Monday, May 31, 2010

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Erdogan has really done everything in his power to ruin relations with Israel, and he may have finally succeeded.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/middleeast/01turkey.html


Raid Jeopardizes Turkey Relations

Israeli mistakes

With the Gaza flotilla incident I think Israel made two mistake. They entered the ships in international waters. Secondly, they ended up killing 10 people, mostly Turks. Yes, I understand that the soldiers were attacked when they got on the ships, but I think the killing could have been avoided. They should have let the boats enter into Israeli water. Or even let them land like they did when the boats came two years ago. I understand that this greatly provoked the Israeli government, but I still feel that something else should have been done.  

This is a very bad incident and I'm very sad that so many people have been killed.  Turkey is also my home and I wish this incident did not occur.

There are a lot of problems in Israel, just like there are in many places in the world.

Friday, May 28, 2010

For my mom

So, my mom obviously enjoys taking pictures. She really likes taking pictures of the moon too. Sometimes we'll be at home, and my mom will see the moon and run and get her camera and leave my dad and I sitting in the living room wondering what happened.

Last night was a full moon. It was really beautiful. Roi and I played around with my camera and tried to take some pictures. Most of them we let in too much light into the camera. But a couple of the pictures were okay. My mom's are always much better!


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Grandma!

My grandma is coming to Israel really soon! We're talking about plans and when and where and how to meet! It's so soon! I'm getting really excited! I can't wait to see her!!

Love you grandma!! xoxo!

Yom Ha'student

In Israel, towards the end of the year, they have a HUGE party for the university.  It celebrates the students, studying, etc.  It's really awesome. Of course I went. We danced and had a great time. To get an idea of how big it is, you can watch this video! There is a pool party the next day that was also great!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1348983122753

Friday, May 21, 2010

Tel Aviv to see the Northwest Indiana Jewish Federation


Sunset in Tel Aviv




Michael Steinberg, who is the head of teh NW Jewish Federation led a group to Israel and invited me to meet them for dinner. I was really excited to find out that I knew a lot of the group. Naomi, who was my Hebrew teacher when I was little, was there. And Rachel Stern, who is my foot doctor, and her husband. It was such a great dinner. Also, I met the shaliach for next year. She's really great. I am excited about what she'll do next year for our community!
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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Day in Jerusalem


Today my Conflict Resolution class went on a trip/tour of Jerusalem. I really learned a lot and took a ton of pictures which will be on Facebook, but they are mostly of borders and landscapes and probably look all the same. But I thought you don't get to see enough pictures of me, so here I am.

With al-Aqsa/Dome of the Rock in the background. I am standing on Mt. of Olives. It was a gorgeous day today in Jerusalem. (and obviously windy!)
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Parade o babies.


At Kibbutz Naan they have a really cute traditions that all the babies who were born to people from the kibbutz get announced on Shavuot. So Yuval, Hila's husband, who grew up on the kibbutz went on stage with Carmel, with all the rest of the babies!

Yay Carmel!!

They announced her name!!!! The white dress she is wearing was made by her great-grandma for her mom! She looked great in it!

Throw your baby in the air!!!
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Shavuot


For Shavuot (the holiday that celebrates the Jewish people receiving the Torah from Mt. Sinai) I went to Kibbutz Naan. It was really a nice little celebration and it was nice to see how the "natives" enjoy the holiday.

Yay for John Deer in Israel...it was like never leaving home.

People like to have their pictures taken in the fields. Shavuot is also a harvest holiday and about rebirth, so I guess it's appropriate. So I took Hila, her husband, and their little baby, Carmel's picture in the field.

All the children from the kibbutz put on a program, it was so cute. The colors were so beautiful with the fields in the background.
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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Photo contest winners.

Really beautiful pictures.

http://www.bgu4u.co.il/articles/article.aspx?ArticleId=1431

Couple of announcements.

Actually, I think just one announcement. I decided that I am going to take ulpan (Hebrew language) starting in October in  in Haifa, which is in the north, by WATER!!! It's about 3 hours north of where I live now, and Roi (by direct train). Which really isn't far, because it's a train and I can get things done during the ride, but it's far enough that I won't see him everyday (and he can study) and I will be forced to establish my own life and meet my own people. I have to be able to live and work here independently, then I can be with Roi.  Plus, it'll really help improve my Hebrew which was a major concern.  And it's only for college graduates between 22-35, so it's people who are my age, etc.  


http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Aliyah/Absorpton+Options/Absorption+Centers/Haifa+15.htm


I was really anxious the past few weeks because I didn't really know what I was going to be doing when I first arrive back in Israel, but this really makes sense and I feel good about the choice.  I will be able to learn about a new part of the country. The ulpan is from 8-1 (5 hours a day) 5 days a week for 5 months. So I can get a part time job in the afternoon/evenings.  

Also, I got a lot of mail this week, from my grandma and from Nelly and my mom and sister...I love mail. Thanks for thinking about me!!

Sunday, May 09, 2010

Michaels Creative Moms!!

This is the correct link to vote for my mom!! http://apps.facebook.com/creativemom/profile.php?id=1254&page=1&search=paula+wiese

She needs a lot of votes to win! She is doing great so far! So keep voting! You can vote once a day until the contest ends!!

How she is creative:
Growing up a child doesn't always realize that their mother is creative. They just enjoy getting homemade cards, drawings on their lunch bag, custom made Beanie Baby holders, sewn Halloween customs, and love to help creating bunny shaped Easter cakes, crafting Hanukkah menorahs from clay, and constructing Thanksgiving hat place cards out of small plant pots. These are just a few creative things my sister and I got to enjoy as a part of our everyday lives. Now that we are both out of the house, my mom uses her creativity in other ways. She established the "Empty Bowls Project" at her high school where she is an art teacher. The faculty teaches the students in Art Club to make bowls using a potter's wheel, and then all the students make bowls that are going to be sold at the big event. The bowls are sold for $10 each and include a bowl of hot soup that is donated from local church groups. (Panera Bread donates bread and Starbucks donates coffee.) The whole community is involved: students, churches, businesses, and non-for-profits. This year, they even brought in a women's quartet group to sing while people enjoyed their meal. The bowls are there not just to be purchased as beautiful artwork, but also as a reminder that there are many people in the community who do not have food to fill their bowls. This was the third year of the "Empty Bowls Project" and they raised over $1500 for the local food pantry. My mom is an incredible woman who always puts others before her. She puts so much time and effort into this creative and giving project, but does not see a bit of sweat because she is so passionate about the cause. When I was younger she told me that she had to be an art teacher because it was the only profession that she could have fun, be different, and be creative every day. The best part of growing up is realizing how blessed I was to have a mother who truly could make nothing into something beautiful, or a lump of clay into a philanthropic extravaganza.

Nothing exciting!!!!

So...I was a little sick this weekend, sore throat and pretty dizzy and really tired, I'm not sure what all those symptoms are about, but it made it pretty difficult to study. Despite that, I got some work done.  I turned in my article summary for historiography and I did some Hebrew, although, not as much as I should!

Also, I really started to get going on my paper for International Conflict Resolution.  I am writing about female suicide bomber and how they have impacted Israeli Palestinian relations.  Always uplifting topics when writing a Middle East studies masters...always......

And...Happy Mother's Day to everyone who is lucky enough to have children!! Today is Katie's first Mother's Day and of course my mom's first Mother's Day as a grandma!! It's really a wonderful day to everyone!! I wish I  could be there with them, especially because I bet my dad is grilling!! MMMMMMMM!!!

Friday, May 07, 2010

Boo

Just doing homework..this sucks. =(

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Vote for my mom!

Vote for my mom!! http://apps.facebook.com/creativemom/profile.php?id=1254


It is a contest from Michaels for being the most creative mom and my mom could win $1000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 


I don't know about the photo contest yet, but I heard 1200 people voted! CRAZY! So they are taking a lot longer than they thought to tally the votes.  There is no way I won. But I will let you know when the results are in! 


I ate a Toblerone today, it was delicious! Just thought you should know! 


ANDDDDDDDDDDD...a bird pooped on me today!!! On the strap of my backpack!! I thought i wasn't in Istanbul anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the 3rd time in my life that I have been pooped on!! At least Mandy and Sevgi weren't here to laugh at me this time!! JK!! I wish they were!!!!!!!!!! 

Saturday, May 01, 2010

I love this quote.


I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war, Where everyone hugs Instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles And rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, And everyone grins, And everyone cuddles, And everyone wins.