garland-to-the-wall-with-adhesive-in-the-shape-of-a-tree, cause they obviously don't sell Christmas trees here.



I'm in an internet cafe (a different one than usual, actually) and five emergency vehicles with sirens and lights going just passed by. Call me whatever you like, but that makes me nervous. And they were fire trucks. Ambulances - actually, just one going by with lights and sirens doesn't bother me any more than it would in any other setting. But five...together...with sirens and lights...of the fire type - makes me a wee bit nervous. Whatever...I'm sure it's something horrible but probably not the kind of horrible thing I'm thinking about.



Can I just tell you also how much I am appreciative of my friends? I had dinner last night with one of the other interns and she was talking about how important it is to establish yourself here in Israel. I agree wholeheartedly with that part. Then she was saying how she doesn't keep in touch with many of her friends from home. Enter disagreement. The more she told me about her friends though, the more I understood why she wasn't keeping in touch with them. Me on the other hand, have friends more amazing than even I can understand sometimes. Point in case, a certain extraordinary young man who is a dear friend of mine, purchased a phone card for the sole purpose of calling me (after I left a dramatic and semi-emotional message on his cell phone a few nights ago). Nonetheless, he called, listened to me complain and whine about how much I seem to detest this place as of late, and was more thoughtful than I can even put into words. God has blessed me with such amazing and truly extraordinary friendships. It's so easy for me to see the world through doom-colored glasses, particularly since I've been here. But the reality is that even though the day-to-day life is difficult, I've been providentially given so very much, especially when it comes to friendships. I'm not trying to be mysterious about the identity of said amazing friend - it's just that he's pretty humble and I'd hate to embarrass him - embarrass him further, that is. Last night, after he asked me a particularly thoughtful question, instead of answering, I insisted that after he hung up with me, that he call his mother and thank her for her role in making him into such an amazing man. It was a spur of the moment overflow from my heart - because he truly is a wonderful friend and far more thoughtful than most. But I think I did embarrass him a little. You know what though? Thank God for his humility though. I'm getting a bit off the point here...but for God to have made him both thoughtful and sensitive - it's not as rare a thing as I think it is, perhaps...but in my experience it's pretty rare. Then one of my friends from my program called me this afternoon to tell me that, since she knew I've been feeling homesick, that she wanted me to go with her some Shabbat to her friend's family's home for dinner and to spend the night. It was such a kind gesture - I'm so spoiled. Thank God for it though - He has certainly been using my friendships (both here and back home) to sustain and encourage me though.



Enough of the tangent, I suppose. I'm going to go buy some tape and go home and decorate my "tree!" :) Love you all!