Hike in the Golan

Wednesday: So on Wednesday I woke up early to go get my laundry and then went to work. I tried to get there early, but instead only got there on-time. Work was crazy, we have so many reports due for USAID, so I helped work on that. Again I had to leave early but this time to catch a bus to the North. I met Rachel and Lauren at the bus station and we caught a bus to the Golan Heights. The bus ride was nice- I practiced my Hebrew quite a bit. I have it down to a science on how to say why I'm here, what I'm doing, and a little more. It's pretty cool, though I wish I knew more. O well, next time I'll do ulpan. We got off at Yehudea Reserve and walked to the camp site. The ranger for the afternoon/evening met us and showed us where to go and what to do. That night we met so many people- one who even knows people that Rachel is friends with. We had some really interesting conversations about whether or not to go to the army and issues with peace and stuff like that. We slept under the stars because we didnt want to get a tent but that was fine besides bugs, but that was kinda expected.

Thursday: We got up around 6 with the sun and got ready for the hike. We were warned that if we didn't start early enough we would have an issue at one point because lots of Yeshiva boys go on the hike everyday. As we left to start the hike we saw about 6 buses of yeshiva boys get there. When we got to the first stop on the hike they started to catch up with us. They were RUNNING through this hike, which was so beyond dangerous. We would be walk and they would just go through us basically. At one point there is this huge ladder we have to climb down to keep going and there was such a traffic jam. The ranger called for us to pass all of the yeshiva boys though becasue otherwise we'd be stuck there for hours. Basically what I got out of that hike was how rude and disrespectful Yeshiva boys can be. It was the longest hike I have gone on- took about 5ish hours. It was so pretty though, so much water there, so pretty. It was a little difficult because I am so short and so clumsy, but i managed well. After the hike we got a cab to Qatzrin and from there took a bus to the Kineret to go swimming. We went to Lavnun beach which is where Rachel and I were for Macabbia last time we were in Israel- she was on Machon when I was on Shorashim. It felt so good to go swimming, just chill in the water. But all three of us were exhausted and ready to go home, so a little before we were supposed to leave to get our bus we left and were able to find a Shirut to take us to Tiberas where we got another Shirut back to Tel-Aviv. Even though I was exhausted, it was two girls on my trips birthdays we I went out to celebrate. It was a pretty relaxed evening, we went to this basement club which was so hipster- I felt I was in Uptown.

Friday: Charlotte, Rachel, and I went to the art market in Tel Aviv. We ran into Ellery while we were there as well. I got this really cute bracelet and something for my mom that she had wanted. After Rachel and I went to Ramat Aviv to meet up with Ari before heading to Netanya for Shabbat dinner with the Elias family. Dinner was so nice- the food was great and it was great to have dinner there. They are such a nice family and their kids were so much fun to play with. After dinner we got a shirut back to Tel Aviv and then a cab back to Bat Yam. Friday was not a night to go out- I haven't gotten much sleep- so it was time to actually get a good nights sleep.