Well, THAT was fun… August 30, 2006

</drippingwithsarcasm>

Ok… so I got up at 6:00 am this morning, because I needed to be in downtown Jerusalem “no later than 8:30”. I and my grandparents (they were up, and had nothing better to do) went down to the bus stop and took the 7:05 bus to Jerusalem. Maybe 5 minutes into the bus ride, I realize that although I had every other official document pertaining to me (including my passport photos; I’ll explain later), I left my passport back at the house. As luck would have it, I remember this IMMEDIATELY after passing the last bus stop out of our settlement. We get to the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem, and start making phone calls to people such as Avi Naor (the director of Mahal) and Tziki Ud (my contact at the Jewish Agency Information Center, where I needed to go); only one problem – it’s 8:00 in the morning and no-one’s picking up their phone! I SMS (text message) Avi, figuring that since he needed me to SMS my ID# to him once I got it, that maybe he’d get the message and text me back or even call me.

While we were waiting at the Central Bus Station to figure out what to do, my grandmother said that there was somewhere downtown she needed to go, so if we (my grandfather and I) wanted to join her, we could. And join her we did; we got on a bus headed to one part of downtown Jerusalem and intended to join her, since we had nothing better to do. The bus was packed… like “Another One Rides the Bus” packed… we were already packed in like sardines, and we were stopping to pick up more. Then Avi Naor calls, a little after 8:30 (remember that magic time?); apparently Tziki couldn’t find me, and called Avi to find out what’s up. I explain to Avi that I accidentaly left my passport at the house, and that I could go home and get it, but it may take a while; I asked Avi if I could meet with Tziki any other time, and Avi says “after 10”. I relate my conversation with Avi to my grandfather, and we decide to get off the bus, try to catch a bus going back to the C.B.S. and then go back to our settlement to get the passport.

We get off the bus and cross over to the other side, just as the bus heading back to the Central Bus Station left. Just my luck. While we waiting there, Avi calls me back and says “Daniel, we have an appointment for you, same as today was supposed to be, but on this Sunday… also no later than 8:30.” (GWAA! OK… calm down, this is the only way it’s gonna get done) I agreed, and that was that.

So, after sitting for 5 or so minutes and no buses coming, we decide “it’s a nice day, why not walk back?” Except that we didn’t realize where we were. Sure, it’s probably only a 30-40 minute walk, but it’s up and down hills and my grandfather’s not in perfect shape (unless ’round’ is a shape). We walked back anyway, just as it was starting to get uncomfortably warm. When we got back to the Central Bus Station, we were a bit tired (he was, I wasn’t quite) so we stopped in at this nice little shop called “Café Net”, where we each got a “Iced Coffee” – kindof a coffee smoothie. We then took the next bus ride home, and home is where I am now.

In short, a lot of work to do nothing. Story of my life.

Anyway… so, about those passport photos. If you recall, I was in a bit of a panic because they (the Jewish Agency, whom I was meeting “no later than 8:30”) needed passport photos, and I left them at home in the States accidentaly. So, I stayed up until 1:00 in the morning, when my mom got back to the house, and she got online almost immediately. She asked where I thought I had left them, and I told her… Thank God I was right. She scanned them, and emailed them to me, which I forwarded to my grandfather and he printed off on photo paper. We trimmed them to the right size, and BOOM, now I have 8 passport photos (and the ability to print more).

Now, I need to go call some people about some spare uniforms that are being left for me.

AAAHHHHH!! August 29, 2006

I just got a call from Avi Naor, the guy from Mahal. Apparently, I need to be at the Jewish Agency in downtown Jerusalem no later than 8:30 am. I have everything I need, except NO PASSPORT PHOTOS! I thought I packed them, but apparently not… We can print more, but I need someone back home to find them & scan them. There’s a 7 hour difference, so no-one’s getting back to my house to look for them until 1:00 am my time.

Needless to say, I’m flipping out here!

If all does not go well, I can probably get them done tomorrow around the corner from the Jewish Agency, but I’m a little wary… I don’t know if that will work, and how much it will cost.

Any consolation you can give me would be much appreciated.

Shalom Chaverim! August 29, 2006

(For those of you who do not speak Hebrew, that means “Hello friends!”)

I am here in warm Israel, desperately trying to get things done expediantly. I met with the director of Mahal (Israel’s Army Volunteer Service) on Sunday to get registered. I filled out the registration form, but I forgot to bring my passport photos, so that may cause complications… ehh, hopefully not.

Now, I am trying to get into an ulpan (Hebrew learning) class; I need to know how to speak at least SOME Hebrew before they’ll let me in. Hopefully, an 8-week course is all I need to get a basic handle on what is being said; fortunately, I know a little bit of Hebrew, and I tend to be good with languages.

Sunday drained me of pretty much all my money, leaving me with 40 agarot (about 10 cents in the US). Those bus rides end up costing you quite a bit after a while. Ah well… fortunately, I deposited my last paycheck before I left in my bank account, so all I need to do is take some money back out.

I should be getting a laptop soon, hopefully… my family back in the States is scraping together a little extra money to pay for it, because if I ever want to work from Israel, I’m gonna need my own computer of some sort. Much thanks goes out to my family in the States, and my grandparents (who I’m staying with, here in Israel) for loaning me their laptop until I get one of my own.

Yes, Paypal donations are accepted, in case you were curious.