A few things I've been thinking about

Israeli health systems:
On Sunday I went to the public health clinic located in Kanyon Wolfson, because I had a terrible cold and sore throat and wanted to make sure it wasn't strep. It wasn't. Actually, I don't know. The doctor didn't do the test. He spent about two minutes total with me. I dismissed it, assuming that it was just because I came during clinic hours and there were a lot of people waiting. But Tuesday, I felt even worse, kept hacking, and my chest was tight. I made an appointment, figuring there wouldn't be many people waiting he'd he'd be able to devote more time to me. He spent four minutes with me. At least he diagnosed me with bronchitis and gave me some disgusting medicine. Moral of this story: I miss doctors back home. The personal attention is always really nice, especially when you don't feel well. Second moral of the story: Bronchitis is not pleasant. I've missed a week of school and two midterms.

Places I would like to see/Things I would like to do before leaving Jerusalem:
Israel Museum-we spent a little bit of time there on Pilgrimage, but I'd love to be able to spend a whole day there, going at my own pace. Debbie wants to go with me, we just have to figure out a time.

Kotel Tunnels-I've heard that the admission is expensive, so maybe I'll wait for when my parents come, and we can go together (...and they can pay for me.)

Museum on the Seam-I pass this museum on the way to and from school everyday, and have always been tempted to say to the cab driver, "let me out here," but then I think about all the work waiting for me back at base. I read something about the museum and its mission the other day which just got me more interested in it.

More of the Old City-due to security regulations, when we first got here we weren't allowed to go to the Old City for a while, and I think that led to it falling off peoples' radar screens. Before I came on Nativ, I envisioned myself spending entire days wandering the narrow streets, buying falafel at the amazing place above the Cardo, haggling with shopkeepers, and poking my head around each corner in search of the next piece of magic that I associate with this place. However, I can count the number of times I've been to the Old City on just one hand, and almost each time was just the Kotel.

Mount Herzl and Yad Vashem- Mount Herzl is one of those places that I think one just needs to experience by themselves. Same for Yad Vashem. However, both places require a significant portion of time, as well as a pricey cab fare...If you haven't been able to figure it out yet, time and money are things I'm both pretty short on.

Mea Shearim-I've had a few opportunities to go already, but the ultra-Orthodoxy aspect just keeps scaring me off. Some friends of mine have had bad experiences there because they weren't dressed modestly enough, but I've got an irrational fear that even if If my three "areas" (elbows, collarbones, and ankles) are covered, they'll be able to see through the disguise and harass me. Whatever, I just need to get over it.

Beitar Yerushalayim soccer game-Most of the games are on Shabbat, and the ones that aren't are usually when I'm busy...but if there's an opportunity...

The Jerusalem Time Elevator-39 shekels...39 shekels...39 shekels...I'm eventually going to cough it up. (That's about $10 American...but I can buy dinner for a week with that!)

American holidays:
Back in America, the day after Thanksgiving was when I began my annual Christmas-gripes. There was no getting away from it. Christmas music, signs, decorations, etc...it was EVERYWHERE, and I hated it. I couldn't even get away from it at school, no matter how "non-denominational" they tried to be about it. Putting one little Menorah on a table in the Atrium next to the 25 foot "Non-Denominational Holiday Tree of Lights" or having a "Traditions Assembly" before marching through the halls singing the "IDEO" song about Jesus was never okay with me. Every time someone wished me a Merry Christmas, I had to restrain myself from making a snide comment back, even though I know that they were just trying to be friendly.

A lot of people here are complaining about the lack of "holiday cheer" around Jerusalem, and most of Israel for that matter (Bethlehem is quite a Christmas center this time of year, however). Some people have made comments along the lines of "I hated it when I was there, but now I realize how much I really missed it." I don't feel that way at all. I enjoy not having this holiday shoved in my face every which way I turn.

However, I've realized what it must be like for the non-Jewish residents of Israel every time a Jewish holiday comes 'round, in fact, what it must be like for those in Jewish areas every time SATURDAY comes around, and they cannot use public transportation or even go to the corner grocery store.

And at the same time, the one teensy tiny thing I miss about Christmas is that it turned Hanukkah into a bigger holiday than it really is. Not that I advocate consumerism, but it's nice to hear that 1 Hanukkah song thrown into the 30 Christmas ones, to give and receive presents, to have Hanukkah parties, and so on. The only sign of Hanukkah I've seen here is that all the bakeries are selling sufganiot, jelly doughnuts. And they're not that good. Geez, that's one thing I never thought America would be better at.


All the world's a stage...
When I went to auditions for West Side Story at school, I was intending to sign up for something backstage, and then to leave. A friend who went on Nativ last year told me that the play was the best part of her year, and I should, under no circumstances, miss out on it. However, at auditions, a few friends convinced me to try out, and lo and behold, I got the part of a Jet. Then again, everyone who tried out got a part, mine consisting of two lines:

Line 1: Riga diga dum!
Line 2: But if they knives, or guns...

A few weeks later, a friend of mine dropped out of the play, and my talentless self got the part of Baby John. Like...an actual part. Actual lines. My last stage performance was in 8th grade at Schechter. We did Snow White, and of course as it was a Schechter production, everyone had to have a part. The script was changed and a bunch of "sidekicks" to other characters were added in. Was I Snow White's sidekick? No. A dwarf's sidekick? No. I was the sidekick to the woodsman. Yes, the woodsman who takes Snow White out into the forest but can't bring himself to kill her. I held the plastic knife.

So, I recognize that I am in no way ever going to be an actress, but I'm glad I'm in the play. I've gotten more confident and am having a lot of fun with my part. The people in the play are really awesome. And of course, what can beat having the line in the Office Krupke song: "Glory Osky, that's why he's a jerk!"