day 1- success in the market place

Wow- has it really only been one day?? I didn't get to make my phone calls last night since my phone card doesn't work with the pay phone in our building, but I'm working on it. Tomorrow I get my cell phone anyway, and from there it should be pretty easy to make and receive calls. Also, I am very excited to say that I am writing currently from my very own room! Yes- my roommate Allie arrived (we like her a lot) and brought her laptop, and we found out since we're so close to the wireless internet in the computer room that we get it too... for free! Good times. So far so good. 

We're on the sixth floor of a seven floor building (one of the tallest in town) and have a terrific view of Arad and the desert. It's amazing walking around how many plants and flowers there are around here still blooming well into October. There are also a lot of stray cats and kittens- a parting gift from the British who brought them in to take care of the then mouse/ rat problem. Good thinking! We've counted at least 23 that we've seen out and about. Last night there were four adorable kittens hiding under a car. They started to follow us home, but of course there's no way to keep them. 

Maybe I should tell you about my day...

I woke up this morning after sleeping in a little with no jet lag (hurray!) and socialized with other people in my program until it was time for lunch. Lunch was various hot foods, hummus, and lots of fresh delicious vegetables and salads. Much better than camp vegetables, but then again, American fruits and veggies in general have too many pesticides to have a true aroma or flavor. I grabbed some white peaches and an orange muffin to have for breakfast. We're very resourceful around here. 

After lunch we all met up for a mini tour of Arad and to go to the shuk. There is a shuk or market in almost very town in Israel, and the one here is open on Mondays. It's a bit like the flea market and the farmer's market in Raleigh all in one but not as large. I loved the smells of fresh citrus, bananas, mangoes, persimmons, tomatoes... you name it! There were pomegranates split open for people to see the jewel toned seeds inside and oranges sliced for potential buyers to taste. The ripe Jaffa oranges however were green- go figure. 

We didn't have to haggle, because the prices were already so low. For under fifteen dollars I got apples, bananas, red peppers, potatoes, a frying pan, and 40 rolls of toilet paper! Not bad! I got a great deal on the fruit though because the guy spoke Russian and fell in love with me. :O) He insisted on giving me his number. Don't get excited... I'm not sure we're meant to be. But he was very sweet, and it's always a nice ego boost to be admired. 

There's so much more to tell... I don't know where to start. Everyone in the program seems wonderful. We're a very diverse group from Canada, France, Russia, England, Scotland, Dominican Republic, and all over the US. I may have even missed a country or two, and not everyone has arrived just yet. Everywhere around me I'm reminded that I'm in Israel. From the date trees lush with fruit falling to the street to the desert sand to hummus served as a bar food and Hebrew and Russian everywhere. Yes, my Russian is getting me far. Most signs don't have English, and most of the people really do speak Russian everywhere we go. 

Bedtime for now. We have a big day tomorrow with sign ups and registration as well as orientation. Lilah tov!