The Latkes Are Frying

SHABBAT SHALOM!

Hello friends and Shabbat Shalom from the holiest place on earth-Jerusalem! The past couple of days have been pretty amazing. I have seen so much already, it's incredible. We went to the Golan Heights on a jeep tour which was pretty fun. Up there we learned about the Six Day War with Israel and the surrounding borders. Pretty crazy stuff. That night we went out in Tiberias which was pretty fun and I met some more people. That night also resulted in a lot of inside jokes that I probably shouldn't post on my blog. Haha. We also visited the Kinneret Cemetery and learned about the Zionist movement that I feel that they are supposed to talk about so that they can get you to move to Israel...Nice story but I like the states.

We also went to a town called Svot. It was really nice and there we did a community service project. However, this project was extremely dirty and I just started acting like my JAP (Jewish American Princess for you gentiles) self. I really did not feel like digging dirt, but I eventually did and it was nice. We started building a park for Jewish children in the town to play in. How sweet. We then learned about Jewish Mysticism which I thought was okay. We then left and arrived in Jerusalem where were literally greeted by prayer and dance and singing...overwhelming but it was fun. OH and also on our way to Jerusalem we stopped at a rest stop and being that I'm not a fan of this Schwarma/Falafel business I got some nugs at a McDonalds...typical, but I was happy.

When we got on the bus today the Israeli soldiers joined us. One asked if I knew Snooki because I was from Jersey. Who knew that show was even here?! Little Seaside Heights has truly become a world phenomenon. Also today we went to The Kotel or the Western Wall. The experience was extremely moving. No matter what religion you are I feel that anyone can really be moved by just being in the vicinity of SUCH a holy place. Jerusalem is filled with really holy things for Christians and Muslims alike. I put my prayers in the wall and spent some time reflecting there. It was probably one of the most moving things I've ever experienced in my life and I honestly did not expect that to happen. We then explored around Jerusalem some more and went to the markets. It was really awesome and I ate Schwarma...AGAIN. But it was fun and really cool to see where people go to shop.

Tonight I went to the Reform Shabbat Services which was really neat because I've never been before. Now I'm waiting to go to our little post Shabbat fun thing and then we're all hanging out. Israel is awesome though and I'm happy I came! I will talk to you all later.

-Gabbie

FINALLY HERE

Shalom friends!

We are finally here in Israel. Currently I am in a hotel in Tiberias near the Gailee Sea (which is the Christian name for it, but I already forgot the Hebrew name of it). Our flight was pretty good...it left from Philadelphia airport. When we got to the airport we met up with our Hillel group so that we could check in all together. There were some other Birthright trips going to, so typical me got confused. I eventually figured it out and found Alli, Alex, and Alex. In our bus group there are also kids from Brown, Ithaca, and Binghamton. Before we left we ate at Chickies and Pete's which is always good. The flight to Israel has two steps of security which is pretty intimidating but it made me feel better about the flight. The flight was like 10 hours long so I watched "Easy A" and "The Social Network" and of course listened to Taylor Swift....I'm not sure if I slept or not, it was kind of like a weird sleep limbo thing going on.

We finally arrived in beautiful Tel Aviv at like 3 pm their time. It's like 65 degrees here which awesome compared to the snow we've been getting. We then took the bus to Tiberias...it was like a 3 hour bus ride but I was passed out the whole time. Also on the bus we met our guide and the guard whose staying with us the whole trip-he carries around a rifle, it's pretty badass. When we got to our hotel in Tiberias we dropped our bags off and ate dinner. Dinner was interesting...I ate hummus and oranges. Yum. We then had our ice breakers and orientation and got to know everyone a little bit better. It was fun...however I'm exhausted now and I need to get up early (6 AM!) to go to Golan Heights which should be awesome and then to a cemetery and the naot shoe factory. So for now...goodnight my friends. I need to pass out.

-Gabbie

P.S This is my picture with my Sprite in Hebrew! HOLLLAAA!

TOMORROW TOMORROW TOMORROW

SHALOM FRIENDS!

AHHH I CANNOT WAIT.

It is now Sunday meaning that tomorrow, MONDAY JANUARY 10th, 2011 I will be en route to Israel. I cannot wait. I am also excited for the Wi Fi in the desert so I can blog from a Bedouin Tent...bahaha. Anyhow, attached you will see yet another flag picture similar to my England one...except I'm not there yet in Israel, but it's totally fine. Alli, Alex, Alex, and me are so ready to take this country by storm. Alright I will post from the airport or something since I'll be sitting around for hours after my intense security stuff. Apparently on flights to Israel besides getting like porno scanned you get questioned like crazy too...FUN.

But I'm mostly packed with my Masada hiking appropriate clothes, kibbutz working clothes, Shabbat dinner clothes, Western Wall conservative clothes and so forth for my TEN DAY TRIP TO ISRAEL!! The day I get back I will be crazy jet lagged and I have to go to the Greek leadership retreat but it's totally fine.

Anyhow, I'm going to go read now, but I can't believe the day is finally, almost here!

שלום (you figure that one out!)

Gabbie

Israel in two weeks, St. Louis in Feb., LA in March!

Hello all!

I hope everyone had a very nice few weeks of holidays between Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas! I have been extremely busy between finals, work, and then coming home to get my wisdom teeth taken out...it was quite a bummer. However I am extremely excited to be going to Israel in TWO WEEKS from tomorrow! It is seriously coming up so fast and I cannot wait to get over there. The itinerary looks great and includes us going to: Golan Heights, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Masada, Negev, and all of these other really cool places. I cannot wait for the experiences, especially riding a camel in the desert! I feel like that will be wild. I also just got a brand new camera so I will be able to take some awesome pics!

After I get back from Israel less than a month later I will be going to St. Louis for the AFLV conference with Panhellenic Exec. I cannot wait to experience the conference and also see a little bit of St. Louis, should be interesting.

Then in March I will be going to LA to visit my cousin Sandy for spring break! That is going to be incredible. I have never to Cali so I think it's about time ago. Also we will be going to Disneyland!! Yay!

Summertime is still to be determined what I am doing...we shall see though! That's it for now, Happy New Years!

<3 Gabbie

P.S I left you with another old personal favorite photo!

Travel Itch

No new updates...just my first trip orientation for Israel is next week! I cannot wait. As for now, I just applied for a few internships for this summer in Italy through the State Department. If I do not get those, I will be applying for the internship in London through Mason! Alexis and Slewis I believe will be applying for it as well. It can be a repeat of last summer and it would be amazing.

Thinking of leaving and traveling is seriously the only thing getting me through the rest of this semester. This semester has seriously been the one from hell and I just want to get out and travel and see things.

Well that's it for now...I'll leave you with a picture once again!

-Gabbie

Israel Updates!

So although we have some ways away till the trip, short update...

Two of my guy friends Alex Howard and Alex Clemente, in addition to my sorority sister Alli Wynn will all be going on this trip together! It has made me 30x more excited! I CANNOT WAIT!

Also, referencing back to Roma...today I commented the Mad for Beer fan page on facebook talking about how I applied for these two internships in Roma (crossing my fingers!) and they told me they are waiting for me. Precious.

I am attaching an old picture from Mad for Beer in honor of my favorite bar ever while abroad with my favorite bar tender Roberto! Stay tuned...

-Gabbie

Next stop...ISRAEL!

Hello friends!

It has been so long since I have updated this travel blog and my life seriously has been turned around since Italy and the rest of Europe.

Yes, I've been more broke than ever...

Yes, my classes have sucked more than ever...

and of course I do crave the occasional gelato or pizza...

but at the end of the day that one trip just gave me the biggest travel itch that has never stopped.

The great news is that today I was accepted to go to Israel for my Birthright Trip through Hillel! I am SO EXCITED FOR THIS TRIP! Thanks to Roberta being Jewish, I get to go for FREE! Being a global affairs major and literally being in the hub of one of the most interesting countries in the world, while getting in touch with my Jewish faith is going to be one of the most incredible things in the world. But that's all for now, I AM BACK!

SHALOM

Gabbie