Ha Maktesh veh En Yorqe'am.

This is the sunset from Inbar Hotel:) I loved it there. The bed was so comfy.
So as you know I mentioned I went on a South Trip with OSP. We went into the Negev. We went to Ha Maktesh, Ben Gurion's Grave, Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea. I did not go to Ben Gurion's grave because I was not feeling well that day and opted to stay in the hotel. All of the pictures are of Day 1: Ha Maktesh. It means crater. We ate lunch in a place called Colored Sands. We went to a natural pool made out of rain water. It was beautiful. The natural pool is called En Yorqe'am.
The first group of pictures is Ha Maktesh. :)
We did some face painting with dust sand. It was fun.



Okay now onto Colored Sands. This was where we ate lunch.




Okay Now for En Yorqe'am. It was really pretty, I can assure you that. ;)

Cats

Such a cute kitten. I loved him so much. My first room mate found him and wanted to adopt him but we couldnt so we gave him away.






Okay so many of you might not know this small trivial fact but if you ever come to Israel it will probably be helpful to know. Israel is filled with cats. You know how America has squirrels? Yeah, well, Israel has cats. LOTS of cats.
They range from all over.
Here are some cats from The Lowest Point on Earth: The Dead Sea.
This here is a little buddy of mine. he delayed me from entering the Dead Sea Shop. He was just so interesting to watch and photography. He was playing with the plants. So cute.
When I left the store I was surprised to see his buddy there. I took a series of pictures with both of them. They seemed to be pretty tired so I just let them be for and went back to my group(I was on an OSP Trip. The annual South Trip. Happens every semester.).

(The gray one)







This cute guy is a Ramat Aviv Resident. He showed up across the street from Mega which is a supermarket. This is the same photo I used for my poem called The Cat and The Butterfly. He looks like one of the Tel Aviv University cats.




These are just 2 of the Tel Aviv University cats.( Starting with black cat next to the silver pole)





And these cuties are from Jerusalem. Dont worry the one curled in a ball is only sleeping. Such a cute kitten.






Last but not least for cat photos. Me in Jerusalem with a Stray Cat who was very friendly and just sat on me.




ahh sorry how this turned out. Im not too sure on how to do the photos. Ill keep practicing to make it better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOkqH1aSjCY click on the title and see a funny video about a cat! you have to go a minute or two into it but if you want to laugh i highly suggest it!!!

Aunt Marylou

My Aunt Marylou is obviously my aunt. :P

She is such a strong wonderful person. I am so happy for her. She has beaten cancer. She has just told me that she underwent surgery and it was successful!(you can read about it in her blog ;) Here is the link. http://web.me.com/marylou.stewart/Wellness/Blog/Blog.html read it you will definitely enjoy. There is a picture in almost every post.) During the surgery they said there was no tumor there even though in the scans there was a slow growing tumor!

I am so happy that she has beaten this.

Aunt Marylou is a professional photographer. I like to think I follow in her steps. I hope I can be as good as her one day. As long as I can remember she has always been photographing everything. Everytime I saw her there has always been a camera in her hand. She has a picture for every occasion, every day, and every year. She has more then just one picture, she has tons.

Her pictures helped me when I was down. After coming to Israel I felt very alone and isolated. I felt like I had no one. None of my family was here. Of course I had my boyfriend, his friends and family, and some people I met in the program but I didn't have my friends and family. I didn't have the people who have known me since diapers and dare I say knew about me before I even knew what I was.

I asked her for just a few pictures of her and my cousins, instead I got so much more. They made me so happy. I got so many pictures. Pictures of my family I have never seen before. Of my Grandpa and his Dad! That was a wow moment. I never knew what he looked like. I had pictures of my father and uncle, both of my grandmothers, all of my aunts and cousins. I also got birthday pictures from when I was young.

I still have all of these pictures.

I showed my boyfriend a photo of my uncle in his army uniform and his reaction was priceless. I think that was the best reaction I've ever seen to someone in my family. His jaw dropped and said "Woah so hes like a major major general. I dont want to mess with him. Hes an army god." To me hes my Uncle Tom an extraordinary man who has done alot. Him and my Aunt Marylou are a huge inspiration to me. They are both my heros and people I look up too. Im very proud to be in their family.

Im thrilled that my Aunt has beaten cancer. I hope I can see her soon.

Hopefully this time I will have some photos for her.

Here are some photos of my family that she sent me.

This is my uncle and my grandfather. They were both in the army. This was during the Kings Park Memorial Day Parade.



This is my brother and I at the Memorial Day parade when we were really young.



This is my dad, great grandmother Omi and I.



This is my Grandma and my Omi. They both came over from Germany because of the holocaust. Grandma I think was only 12. They are mother daughter so this is of me with my Grandma and Great Grandma. They are from my moms side. I never got to meet Aunt Marylou's mom.



This is my father and Aunt Marylou. Aunt Marylou is holding me.



I have more photos so I think I will do another post about my family. :)

You know I must say Im rather glad I started this blog now I have something to do. My Passover Break or back in America SPRING BREAK! has just started!
NOTE! if you click on the title of this post it will take you to my aunts blog.
Its all about her life and her struggle with cancer. This blog was created a few years ago. It is an excellent blog. You can really see how strong of woman she is and how great she is.

The Cat and The Butterfly

I sat down next to the old tree.
Feeling the hard bark against my back and the white rocks on my butt.
I was watching the scene unfold before my eyes.
I wish I had my camera.

The cat was sitting in the shadows of all the flowers.
He wasn't in them. He was below them, in the shade.
He was on the sidewalk
watching all the butterflies.
He was silently stalking them
as if he were a lion stalking some prey.

The Monarch Butterflies looked like they were in heaven.
Fluttering from purple flower to purple flower.
From purple flower to red flower
unaware of the black, white, and brown cat with
piercing green eyes like a black board with a burst of fluorescent color.

I was watching the cat. The cat was watching the butterflies, and
the butterflies were in their rainbow heaven in a colorful flower garden.
Nature in its truest form.

The cat stared at me for a few seconds before going back to his butterfly hunt.
I take one last look and
he is in full attack mode
ready to pounce yet again.

But
the butterflies fly to the other part.
It looks as if they are playing a game with their predator.

I leave as the cycle continues.
Enjoying my luck
that I
got to see something so pretty.

For this poem we had to pull inspiration from something outside in nature. I was fortunate enough to be able to see a cat stalking a bunch of butterflies in a garden. It was so amusing. I loved watching it. I do wish I had my camera. Maybe I will see it again and be able to capture it.

This is what the cat looked similar too.

Tongue Piercing

inspired by Kim Adonnizio's poem Tattoos

I went today.
I got nervous and left.
I went back today. I stayed a little longer.
The purple walls comforting me. The black leather couch was cozy.
Seeing my friends and having a great time, I filled the form.
Time went on. We left.
I forgot.
I went back today.
I didn't forget this time.
Shivering.
Shaking.
Moving forward and hesitating.
An adrenaline rush like no other.
I sit in the big black chair and hold my friend's hand.
I talk to them. I watch her get her tools.
Seeing her tools I get nervous.
I watch her open a blue bag. Peeling back to reveal a sterile needle.
I watch her take her pliers.
I close my eyes.
I hold my friend's hand tighter.
Too afraid, nervous, and jumpy to move,
I open my mouth.
I feel the needle enter my tongue.
There for barely a second, the process is done.
That wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.
Feeling very proud and happy.
One of the greatest moments in my life.

This was the 2nd poem that had to be inspired by another poem. I made this one a bit more personal and related to me. Excuse Me Dear was more of a playful poem. I don't like coffee either. :P

This photo was taken by the wonderful Edwin Oquendo in one of my favorite places ever: Tormented Souls Its a tattoo shop run by my friend Steve. Hes the nicest guy ever. The shop is located in Kings Park. I highly suggest you go there for piercing, tattoos, both, or just to check it out. I've met the coolest and most nicest people ever there. I love them.

Excuse Me Dear (Revised)

Excuse me Dear
Im sorry
Please forgive me for what I've done.

It was so great.
So rich. So tasty.
The dark creamy texture.
The light brown foam creating swirls with each sip.
I could feel the electricity flowing within my veins,
I felt so Alive.

I drank all of your coffee.
Such a sweet delightful smell.
So mouth watering. I've got none left.
You've got to get more.
Im so sorry I forgot.
Such a delicious mistake.
But I couldn't go to the store.

So this was the revised Excuse Me Dear. Its a little different. What do you think?

Excuse Me Dear

in response to This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams:

Excuse me dear
Im sorry
Please forgive me for what I've done.

It was so great
So tasty
I felt alive

I drank all your coffee
I've got none left
You've got to get more
Im sorry I forgot
But I could'nt go to the store.

One of our class assignments was reading a poem and that writing a poem inspired from it. This was the first inspired poem. I did two.

I also revised this one for my midterm. I added more and hopefully made it somewhat more interesting and better.

Love and Hate

Love and hate. the world to break.
both is needed to fufill the fate.
Do not run. Do not haste.
Let it come. Let it take.
Fill the void and take a taste.

Block out one. Destroy the world.
There is no life without hate.
There is no death without love.
Accept them both and
realize the wait.
You are not alone.

On Mibba this poem got me my first comment ever on any of my work. It made me feel so great because someone said it was their favorite poem. That was a really great feeling.

The Rebirth

I left my life behind.
I wanted to start over.

I figured it'd be easy.
Id make friends and have a great time.

I'd know where I'd be going, what I'd be doing.
instead a REALITY CHECK
People are not nice. People are fake. People care only about themselves.

9 months later I have a new outlook.
I have a path that I've been on this whole time.
I'm discovered.

I know where, I'm going.
Yet somehow, I'm still lost.
I still don;t know where Im going far off but I know for now.
I have my path. I've made it happen.

These horrible 9 months have passed.
I can be great.
I can be reborn.
I know I can be me.

Love

Very scary. It feels so good.
It makes you feel whole.
It makes you feel empty.
You feel alive at times and dead at times.
It's in your life at all times.
You can deny it. You can hide it. It'll make you run.
You can't escape it. It's always there.
It'll drop you. It'll catch you.
Happiest when approved.
Destroyed when rejected.
The best of the world.
The worst of the world.
The scariest yet the most needed and wanted.

I Walked, I Saw, I Left

I saw the world as a cold dark place.
So much hatred could be seen,
Everywhere I look. I could feel what people thought.
I could hear what they thought about their surroundings.
Body language could be read.
Body Language could be felt. It was such a sad thing to see.
Although, there was love.
Love could be seen, heard, and felt.
Such a strong power. To still be felt and seen when surrounded.
It could not be heard. People were too embarrassed. To be seen as a pussy.
Taught to not show love, the world has become a cold dark place.

I walked on this earth as though I could change it.
As though I could make a difference.
As though I could show people to love.
I hoped this world was not such a cruel place.
I hoped I could change it.
All of us consumed by greed and hate, I wanted to break free.
A hippie, no I did not want to be.
I just wanted to be happy.
I hope I can be.
Someday. One day. Happiness will happen.
The world will be a much happier place.
But then again, I think.
How can you appreciate love without experiencing hate?

I left this world with hope.
I left it with hope that somehow I made a change.
I somehow hope that I touched at least one person.
I left the fake world wondering if any of it became real.
Was I real?
Did I become real?
Or was I always real?
Did I just see the fakeness?
I walked in this world trying to show love and block out the hate.
Its so hard to block out hate when it surrounds you and tries to consume you.
I dont want to be consumed by hate.

Poems

So I figured since one of my classes is Creative Writing, I will post some of my poems on here.

Im going to put separate blog posts for each poem.

Creative Writing is a great class. It has really helped me so far. I've been able to express myself a lot better.

I think during the army I will write more and post them as well.

I will definitely have time to write since I have 4 months of Ulpan before training.

Also I dont go into the army till May 5.

I volunteered for the IDF through Mahal. Heres the link so you can read about it and learn about it as well. http://www.mahal-idf-volunteers.org/

it has tons of information and forum.

Im not to sure of what else to say so I will just post 8 poems which means 8 new blogs. 9 including this one. :)

I think I should blog about the school. I will also try and put up as many pictures as possible. I have tons though so dont worry. The hard part will be which photos are the best.

Also before I forget! You can find my poems on Mibba. http://member.mibba.com/80257/

Im posting the ones I have now on here so right now all the poems are the same.

My First Post

Hey everyone!

My name is Rebecca but everyone calls me Becky. :) This is my first blog ever so sorry if its a little rough around the edges at first. Ill get the hang of it. Well I guess I'll start off with a little about myself first.

My name is Rebecca.

I am from the United States. From Long Island, New York to be more precise.

I am currently 19. I was born on June 6. I am Gemini ;)

I have a younger brother named Robert who is 18 and just left for the Marines.

My best friend in the whole wide world is Bonnie. She is like my sister. Blood couldn't make us anymore closer then we already are. I never would have gotten anywhere with out her.

My mom's name is Judy. She is a very strong woman. I admire her strength and resilience. I don't know how I'd act if my first born and only daughter said "Hey Mom, Im gonna go live in Israel."

I have the most amazing boyfriend ever. He is such a great person. I love him a lot. His name is David. He is one of the most important people in my life.

My favorite color is purple and my favorite animal is the giraffe. I love the band The 69 Eyes.

Right now I am studying at Tel Aviv University. I am in their Over Seas Program as a year student. I have been in Israel since July 28,2009. Almost a year. It is March 23, 2010. Just a few more months. (I will write about it later.) But what makes this blog different from all the other blogs is, is that I joined the Israeli Army. It is known as Israel Defense Forces or in its abbreviation of IDF. I have no family here at all making my a Chayal Boded. A Chayal Boded is a "Lone Soldier". Lone Soldiers have no immediate family(as previously mentioned above) in Israel and are living by themselves with no support from parents or siblings. I have my boyfriend and friends. And of course I have music, books, photography, and my wonderful stuffed giraffe Renee that I made at Build A Bear ;)

I will post more later considering its almost 1am here and I have class at 745am.

Here is a photo of me from one of my school trips up North. We were on a hike. I think this trail was called Little Switzerland. To be honest I dont really remember. It was up near Haifa and Carmel.

My Title picture is of me at the Bahai Gardens in Haifa.

I will share with you my photography, poems, adventures, thoughts, and stories.

Lilah Tov everyone. :)