It has been only two weeks here, and already I've managed to spill coffee grounds on every article in my possession. I hear it will give my computer a quick pick-me-up, and shortly after it will crash. Anyway, for those who have never been to Israel, the title of this latest post comes from the fact that hundreds of thousands of stray cats run rampant throughout the entire country. They are more abundant here than chickpeas. Urban legend has it that there was a mouse problem across the country some years ago, and the flocks of felines were brought in as reinforcements against the rodents. But after the mouse tyranny was surmounted, the cats made themselves right at home, and eventually their offspring numbered the stars. Harmless as they are, it is still a shock to see my student village overrun by gangs of them each time I come back from class. I'm thinking of adopting one as a house pet.
The last couple of days here have been beautiful: 60 degrees and sunny. This is opposed to the torrential downpour (for Israeli standards) that we received shortly prior to these days.
This week was again filled with many firsts: the first (and only, I suppose) time that I signed up for my semester's classes here, the first time that I used the light rail, the first time I've been to the Old City since I've been here (and inevitably the Western Wall, as it resides inside of the Old City), and the first time (gulp) since I've had schwarma since I've been here. I will elaborate more on each "first".
On Monday, I learned that I had accidentally applied and had been admitted to the Spring in Jerusalem Honors program. When checking the box for the program in my application, it left out the "honors" part, and so I unwittingly checked it thinking, "Of course I want to spend the Spring in Jerusalem". At first I was going to drop this program, as an academic challenge was not my highest priority this semester. But after going to the orientation, I learned that the program entails taking 2-3 courses with the Israeli students in Hebrew U (in English, Baruch HaShem!), and this sounded like a wonderful opportunity to really branch out and meet people I otherwise would not. My courses this semester, including 1-2 law courses and a philosophy class entitled "The Writings of Maimonides", all sound wonderful. On top of my coursework, I'm hoping to also take part in one of the various internships that the International Program offers. The Spring in Jerusalem also entails that I will not just spend the "Spring in Jerusalem", but also a bit of the Summer too. My stay here will be extended to at least the end of June, as opposed to only the beginning of it.
The light rail here is a railway system that runs from one end of the city to the other. It runs pretty much all day everyday, except for Shabbat, and stops at all of the city's popular destinations such as the shuk, Jaffa Center, the Damascus Gate at the Old City, and the Central Bus Station. Newly implemented this past Summer, the light rail saves time and money for many looking for a quick shopping trip or a night on the town.
I had previously used this ingenious system earlier this week to return to the aforementioned shuk, and last night, a few friends and I utilized it to venture off to the Old City. The Old City is a shuk of its own; it is a maze of vendors selling everything from freshly squeezed juice, to Judaica, to produce and spices, to T-Shirts that say Ohio St. or Michigan in Hebrew (angrily, I walked by each of these particular shops without laying eyes on a single Badger shirt!) In the Jewish quarter of the Old city, there is one of my favorite schwarma and falafel stands (two summers ago, it was actually the first place where I ever ate schwarma), and one of my all-time favorite places in all of Israel: the Moriah Book Store. After enjoying a schwarma laffa with my friends, we sauntered down to the Western Wall, located just below our delicious schwarma oasis.
Luckily enough, we unknowingly stepped right into an Israeli soldier induction ceremony, where thousands of kids (they're only 18 after all) were honored along with their families at the Kotel. After people-watching for a while, I went down to the Wall and stumbled upon a minyan, joining them to doven Ma'ariv. After placing a note in the Wall, I stepped back up to the ceremony, and sang Ha'Tikvah with the rest of the crowd (a definite highlight of the trip so far).
For tonight, I was extended an invitation to Shabbat dinner at the residence Yossi and Chaya Witkes, the organizers of my previous Israel trip. I am excited to go, meet up with old friends as well as bring along some new ones, and get some home-cooked Shabbos food. I'm sure the rest of the weekend will be just as delightful.
Until next time, Shabbat Shalom!
Zac
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