As you may have noticed, I have not been as on top of the blogging as I should be…so I apologize for that. But, I’ve been reflecting recently and I realized the reason I don’t blog very often is because I don’t do many things that are really blog worthy. Now that I’m here, I’ve gotten caught up in the routine of my life:
8:00-13:00: Ulpan 13:00: Return home 13:30-15:00: Study Hebrew 15:00-16:00: Calculus lesson for Johns Hopkins 16:00-18:00: Freelancing work 18:00-19:00: Workout 19:30-20:30: Dinner 20:30-23:00: Relax/Netflix etc. 23:00: Sleep
I do this like clockwork. Granted some of the times may get switched…some days I may actually do more studying than others (yes, there are days 100% full of Netflix…) But regardless, it’s pretty much the same makeup…and to be honest, it’s not the most exciting (shocker, I know Calculus sounds great and all).
When I lived in Taiwan, I had lazy days, but I was much more apt to get out and do something because I knew my time was limited. I had to fit in an entire country in one year. I wanted to experience it all. I’ve realized that I need to get that spark back in my life here in Israel. I don’t want to be complacent and boring…I want to see and experience everything. I gave up my entire life to move here because I felt like this was where I belonged in life…and I’m not going to waste any more time! So…I’m now being conscious about it.
I’ve written a list. It’s a mixture of a bucket list and my hopes and my goals. Some of it is serious while other parts are lighthearted. Some items will carry through long term and some are one time check off the list type of ideas. Some of it I have already completed and some (read most) is still to be done. It’s just a start and I want to continue to add more as time goes on (it’s actually item #67 to add something new to the list each week)…but this list in a way, keeps me accountable. It ensures that I am using this gift that G-d has given me, a home in the land of Israel, and not wasting one more minute of it. If I want to become truly Israeli, I must experience Israel.
So without further ado, my list:
Eat hummus in Jaffa
Explore Neve Tsedek
Eat sufganiyot at Hannukah
Find the best local falafel
Find the best local sabich
Walk on the tayelet at sunset
Play volleyball on the beach
Learn matkot
Run in the Tel Aviv Marathon
Hike the entire Israel National Trail (6-8 weeks)
Go camping on the beach
Swim in the Jordon River
Put a prayer in the Western Wall
Order an ice coffee completely in Hebrew
Try Malabi
Barter with a stand owner at the shuk
Learn how to make shakshuka
Learn all the words to a mizrahit song
Work for an Israeli company
Complete Duolingo for Hebrew
Spend a day exploring Rothschild Blvd.
Walk from one side of Park Yarkon to the other
Go in the Tel Aviv balloon
Write down at least one thing per day that you are thankful for
Eat at HaBasta (Shuk HaCarmel)
Eat at HaHalutzim (Shuk Levintin)
Watch a sunset from Hilton Hill
Have a picnic in Park Yarkon
Drink “The Gazoz” from Café Levinsky
Fall in love with an Israeli man
Have all my best friends visit Israel
Visit a Kibbutz
Do yoga on the beach
Start a business venture
Volunteer at a gan
Run 5 races per year
Try a new fruit
Eat what’s in season
Buy all fruits and veggies from the Shuk
Buy art from an Israeli artist
Find a synagogue that makes you feel at home
Stay shomer Shabbat for a week
Learn how to sup
Go swimming in the Mediterranean at night
Ask a stranger for directions in Hebrew
Eat Baklava in Majdal Shams (Druze village near Golan Hieghts)
Do one thing per day that helps you grow: and be conscious about it. Write it down.
Reflect often. You can’t grow without looking back at what you were.
Make a new tradition with a new friend
Eat Shabbat dinner at an Israeli’s house
Eat ice cream from Arte Gelateria
Drink fresh made juice from the shuk
Live in an apartment with a balcony. Grow plants and vegetables on said balcony.
Eat a cream puff from Bakery TLV
Become a dog walker
Go to the concert of an Israeli musician
Eat a gouda sandwich from Shuk HaNamal
Taste 10 different kinds of Israeli olives
Take a weekend and relax in Eilat
Float in the Dead Sea and cover yourself in mud
Hike at Masada
Go to a hot spring in Gan HaShlosha National Park
Go biking in Rosh HaNikra and see the grottoes
See the Bahai Gardens in Haifa
Visit Ein Gedi
Cross off one thing on this list every single week
Add one more thing to this list every single week
Pray everyday because you are in the most holy and wonderful place on earth! You made it! Now go live every moment for all it’s worth!
So guys…my blog (and my life) are about to get a whole lot more interesting. I always say that I’m a) too busy and have to get my work done first or b) I don’t even know what to see/where to go or c) I have no one to go with. My boyfriend lovingly reminded me that these are all just excuses with little to no validity and he was right…a) I’m not too busy, b) I can go see anything (and in fact, I do know what I want to see…hence the long list above), and c) I adore solo exploring (I just needed a reminder of that). So…excuses in the past, I’m ready to turn over a new leaf and get going. You can all track my progress on this list as I blog about the things I have done. So between the list (soon to be printed and hanging in my room) and my blog readers, I’m accountable for getting things done.
Ready, set, GO. (Or as the Israelis say: Yalla!)
P.S. shoutout to my favorite Israeli blogger that I read religiously, VivaTelaviva aka Rachael Workman, for giving me some ideas for a few of my (food related) list items! Namely numbers 25, 26, 29, 38, 46, 54 and 57 (: