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The photo blog below is by Leetal Elmaleh ~ Tel Aviv Internship Experience Participant ~ Mar 23 - Aug 16, 2009
| Thu, 24 Sep 2009 |
 
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. - Marcus Aurelius
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| Thu, 17 Sep 2009 |
Tel-Aviv Shore
There's something about writing that makes me feel inspired, perhaps its the mere act of reflecting and writing. And so I decided.. yes, my adventure in Israel has come to end, but daily I have the chance to create new ones and with that I have hopes to find new inspiration. Prior to leaving a friend asked me what my plans where for when I returned home, and my thoughts on this adventure, and with loss of better words to repeat, this is what I wrote: "So the time has come to end my journey here and what a journey it has been. I can honestly say this has been the most amazing, life altering, and close to brilliant past 6months. Ive learned, lived and grown in my mind heart and spirit...everything Ive wanted.. or didn't want was worth it. Ive grown stronger from it all.
I really lived each day in order to soak up its beauty, and feed my soul and mind, and with that said I have truly found what makes me happy and from there stems the greater truths that Ive picked up along the way... but life itself is a learning experience so i will just keep on living and learning. but I can say my mind and soul have been opened and I just want to keep living with my heart and staying in tune with where that leads. Living in Israel itself has been such a gift, I have been submerged in a completely different world and culture and loved it, but the time has come to go home I am definitely ready to move on to something new.
What happens now? I have absolutely no idea, that part excites me and scares me at the same time. I have many things I would like to begin to accomplish and the world is pretty much mine to play with. I have dwindled my funds to close to nothing so a job is in order fast to get me on my feet.The only thing I have planned is to keep my spirits high and to hold on to the feelings and attitude in my heart as I approach San Diego" With that said I decided to make this blog live on. Getting back to normal life has been both exciting and pretty frightening, last night I received a slap of reality and was knocked of the floor for a brief moment. Here I am with a new adventure.. one more exciting than before because this is what I call the beginning of a new and real life with hopes to keep the strength and mind that my Israel experience had bestowed in my heart. Lechaim ve Hatzlacha. To life and luck.
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| Wed, 05 Aug 2009 |
How many times can this place amaze me... god I love the weirdness and strange events that come with living in this incredible city. Lets just say this morning I found myself taking sherut number 4 to the end of Ben Yehuda to find some random hair place on the Namal- (posh boardwalk in Tel-Aviv), all because last night I had a 15 minute convo and made friends with this fabulously flamboyant man who insisted on buying me wine and throwing me in his busy schedule to do my hair. Laughing over a glass of wine I told him I was here interning, I couln't possibly afford a place on the Namal.. "Baaaby don’t worry," he says, "My darling I will charge you close to nothing”.. Him and his friend were so dam charming that well... why not!
So in less than 24 hours post meeting Yochay, I found myself sitting in his chair ready to be one with his art.
I instantly felt like I was on one of those makeover shows thinking any minute my mom would pop out of the corner and say "Surrrprise! I wanted you to be spoiled for the day".. And I WAS spoiled, with Israeli flair. He daintily combed my hair, stroking it to the music... hilarious, immediately followed by giving me an intense head massage. He than began plucking, shaping, primping and flooding me with compliments. How did I get here...? I watched him chop and throw my hair around in an Edward scissor hands fashion, slightly afraid, yet with an uncanny feeling that I was allowed to trust this new bizarre friend of mine.
I spent a few good hours at Yochay’s hidden salon.. What a fabulous encounter. I took the long way home on foot, with a huge smile, strutting my new hair and awakened soul. After a month of hats, dirty clothes, and tennis shoes it felt magnificent to be surprisingly pampered
Later that evening I took a stroll down the shook to buy some flowers, as I peacefully people watched all the chaos and last minute shopping for Shabbat. It was then when I suddenly realized I have only 2 weeks left in Tel-Aviv. Oh no! I better soak this city up for all its worth!
G-Day!
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| Wed, 29 Jul 2009 |
“Four feet on the ground, a head full of foliage, looking at the world through the heart” – Elizabeth Gilbert.
I sit on the train from Be’er Sheva to Tel-Aviv giggling; A sneaky and happy giggle. I look up and directly in front of me sits a religious man, black hat, beard, suit... the works; He is giggling too.
Its funny and so sweet the power that 3 lively little boys and one vivacious curly haired girl hold. The 4 of them are skipping through the train with huge grins, and laughter, saying “Yom tov” –“Good-day” to each passenger. Over.. and over again, in the cutest way possible. Their smiles are contagious in within a handful of seconds five strangers, myself included have joined in on an instantaneous and subtle giggle fest… just because... we can.
As I sit on the train smiling, I suddenly feel as if a heavy and well needed burst of crisp, fresh air has been blown into my lips and overcome my body with serenity. I feel… RELIEVED. Thank god! I am free to be... well... ME. Once again.
I will speak shortly of the past monthly, merely putting it in a few words. in no particular order: Adventurous, strengthening, weakening, beautiful, wearing, informative, enlightening, exhausting, demanding, creative, fun, yet lonely at times. The kids were amazing and so talented! The days were packed, long, and a lot was demanded of me. I put my best foot forward and gave it my all. I ended weary, drained, as well as hit with some stomach virus that can probably be compared to the black plague.. Fine not as harsh but combined with the last 28 days left me emotionally and physically BURNT out. Yet 20 minutes later here I sit, on this train, and, well... I’m giggling.
I was able to travel Israel and enjoy MANY stunning views, trails, caves, history, and snap some incredible photos. As with all journeys I feel like I have been left with experiences in fields I have never thought to encounter, and in a beautiful way become closer to my spirituality and no doubt have become a stronger individual because of it.
Cheers to the next two plus weeks I have left in my little apartment on the beach. Going to sleep peacefully. Time is flying!
Layla Tov Olam Madhim. -Good Night Beautiful World
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| Wed, 29 Jul 2009 |
"I Believe Everything Happens For A Reason. People change so that you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so you can appreciate them when there right. You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust only yourself. And sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together..." -Anonymous
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| Wed, 29 Jul 2009 |
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoeau
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| Tue, 28 Jul 2009 |
“Besides pride, loyalty, discipline, heart, and mind, confidence is the key to all the locks.” -Joe Paterno.
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| Tue, 28 Jul 2009 |
Drews Village  
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| Sat, 18 Jul 2009 |
  In the past 2 weeks.. I’ve traveled by bus, boat, taxi, foot and airplane. 4X4’Ed through mountains, sat on trains and rode a camel that I named Moo. I’ve swam in the Red Sea, floated in the Dead Sea, played in the Mediterranean Sea, rafted the Jordan river, snorkeled Eilats coral reefs, frolicked in hotel pools, waterfalls, swam in the Kineret and took a dip in a natural spring. I’ve yelled, laughed, smiled, and teared. I’ve run through traffic, stopped traffic, and waited in traffic. I’ve watched the sun rise and set from the peak of Massada, mountain tops, beaches, balconies and in transit. I’ve stared at the moon and have witnessed the most beautiful midnight sky. I’ve run in parks, danced and cried at the Kotel in Jerusalem, sang along in hebrew, clapped joyfully, jumped and skipped. I’ve felt happy, blissful, angry, spiritual, energized, exhausted, excited, thrilled, annoyed, tired, nostalgic, and content. I’ve snapped pictures on my camera, in my mind and held on to pictures in my heart. I’ve picked onions from farms, gardened and painted tables. Ive hiked through caves, and slept in Bedouin tents, hotels, outdoor and kibbutzes. I’ve dealt with tears, listened to complaints, answered more questions per day than ever imagined, hugged, and nurtured and felt accomplished. I have two more weeks to travel through this magical land with now.. 38 kids, I’m jumping in with open arms and hopefully will have the stamina and endurance to enjoy every minute of it with eyes wide open.
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| Thu, 09 Jul 2009 |
Loving Life and Living Beautifully
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Having a blast being an adult. Working hard and enjoying every minute of it. Here is a quick taste of some adventures from this past week. From Jerusalem’s city of David, to markets, Dead Sea Adventures, Camel trecks through the desert, Bedouin tents, sunrise hikes, and the Coral Reef in Eilat.. in no particular order.
Lechaim!
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| Wed, 01 Jul 2009 |
A Few Words That Speak Truth?
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| Wed, 01 Jul 2009 |
In less than 24 hours I’ll be embarking on a new adventure for 30 days. I was offered an opportunity to staff a teen trip, travel throughout Israel, as well as play photographer. I obviously, gladly accepted. Ill be running around Israel in its entirety. Hiking, camping, kayaking, sweating, learning, laughing and just plainly enjoying an outdoor adventure through the holy land. It will definitely be a complety novel experience, since I really have never had a “job” like this befre, but yet a whole new learning experience that I am jumping in with open arms. And to top it off, I was given a new camera to use for the month and I’m already in LOVE with it! I’m thrilled, anxious and ready for an excursion that will be both refreshing and exciting, tiring I'm sure, but most importantly will add an entire new and enlightening chapter to my Israel experience. After all, from every new experience growth and wisdom transpires. Unfortunately this obviously means I’ll be leaving my lovely abode in Tel-Aviv, my new friends as well as my spectacular roommate Lindsay. (Ill miss you Phalooch!!) I’ll be back soon enough and will have two more weeks to return to my beach, boardwalk, friends, and enjoy the leisure yet oh so inspiring life, a bit longer at Yona Hanavi.
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| Wed, 01 Jul 2009 |
Speak Love Wherever You Are
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Peace and Love??
  One of my favorite things about this city is that no matter what day of the week, or time of day for that matter, the second you leave your house you can never really expect what you will see. No matter what, I have never returned home without a hilarious story to share or something peculiar that I observed. Here are a few examples, other than a clown hoola-hooping on road signs. A rabbi in Roller blades, A hairdresser singing karaoke through his window, several come ons by OLD men.. Really? Speeding busses, cars diving on sidewalks- Apparently that is quite acceptable here. I mean who wants to wait in traffic when you can quickly pull over to the sidewalk and skip it. Boys strolling down the street in close to nothing. Girls fashion- pretty ridiculous, although Israel is packed with gorgeous laides. You’ll always see an argument of some sort, someone singing, and someone clapping. Standard. Cafes are packed no matter what time, or how late and people just really know how to kick back, relax and just… LIVE. One of my favorite things is everywhere you walk you can smell sweet aroma of fresh fruits form the tiny vendors, delicious gummy candy, and well from time to time…a fresh whiff of... cat urine. There’s a serious stray cat problem here, it’s quite sad really, sometimes disturbing. I’ve come to fall in love with these always packed, busy, loud, narrow streets that run through Tel-Aviv. Walking everywhere is so refreshing, I have a handful of makolet vendors that I know just from passing so frequently, and am always greeted by a smile, wave or on few occasions an embrace. I even have a new homeless man friend named Alex. An American man, seriously a handsome individual, dirty, hairy but has stunning blue eyes and just plainly and simply loves the life of being a nomad. Lindsay and I are still convinced he’s undercover, because he’s just too normal. Or normal enough to not be psychotic. I’ll leave you all with a few words that I’m pretty convinced are not in the Hebrew dictionary: Personal space – No such thing here! For example we were shopping today for toiletries, when the lady at “Superfarm” (a tiny little Target) literarily grabs the contact solution out of Lindsay’s hands, looks at it, and says “uh okay” and hands it back. Huh? You won’t walk down the streets without at least 53 people bumping into you. Its something that takes time to get used to, I never thought I would but, I’m.. well you know, pretty Israeli now so beseder. (ok). It’s definitely something I can live without though. I was sitting on the beach the other day when some guy (in boxer-briefs) plops down on my towel and starts chatting me up, literally right next to me. Apparently, “Go Away” isn’t really in their dictionary either. Service- You HAVE to ask for the check or you plainly won’t receive one. I now understand why Israelis seem so impolite and hard to wait on in the States, forgive them it’s not their fault. It’s just how things are here. You wan something you need to ask for it! No ones EVER in rush. Oh wait that’s a lie. Some man cut in front of us in line one day at the market threw some cash sown and ran out with his Vodka. Emergency Vodka!! I’m pretty positive they skipped the traffic rule where “ Pedestrians have the right of way.” There’s no such thing as looking both ways before you cross the street -you cross the street ONLY when it’s green or you’ll be crushed. Scooters, cars, and even Busses are insane drivers! And I’m pretty sure the horn is used as much as the breaks. True fact. Lastly for now... you can bargain on everything, no matter where you are.. Even the supermarket. The one thing I can do without for now is the intense heat, walking outside is as if youre walking into a sauna, no joke. Its getting close to 90 and getting sweaty is something im perfecting quite well. Yummy. Tachlas, Ani Chola Al Tel-Aviv! – Point is... I’m infatuated with Tel-Aviv.  
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| Wed, 24 Jun 2009 |
 I woke up this morning and decided I had to do something out of the ordinary, well at least something I havent done yet in Tel-Aviv. Something "touristy". So after a few ideas, I found the perfect way to spend my day: Renting a bicycle and well.. touring. Best Idea Ever!! I grabbed a bottle of water, a camera and was on my way. Granted it was over 80 degrees outside, and I only planned on taking the bike out for a couple of hours. However, hours flew by and I was still pedaling from street to street with excitement and awe of the grittyiness as well as beauty that makes up Tel-Avv. By the end of the day I pretty much explored every gorgoues beach, filthy alley-way and narrow street in Tel-Aviv. It was grand! I found myself following the graffiti art that is crafted all over parking lots, sign's and random walls throughout the city. From lego art, to thought provoked words, statements, and figures, reflecting creativity, design, and ideas. At one point I got into one part of town and the street cleaner man looked at me and scolded "Ma At Osa Po!!! Ze lo ezor tov listovev, lechy, lechy" Translation: "What are you doing here, this is not a safe place, GO!" Ooops! I jumped on my bike and peddled quite fast out of there.. and ended up somehow in Neve Tsedek back into ritsy alley ways. It's incredible how all the streets somehow meet up from grime to riches. I arrived home after 5 hours, sweaty with a sore bum, and a feeling of accomplishment. The following are a few of the pictures snapped on my adventure of graffiti, beaches, buildings and nature. "Eyze Achla Shel Yom!" - What Marvelous Day     "Will I Ever be Happy"    "Uplifter Let Music Be Your Guide"
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| Sun, 21 Jun 2009 |
" We live in illusion and the appearance of things. There is a reality. We are that reality. When you understand this, you see that you are nothing, and being nothing, you are everything. That is all" - Kalu Rinpoche
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| Tue, 16 Jun 2009 |
Just another day at the beach
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| Fri, 12 Jun 2009 |
 I just witnessed a little piece of heaven. Nothing compares to bringing in the weekend with a swim in the Mediterranean at sunset. I watched the sun slowly set as the sky gradually changed colors and the rays of the sun beamed through the clouds as if heaven was opening in front of my eyes. I lay silent, alone, letting the calm warm currents of the Sea take me swiftly into a state of mind that one reaches I'm guessing only though mediation. In seconds I noticed my face had a grin that could not be removed, and I found myself laughing... literally, laughing at the perfection of that exact moment. A new addition has been added to a happy place in my book of life. I genuinely felt so blessed. I walked home with my heart smiling and a rightful feeling of happiness. The remainder of my day previous to this refreshing moment was quite eventful. It started with an early trip to the Shuk to fill my fridge with fruits and veggies for the weekend. Walking home with 3 packed bags, a purse and half a watermelon... I must have been quite a vision, because I definitely received many witty comments in passing on my way home. A sweet elderly man even offered to carry my groceries, so cute. Later a few of us stepped out to brave the 90 degrees weather at an insanely colorful, cheerful and flamboyant gay parade. Live entertaining music, rainbow flags, drag queens, cross dressers, scantily clad homosexuals and those there like us just to have a fab time, filled a park on King George street. There was never a dull moment, no matter where you turned there was something out of this world to set your eyes on. whether it was a group of old men singing, cross dressers prancing, young and old dancing showing of their dance moves, creativity in style and… uh.. actions. It was quite a scene. Many happy and proud peeps prancing around in Tel-Aviv today. The city was literally transformed for the remainder of the day. DJ’s set up outside stores blasting music, packed streets and rainbow EVERYTHING no matter where you walked!  We arrived home, relaxed for a bit but I felt a bit antsy; I think a lack of sleep is to blame. So I figured a dip in the Sea would cure all, and luckily I made it in time for sunset.
I can’t forget to mention that I finally cooked myself the perfect chicken breast, with a side of stir fried veggies, fresh salad and red wine! No excess smoke on the grill, no burnt sides, perfection in each and every bite! Mommy Wow! I’m a big kid now!
 Thank you life for this beautiful day. I’m ready for a relaxing weekend, and a good night’s sleep. Layla Tov and Shabbat Shalom.
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| Thu, 11 Jun 2009 |
Lindsay, Leetal, Erica and a Lego Monkey Graffiti
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