Down South Ya'll

This past weekend I was on top of the world (hey). Okay maybe not actually on top of the world but on top of a mountain, in the middle of the Negev ( desert) called the Peres hike of which I believe is named after the past Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres. The OSP (Overseas Program) at TAU took us on a trip to the southern part of Israel, Arad. It started Friday with a short 2 kilometer hike in the Makhtesh (a geographical landform in the Negev of Israel) and then a couple hours of relaxation in our "hotel" (hostel). During those hours, a friend and I wandered around the hostel and ended up hanging out with our 5 Madrichim (counselors), drinking coffee and talking. This was the first time I've really talked to any of them on a deeper level, they're all students at TAU as well, ages 24+ who are counselors for the OSP program during the year. Later that night we had a Shabbat dinner in the Hadar Ochel (dining hall) of the hostel and a fun music filled night with the special guests, Ja'man! Some enterntainment, musical group who taught us how to play the Didgeridoo - a long wooden wind instrument.
On Saturday we woke up at what seemed like the crack of dawn (7:30 AM)...haven't woken up that early since Ulpan (don't miss it)! We began a 5-6-7 (not sure) kilometer hike, The Peres Hike, as mentioned above, through a crater in a southern Negev desert of Israel. We hiked up, down, up, down...it was the most intensive hike I've ever done in my life! The best part was when our tour guide told us that in order to get off the mountain we were going to have to hold onto small ladders that were imprinted in the side of the mountain and climb up. Slicha, Mah? The ladders were incredibly scary, but I managed to make it up, mostly on my own without much help...a rewarding adventure. The hike, although extremely exhilarating, resulted in an unfortunate stress fracture or ankle sprain or some complication in my right lower ankle..oy.

For the final leg of the trip, we slathered on mud and floated in the Dead Sea. Did you know if you just let yourself go, you'll float? It was my second time there, but I didn't remember that much from the first time. It was a lot of fun but suuuuppeer salty!! This was probably one of the best weekends that I've had so far in Israel, but I'm happy to be back in Tel Aviv - I'm beginning to realize how amazing of a city it is and why I chose to come here, I feel as though I am starting to adjust to everything. In addition to a great weekend, I have many things to look forward to - tomorrow I get to reunite with one of my best friends from camp who is here visiting on spring break and then this coming weekend, I'll be with my brother!!!!! I cannot believe that it's already March, time is flying. So I gotz 2 savor every m0m3nt and l!v3 !t uP!