Tales from the road..... this time Nashville.

It seems these days that I only write blogs while I am in transit. Currently I am at 20,000 or so feet in the air on my way to Nashville, TN. This trip takes me to UJC’s General Assembly. I am bringing 16 students from Toronto and it should be an interesting few days. This is my 4th GA, which is funny in it’s own way. Two of them I went as a hillel participant, now I am the hillel staff… weird! However, I will write more about the GA in a future post, lets try and catch up as to what I have been up too.

For those of you that check this regualarly you will note that I have been including my weekly parsha classes that I have been leading over the past few months (if you have no idea what I am talking about, then look to the write and under the section “other blogs I write.” You can fund a link that contains all of the classes thus far. It’s a pretty cool thing actually, and makes me happy that I am actually doing it. It’s more of a discussion class than anything, but really is open to everyone and anyone – regardless of their level. I have a really mixed and diverse group. I like it….

So I have also created a goal for myself to travel at least once a month – so far I have been victorious by going to the following places:

September- Miami (I already wrote about that)
October: NY/NJ (I will write about that in a moment)
November: Nashville (currently en route.)

So my trip to NY.NJ was for a work realated conference. I got to hang out for a few days while in the city (and by days, I really mean day….) with my friend Zach wich was really nice. We honestly didn’t do much, but it was great to just lounge around and eat proper deli sandwhices. It was pretty awesome and I am glad that I came in a bit earlier. The conference in NJ was about experiential learning trips. It was interesting, however, some of the things were a bit old for me. I’ve done quite a few trips (As a leader) so a lot of this stuff is pretty natural for me and I don’t really think about it. However, I learned some great new things that I hope to use ibn my next trip to Israel… oh when is that? December 26th I am leading yet ANOTHER borthight bus. I will then stick around for another few days to take care of some life things, paint the aparmtnet and do whatever else one does (ok fine, order burgers bar) Also in NY it was great to spend time with Rachel. (she is the one I always tell what I ate for dinner tooo…) Her zach and I consumed mass amounts of sugar together in NYC… oooooy….

Now, other cool things that were done last month was that Rebecca and I went to Canada’s Wonderland togheter… that was a trip. It was their haloween special stuff, so we road the coasters and tried not to be terrified of creepy semi scary people running around. We did quite a few coasters (which the loops didn’t bother me – it was the wooden coaster that was slightly traumatic.) I also kicked some a$$ at the whack-a-mole game. I won this super large and semi-rediculoous stuffed dog named “snooby.” (So on the plane I just smelled the most foul smell.. then realized that it’s the baby behind me… I am not sure whats worse, a screaming baby or a stinky poopy baby…. )

Ok, back to other things. I am totally over-worked. I swear I am working harder than last year. I don’t sleep. I don’t really eat anymore (primarly because everything makes me sick) I am a total walking zombie. I am looking forward to exam time when it’s really quiet and I can focus on things like: nothing. Ok fine, during that time I will prep for birthright, however, I will really try to do nothing during that time.

Medically I am a disaster, I have some big test-type-things coming up this week which I am taking work off for (nikki take off work! Whoah.) so feel free to send me emals to keep me amused. I am sure that I will be gorggy and totally cracked out, however, it’s always fun to have something read.


I really don’t know what else to write (However, the poopy baby is now a poopy screaming baby…..PUT A CORK IN IT… both sides J Ok, that was rude, however, STOP SCREAMING! Rock the baby or something… or here’s one, maybe she is upset that she is stinky. I am upset that she is stinkly, maybe I should cry? Nah. Not worth it….)

Anyways, check out the parsha thing as that is updated every Thursday. I am sure once exams roll around I will be able to worte more.

Oh, if you are in Toronto, come to the YACAD film fest on NOV 18…. Leave a post and I will send you more details….

That’s all.. now on my way to Nashville. Maybe go to a firing range… WOOHOOO!


Speak to ya’ll later.


Nikki

Rachel: Dinner? Not even close. It’s too friggen early in the morning and I don’t think I had dinner yesterday, Ooops.


---continuing from the GA---


I write this sitting on the floor outside the oening plenary. Too much talk. Blah blah blah. Each person telling the crowd how they feel that Israel should be run. I’m sorry Mr. Howard Dean – you cannot decide what is best for me as an Israeli citizen. Sorry, you can’t. You don’t live in Israel. You don’t know day to day – you just don’t. Go fix your own country. Don’t rant and rave about how bad the republicans are or how all of your candiadates look like Americans (um… Hillary Clinton looks like an American? Obama looks like an American? Sorry, but all your candidates represent households that always had money and will always continue to have weatlth to achieve the best that money can buy. Go focus on your own country. Let us do what’s best for Us. Not for You. Not for your party, or your country. Obviously I am a but peeved as to the statements that were made just now; however, he’s (howard Dean) is here to try and get the Americans to win big, but really?? The things that were said are just crazy. He rambled, he was angry. I realize you hate Bush – fine, hate him. However, he realized who Israel is working with –terrorists. Yes, there are problems with the current wars that are going on;however, he’s done good for us.

More and more I realize that I am not a North American – I don’t think the same way – I’ve moved past that. These organizations talk about raising money for immigrants to Israel, yet I do remember that they forgot me. They forget every Anglo that moves to Israel. They want to build big buildings for Ethiopians, Russians, and from everywhere else… however, what about us? I took their talk about how great Israel is and actually did something – I moved there. Fine, right now I am absent – but I keep my apartment, I pay my tazes, I continue to be Israeli. I want them to put their money where their mouths are and realize who is going and who is living there.
Ok back to nashvilling….