Oh boyfriend, where are thou?

I actually know where he is right now. He wrote me an e-mail (thank you universe for inventing the world wide connection). They're in Pisa (I'm so jealous- never been to Italy) and heading to Sardinia tomorrow... (Have I mentioned how jealous I am?)

***

Went shopping with my sis today. Bought a new pair of shoes (will be great for European weather) and 2 nice shirts, and my sis bought me a pre-birthday present- a really special shirt... Was a fun day for us in Tel-Aviv, and also- my sister went to an interview in an arts school called Minshar, and she got accepted for cinematography!!! I'm so excited for her. She got excepted to another school too (Camera Obscura) but she chose the other one. My little sister is gonna be a student!!!

***

I guess I write more coz I don't get to talk to Rob, and I need to tell someone whats going on with me.

***

Charles called me today!!! From Paris!!! They're landing here on Monday night, and they're gonna call again on Tuesday and we'll make plans!!! I'm so happy about it!!! Now I have to focus up- and stop feeling like the tourist in this country, coz I'm gonna have to take the role of the guide... I still feel a bit like a stranger here- everyone's so loud and blunt, in China they used to stare coz I was different, now men stare coz they're obnoxious. People tend to talk on their cell phones everywhere, and ask very personal questions even if they're just the person fixing your cell phone. Hmmm... how was I ever used to this??? Well now I have to like it, or at least have excuses for it- if I ever wanna show the nice things of this country to other ppl. And there are plenty of nice things here. Plenty.

***

Good night. I'm really tired now... (Uggi my dog is so cute- every night waits for me to go to bed- to come along and sleep in my room...)

Back in Israel

Wow... I have so much to tell... And I had no time until now... So... I'll start with the last weekend- at Rob's parents' house. We got there on Friday afternoon, after picking up his cousin Vivica who came from Berlin. We were the first to arrive from all the ppl, and so we met all of them when they came. Well- his grandma was already there. Anyway, Friday night I met 9 cousins that I never did and 3 that I already knew. They were all so nice!!! They all spoke good English, so even though they were talking German a lot (and I actually understood a bit of what they were talking about sometimes) and had they're inside jokes (they're a really close family) I always had someone to talk to, and I could always approach them in English and expect them to understand me. OK, so the next day was the day of the big relay race. Rob and his big bro got a detailed plan for everyone- who's supposed to be where and when. I went with his dad to take a picture of the second change- between Georg and Ulrich- 2 brothers. We got there with Rob's Grandma, who was wearing her "Team Captain" T-shirt, and with Vivica. We waited for a while until the team number was announced (to let the next runner know he should get ready to run) and then finally Georg arrived and Ulrich continued with the race. Georg looked a bit worried and told us that he never saw Rob's brother- who was the first runner!!! They just told him that 154 (their number) has collapsed and he can start running his track! We didn't even know what happened to him until Rob's dad went to the hospital to see him... Apparently he ran a bit too fast in the beginning (so he said) and after a while didn't feel so good. A 100 meters (!!!) before the end of his track, he was running up hill and then he doesn't remember what happened, except for the Ambulance that took him to the hospital. Another runner had told him later that he caught him falling. Anyway this whole thing changed some plans- but the team continued running. I left the grandma's car, and joined Rob's car (he dropped off 3 of his cousins and himself), managed to upset him one time too (a big miscommunication) and "run away" from him, took some pictures of the runners and the changes between them (some are still on the camera's film), and generally have lots of fun! It was an exciting day, and everybody was really nice. I even got my own T-shirt with the same "85" in the front, but with my name in capital letters in the back... Was really cool. At the end we were all sitting in the beer tent, eating pretzels and cheese and other typical German food, and waited to hear what place the team ended up in. There were more than 300 teams, and "Elfriedes Enkel" ended up in the 159th place- which is not really bad. A good place in the middle. They were very famous for being one family, there was a reporter that wrote about them for the local newspaper- and made the grandma feel very special and a celebrity, and Rob's brother was famous for being the only one that was evacuated to a hospital that day...

The next day was my last day in Germany, we all had a big breakfast together (I helped Rob's mom bake Pita bread and make Tehina and Humus) and then slowly slowly all the cousins scattered away. I spent a few more hours with Rob (I miss you...) and then his big brother took me to the airport on his way home. We got there a bit too early (3 and a half hours before my flight) so I had a lot of time to kill, but it passed and I realized that I'm gonna see my sister soon... After a year and 8 months I haven't seen her at all... Slept about half of the flight, and then landed... Didn't recognize my sis (lost a lot of weight and got a new haircut) she had to wave so I know it's her... She looks great! I missed her so much... I used to dream about meeting her- every week since I went away...

Got home saw my mom, saw my dog (cute and old!), and met my best friends (except for Yifat- she's still not here- studying hard for her exams- I'll see her in 10 days), and tomorrow I guess I'll go see my grandparents and my dad and brothers.

That's it. Oh yeah- I already ate Humus!!! today... It was great!

Not much more to say,

Oh- Today is my sister's birthday!!!

Happy Birth Day Nitzan!!! Love ya!!!

My sister

I'm not sure if I had mentioned it before in here- but my sister got back to Israel after 14 months she's been abroad. She's a US citizen- so she was there for most of the time working and spending time with some ppl - now these ppl are her second family. The rest of the time she traveled in south America. That's where she met her new boyfriend- an Israeli as well.
It's very weird to not know the new most important ppl in your sister's life. Especially when you're so close to her. And we are. Close. I don't even know her new boyfriend.
I miss her so much. It's really hard being away when she's there now- at home. It felt so terrible not being able to see her when she came back. It's gonna be 15 months I haven't seen her in 2 weeks. Yes, I keep track.
I suggested she'd come here to travel a bit and see me- but I know it doesn't make any sense for her to come now- since the weather here until March (at least) is terrible almost everywhere. Except for the south- but I'm not there... If she actually comes- it'll be only then- and wow- that's far...

Nitz- if you're reading this (and you better!!!) I miss you.


(I took this picture of her a few years ago - until today it's my favorite)