dead sea

its really hard only being here for a month. i love everyone in our group, i am really close with my roommate and host family, and i am genuinely happy here. since the very beginning ive sort of been counting the days because it all seemed like it would be so soon already that i would have to leave. I know how programs like this work, i remember morocco. After the first month the group of people who were there longer shrinks and so everyone is able to get alot closer. Its really hard when i cant get in touch with anyone at home, and im gone long enough that it creates a distance with them, but at the same time i am not here long enough to really get close to everyone the way i would like to. The potential is here for some lifelong friendships, i just hope everyone doesn't forget about me as soon as i leave. Ive just been in a weird mood for the past few days, this will all pass.



this past weekend we went to the dead sea. We got to see Jericho, and an 8000 year wall that is the oldest city in existence. it is a very strange feeling, knowing youre next to something so old that it is the oldest something there is. this is the cradle of civilization. We also got to see the judean wilderness, which i really like especially because its called wilderness. we had to bargain our way into the dead sea because tey tried to turn our bus back for having a palestinian driver. when i say israelis have rights to 99% of the water, i sure mean it. This includes the dead sea which is probably the least potable thing in the world. We talked our way in and it was really nice and beautiful. You just run in and cover yourself with mud and float around. It can be tons of fun, unless you get any water in your eyes or mouth. Some off duty IDF soldiers swam over and were hitting on us, much like the ones in tel aviv. Again bragging about their missions, telling us that pretty soon they were going to gaza to kill all the terrorists. Julia got a kick out of it when i played my stupid american card and asked them what gaza was. I was laying on my back and i ended up with water all over my eyes, but my eyes were closed so i just couldnt open them until i had fresh water to rinse them out with. So she and the IDF soldiers lead me back up to an outdoor shower. Im sure it must have been hilarious to my host family that was there, me being lead around by couple soldiers, we had walked right passed them, and as i was later informed, a couple of topless women. I wouldnt have known though because i was blind. It was great i wandered back over to the group and smoked some argilah on the beach, there is nothing better.