Fabulous

Milia and I  headed to the airport on Thursday so excited for our trip to London! Milia was already in Tel Aviv and I was coming from Jerusalem. I arrived with plenty of time and made myself comfortable in the first class lounge. Milia managed to make it into the airport 4 minutes before the gate closed. It was quite stressful but we were both relieved to have made it on the plane. Our flight was uneventful with plenty of leg room and great food. We arrived in London and met Milia's Aunt Wendy before heading to her home in London. 

We were met at the door with a huge dinner before we crashed for the evening. The next day Milia's cousin David took us to the Tate for a special exhibit. We walked around London doing touristy things. Friday night of course we had a Shabbat dinner! My first Shabbat outside of Israel and it comforting to know wherever you go in the world Jewish families still do the same things for Shabbat. Saturday a family friend drove Milia and I around to see more touristy things but we ended up just shoe shopping in Chelsea. Sunday we went to the park and paddle boated on the river before the party. The only explantation for the weekend was fabulous!  

Monday we unfortunately had to leave our perfect weekend to head back to Israel. After pouting about leaving I realized I was going back to Israel! I have had such an exciting 7 months that I forget how lucky I am sometimes. Once I walked into the airport I knew something was wrong when they separated Milia and I and the questions started. I was being integrated like usual when you fly El AL. But this time it was different they took everything down to my passport before I was escorted with two guards to the gate. I was held and searched forever. The best part was Milia yelling at all the security people. I some home managed to keep it together knowing Milia was on the other side yelling at anyone and everyone who had something to do with El Al. That is a true friend, someone who will yell at the most intimidating Israeli man I have ever seen. It was anything but a pleasant experience but I made it home with no suitcase.

We finally arrived back in Israel at 5:30am. Tuesday was the first day of the Israeli Presidential Conference and so I rushed home to shower and change before heading to my office. The Conference was so much fun. I worked in the press room a lot the first two days working on gathering all the media that was going out about the conference. I heard Henry Kissinger and Tony Blair speak the first night. I met Peter Beinhart at one of the Bloggers sections that I helped with. He wrote a book called the Crisis of Zionism which is a major point of controversy. I helped with the Blogger section with President Shimon Peres. It was a question answer section where he answered questions about Iran, Jonathan Pollard, and what he wanted for his birthday. I wrote my first press release from the session! President Peres is very old and although he has it together you can tell he is very tired. I also sat in on panels about the Global Economic Crisis and the Arab Spring. I even got to meet Dr. Ruth who had the entire room laughing! As the three days were coming to an end, we met in the VIP room with President Peres where he thanked us for all our work. I was able to snap a perfect picture of us together. I learned a ton from the whole experience and had so much fun. Everyone I work with is so nice to me and they are just fun people. I am so glad that I was able to work with President's Conference and able to meet all the people I work with. 

Friday night I was invited to Shabbat dinner at Ruthie's, a girl I work with. Her family and a few friends all came to dinner. We laughed a lot and it was so nice to be around a family that is a lot like mine. Saturday Milia, Dena, Noah and I headed to Tel Aviv for the day. We sat on the beach all day! The Mediterranean Sea was finally not cold because it was so hot outside! We all ended up getting sunburnt before heading back to Jerusalem when the buses started to run again. 

I have moved into a new apartment with a girl I work with named Rachel. It is a major step up from my apartment in the heart of East Jerusalem. It is in a great part of town which I love exploring. All the cute shops and cafes have so much character. Rachel has shown be the ropes of the area and some of her favorite spots. 

I can not believe in 14 days I will be on a plane headed back to America. As much as I miss my family I am going to miss Israel. These last 7 months have been some of the best experiences of my life. Everything from the people I have met to the places I have visited it all has been amazing. I am sure going to miss getting free things in the market because of my blond hair! 

xoxo, 

Katy Ann 

New Adventures

After my parents left I really started to get homesick. After saying goodbye to them I had to say goodbye to Jacki the same night. It was hard to see the support system I relied on in Israel start leaving. The semester is over and more and more people are leaving. The next day Marissa and I spent our last day together in the Old CIty, walking the streets we once got lost in now knowing exactly where the best falafel place is located. Milia, Marissa, Dena and David all went to our favorite hummus place for dinner to celebrate the wonderful time we have had in Israel. 

Marissa was going to be picked up from our apartments at 3:45am when we arrived back from dinner at 11pm her room was still upside down and only half way packed. A total Marissa move and so we packed the rest of her stuff while laughing and crying about all the memories we had made over the semester. Saying goodbye to my family then Jacki then Marissa was so hard. My summer in Jerusalem was not looking good as my apartment I was going to live in fell through and I felt like everyone was leaving me. 

I had to look on the bright side of things, because things were very bright! I am living in a wonderful country that I love and have so many opportunities. Just a few minor bumps in the road. My internship is still going great. Last week I went to a TV station and watched one of our clients be interviewed. It was so cool! It was the first time I had ever been in a real studio. 

Friday evening I went to Shabbat dinner at the King David Hotel for the Hebrew University Board of Governors dinner. I was seated at a table full of donors who gave money to the university. The dinner was nice but it was nothing like I expected, but it was still a cool experience to go inside the King David hotel.  

Saturday Milia and I headed to Tel Aviv to spend the day on the beach and meet her Aunt for lunch. Her aunt was so fun and we spent the majority of the afternoon eating and talking before heading to the beach to swim. She was staying at the Hilton so we stayed until the buses started to run again after Shabbat. We had a wonderful dinner on the top floor of the Hilton overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Life could not get better! Until… Milia's Aunt invited us to London for the weekend! So tomorrow I am off to London to attend a party and enjoy the city! 

This week has been quite a roller coaster of emotions! And I finally found an apartment and have moved in! This week has sure turned around! But I am so excited for London and for the rest of the summer in Jerusalem. LONDON TOMORROW! 

xoxo, 

Katy Ann 

Searcy Invasion

I cannot believe how fast the time has gone by. The semester is officially over and my family is back in North Carolina. The last few weeks I jumped from exploring the country with my family to taking my exams. My family arrived in Tel Aviv on May 23rd and I met them at the airport. Mommy, Daddy, Mason, Carson, Aunt Patsy, Papal, our preacher David and his wife Candy all landed safely at Ben Guiron airpot! I was so excited to see them! We visited Yako a small city near Tel Aviv before heading up north. We visited on Olive Farm on our way to Haifa and stopped by Caesrea to see the ancient city. Mason loved all the history stuff. We arrived in Nazareth which we used as a base to explore Rosh Hanikra and Akko. I roomed with Aunt Patsy who was the most excited one in the group! It was so fun to tell her all about everything I had been doing all semester. She was so surprised to see how wonderful Israel was when she told me she had seen so many horrible things on the news about Israel. Aunt Patsy hit the nail on the head, while Israel does have a long list of problems it is still a wonderful place and the media does not do in justice. 

I had already been to many of these places but I was excited to be able to go back with my family. In Akko Mason and Carson quickly made friends with the locals and as we sat down for lunch we saw them jumping off the city walls into Mediterranean Sea. Our guide did not believe they had jumped until they walked into the restaurant a few minutes later soaking wet. 

After Nazareth my family headed north and I had to go back to Jerusalem to take a few exams. They finally made it to Jerusalem and I could not wait to show them my favorite city! I would have to say the greatest part of them being in Israel was the food. All the restaurants I had wanted to go to all semester I finally got to go! We did a tour of the Old City where we walked the Via Dolorosa and saw the Western Wall. We even made it up to Temple Mount to view the Dome of the Rock. This was my first time on Temple Mount and I was astonished by the size and beauty of the Dome of the Rock. We then headed to the Old City market where we shopped. Whenever we travel we have an entire list of things we have to find, almost a scavenger hunt. We have to find keychains for Mason, pins for Carson, a Christmas ornament for Mom and an army officer hat for Dad. So when we shop we shop very strategically. 

We spent the next few days in Jerusalem going to the Israel museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then walking the walls of the Old City on the Ramparts walk. I took them to the shuk, my favorite place in the city to see where I buy all my groceries. We walked the Mt of Olives and visited the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested. With so much to see in Jerusalem our days were jam packed with historical places. On Friday everyone went to Bethlehem but Mom and I stayed in Jerusalem. We went to my favorite brunch place, Kadosh. Then we spent the afternoon walking through the city and shopping. I missed my Mom so much. That is one of the most difficult parts of living in Israel. It is not the figuring out what weird thing you are buying at the market or having to get off the train for a suspicious package, it is being away from my family. 

After Jerusalem we headed to the Dead Sea, stopping on our way at Masada. Dad and Mason loved it while Papal and I tried not to faint from the heat. The Neg Ev is so hot this time of year so I was happy to finally arrive at our hotel and jump in the Dead Sea. The next morning I had to head back to Jerusalem once again to take another exam. I was so sad to be away from my family that after my exam I traveled back to the Dead Sea. The next morning we headed to Ein Gedi an oasis in the desert where we took a short hike before heading back to Tel Aviv. 

At the farewell dinner I could barely keep it together. I was not ready for my family to leave, but there flight was early the next morning. After tearful goodbyes I was yet again heading for Jerusalem to finish my adventure. 

I did not realize how much I missed my family until they got here. At one point I told my Mom, I am ready for y'all to leave so I can have peace again and I live in Israel! Even though they drive me crazy I still love them dearly and was so excited to share the country that I have fallen in love with. I am also proud to say that Israel is still standing after the Searcy's visit!