So last night I went to my boss' daughter's wedding. It was by far the most amazing event I have ever been to. I'm gonna try to do my best to give you the rundown...but most of the things are beyond words. First, the wedding was at a place called Ronit Farms, which is about 25 to 30 minutes north of Tel Aviv( www.ronitfarm.com/en ). Please go to the website and watch the short 2 minute video so you can get a little bit of understanding of where I was.

Attire:
I was at a loss as what I should wear. Tie? No tie? Khakis? Jeans? Everyone I talked to said different things. So I decided on my nice pair of khakis, a white button down, and a tie. I thought I would be overdressed (b/c of the tie), but I was not. Some people were in jeans and a button down, but there were a good amount of suits there. This may be because some of the guests were American. Most of the girls had on cocktail dresses, etc. So it is safe to say that I fell somewhere on the casual side, but not underdressed.

Cocktail hour:
This happened before the service. Which was awesome. You had the opportunity to eat, grab a drink (or 3), enjoy the nice cool evening, or listen to the cocktail hour music provided by the DJ inside the main event hall. Food consisted of sushi, salmon "burgers" station, some sort of mexican dish station, and other trays of food being walked around. And a HUGE open bar. Seriously. The bar was about 30 feet long, and had about 7 bartenders. But more about that later....

Ceremony:
The ceremony was held outside the banquet hall, near the lake. The chuppah was up on a stage, and was beautiful. 4 tall white pillars, lit up from inside, and a white sheet connecting them at the top (just imagine a tall, glowy chuppah). There were about 75 to 100 chairs for the elderly to sit on, then the rest of the 300 to 400 guest...yes...thats not a typo, stood behind the chairs and around the aisle under the lamp heaters. Only the groom (with his parents), and the bride (with her parents) walked down the aisle. But when they walked down (separately of course), everyone was clapping and cheering. The service lasted all of 7 minutes. Very short, very few prayers. Wham bam thank you maam. The bride didn't even circle the groom 7 times. I didn't really know what was going on since it was in Hebrew, but all of a sudden I see the rabbi put a glass on the floor (not even wrapped in a napkin) and the groom pounds it to smithereens (spelling?). So I knew it was over. Then all of their close friends (mostly girls) rushed up onto the stage and surrounded the bride/groom. More clapping. Then we went back inside for......

Dinner:
Dinner was buffet style. I only got to two stations though :(. The first was a pasta/fish station (which I had both of). The 2nd was potatoes, steak, chicken station (which I had all of), with accompaning sauces. SOOO good. I think there was a salad station too. But I ate soo much chicken and steak to last me till dessert (which comes later). The tables where we were sitting at were big rectangles, and sat 18 people each. I was sitting with my coworkers, their dates, and some others. On each table were a few bottles of wine, a caraf of water, and a caraf of lemonade. The best part....the waiters came around and took drink orders! No need to stop eating to walk up to the bar!! Dessert consisted of a make your own brownie bar, and a pear cobbler with ice cream (yum!!). Also there was a coffee/espresso bar, and lots of cinnamon covered fudge balls. Tables were on two sides of the banquet hall, with the dance floor right in the middle (my table was right next to the dance floor, and I was sitting basically right on top of it). Speaking of...

Dancing:
The newly husband/wife did a first dance (to A Whole New World, from the popular Disney movie A Lion King. JUST KIDDING!! Aladdin). After, and for the next 3 hours (I'm assuming much longer, since I can only verify until I left), the DJ played nonstop music, and EVERYONE was dancing. And it was good music (Stevie Wonder, ABBA, Jackson 5), and with the song was a dance beat. So even if the song didn't have a dance beat originally, it was perfect for dancing. (They also played Israeli "pop" music, I'm assuming, since everyone sang along). As I mentioned, everyone danced. And the bartenders were walking around the dance floor with shotglasses and bottles of alcohol. And people were just throwing back shots like no one's business.

Unfortunately, we all had work tomorrow, so we ended up leaving around 11:45 (Shachar and his wife drove me), which was fine with me, since I was exhausted. So to recap. Amazing decorations, food, location, music. Had I known people, it would have been the best party ever. Ever.

Here's a little teaser for my next entry.

Tomorrow I'm going to my boss' daughter's wedding. I am planning on wearing khaki pants, a white button down shirt, and a tie. However, everyone I talk to says no tie. I'm never one to be underdressed for an occasion, so I'm sticking with the tie. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thursday, all of the Oranim groups are taking a trip. Don't really know where we are going, but I know its around Haifa.

Next Monday is Passover, so I have like 8 days off (wooooo!!!!!!!)

I hope this whets your beaks. Wets? Whets?

BYE

Apologies

To all 6 of my loyal followers, please accept my sincerest apologies for my delay in posts. I have been extremely busy the past month, and have totally forgotten about my responsibilities to update you all on my life in Israel. (sarcasm)



First, I'll update you on work. It is going well, they love me here, and I'm actually doing some interesting things (sometimes). I just wrote a Standard Operating Procedure manual for product testing/inspection. All companies in the US should have them (I guess they aren't a big deal here), and we needed one to get our devices recertified by the KFDA (the Korean FDA). So it was a big project, which I did a pretty good job with (if I am allowed to pat myself on the back), but I think they should have hired an outside professional for it. In any case, its been a great learning experience. I've been in contact with doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors from around the world who are interested in our devices. I've completely edited and updated the website (http://www.meditrac.co.il/ if anyone is interested), and am still in the process of redoing all of their user manuals, brochures, etc.



Volunteering. I volunteer every Monday at a 2nd chance high school teaching English. A 2nd chance high school is basically what it sounds like. Its for kids who either are kicked out of their original school, or have learning disabilities (like ADHD) and can't keep up with the work. I really like it. Its a totally different environment from American high schools (kids call teachers by their first name, there seems to be no discipline, 14 year olds are allowed to smoke..as long as they step off campus..teachers don't mind). Total culture shock. I have been assigned a class, and each week I work with 2 kids in the class, doing English in their workbook. And although I am helping them, they also help me in my Hebrew. It is verryyyy hard to communicate with some of them, since their English is at all different levels.



Hebrew. I'd like to give a special acknowledgement to Mika for being such a patient and dedicated hebrew tutor. As I've said before, Ulpan has not met my expectations (I've been in class two months and we still only learn the days of the week, counting to 10, and saying "I live in Tel Aviv, I work at ____, and I study hebrew at Ulpan). So every weekend, and usually one day during the week, I have been trying to knock out pages in my workbook, which she then checks. These private sessions have definitely helped, and I am getting much better at reading comprehension (albeit still very basic). However, its still hard for me to speak it and understand it when I'm spoken to (damn Israeli accents!!).



Now, it's time to turn this blog interactive and answer my reader's questions. First (and only), I will answer Greg's questions from the previous post (although I'm sure I've answered them when I talk to you). I have STILL not been to the mall here. I have decided not to get a new rain jacket. I am pretty sure the rainy season is over. It's practically summer now, which is totally opposite from Florida summers (they are both hot, but there isn't a thunderstorm every afternoon here). And in the same breath...there was a hurricane here for Purim. It rained for like 4 days, and it was chilly. Literally, the wind was so strong, that the rain was falling vertical. I dressed up like a cowboy (Yeehaw!). Unfortunately, we were not told to buy tickets to bars/clubs in advance. So no place would let us in. So we ended up walking towards an area of bars (hoping to get in somewhere), when the skies opened up on us. We darted inside to Max Brenner, which is a (famous?) chocolate restaurant. So we waited there for a few hours drinking hot chocolate. So overall, my vote is for Halloween. Haha, but I guess I can't make that decision until I experience a real Purim. They take it seriously here. School is cancelled for like 2 days, there are a ton of parades, a weeks worth of partying....quite the experience.



I can't believe I've been here almost 2 months already!! Time has been going wayyyyyyy too fast. It is actually time to start applying for jobs after this experience is over. I will be applying to places both in Israel and back in the States (I'm an equal opportunity apply-er). That being said...I think it's time to get back to work.....Hope everyone is doing well, and since Miami didn't make the tournament (shocker)....GO BUCKS!!!!

Some philosophical musings

So I haven't updated in a week. Well here you go. Last Wednesday (the 24th of February) was a very sad day in my life. Starting Wednesday continuing through today, there has been a lot of wind, rain, and cold in Tel Aviv. So before going to work Wednesday morning, I went to get my brand new windbreaker/rain jacket. However, it was no where to be found. I was soo upset, because I know I didn't lose it. I only got to wear it once during the first week of my trip, and its been in my closet since. So I guess I have to finally go to the mall here to look for a new jacket. At least it gives me an excuse to go to the shopping center here, especially since I live only a 5 minute walk away.

Fuck. Canada just scored. (Yes...I'm watching the gold medal game now).

This weekend was Purim. Pretty much just like Halloween. Except kids get 2 days off from school. There have been parties every night since Wednesday night, and people go all out on costumes. But like I said, it was cold and rainy all weekend, so that definitely put a damper on the celebrations.

So for some philosophical musings (happy Evan??). When it rains, the streets turn into rivers. And since there are a few hills in Tel Aviv, the water rushes down the streets very fast. So this leads me to believe that there isn't much of a sewer system here. Very philosophical.

Work has been going well. The past few days have been slow, as it has just been me and the secretary in the office, which is cool, because we've been listening to music, talking about random things, trying to avoid work (especially since I wasn't left any work to do). It will be nice to go in tomorrow and have the boss there again.

My hebrew is definitely not improving as fast as I had hoped. Having Ulpan twice a week is really not helpful, especially since they've cancelled one class each for this week and last week. It would really be helpful if I was hanging out with someone who was fluent and she would help me learn so I would be able to communicate in two languages....cough hint cough...

Fuck another Canada goal. (Break in writing). GO AMERICA! USA SCORES!

Ok enough musings for today. I'm gonna go watch the rest of the game. Hopefully I won't get lazy and wait a week for another update...but no promises!

Our Trip to the Golan Heights

So last Wednesday and Thursday (the 17th and 18th), we took a group trip to the Golan Heights in the north of Israel. We departed at 6:30 in the morning (yuck), and made the 2 and a half hour trip north. Our first stop was the Gilaboon Stream. This hike lasted about 2 hours. It was very beautiful, along the Gilaboon Stream, crossing it back and forth a few times. It was a pretty strenuous hike, not going to lie. Some points you are climbing down very steep rock ledges, using metal handles that they drilled into the rocks like a ladder. The scenery is verryyyy green up there. A lot of trees, plants, flowers, even bamboo. Finally, at the end of the valley, the stream turns into a waterfall. Very beautiful, and it gathers into a pool at the bottom, very inviting for a swim. We then bussed to the top of one of the mountains over looking the Valley of Tears. Here we learned about the battle for the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War. We walked around the underground army bunkers built into the mountain...very interesting stuff. Then back to the hotel for dinner. After dinner, we got to socialize with all of the other Oranim groups from around Israel (since all of the groups do all of the group trips together). Most of the groups are from Tel Aviv. One girl in one of the groups went to Miami, and apparently knows Julie. But I'm happy to report that after talking to abunch of other groups, and conversing w/ my group, it is clear that my group is definitely way better than all the others. Not only are we the biggest, but we have the most fun people with great personalities, sense of humor, a zeal for fun. I am definitely in the wrong group. All of the other groups sucked (sorry to any of you from the other groups who are reading this, but theres 0% chance of that happening). The second day started with a trip to an Israeli army base on the Lebanon border. It was very top secret...sort of. We weren't allowed to take any pictures inside the base, except for in one direction, which was at a tank in a garage. We were allowed to get in the tank and take pictures of us in the tank, which was pretty cool. Real small inside them. Then we got to walk around to certain parts of the base, see certain things that I may or may not be allowed to post on the internet. Trust me, they didn't show us anything cool. Just talked to us about what they do. Basically a lot of patrolling the area. After that we went to the Banias, which is a water reserve. There are snow capped mountains, and all the water runoff forms this river. This was another beautiful hike, albeit it much easier than the first days. I keep saying this, but soon I'll learn how to post pictures on here. This hike lasted about an hour or so, through lush vegetation, catcusesses (or cacti...), trees, flowers, red rocks. At the end was another waterfall, but this one was intense. For the entire hike, the water had huge rapids. You could definitely not raft in them. The guide said this is the fastest he's seen the water in 5 years. This all led to a very impressive waterfall. After this, we were all exhausted, and slept the whole bus ride back to Tel Aviv. Today started another work week, and this week is going to be busy. My roommate Aaron and our other friend Rob both celebrate their birthday this week, so Wednesday night a bunch of us are going out to a club here (good thing I don't work on Thursdays!)...and Purim is this weekend too, so gotta find a costume soon for all of the parties that will be going on! Here's hoping I survive the week!

First Day Of Work

Happy Valentine's Day to me. I got to wake up early and go work! I was actually pretty productive. Before 11:30 am, I wrote a press release about our company that will be posted in a medical device periodical, and opened correspondence with a Japanese distributor interested in selling our products. Then at 11:30, Orit (my boss), made me a cheese sandwich and tea. WOOOO!! Then I had to hang around while she was in a meeting, then around 1 PM she showed me where to get lunch (the company is picking up the tab for my lunches). Today she took me to what I believe is a "soldier house" (based on the name, I think its where soldiers live...but I'm not 100%). There was a big cafeteria there, buffet style, FILLED with all these soldiers eating. I felt like I was at Israeli Culver. The food wasn't terrible, but it was awkward sitting by myself. Besides the soldiers, there were a few random old people there. They didn't look like working professionals...sort of a mix between homeless and an elderly care center. There were only big tables, so I sat at the only half empty table with 3 old men...thank god I brought my ipod. I guess the soldiers eat at 1, so next time I'll have to get there earlier...or sit at the table with the soldiers and try to practice some hebrew. Then after lunch was less productive...made an excel spreadsheet of a bunch of current chiropractors in the USA that currently use our products. And that, my friends, was my day. On Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I'll be working 9 to 5, and on Monday mornings I volunteer at a school helping teach English, so I'll work 2 till 5. The best part is that I don't have to work Thursdays, so I'll always have a 3 day weekend! Hopefully this will allow me to travel around Israel (and other countries). Anyways, I'm heading out to dinner w/ a group of people to celebrate our first day of work (and VDay). I hope everyone has a fun Valentine's Day!

Hey everyone...sorry for the delay between posts. Its been pretty busy the past week. We finished our 2 weeks of "intensive" Ulpan, and I use the word intensive very loosely. I understand that not everyone learns at the same pace, but its pretty hard to learn at all when there are 20 some kids in the class, not everyone wants to try to learn, and everyone learns in different ways and speeds. I would have been much better off had I stayed home and studied Hebrew on my own. I would definitely be much farther along than I currently am. That being said, I just have to make the best of the situation and practice as much as I can on my own, and with the help of my friends who speak hebrew already. In typical MBA fashion, I've been making and updating a Hebrew study guide using Excel, complete with pronunciation and Hebrew letters, so while I learn how to speak, I'm also learning how to read the Hebrew words without the vowels.
I start work on Sunday (sigh...). I'm working at a small medical device company, doing operations and international marketing. This is basically what I did when I was at NIMS, but hopefully this will be more rewarding. As of now they don't have anyone doing marketing, so I can basically take it where I want it to go. Now I really wish I paid more attention in my 2 marketing classes that I took...uh oh.... Once I know more of what I'll be doing, I'll let you know, but for now it will be basically creating a bunch of marketing pamphlets/brochures, fixing up their English website, and probably dealing with clients and doctors in the USA, since my English is much more gooder than theirs (I hope...)
Although it is sometimes a bummer sharing such a small living space with a roommate, we really lucked out on the location. We are living on the beach, a block to the gym, a block to the grocery store, right next to an ATM that doesn't charge me service charges, and less than a 5 minute walk to the two main bus lines that take me to north to work/Ulpan/volunteering, and to the south where all the bars/restaurants/"downtown" is. And now that we have our bus passes, its so easy to get around.
So tonight starts Shabbat, and that has taken some getting used to. A ton of things will be closed all day tomorrow (Saturday), so it has been an adjustment to make sure I do all my errands on Friday morning so I don't starve on Saturdays. Speaking of food, there are soo many good restaurants around me! I have a list a mile long of places I want to try, from mexican, to sushi, thai, italian, ethiopean, greek, and of course...middle eastern (believe you me...after my first night I'm already sick of hummus). I really wish I could cook more like I was doing in Miami, but its pretty hard when we don't have an oven and only have a hotplate. I'll probably have to get creative pretty soon for cooking!
Hopefully I'll learn how to post pictures soon on this blog, so I can share some of my surroundings with you!
On a sad note, we got rid of Jaxson yesterday. He's now on his way to a farm up in Connecticut, away from noise and commotion. Unfortunately, no one but my family got to see him at his best. He was such an amazing dog (when he wasn't scared). Obedient, loving, sweet, I can go on forever. Hopefully he'll bring his new home as much love and laughter as he brought to ours. I'm gonna pour one out for my homie tonight before we go clubbing it up :(
On that note, its time to go study a bit of hebrew so I can become fluent and finally order turkey and cheese at the supermarket without sounding like a gringo. And as is the custom here...shabbat shalom.