I HEART Tel Aviv

For the last 3 weeks I've been subletting a lovely little apartment in Tel Aviv. Having a "home base" has really given me a different experience of Israel. I really got a good deal on this apartment in an amazing location (huge thanks to Amos). I live on Bialik, which is right near Shuk HaCarmel (the Carmel outdoor market), a short walk to tons of cafes, restaurants, shops, Dizengoff Center, and the beach. I'm surrounded by beautiful bauhaus buildings, famous Israeli poet's houses, and interesting characters at all hours of the day/night.



In between adventures I spend my days exploring my lovely little neighborhood. My general routine is wake up around 12 or 1 and head out for the delicious Israeli breakfast I love. I've tried out quite a few cafes. My favorites are Cafe Bialik and Sus Etz. At Cafe Bialik I'll usually order their mini shakshouka. It's only ₪30 and plenty of food. At Sus Etz I like to get the Special Breakfast which is an open face bagel with smoked salmon and eggs on top, served with chopped vegetable salad. Yummy! This breakfast excursion can take a few hours. I like to sit, sip on some cold espresso, read or journal, and watch all the people (and sometimes talk to them). After food I explore shops, go to the market, maybe visit a museum. It just depends on what I feel like doing.

 

One of my all time favorite things about being a "Tel Avivian" is going to the beach on Shabbat! I can (and sometimes do) go to the beach any time I want, but there is something really nice about waking up, slipping into my swimsuit, grabbing a coffee and laying on the beach all day. The beach is really crowded on shabbat but it is fun. Soaking up the sun, sipping on an Aroma iced coffee and snacking on Bamba, with the sounds of Matkot (paddle ball game) and the waves in the background, I truly feel like I belong in this city. This is MY beach, near MY apartment, that I go to every Saturday. It will be a bittersweet departure from my little Tel Aviv home this weekend. But I know I'll be back and that Tel Aviv is not going anywhere.

  

Person, Place, or Thing

Now that my travel plans are officially settled I'd like to make an ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I WILL BE RETURNING TO AMERICA 2 WEEKS EARLIER THAN I PLANNED. Yes, you read that correctly. Now, pick your jaw up off the ground while I explain a bit.

It is no secret that I've faced challenges and struggles throughout this trip. First with the luggage, then navigating myself through a foreign land with a foreign language. I have friends here (very amazing and loving ones) but I am, for all intents and purposes, here on my own. A very wise teacher once told me "Wherever you go, there you will be", and I've continued to discover how true this statement is throughout my life. Uprooting yourself from all you really know and putting yourself in a completely new environment is one of the best ways to learn this lesson. I do not wish to share the personal details of the matter here on my blog, but you should know that it is not Israel which has brought me to this decision. It is me, and only me, and this is the same me that lived in Sacramento and Portland. It is the me that I can't escape, even across the world.

I still have 3 weeks and I am going to continue to explore and experience the country. There are some things left on my list that I wish you accomplish. And now that I've settled much of my uneasiness I believe I'll be able to more fully appreciate the remainder of my time. 

home is where the ___ is

i have a question. when do college students stop wanting to/getting excited about coming home? when do they begin to refer to their college town as their home? now, i know i have a bias because i don't particularly like my college situation and will be returning to sacramento for a semi-permanent time in five days, but i still see on all of my friends' twitters and facebook statuses that say they can't wait to go home as well. all of them are having a great time in college and yet they still want to return. i remember before we all left everyone said they couldn't wait to leave and to be on their own. now we find ourselves counting down the days until we return. i for one enjoy being at home with my parents. it is one of those "you don't know what you've got til it's gone" situations, and i found out that i'm not quite ready to be without them. i'm not sure why others are so eager to come home. we've all been at college for about 4 months, and in the span of our short lives that is a long time. don't get me wrong, i enjoy the enthusiasm from my friends when we are home and know that we only have short time together but i have to wonder when it will end. how long will it be until we stop returning home for holidays, going elsewhere with new friends? i don't know and i'm not really sure i want to.

Music: Kissing the Lipless - The Shins

bebe buell

i planned on blogging with photos, but facebook is currently not allowing me to upload any. joyful. nontheless, this weekend was good. i went back to sacramento again because of my lack of wanting to stay in oakland. i suppose i shouldn't do that so much but elsie and stephanie were home and i really wanted to see them.
friday i went to CB in the morning to see the yearbook class. i also visited with Bogart, Mcgov, and Karen. i saw Eden!! we cleared everything up and met at starbucks after she got out of school. some much needed catching up was done until it was time for dinner. Elsie, Mike, Christy and i went to El Nov because i had a very rare craving for mexican food. Albert was there which made it 10 times better than it already was.
Saturday i was unable to go to Blink 182/Weezer that night but luckily Chester French decided to play a free little acoustic set at Dimple Records in Arden. it was cute and fun. i saw Laura Mandler and Melanie Chu there. DA was cute and Max was completely inebriated as is tradition. that night we had a target adventure.
today i watched football and installed my Adobe Creative Suite software with my dad. i'm excited to learn how to use it all.
now i'm back in oak painting my nails. i think this coming weekend Andrea and i are planning to go to Berkeley and hit up the Row. i want to have fun!!

Musc: Jimmy Choos - Chester French, Empire State of Mind - Jay Z

p.s. i downloaded the entirety of the Blueprint 3 and it is sooo ridiculous. i highly recommend it. further proof that Jay is a complete genius and boss.

____________________________/EDIT/_______________________________________
i've really noticed the true need for my college experience to get better. why? a few reasons. one would be because i'm living a low quality of life. unhappy people statistically die sooner. although i usually go with the "well i'm going to die someday" i'd like it not to be any day soon. another would be that because i am unhappy with my present life i am constantly trying to hold on to people and things of the past and i'm holding on too tight. everyone else is also in a new place and they are busy discovering new things and doing new things. they don't have time to be constantly holding my hand. i need to at least find some people to hold my hand here. i'm not sure the solution to any of this. it was just a thought that was bothering me. i'm not happy with my current life situation.