First few days at the mechina

A quick update:

I've been at the mechina for 2 days, but it seems like forever already. When I first got here, it was SO hot and everyone was just standing outside waiting to sign in. The Israelis mostly knew each other, because they had been on a few trips together before the year started, so I introduced myself to a few people and ended up meeting all the Americans. The 9 of us had a little pow-wow in English, the last English we would speak for a while. There are 56 of us total at the mechina, and we were quickly oriented on how life here would work; we learned about the schedule of the day, the leaders each day, the "toranim" for each day (help clean up the kitchen, bathrooms, etc.). We were given the choice of how to choose rooms, and we eventually decided that each of us would request 3 people, and then we would enter it into the computer and the computer would decide. It was kind of funny, because I actually knew no one, so I just wrote down the names of some random people I had talked to earlier who seemed nice. It turned out that two of the people I requested are in my room now, which is great, and the other two are also awesome. Everyone here is very nice and understanding. They all want to translate for us and help us to become regulated with Israel and with the mechina.

Everyone gets to pick a committee that they help run. I am in the "tilyulim" (trips) committee, and we have already started planning our trip that starts on Thursday night and goes until Friday. It's nice to work with a group of Israelis (there are also a few Americans in my group), but it's a little hard to voice my opinions in the group because they talk Hebrew so fast! I'm sure that I will get used to it, and hopefully by the middle of the year, I will be just like the rest of them. Maybe even earlier than that.

Tomorrow we are going on an all day trip to Yafo (near Tel Aviv) from 7am to 7pm. I'm excited to leave the metzudah and learn somewhere new. It should be fun. There is so much more I could write, but we are getting up verrrrry early tomorrow morning and I'm going to let someone else use the computer. Lilah!

In Israel!!!

I'm in Israel!!! I have spent the time at my grandparent's house in Jerusalem-sleeping and eating takes up most of the time. I haven't been outside very much yet, but I've heard it's been a very hot summer. The only glimpse I got of the outside was in the car ride from the airport to Jerusalem, and I actually spent most of the ride with my eyes closed (due to nausea).

It was weird traveling for so long by myself, but the trip went pretty smoothly. On the connecting flight from Chicago to Toronto, we actually all got onto the plane and then had to get off because of maintenance issues. It was okay, though, becuase I had enough time in Toronto to check into the El Al flight to Israel. I sat next to an orthodox man who I don't think was allowed to make eye contact with me. This was okay for most of the flight, because I had a window seat and a place to lean my head, but it became a problem when I had to go to the bathroom and he was praying in his seat for a realllllly long time, so I couldn't ask him to move. The only interaction we had was when I opened the window to see the sunrise (which was BEAUTIFUL), and he asked me where we were. I told him I didn't know and then he told me the time. It was kind of strange.

Anyway, I have some pretty exciting things planned for tomorrow, including getting a Hebrew-English Tanach and a Hebrew-English dictionary at the store. I am also meeting with my extended family in Kfar Saba tomorrow for a birthday party! Other than that, I am just getting over jetlag until the Mechina starts on Sunday. Yay!

How to Contact me in Israel!

I am leaving tomorrow morning for 10 months in Israel! I am going on a program called Mechinat Nachshon, where Israeli teens can spend a year traveling and learning before they go to the army (they also accept about 20% foreigners every year). The focus of the program is on leadership, and there are also aspects of Zionism, Jewish identity, Israeli society, and preparation for service in the IDF that are interwoven into the curriculum. If this sounds interesting, keep reading! I hope to update this blog regularly and keep you updated with my new experiences and adventures.

Email: rachelhirsch19@gmail.com
Skype: racheyhirsch

My Israeli cell phone number will be 052-312-6041. If you are calling from America, you can dial 847-929-4797. This will reach my Israeli phone, and you won't have to pay international calling rates.


If you feel like mailing me something, I'm a great penpal! Here's the address.
Rachel Hirsch
Mechinat Nachshon
Metzudat Yoav
D.N. Lechish Darom
ISRAEL


Keep in touch PLEASE! Also, make sure to let me know if you will be in Israel any time from now until the end of June! (Visiting is the best way to contact me.)