Purim Week

One of my favorite things we do here is volunteer. It is always so fun to be with the group and meet the amazing people we do.

We went back to the Nahariyya Hospital this week. I have already been twice, painting the tunnels of the underground emergency hospital. We wanted to do something else but they insisted we come back and paint. This time I realized I know people there, and they recognized me. Everyone we run into in the hospitals knows we are the "dancers that paint". We paint, some better then others. I am the others. I enjoy every second of it though.

Swirls are, and have always been my forte

Some of us have the talent to make this beautiful tree and bird.

SOOO impressed!

As long as this hospital is operating, our pictures will be there. Pretty cool!

It was Purim for the last week (which is celebrated like Halloween) so we put on a dance show for the little kids of the kibbutz. They all came dressed up and soooo cute!



Those are the little nuggets ALL dressed up like bunnies. And yes they are in cages. This is the way they carry the littlest kids around the kibbutz all day. Now do you see why I love the kids her so much???

These Lifestyle Carts are what the older people of the community drive around. Since day one I have been holding myself back against Theft and stealing one. They are all left unattended everywhere. I have recently got myself an "in" with one of the elders of the community. You can look forward to the picture of MY face in these carts.

Anyways, all the grandparents of the kids had their carts decorated and they had a parade of costumes, decorations, candy, AND a party isn't complete without an accordion player?!?!?! My kibbutz has one dressed in a clown suit. Beat that. 

Friday, there was a huge Purim party at the pub. Everyone on the kibbutz goes. To start out the day, two guys on a lawn cart drove around in costume for an hour yelling in a loud speaker, "Purim party tonight!" and some other stuff I didn't understand.

Our room looked like a circus that night. By some chance, our room was the get ready or stand there awkwardly room. We had SO many people piled in.

People got very creative. Example:

Meet, Mother Nature

What's every gay mans dream?

To walk around naked with glitter plastered to themselves.

Meet, The Sun & Moon.

Hali, Sophia, and I were the Three Blind Mice.

(Mouse 3 seems to be missing in action)

We had sticks that we ruled were not the best idea, given everyones drunken state, but we did get a good sword fight in before the intoxication level got too high.

 

Which was not to long after we got there. Everyone raged and some raged quicker than others. Hali, Marissa, and Mila were "Blackout Betty" by 1:30. We made it home in time for the barfing to commence. Our friend introduced us to Charcoal pills a couple months ago. They really are magic. It's what they use when people get alcohol poisoning and such. It absorbs everything in your stomach, so taken when intoxicated; it sobers you up, and alleviates the vomit. Unfortunately some people didn't take them in time had a very long night...and day. Others decided it would be best if she didn't try to swallow them and proceeded to open them into nutella and attempt it that way.

 Good life decisions all around I'd say.

Mazal Tov

Some people celebrate marriages, babies, graduations, promotions, buying a home, paying off a loan, birthdays, or straight A's:

I celebrate being one month dairy AND sugar free.

 I would like a congratulatory button and maybe certificate;)

No, it really hasn't been a big deal at all. I think at this time in my life, and living here, has made it so easy. I feel so good it’s ridiculous.

So Mazal Tov to all the

birthdays, anniversaries, babies, and lifestyle changers ;)

For $19.99 You To Can Tromp Through A Creek

Sometimes we go on "hikes" with the group and they turn into Allie style jaunts. This last hike came in number 2 on the scale of hikie-hikes we have done. (Number one was in the Negev desert, where we literally scaled cliffs and walked through, well, the desert) I loved it all though. I enjoy hiking, especially when I am not making the trail (My mom is guilty of this. Sometimes she would drag my ass up the mountain with some muttering about "deer trails" when in fact I saw poop,
 but ain't no deer trail insight. Oh the good times)

This time of year is "spring" and yes, spring here includes the 80 degree day we just had. There is also the most water we will ever see in Israel at this time and it shows. We hiked, sometimes slid, down to a creek near our kibbutz and went along the creek trail. We walked in the water for a good portion and might of ruined my $19.99 Payless tennis shoes but I guess it's the price I pay to tromp through the creeks of Israel;)
It was worth it. I had a blast.

I'm going to say again how my fear of bugs has gone from a 10 to a 3...maybe 4. I can casually brush them off of me and even fall asleep with a spider in the room. Huge steps my friends.
Gigantic, leaping, strides in my opinion.

We finished our hike up hill on the "easy" trail. There are times I am proud of my stamina, and this was one of them. Was I breathing hard? Yes. Going to die? No. I kept thinking about a part of choreography I have to do where the phrase "If something comes up, it's good" keeps coming out my directors mouth. I am committed to keep that something in my stomach, thank you.

 

Gratitude

Today I have felt overwhelming gratitude for my health and the wellness of the place my family and friends live. One of the dancers here is from Japan and shared a little about her experience with the trauma she and her family/friends have been experiencing.

First of all, her parents came to visit her last week for the first time in 3 years. They were flying back to Japan when the tsunami hit. There plane was rerouted and landed somewhere else. She just heard from the rest of her immediate family today, that they are all ok. She went all weekend waiting to hear something, like the millions that are experiencing the same thing. She is so blessed, and knows it, to have heard from her family.

After hearing this, I thought, "how wonderful she knows everyone’s ok"

Wait, she doesn't know at all. I imagine being here and having MY life back home put through the ringer (to put it lightly) and not knowing about my whole life. There would be so many "ifs". This in NO way makes being in Japan less traumatic, but at least you can see and be with your people.

It reminds me of a conversation I had with my friends husband Husssien, who moved from Egypt a couple years ago. He told me he just wanted to be in Egypt with his family, friends, and country. Fighting, celebrating, or dying along side of them.

All of these people (in the world, not just Japan or Egypt) who have unbelievable, divine timed stories- are so blessed and it is obviously not there time. Being separated from them though, when these events happened...I feel so deeply for them. My heart and energy is with all of the people who are dealing with loss.

The only thing I wanted to say with this whole rant is:

I am grateful for my family. I am grateful I know I have purpose in this life, and I am grateful for our safety.