The Shalhavetjah Center
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| The Upstairs Wrap-Around Porch. Past the Bougainville is the view of the Mt. of Olives. A 10 minute walk to my left gets me on my way to the Jaffa Gate. |
I am getting to celebrate an Exodus all my own. Deeply desiring more time in the City and exposure to native Hebrew-speakers, I applied for a volunteer position at a Finnish guesthouse in the Heart of Jerusalem called The Shalhavetjah Center.
Nothing was possible at the time, but just recently I received a call accepting me as a volunteer there. My big-city dreams are coming true. I will be moving at the end of this week.
On my way home on Jaffa Street, as I passed a coffee shop, I met some Americans working at the [American] Consulate. (Noticing the weak flavor of our iced coffees, we remarked accordingly and became friends.) In the course of our conversation, it came out how Yad8 was cutting down their volunteer program and how little our stipends were.
Jokes were made and intentions declared about sending me off with shekels to buy food or offering to buy me dinner the next time I was in town. A government job. It sounds so nice right about now. :] (They said to go to the http://www.state.gov/ site.)
The city smells wonderful tonight! Like cinnamon toast! I learned that everyone is burning their leftover bread (anything with leaven in it) in time for Passover. In trying to find my new volunteer post I got a little lost and ended up in one THE Ultra Orthodox Jewish neighborhood--Mea Sherim.
Although extremely modest for a hot day in America, street after street, I was the only one wearing capris of any kind. Very taboo--kind of. I went back the way I came as fast as my uncovered calves would take me.
I was going to go to Tel Aviv (beach) today but got going so late that I went to Jeru instead. I am so hungry for a well-deserved Beach Day that I might rush over tomorrow--before everything closes up for Pesach and the buses stop running.
Passover means Spring Break over here. It's neat. All the kids are off school for a couple of weeks. The McDonalds' are packed and I'm seeing fathers just go crazy, lavishing unbudgeted affection on their little ones--especially the babies.
They are caring for and kissing their newborns like it was the highest honor--even the very cool-looking dads. It's very sweet and interesting. Festival time.
Maybe it makes everyone appreciate what they've got and take time to remember the happiness in their lives.
I will try to move everything into my new place in a couple days. My new locale has a wrap-around porch with a view of the Mount of Olives. It should be lovely!!! There will be a combination of house-keeping and reception work. A slower pace.
I will work with two older ladies and then will train a young group coming from Finland. We are almost two blocks from the Old City and Jaffe Gate. (It's also just blocks from the East Jerusalem Arab Quarter.)
I have friends coming from America in a couple days. I don't know how we'll meet up but seeing them will be a shot in the arm.
Hag Sameach (Happy Feast)
a Zionista
