Lag Ba Omer: Bonfire-Dance Party-Craziness

The title kind of says it all, doesn't it?

My school had this party on the beach in honor of Lag Ba Omer last week.

True to Israeli form, they didn't actually put up a sign to show where the stairs down to the cliff started. We managed to meander for twenty minutes before finding the entrance. It was hidden behind the catering truck.

Bonfires are a big deal in Israel on Lag Ba Omer.
People will just set them up in gravel parking lots, on the beach, in parks, etc.

Sweet J and N looking zoned out at the bonfire.

We chatted, ate hot dogs and toasted marshmallows
(risking burns for the marshmallows to be toasted on the fire, mind you).

Then we danced the night away. We found out that one of our classmates is an amazing dancer.
Now we have to go clubbing or dancing or salsa dancing!

Also, Fire Dancing:

To UNDOF We Go: What's up Syria and Lebanon

FIY: I took this trip more than a week ago and haven't been able to post the pictures. I am not up there right now with all the craziness going on for Nakba Day.

My school organized a trip for us to visit the UNDOF headquarters in the Golan Heights. Technically in Syria. So, yeah, I went to Syria.

We started out early. Too early. 7:30 is really early for grad students.

Our tour guide works for an eco/green non-profit so in addition to learning about the Golan Heights' political and military history, we learned about the environment. Like how Syria wants a little corner of the Kinneret Lake (Sea of Galilee) as a precondition to negotiation, though now the lake has receded so much so they wouldn't actually get access to Israel's only water source. Just the sources of it in the Golan Heights. Awesome.

Lots of sleeping going on.

Here is the view from the bridge over the MIGHTY RIVER JORDAN. 

That's right. You can walk across it. Without a bridge, even. 

We drove up through the Golan Heights to get to Mount Bental to meet the representatives of the UN Disengagement Observer Force. You can see the main sites of the Golan Heights including Mount Hermon (called Mount Herman by the Austrian UN guy), Kunetra on the Syria side, the Valley of Tears. On a clear day you can see the sea.

Tour guide telling us about volcanoes. I totally know this.

A very handy sign that shows the distances to various places. 

The Washington DC arrow points the wrong way.
Just saying.

What's up Syria?

Trenches at the top of Mount Bental.

Trenches and our group trying to ignore the loud Israeli school groups.

Tour guide making a really Israeli gesture.

E. and D. looking lovely as usual!

Austrian UNDOF guys. The photographer was the object of admiration of many of the ladies on the trip.

He's married, though. Sorry ladies.

This is the best photo I managed of the beautiful wildflowers of the Golan Heights. This is across from the UNDOF base. You can see the apple orchards too. I finally had good apples!

UNDOF Base!

The location of the best Indian food in Israel. Or Syria for that matter.
There are Indian, Japanese, Philippine, and Austrian troop stationed there. But the Indians have the best food.

You can just about see the soldiers at the other tables.

Shortly after this picture was taken, the soldiers came over to us to have pictures with us. My camera died then, but I snagged a picture from a classmate's facebook page:

After lunch and a UNDOF presentation, we piled back into the bus and headed West  to the Lebanese border, picking up Mitch, the IDF spokesman for the North.

We got scary-close to the border. 

"Please turn around. You are not allowed to be here.
Thanks! Bye now!"

We went to a look out after that to see what Hizbollah has been up to.

They've been building that fake village behind me! It's completely empty and brand new. The IDF has been monitoring the construction and notes that the buildings have no livable interior spaces, just reinforced concrete. Not really residential. More like bunkers, I think.

It was a great time and I had a nice chat with my classmates and one of our guests (the brother of a classmate). A fantastic time was had by all! 

Just so you know, these are the borders that have been breached by protesters in the Nakba day protests.

What a day!

I went to a marvelous lecture today at school about Religion and Peace-building efforts in the region. The rabbi giving the lecture was amazing. Intelligent, cultured, with an international perspective and he was so passionate about his work. His emphasis on the authenticity of Judaism including concern for human rights and equality was inspirational. He is part of the Council of Religious Institutions in the Holy Land and does work around the world. He talked about moderate Muslims having a tough time being heard over the fanatic clamor.

My socks have been rocked!

Then we had a class with the marvelous D.A. He is so knowledgeable and has a wonderfully interconnected way of thinking. I even gathered the courage to answer a question that I didn't really know the answer to, but I did my best. I'm pretty sure I bombed the midterm for that class, though, because D.A. remembered my answers and said that I can come to his office hours to discuss it. Oy.

We talked about the 1983 War Crisis and the 50th anniversary of a man sent into space (which is today!).

After class I went for hot cocoa with E. and MayBell. MayBell and I preceded to debate the recent French law forbidding the wearing of the burka and niqab in public. We talked about propriety, assimilation, minority rights, integration, the Democratic Dilemma (the title of one of my courses!), and European versus American culture. It was lovely!

A good day for YGirl in academic heaven!

Long time no....

...Blog!

I am so sorry to have neglected poor little bloggy blog.

Here's a little update:

I have been back in Israel since the 3rd. Later that night, lovely Amanda stayed with me for a couple days!

She waited patiently while I finished my horrible Research Methods paper and then we went to Tel Aviv for the day. Her friend joined us, and Sweet J did as well! We went to the Shuk, my favorite restaurant near the shuk, Dizengoff, etc. It was nice.

School started last week. I am taking another course with the illustrious Prof. Adamsky, Strategy and Deterrence. I am also taking courses in Negotiation, Fundraising, Strategic SURPRISE! and (another favorite from undergrad) Political Theory. We are doing a survey of the great political theorists, but with a twist of comparing their thoughts with those of female thinkers. I am so excited! Elizabeth Spellman, here I come!

I am making some new friends in my classes this semester because we have more people in our courses. In the first semester, we hardly had any Diplomacy kids in our classes, and now we share a fair number of classes! Hurrah for new friends.

I have been fighting a general ennui. I think I have lost my mojo!

Technical Difficulties

I apologize for not posting much recently. I am having trouble uploading pictures and let's be honest - we all love the pictures!

In the mean time, please enjoy the video from the Herzliya Conference. It's really important in Israel and in policy making fields that are concerned with Israeli issues. And it's held at my school!

Ladies and Gents, the Secretary General of NATO.

The Governor of Mississippi.

One of the panels I attended!

The End of Hanukkah

And so Hanukkah came to a close.
I went to campus on Wednesday to meet with the lovely, the gorgeous, the sassy Shira, our class's social advisor. It was beautiful!

Look at my school!

(Note to Kim: These columns are from the dig at Caesarea here in Israel.)

Then I walked home, but stopped on the way for the last soufganiah (doughnut) of Hanukkah, fresh from the oil at our local bakery.

(Another note to Kim: I am wearing the brooch that you gave me in the picture!)

And then we lit the last candle on the Hanukkah. I was already super sniffly. I have been grumpily sick ever since. Maybe I need more doughnut supplements!

Thanks, Bibi. Thank you so much.

On December 7th the President of Israel lit candles with us (the International School).

On December 8th, the Prime Minister caused a traffic jam at my school. there were lots of people striding about, looking important. All I wanted was to print my paper and hand it in. Is that too much to ask?

Shimon Comes to Visit

The IDC is known for many things. Being the most expensive school in Israel. Having some of the very best professors in their respective subjects. Being chock-full of rich kids and children of diplomats. Having an on-going battle with the Herzliya urban planning board. Etc.

One thing that is very exciting is all the conventions and meetings that are hosted by the school. Last week, the mayors of Israel had a multi-day meeting at the school. On December 7th they were addressed by President Shimon Peres. After he finished up there he stopped by to see the international students. He was an hour late, but we forgave him. Because he told us not to listen to our teachers.

He is a true statesman. A real gent. A silver fox (according to N.).

My socks have been rocked!

By this guy:

Robert Lieber

He came to speak to us today. He was wonderful. He was delightful. He was totally awesome.

I am going to read his book.

It was really refreshing to have an American style lecturer.

I'm practically swooning.

Wow. School is hard.

Oy. I am trying to write two papers before Sunday. They are both small, tiny even, but I am still having trouble. I can't remember citation styles (though to be fair, I always looked up the manuals anyway), I keep losing focus and procrastinating. I'm trying to reward myself for meeting deadlines (though right now is it taking the route of punishment until completion), but I just don't feel like it's working.

I haven't done enough of my reading.

All of this adds up to:

School is Hard. Yo (added for E.'s benefit)


In any case, I am trying to finish these essays because I am going on cruise on Sunday! It's a four day cruise to Greece and Cyprus for less than $300. I am going with E. and some other friends from school. It's going to be marvelous!

Not a bad reward, right?

Just a quick one...

Today was the first day of school.

I was in class from 2:00 until 9:00. It was exhausting.

I am going to eat some food and hide under my blanket.

Desert Schlep: Day Two

We awoke at 6:30 in the morning after having slept for less than four hours. I think I got a grand total of three hours, others were luckier.

Breakfast was wonderful, all the one could ask for, really. Except for French Toast, that is. I was groggy enough that I didn't take pictures. Sorry, bloggy blog.

And so off we went to Ein Gedi for a legendary hike. It was supposed to be three hours, but it was more.

They would let people go on the hike unless they had their heads covered. It was headscarf/t-shirt on the head city!

And so we hiked through the water, to the waterfall where the Little Ones stripped down to tiny swim garments (sorry, no pictures of that part, fellas). 

Chivalry is not dead. The boys helped me up the rocks. I had trouble due to the combination of short legs and jeans soaked in river water (yeah, I was hardcore enough to jump on in).

Then we hiked back on the "Mountain Path."

The lovely and talented E. exhibiting excellent hiking behavior!

Obligatory self-taken self-portrait.

After this went to the Dead Sea to "relax and cool off" - in the saltiest, warmest, nastiest water know to YGirl.

I sat in the shade with friends that complained about the heat.

Then we went home. Exhausted. And I have a cold.

E. and I have been recuperating for the past few days.