My name is Sarah David I'm from Paso Robles, California. I lived in the "artistic city" of Ashdod. These past five months have been a very adventurous (I have never gotten so lost in all my life) and exciting experience (never been hit on or just plan shocked so often and in so many random places) "STAM" (that's j/k to you)! There is much more to this than that. I have formed friendships and was accepted into once strangers lives. I was given the opportunity to share and give something and I didn't do it alone. I feel that I have received so much more than I was able to give. Deciding to do this Oranim program was something that came easily to me. Since the age of ten, I have been visiting my Israeli family members, but not until 2009 did I experience the gratifying feeling of volunteering here in Israel. I knew that the next time I was in the area it would be for volunteering purposes. I was fortunate to stumble upon Oranim's website.

In Ashdod, I was assigned to volunteer in a high school from 8:00a-1:00p helping the kids with oral speech, essay writing, games in English, among other various projects. I had Ulpan twice a week, and three times a week I had afternoon volunteering. I helped out at various children's centers (motor disabilities and the blind center) and at the soup kitchen. These are the volunteer places I worked at, but there are various types of afternoon volunteering to chose from, hours and days vary with the individual, but with a minimal requirement of 4 hours a week.

I'd like to think I come from a very culturally diverse background (a great conversation starter). Most people will take one look at me and never in a thousand years think I am Jewish let alone know what it means to be Jewish. That may be what makes my life and coming to Israel on my little adventures so much more than a five month Oranim volunteer project.

I have learned so much about my limits, and its not only about giving and volunteering but so much more. Trying to absorb a whole culture can be challenging and thanks to our two wonderful and amazing city coordinators, Shiry and Kineret, things were so much easier. If I was ever lost or needed advice I know they were only a phone call away, and trust me I made my share of calls.

Sometimes Israeli lifestyle takes effort to understand, but that's never a bad thing. In Ashdod, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet so many beautiful people (not referring to only ones outer beauty, but I have met quite a few of those too). I know I will come away from this experience with thousands of wonderful moments locked in my memory, memories that can never be taken away but only shared. I am not going to say that we as a group are going to last, but our memories will.

Promises are like babies, easy to make hard to deliver. I am not saying I have a direct path to what I want do in the future or whom I might encounter, but I do know that the ones that choose to perpetuate a friendship and vice versa will not be disappointed. I am sure that doing this Oranim program has carved a positive path in my future.

I want to thank Oranim for making all this possible I believe in the concept of community involvement and I'm so glad I was a part of it!

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