Lama Kaha? (Why like this?)

It hit me today,

6 days till I leave my friends.

10 days till I leave Israel.

Tonight is my last Shabbat dinner with my amazing building.

The list goes on, but thinking about it honestly feels like I am getting ready to leave my family.

Lechiem!!

I was reminded today that the best way to get out of my grungies,

is service.

Emotions are running high with the show in 4 days, JUST finishing learning the pieces, leaving in 7 days, and fatigue. Today was my day to feel all of this and no matter how many times I would consciously choose to change my mood, I would find myself back in the in between of yelling and crying. haha, gotta love show time;)

We were let out of classes to go and do an impromptu performance. A few of us got on a mini bus and went to a kibbutz 30 mins from here. When we got there, it turned out to be a home for the mentally disabled. I was instantly snapped out of all my stuff that actually isn't important, and walked into the home ready to serve. We performed in the cafeteria and the music didn't work half the time, but the smiles on the people’s faces as we improved to fill time, and as I looked at each one in the eye as we waited for our music to start, was priceless. Some ood and ahhed, while others sat quietly. One woman stood in the center, front row the whole time and conducted us. She loved it. Another man gave me the thumbs up sign the entire time. As we walked out, they gave us wood banks that they had painted as thank you's.

This evening assisted me to shift and be outward focused again, ready for our shows. It reminded me how important I think it is for dance to be available for everyone. It's just as important for me to be the one giving that gift. Since being here I have been so blessed to have danced and worked in the beautiful theater on the kibbutz, performed in the biggest theater in Israel, been on national TV twice, and danced on the worst stage (I think possible) My absolute favorite performing experiences have been dancing for the children of the kibbutz and the home today.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, especially in a country that is not my own.

It is the biggest high of life.

To many, many more experience.

Lechiem!!!

(Which means, 'to life')

Shavuot

I celebrated my last holiday in Israel last week, Shavuot. This fun holiday is all about the kibbutzim. Their farming, food, babies, and abundance. We started this holiday by...go ahead, guess...eating. For some reason, to celebrate this harvest holiday, you eat dairy. To be more exact, dairy with carbs. (My kind of holiday) The women of the kibbutz made tons of incredible desserts and the kibbutz had an outdoor movie night. We peaced for the movie since the subtitles were in Hebrew as well as the dialog, great help for us, and got ready to go to our one and only pub. Everyone wears white (like dairy) so we braved the white at the pub and had great time dancing the night away.

Taking a breather after I became a sweat bomb. Israeli heat.

The next day was an outdoor ceremony of sorts with the participation of some of our Nitzotzot pieces. The crowd loved them!

Look at those eyes:)

I think this was my favorite 'together feeling' holiday.

I am going to miss my kibbutz when I leave!

Nitzotzot Round 2

It has been a crazy month full of extra rehearsals, hours hunting down the costume lady (a positive and negative thing about living on a kibbutz: you don't need to be anywhere at any time. We just yell loudly and someone will come...in theory) more hours in rehearsals, and a few hours sitting on the porch hoping someone will appear to be my personal chef.

 

As always it was a fun week in tech rehearsals, and hours of sitting in the dark. My kibbutz is fancy and has wireless internet in the cafe, hence in the theater. So, I took my computer and planned my life out...until August 1st.

The shows went well over all. The first two shows we had a grand total of 5 people in the audience and 3 were our teachers. It didn't bother me; this is about the process not the performance. The second day was much better in the number of audience members.

Mika made a video for us and played it at the show. It was pictures of all of us with our names and countries. Later on, another video pops up and I hear the sounds of our giggles as we made our famous "fish face" video one wild night on the kibbutz. Here is the link if you want to check it out:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht2BYIEraFQ

Later, later on, I hear my laugh on repeat over the sound system. Mika had put my part of this video on repeat, which then led into another slide show. My earth shattering laugh as a soundtrack, great.

We ended the shows with a toast to our success and a surprise party for the sweetest nugget I have ever met, Natasha.

It was a great round 2 for Nitzotzot and in 2 weeks were back in the theater for the show we are literally just pulling together. I love a good challenge. It will be a fun week of intense dancing and time together.

Bring it on!