Silver Fish From Talith Seen Once Again Israel

07/21/2016

Nathan'south Onward Israel Experience

Tags: Onward, Israel, Overseas, Young Adults, I-connect, Federation

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Meet Nathan. He's been to Israel before, merely he'south set up to get back again – this time, for the unabridged summer! Nathan is a participant with Onward Israel Cleveland, an 8-week plan where students ages 20-25 live and intern in Tel Aviv. Follow Nathan's journey on this blog, and to acquire more near all State of israel opportunities, visit our I-Connect Page.

June 7

I am afraid of three things, well; 3 things bother me. They are conspicuously on this earth for one reason or some other. They include; clowns, needles, and flying.

My female parent said I was a good passenger when I was younger. When I got older, I started to get more than nervous, nevertheless; this is the first flight I am actually excited for. I presume it is considering of positive apprehension. I am looking forward to getting involved and immersing myself in the Israeli workforce.

My name is Nathan (Nate) Lapin. I graduated with a Communication Studies major and an Education minor from The College of Wooster in 2015. During the year, I am a substitute instructor for multiple districts around the Greater Cleveland expanse, and I recently finished a long-term substitute gym instructor position at Gross Schechter Day School.

I wanted to put my major to good employ this summer, so I accepted a position at a start-up called OneDay Social Volunteering as a Public Relations managing director. A couple objectives include promoting the visitor besides as calling citizens in Israel who desire to volunteer. I will have to identify them in aspects of society they would like to volunteer, including special needs, environment, the elderly, fighting hunger, etc. Then, I will go out and volunteer with those same individuals. I cannot look to meet everyone at the business firm and in my Onward Israel Cleveland program. I look this to be an eye-opening feel, as well equally an opportunity for personal growth as I immerse myself in the global working society.

June 8

We arrived. Nosotros then got a shuttle driver to Jerusalem for orientation of all the other Onward groups from Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Arts, and Hillel. Ben, Matt, Zeke, Austin, and I walked a bit outside. Nosotros then came dorsum and met Or and Michal, our madrichim (supervisors). They seem really absurd. I and so went out that nighttime with two of my Israeli friends from Birthright in Jerusalem. I hopped on the train and navigated my way to run into them. Information technology was nice to catch upward.

June nine

Nosotros woke upwardly and had a delicious breakfast. It included hummos, Israeli salad, eggs, tuna, all the veggies, and an apple. I could get used to this, simply I can make it myself when I am on my ain in the flat. I am a bit nervous because I am living in a strange country on my own for 2 months.

We and then went on a hike and did a few teambuilding activities. The mural was cute, and I took my time. We and so arrived in Tel Aviv a few hours later. Our apartments are super nice. My roommate is Lee, and my other housemates in the flat are Haley, Lily, and Sammie. Nosotros get along very well and nosotros program on making dinner tomorrow when nosotros grow grocery shopping.

June x

It'due south Shabbat! Nosotros got falafel at the shuk (market)! Information technology was wonderful because anybody was nice even when it was packed. I have been trying to converse with the locals, so that could be why. And then we picked up the groceries and cooked eggplant parmesan equally well as pasta. We also had pita with hummos and cut up some peppers.

June xi

Shabbat in Tel Aviv is different than Shabbat in Jerusalem. People are withal active and going places, simply most businesses are closed. We went to the embankment. We got in the water as well as learned how to play volleyball. Israelis are very inclusive when it comes to the beach, e'er wanting to play and e'er wanting more people to play.

Every bit for the water, information technology was something I had never seen before. It was beautiful, and I realized that this could be every day. In Cleveland, we would make a day trip to the beach. People in Tel Aviv go every mean solar day. This is what paradise appears similar to me. I am living a dream.

June 12

I went for a run and the GPS in my phone took me to Rabin Square. This is probably my favorite place in Israel, because Yitzhak Rabin was an Israeli Prime Government minister who fought for the good of the people. His bump-off tells us that if we have a strong, united, common national Jewish identity, we will not exist stopped short of success. If we are divided, the country will fall.

I then went to a picnic to celebrate Shavuot with my whole Onward group. Nosotros wore white. It was dainty to gloat the holiday in Israel considering it is a tradition that one can be a office of and information technology seems that one can share that passion of the vacation with the locals. I am thankful to be a function of it.

I and so prepared for my internship. I picked out my outfit: a white polo with my jean shorts. Israelis dress casually, probably because of the atmospheric condition. At my task in Cleveland, I usually go with a suit and tie. This volition be a massive change.

June 13

The get-go day of my internship I met the squad at a java shop at Habima Square. At that place is my boss, along with several others on the executive team. There are two other interns, Mara and Cody, who are in charge of the social media attribute of the firm. I feel that based off this meeting, a good corporeality of volunteering organizations utilize social media as their primary outlet to obtain volunteers for their programs. They have many events around the Tel Aviv expanse, including planning one thousand games for Kindergartners at recess, taking special needs children to a theatre, and a beach cleanup, to name a few.

There were also a few questions asked of the social media platform here at Onward, including: How many team members were there in each city? How do we build a team based on the success of past events? What are strategies of a volunteer squad of good quality? What is a base nosotros tin can build off of? There is semi-annual study that comes out with statistics of the number of events per month equally well as how many participants per month. There is too a huge listing of events that took place during the year, where they were held (mostly Tel Aviv, a few in Beer Sheva), when they are held, and how many people volunteer for the events. A future goal or objective is to look at the success in the second branch of Beer Sheva (modeled after Tel Aviv) and run across if they tin can model the strategy of OneDay Social Volunteering in other cities, such every bit Jerusalem or Haifa.

As for challenges and goals, a challenge in media is that there is so much going on in media, and then it is difficult to narrow downwards what specific media tools to apply in lodge to exist successful. Our team will have to figure out what the best tools are. We also need to look at how sustainability is involved, as well as how exercise we add volunteering, fun, and practicality. One way is we must have our heart in the right place equally volunteers, not simply use information technology as something to put on our résumé. When we are driven, we achieve more, that is why I take set some goals for myself, but non in any order; my first goal is to have an increase in volunteers and the quality of them too at each event. My second goal is to develop a routine in a foreign work arrangement, and know when to enquire for help. I do non know everything here, so somewhen I will take to ask for help. My Hebrew is getting better, so that is a silverish lining.

June fourteen

Public Relations Coming together: This coming together was for me! Nosotros met in a library on Mazeh 9. Onward has a specific system to it, which I volition larn as I progress in my internship. The objective of OneDay Social Volunteering is to strengthen the community equally well as the bond between volunteers. We target young people normally xviii-35 years of historic period. The reason behind targeting this age is to evidence young people to volunteer in the future, especially when they get out of the IDF, and even while they are in the IDF. One of my coworkers is in the IDF. When I met with another coworker today, she told me social media is the primary fashion of volunteer recruitment, which confirmed my hypothesis from yesterday regarding social media and volunteering. What they would similar are pictures after the event with an explanation of what will happen adjacent after volunteer. In America, when i volunteers, they become, they do their good deed, and then they go out.

Sasha, my coworker on my PR co-operative, discussed with me the branches they started up and what made them successful and unsuccessful. Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva are successful because they have a immature population, including a skillful amount of students and IDF soldiers looking to volunteer. Jerusalem is strict when information technology comes to volunteers. They stated that volunteers could but help if they are from their own region. In my opinion, this defeats the purpose of volunteering.

The guidebook for how to outset a OneDay branch anywhere in the earth is what I will be working on. It will include: how to open up a branch, how a branch will be strategically run, the outcome of the goals of the programme, and the expectations, which volition all add up to the guidebook being the manual of success. We tin can spread these programs through outside influence, including delegations such every bit Birthright or Onward, because if a tourist or a non-local participates in a program or activeness and really likes it, he or she can take something from this back to their home and start something of their ain; and they will have a guidebook written by me to do information technology.

OneDay Volunteering Programs involve volunteering for the outset one-half, then for the second half getting together for dinner or for drinks. This is the concept of social volunteering. We need companies like these to make sure volunteering continues wherever they go. Volunteering does not cease; it must go on going. The world needs a hero, and the hero needs a driven heart to drive the world.

June 15

I'yard on the bus, and I sit down next to three Arabic girls. This girl says "shalom," then I say information technology dorsum. I then ask "ata metaber anglit?" (Do y'all speak English?) And she shook her head. I'k still learning, but I put my aviators on and looked away. The 2 other girls with her looked at me funny. 1 was on the phone and said something that upset the ane who said how-do-you-do to me. That girl gave the daughter on the phone a Charlie Equus caballus and I was shocked. One in a burka started to laugh, then the two girls started laughing, and finally, I could not take it anymore and burst out laughing on the omnibus. I looked around and everyone was smiling. I did not accept to sympathise the language to know that something was funny. Laughter is a universal language that everyone can savour.

When I got to piece of work, we discussed the organizational civilisation and the semantics of the firm's mission statement and objectives. We also conversed well-nigh easy means to communicate between senior staff, organizers of the program that day, and volunteers, which is where the guidebook would come in with a chapter of how to manage a program.

We were as well introduced to the CEO's strategy, which is an interconnecting organization of people we can call to volunteer, spread awareness of the business firm, and strengthen the bond. I really felt similar I was a part of a solid team and I felt so comfortable speaking my mind and portraying my ideas. I definitely feel that I am fitting into the workforce here and I know I will make a difference here in Israel, come up back to America, brand a difference in that location, and then brand a divergence in the world. As I said yesterday, heroes need driven hearts to drive the world, and I accept ane of them, and I programme on using it for the best of the community.

June 19

I am at a meeting in a coffee shop at Ramat Aviv Mall. Nosotros accept adamant that we will accept whole grouping meetings Sundays and Thursdays. Tuesdays we volition be in our branches; PR, Business, and New Media. I am in the PR. I am ready to get started on the guidebook. I feel that we need a rationale in there along with the mission statement, because the rationale will justify our mission argument; which will then justify the goal of our program. I created a basic outline of what the guidebook will await like and pitched it to my boss, only summarizing it, and he said that is skilful. He also said that it is okay to wade into it slowly because more interns will be coming to assist out, so that is good. I posted our issue of the Tel Aviv Embankment Clean Up on the Facebook group. My dominate messaged me saying all of the interns' coordinators for Onward volition be in omnipresence! I am super excited to see this through.

June 20

I met my PR team at one of my coworkers' apartments in Ramat Gan. The room is squeamish and the view is spectacular. I could not get over it. We discussed what goes into a PR kit as well as coming up with different slogans. One slogan we came up with was "You determine, give one twenty-four hours." Our firm wants to stress the importance of choice in volunteering. One must choose to volunteer their time and actually want to brand a departure. I hope our whole team likes information technology tomorrow.

We then had our break-out seminar activity, where we went to the Holon Children'south Museum, and went through an exhibit where were simulating a blind individual's feel. Our guide helped united states move forth and we had to utilize our other senses to get by, such every bit following the voice, feeling around, and even smelling, Information technology provided some serious perspective on what the blind go through on a daily basis. I felt bad, only at the same time, after talking to our guide, I realized how much he enjoys life because he works with what he has and desires to push frontward. It is incredible how people overcome their disadvantages the fashion they do, because I can only imagine what I would do without one of my senses. I asked him what advice he could requite to someone going blind, and he stated one must have a stiff mentality and believe in yourself. This was a very powerful bulletin, from a person with a powerful outlook.

June 21

I helped come up with a hashtag for the new media branch: #onedayoneworld. They were putting things together for media outreach and it merely popped into my caput. Nosotros then met with our branches and simply went over what we discussed in our own separate teams the day before. It was quite hot out, so I am realizing I must accept cold foods, such as smoothies, iced coffees, and at times ice cream. I do non really eat sweets, merely to survive in this estrus, I learned that most people in Israel consume cold products to cool themselves off. Anyway, we got done and we are getting ready to run into at the Ulpan Neve Tsedek.

June 22

We met the caput of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles at the Ulpan Neve Tsedek. Her main focus with Federation is to piece of work with nonprofit organizations for financial support. NGO'due south in Israel, the regime does not back up the really bones things. The NGO's get their coin through agencies and federations. She loves that one has the chance to volunteer and make a alter, and the chance to socialize with each other. They can bring together when they have time. She besides stated that today'south generation not as continued to Jewish community, therefore not every bit connected to Israel.

Organizations like OneDay help create the Jewish identity by engaging young adults in Jewish values. I can say this is true on some levels, because times take changed and it does non appear every bit stressed. At the same time, today'due south generation is besides driven and connected through social media, where they can find locations where they could get if they want to practice. It seems to me that today's generation'south mental attitude towards Judaism and Israel appears the same every bit the message of OneDay; it is our decision, yet if nosotros decide to take part, nosotros have our full heart invested in the civilization, organized religion, and community.

June 23

Nosotros met today prior to the beach clean upward. I helped arts and crafts the mission statement of the arrangement. It is great that I get to be a part of starting upward a company and laying the foundation for making a difference effectually the world. The beach clean upwards itself was a huge success with ten-fifteen people showing upward to volunteer! While it was a small amount of volunteers, we accomplished a lot together. Information technology is nice to run into individuals care about the beach. Whenever I see trash on the embankment in full general I pick it up. Just the other twenty-four hours, I was in the water, and I saw a fish struggling to become out of this mesh bag. I idea I could be a hero and rescue the fish, just it was too late. The fish went abdomen upwards when I took it out of the mesh pocketbook and put it back in the h2o. This is why we must keep our Earth clean, because animals and the environment comprehensively will suffer because of the abandon. There are also plenty of trashcans on the beach. Keep our embankment clean, and keep our World safe.

June 26

I woke upwards today and took the passenger vehicle to an Aroma out in Ramat Gan. This part of Tel Aviv is more of the metropolitan side, and it is nice. I met with the group and we discussed the programme for the press kit. I had a breakthrough last night due to the outline and goals. At present that I have this outline, we tin get moving. Here are the goals.

PR kit final draft (Earlier graphic designing)
I pager - final typhoon
Advanced "one pager"
Branding
Newsletter
Newsletter for partners and donors
Holiday greetings
Board invitation letter
Possible Ted presentation

Since I was wired upwards with ideas, I used our meeting time to work, present my ideas, and get started on these goals. It was a successful meeting. On the mode dorsum on the motorbus, all the same; a water pipe exploded and I had to help a pair of old ladies off the jitney because the h2o was scalding hot. That was interesting to say the least.

June 27

I did not have work in the office today, so I worked from dwelling. In a nonprofit information technology is pretty piece of cake to piece of work from home. I worked on the "who/what/when/where/how "portion of the press kit and added a why portion. The printing kits I have seen all accept the description folio, but they practice non have the "why" part. I believe this is what will set up us apart from other organizations and will provide the rationale for why OneDay is necessary in Israel and around the globe. I also asked my boss if I could piece of work on the newsletter, because I bask writing and I have some ideas for how to put it together. We volition see what happens.

Prior to all of this, I went to Yafo for lunch. I had shakshuka from Dr. Shakshuka. Information technology is a dish served in a pan with eggs, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and if you want, other food such equally craven. We and then went to the shuk, which was basically a behemothic garage sale. There were so many clothes and trinkets that I did not know what to exercise. I must know what they want prior to going to the shuk, especially in Yafo. I then went back and swam in the beach.

For our Mon Night Activity, we went to Sarona Market place and went on a scavenger hunt looking for the buildings assigned to us that used to be Templar houses. We found ours, which used to exist a slaughter-house. I knew a picayune bit well-nigh the Templars, due to the book I am reading, The Last Templar, by Raymond Khoury. We and then got dinner and went home. Some other successful day in the books.

June 28

Unfortunately, today was a struggle. I use this app, Moovit, to assist with the buses. Sometimes it is authentic, other times, not and then much. I put in the address and the app showed me buses to take. I got on the 61 autobus to Ramat Gan for my meeting, but unfortunately, it fabricated a turn off course and began to travel to Herzlyia, which is south and I wanted to go east. I and so got on another jitney and tried to venture to Ramat Gan, and it began to have me to Rishon Lezion, even farther s. I got off as before long as I noticed this, so I took some time to retrieve where I was and evaluate the state of affairs, and then I got on the coach that ended up taking me to Ramat Gan.

We discussed our goals as a team and how nosotros volition reach them and when. It was a productive meeting, brunch included besides! We are a very cohesive group and nosotros all get forth. This is what OneDay Social Volunteering is all about; working to improve society crusade by cause and enjoying the company of the team while accomplishing our task. I then went to Nachalat Binyamin to store for artsy gifts for the family and the embankment. I like to become to the shuk every other twenty-four hour period, and the embankment I go every day, sometimes twice including the night, because I want to have advantage of every opportunity Tel Aviv has to offer. This includes Israel as well, it is a beautiful country, and and then I must make the most of it and have the experience of a lifetime.

June 30

July 3

Nosotros had a meeting today in this nice office building. Information technology looked very sketchy from the outside, but it was a beautiful space on the inside. Nosotros discussed a lot, mostly regarding donors and what they would like to come across. I came to the conclusion that most donors are interested in a specific subject area; case, if they want to contribute to Holocaust survivors, they would like to encounter events that back up Holocaust survivors. Events should be specific to donors' interests. We also discussed the format of how an event should be. I proposed this:

Starting Speech of outcome leader, and mayhap the person we are helping (IE: Elderly Person being helped movement or rearrange her things).
Ice Breaker
Team Building Activity
Upshot
Closing Activeness; What one got out of the event
Social Activity where we have the choice to talk over the upshot farther or relax and enjoy each other.

My boss loved this format, "Perfect," he said. He too mentioned this format should be used for future events and I should come up with icebreakers, such as the homo knot, where the current of air blows, or a tiptop game. I am really excited for everything to come together. I also finished the newsletter, which my dominate told me to send tomorrow, even though it is due on the ninth, so I got my borderline pushed upwardly six days. I will send it tomorrow. It looks cute.

July 4

July 4th is not historic hither, but while we were working, the dominate messaged united states of america via Facebook and told united states of america to go celebrate the day. I got the newsletter washed and sent out and I planned out the rest of when our PR goals need to become done. It is important to take a schedule and know what 1 needs to practice. My boss loves that I ask for jobs. One needs to take initiative, considering in a showtime-up, non everything is going to exist pace-by-step; i must be ready to accept the atomic number 82 at times.

The group liked my mission statement and purpose for the company, then I beloved that my ideas can impact the growth of OneDay. Anything I can do to help. I am going to be working on the newsletter for donors, every bit well as forming some altogether cards for volunteers to make them feel welcome, considering they are. We want the volunteers to savour themselves and as well come back to improve the community. Speaking of volunteers, I am going to a customs gardening consequence Friday to run across how the team leader runs the issue. I am excited to be somewhen leading i of these events as well.

July five

I worked from home today. I got my goals and objectives organized and put them on my calendar. I programme on working on the donor newsletter and hopefully obtaining a listing of volunteers with their birthdays. I also look forward to helping write the board invitation letter. I am gathering my research and getting organized in order to accomplish the task. I am actually enjoying working with my teammates. Tomorrow, I am going to Gush Etzion, so I will work a footling bit on the motorbus. Thursday we take a meeting at 10:thirty a.m. then hopefully a branch meeting later on for PR.

July 6

Gush Etzion. We started off traveling. We went into the Due west Depository financial institution to go on a hike to this winery, where we discussed the history of the settlements every bit well every bit the conflict from a political standpoint. I really liked our guide, Eytan, because he wanted to become to our destination in a timely style, as well as requite us a complete historical account of the West Bank. I saturday back and listened to him talk nigh the disharmonize between State of israel and Palestine, which is what I unremarkably do when the discipline comes up. This fourth dimension, however, I became intrigued, especially when he talked about the Sharon annexation lines. Later on he talked, we saw what I could say was all of the settlements in the region, including the ancient cities of Beitar and Zachariah, where Jews stood upwards to the Romans regardless of strength or size many years ago. I asked Eytan more questions about the Sharon segmentation lines on the bus and he was more than happy to talk to me about it, giving me vital data.

We then arrived at the winery, where nosotros learned how vino was made. They do not squish the whole grape considering the pit leaves a sour taste, then the machine presses gently to get the juices out for fermentation. Nosotros then had dejeuner and sampled a cerise and a white vino. Lunch included eggplant, bulgar with cranberry and parsley which resembled tabouli to me, thin pizza with caramelized onions, salad, and these potatoes with a sweet and sour glaze. Needless to say I was full going into my adjacent discussion. This was with a guy named Nachul. He was speaking to united states of america from a standpoint about how both Israeli and Palestinians need to change their language and mentalities from violent to peaceful before there could be a solution. He started out with the mentality of Palestinians are the enemy then got older and realized that with a peaceful mindset and focusing on the positives and how much our relationships can grow. It is mentalities similar that of Nachul's that drive the effort towards earth peace even further, and it was a privilege to be a part of that discussion.

On the bus, I finished the visitor'southward 1 pager. I volition be sending it off the next day prior to my meeting tomorrow nighttime. I am happy I tin can get things done timely and efficiently. I also take an event on Friday, which is a customs gardening result in Rishon Lezion. I will take my gardening gloves and shovel set up to go.

July 7

July eight

Today was the community gardening outcome. A school and also at-hazard teenagers use the garden during the week. I met the OneDay Tel Aviv branch staff. A small number of volunteers came out, withal, we cleaned out the garden well. We got rid of the weeds and invasive grass plants that take away the food and water that the flowers and plants demand to abound. I learned a lot about gardening. They re-use everything, including the dead weeds and grass to cover the soil so the plants are protected from hereafter weed sprouts.

It was a hot solar day, but at that place was plenty of food and h2o to keep usa entertained, likewise as each other. When the day was washed, the garden was clean and I feel it is condom to say nosotros all felt a sense of success and fabricated at least i friend that solar day!

The rest of the twenty-four hours, I went to the beach and taught myself how to ride on top of the wave to shore, so exhilarating. I also made guacamole for a Shabbos get together. It did not expect the best, probably due to all the paprika I put in, simply tasted excellent. Shout out to Lily, Haley, and Mara for the chips. I besides biked to Yafo, and stumbled upon an Eid Mubarak commemoration going on at Sir Charles Park. I felt a bit out of place, but as I slowed downwardly, I was invited to taste a kabob. The identify was insane. I've been to St. Charles Park and it was never this crowded. Families pitched tents and were constantly grilling, listening to music, and having a wonderful fourth dimension. I felt blest that some people took me into the celebration, even though their English and my Standard arabic was limited, or in my example, nonexistent. I had a smash, what a groovy way to end a neat day!

July ten

I went grocery shopping on Dizingoff Square, because I can become a lot of groceries for a cheap price. I am eating well here. The fruits and vegetables are fresh every bit well every bit the pita and other groceries. After I did that, I got 7 NIS falafel. I like all falafel places here, merely if I get a falafel for 7 NIS, and the guy loads it up with everything, I will happily walk to the shuk for information technology. He says "falafel?" I say "Ken." "Kol?" Everything. "Ken" This is what I would call budgeting correctly. I also got a carrot juice (meetz gezer) for 5 NIS. Delicious, nutritious, and frugal. I should exist on one of those nutrition for inexpensive shows.

Anyway, I went to my meeting. I took notes and came upward with a new format for the newsletter, which I sent out to the boss and the other master executive officers. I am also creating a newsletter process, which includes when and how the newsletter should be sent out, who will write it for the month, and what medium they will be sent through.

After the meeting I went out with a couple coworkers of mine to get to know them farther. I've been meeting upwardly with a couple of them regularly at the beach, only some I would like to get to know. I experience that most of united states are actually gelling together. It is nice to work with people that desire to work simply also want to feel Israel, just similar myself.

Some other way I experienced Israel was the Euro Cup Concluding at Lee's workplace. Nosotros watched Portugal trounce France 1-0 on the rooftop of his workplace. It was a surreal experience. They had snacks, pizza, and a giant projector overlooking the city. It was a great way to terminate the 24-hour interval.

July 11

Today, I went to the gym. I then cut upward my watermelon, and finished the newsletter and one pager for comments and edits. I examined our press kit and made comments and edits on that as well. That was the extent of my workday.

I then went to Sarona Marketplace by the Azrieli Middle. I wanted to try everything. There are and then many places I want to go dorsum to, such as this dried fruit stand, every bit well as this pasta identify. There are many more, but I got this blazon of sharp cheddar from La Formagerie, Truffle gelato from the gelato factory, besides as some fig jam for my mom, because she loves jam. I do not think she has ever had fig jam before, and so this should be skillful.

Our evening activeness consisted of this graffiti tour. We walked effectually the artsy Florentine neighborhood taking pictures of graffiti. The pictures are fastened. My roommates and I later went to the Tel Aviv lightshow. This show was fun to watch. The fountains reacted with the lights. I and then had a glass of cabernet overlooking the beach, and went to bed.

July 12

Today I packed my lunch and headed to the beach with my roommates for a picnic. I made myself a turkey sandwich with spinach, lycopersicon esculentum, this cheese that I like, and hommos. We sabbatum nether these nice palm copse looking out over the beach. The water was at a perfect temperature, because July tends to be the hottest month in Israel, or at least the most humid. Nosotros could see Yafo in the distance to our left, always a pretty sight.

I and then got a smoothie, which was milk based and had mango, strawberry, kiwi, and banana and I could pick whatsoever I wanted to throw in in that location. I might make that my smoothie place. It was right next to the Dizingoff Antique Shuk, and I figured since it only takes place Tuesdays and Fridays I would take a look effectually. I spotted this pivot from the IDF, and I grabbed it. I establish out it was a paratrooper pin from the Kfir Brigade, the youngest infantry partition in the IDF, from 2005. I thought it was pretty cool. I then went to the gym after for leg day. Once that was done, I went back to the beach to practise some work with my coworker, Cody, from Onward Baltimore. He likes my work, and I similar his as well. Information technology is a dainty business relationship. It was his birthday and he invited my roommates and I out to have a beverage or two. A couple other coworkers were there every bit well, and information technology was a overnice experience.

July 13

I packed for the Negev tomorrow for our overnight trip, which should be fun. I went to the gym, made edits to our Press Kit, and then went to visit Sammie at Herzlyia Beach by where she works. We went to the beach and relaxed. The beach was cute and relaxing. The rocks were so close! The water was crystal clear and the sand was soft as a pillow. Nosotros grabbed some lord's day, then Lily fabricated us stir fry with rice noodles, broccoli, zucchini, and onion with teriyaki sauce. We then went to a Mexican place for a margarita. I have seen a lot of diverseness here in Israel. I have seen Turkish, Georgian, Chinese, Japanese, Czech, Austrian, American, Kurdish, Iraqi, Persian, Moroccan, Ethiopian, and Eritrean places. Israel celebrates this diversity well, particularly through their food. Israeli food is my favorite, but information technology is nice to grab something unlike every in one case in a while.

July 14

Due south Negev: Nosotros arrived at the Shanti Business firm in the Negev, a house for kids who are in bad home situations escaping from them. Sometimes, the kids are not necessarily in whatsoever danger, but merely demand a niggling assistance to sort out the situation. We listened to 2 kids and their stories, which were powerful and deep. One was a refugee and another was badly abused. The founder started Shanti House in her apartment for kids on the streets to get for Shabbos dinners. It somewhen turned into a not-profit arrangement. Information technology had a theatre, puddle, animate being therapy room, etc. These are normal citizens, non professionals, trying to provide kids the love they need. Why is this not in the US? Perchance I should start one.

Afterwards the Shanti House, we went to the acting school of Beer Sheba to participate in an improv activity. We did word clan games, multi-tasking (imitate moves, answer math questions, and word associations), tongue twisters, etc. Everyone participated and I feel like this was the activity that brought usa closer as a group. I speak for anybody when I say this was a skilful bonding activity. I never did a lot of acting or phase-play activities, so it was great that I could peculiarly step exterior of my comfort zone in guild to have fun and not care. I highly recommend this.

Nosotros and so ventured to Beer Sheba to bout the neighborhood of Daled. Nosotros went beyond the education span, which connects the metropolis of Arkmo with Daled. Arkmo is where more than of the successful residents such as doctors, lawyers, and professors live. A while ago, kids were playing by the train tracks and accidents were happening, and then the mayor of the town put up a wall dividing the cities, essentially cutting off Daled. There is besides a wall Ben Gurion University put upward closing in Daled. It is unfortunate, because Daled kids will not exist able to get into Ben Gurion Academy considering they don't have the necessary tools to aid themselves get in. There are exceptions, merely based off of what the tour guide told us, information technology is hard to go out of Daled, near incommunicable.

We left Daled for the Bedouin Tents. We gear up our beds under our tents. I met this desert cat I named Lentil. He was cool. I then went exploring and sat on a bench nearby. A soccer ball came well-nigh me. I picked information technology up and it was three Bedouin boys. I passed it to them, and they passed it back. I was surprised, and nosotros played one-touch and juggled with each other. It was nice to play with those kids because regardless of what language we spoke we all spoke ball. Information technology was an feel that I volition not forget.

Speaking of experiences, we had a traditional Bedouin dinner. It was their version of pita, hommos with chickpeas and oil, tahini, cooked carrots, cabbage, Israeli salad, rice and shawarma. I could not stop eating. I had tea afterwards, my favorite. I had five cups. I then chilled with the camels later on and had a bonfire, then went to bed. It was not cold at all.

July 15

I woke upward at five:30 a.g. to Lentil, equally well as the dusk. I got upward and had a Bedouin/Israeli breakfast, which included peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, tahini, eggs, and tea. I tried to pour it myself but ane of the Bedouins poured it for me. I know it'southward what they "have" to do, just I'm non a fan of people handing me things I can practice myself, only I was polite, as was he.

We and so went on a hike in the desert on the hottest twenty-four hours of the year. It was long, but the scenery, cliffs, and canyons were fantastic. I ate saltbush, which helps retain water lost from your body. Nosotros then went to this winery, where I sampled some wines; Kedem and Somek were my favorite. I am a red wine guy, due to the benefits of the claret flow. I then had mint tea, and then nosotros went to David Ben Gurion and Paula's grave. Ben Gurion was the first prime number minister of Israel, and was known for his development of life in the Negev.

After the desert, my roommates and I cooked Shabbos dinner, which consisted of pasta with chicken, meatballs, and veggies. Information technology was Lee's altogether too, and then we had a cheesecake for him, drank, went out for a scrap, so watched a motion-picture show

July 16

Shabbos Beach: I went to the beach with my roommates and played matgot, the ping-pong air game. It was a lot of fun. The water was very squeamish. Haley and I actually ended up getting bit by a couple sandsharks, at least that's what we were told. Afterward we got back we went to Shuk Laila Batahana, an outdoor market. At that place was salsa dancing, craft shops, food stands, and stores. I got a sabich. It was great! When nosotros went dwelling, Lee played a game of Horse with this boy, and he was able to teach him in Hebrew.

July 17

Surfing in Herzlyia. I went to the gym, then went to work. We discussed our goals, which I covered in my notes:

Create some sort of model for process: Who communicates with who? Who gets information technology canonical? How should information technology be sent? (Come across previous notes.
Chop wording for 1 pager/advanced ane pager
Ship donor newsletter: Work on Donor Newsletter; Make information technology more like a cover letter than anything else.
Kickoff Board Invitation Letter; Make information technology very specific, make it more about the aesthetics; create a OneDay letterhead; place where things would go, how they piece of work, what comes before what:

Later work, I went surfing with Sammie in Herzlyia. There, I met her coworkers who were arctic. I of her coworkers was from Solon and knew my sis, Sydney. Our surfing instructor, Guy, was helpful with getting u.s. to get upward on the board in i fluid motion. Information technology took a good amount of tries, but in the cease, I finally got a wave or 2!

After I grabbed the bus home, I headed to dinner with Haley, Lily, and Lee. I ate shawarma stuffed with Israeli salad, onions, hommos, tahini, and spicy sauce (harif), and amba with countless salad (amba cabbage, carrots, pickled onions, roasted eggplant, and tahini dressing). I was blimp similar the shawarma pita I had.

July xviii

I went to the gym, then the beach. Afterward the beach, we went to an Onward Conference, where all the Onwards came together to do these seminar workshops. They were helpful. The starting time ane was called 'The Perfect Pitch,' which taught the states how to persuade the audience. The 2nd one was nigh communicating in the workplace, what to do in the environment. As a advice studies major, I learned a lot of this material in my college courses, and this material is super helpful for my task!

July 19

I went for a hike in Tel Aviv State Park, Ein Afek, in Petach Tikvah. We traveled around the fortress, and by lily ponds. It was very pretty, and in that location is a lot of history surrounding this place. It is incredible to remember how old and how much history Israel is. The US is a baby compared to Israel.

July 20

Not much happened today, other than the fact that I used the information I received from Monday to help me create the donor newsletter. I learned that information technology should be more of a cover alphabetic character to entice donors to donate to our visitor. Hither is how I structured it:

Who we are and what we exercise. Literally 1 sentence. For instance; "We are…and we (cite mission statement or purpose).
Groundwork: Describe your squad and who you are, and who is missing; say what you need.
Problem + Marketplace= Opportunity: Address the problem to the audience members, who are the marketplace, and state how it provides opportunity
Solution: How to fix the situation with the opportunity
Competition: Why our visitor as opposed to others
Model (or if not, say it is included in the PR Kit)

This procedure was directly out of my first workshop. It is incredible how much I learned from this program. I am thankful and I capeesh the opportunity I had to go on this trip and experience Israel; in a piece of work surround, equally well as an experiential one. Give thanks you to all who have helped me go here.

July 21

The Pride Parade in Jerusalem. We got downwardly in that location and grabbed a Cofix for five shekel. We and then went to Mahane Yehuda Market and explored. The shuk was huge. I know Shuk Hacarmel is large merely at that place were twice as many fruits, vegetables, and even full-on restaurants throughout. Nosotros and so went through Mamilla to get to the Wall. The shuk is basically a giant garage auction full of ornaments, jewelry, traditional clothing, and other knick-knack items. The shuk also had a shawarma place where the pita was stuffed with chicken shawarma, salad, hommos, tahini, chickpeas, and grape leaves. There were many juice stands besides.

We finally got to the Wall. The girls had to put on long pants/brim as well as something to cover their shoulders. I went in there and figured I should at least put tallit over my bare shoulders. I did that and talked to the Wall for at least xx minutes if non more. It was an feel I will not forget. Every time I accept gone to the wall I felt a spiritual burst of positivity period out of me.

After the Wall, we walked towards the beginning of the parade. The park was packed with rainbows and interesting people. Also, a hymeneals took place, which was nice to witness. They had a chupah and the two men kissed. I would not phone call myself an advocate for LGBTQ, but I believe anybody should have equal rights regardless of sexual orientation. Never would I have imagined myself witnessing a pride parade in one of the more religious cities in Israel. I felt safety, because in that location was so much security. Each IDF soldier, security guard, policeman, retired IDF member, were within five feet of each other. Non only did we witness this parade, but also we ended up beingness a function of the parade, which was intense, just in the finish, we got out and ate at this French place on Ben Yehuda Street, witnessing street performers and live music. We too went to the night market. Today was a packed twenty-four hour period full of chance and fun; tomorrow we will accept even more than fun.

July 22

We woke upwardly and went to the shuk. I grabbed a falafel and a watermelon, cantaloupe, and assistant smoothie. I besides picked up some groceries for our big brunch tomorrow that nosotros are hosting! I am super excited for that. We had to get prepare for the escape room in Petach Tiqva though, and then I will save discussing the brunch for tomorrow. When we arrived, the room was so official; I thought in one of the rooms it was an office infinite. I saw a North Korean flag, to which I thought, "why?" I and then realized the theme of the escape room was to break out of a Due north Korean prison house campsite. We had to break out of our handcuffs, which left a mark on my wrist, cause an electrical short to release us from our cells, and break into the control room. From there, I had to play the function of the prison control room monitor and answer the phone from a prison manager and my "wife," and I had to figure out clues to enter on the calculator to disable all the systems. We also had to use a 3D printer in order to brand a central to go us to the next room. Once nosotros crawled through some tunnels, we reached the laundry room, to where I grabbed a guard jacket and a faux pistol, put anybody in the laundry basket with clothes on pinnacle of them, went in, and escaped through the laundry chute. Before I went, the guard asked "Baby-sit, what are you doing?!" I froze, and I took the gun and went, "PEW PEW" and threw the laundry over him and went through. We all had a good express joy, and even got to watch ourselves break out.

When we got home, we fabricated dinner and got prepare for Avicii. Obviously, this was his concluding concert ever, then it was a huge bargain. We took a taxi to Rishon Lezion and listened to two warm-up performers that were also incredible. He finally went on at one a.m. but it was worth information technology. At that place were so many lights, flashes, hands in the air (too as people), and people singing their hearts out to the songs. It was an incredible concert with everyone meeting to listen to music and have a swell time, whether it was your best friend or consummate stranger. At an event in Israel, when it is an activity where anybody wants to exist, everyone stops and bonds with ane another in some mode.

We finally got home at 4:30 a.m. and realized nosotros had to be up at x a.k. to melt Shabbos brunch for some of the Onward Cleveland group. We crashed immediately, and then woke up and began to cook. We all fabricated shakshuka, challah French toast, and potatoes. Our neighbors from Mendele brought over Israeli salad with tahini, as well as chairs. Matt and Ben Lauffer from Dov Hoz brought over pita with hommos, and Kyle and Elana brought over grapes and watermelon.

The brunch was a huge success with everyone there coming together and enjoying one's company. People also helped u.s. clean upward. After our post-brunch nap, nosotros all went to the beach. That is what people practise on Shabbos here on a Sabbatum; everyone goes to the beach during the day because goose egg else is open, for the well-nigh part. My roommates and neighbors all went dorsum at around five p.yard., while I stayed a tad longer to see my good friend Tamar, with whom I worked with at the Mandel JCC the summertime of 2014 when I was a companion counselor and she was the Israeli specialist. I had not seen her for two years. We caught upward and updated on each other's lives since we had gone, and discussed my time in State of israel. It was so nice to see each other again. After that, my roommates and I went to dinner at the Thai Firm, and went to bed.

July 25

I worked for a part of the day, then spent some time at the beach. We then made rice with vegetables every bit well as homemade pita fries. Later that, we went to Nola baker on Dizingoff, where I got a peanut butter cup. Information technology reminded me of Reese'due south. It is dainty to accept something sweetness every once and a while.

Lily, Haley, and I ventured to Hayarkon Park for a picnic. Nosotros fabricated sandwiches as well every bit brought Israeli salad. We walked around the park and saw some cool birds, such every bit the green ane and some funny looking geese. After nosotros got back, Lee cooked the states dinner, we went to our Monday dark program, and so went out for a little.

July 26

I went to Jerusalem for the morning and lunch with Haley. I explored Mahane Yehuda Market and Ben Yehuda Street. I bought a chai necklace, a tank top, as well as a peace shirt translated into English language, Arabic, and Hebrew. I also got a candle for my sis. Smoothies were my dejeuner because they were just too practiced. The first 1 I got included banana, strawberry, and dates. The second one I got included Mango, blackberries, blueberries, watermelon, cranberries, and assistant with a milk base. He kept going and I thought to myself "You tin stop at whatsoever minute now. " It was succulent. I then went to the gym and the beach when I got back to Tel Aviv.

July 27

Our final tiyul was a trip to Haifa. We started out in the German village, so made our mode up the Baha'I Gardens. We fabricated our fashion to the other side, then took the omnibus to the superlative. We could see the whole Haifa port from the elevation. I grabbed many pictures, and took in the view. I did not fifty-fifty feel the humidity and the estrus. We got dorsum on the omnibus and collection to a mosque where nosotros listened to an Imam talk near how the terror groups we see in the news are not Islam. He talked well-nigh how nosotros must dear thy neighbor, regardless of discussion or deed, and it made me further realize the three big religions are still. I asked why the media portrays Islam in a radical light; he said, "That'due south the billion dollar question. The media does not write about reality. Nosotros accept a big event tomorrow with a 1000 people coming from all over the world here. I called the media. Do you recollect they volition bear witness up? No, no they will non." Information technology was very sad to hear, because this event would be nice to see in the media, a good change of pace for once. This was probably my favorite part of the trip because he talked about peace, honey, and having pity for 1 another fifty-fifty in a conflict. He was a overnice man who but wanted to partake in tikkun olam (repairing the globe). Similar Nachal from the W Bank, these thoughts from the Imam are considered radical here. In that location are people in Israel, Muslims, Jews, and Christians, who are willing to coexist with ane another, and we saw information technology in Haifa today.

"If you do not testify your swain human compassion, you are not human."- quote on mosque wall.

We so visited the Druze hamlet, where nosotros had dejeuner at a Druze residents' house. The nutrient was succulent. Nosotros then hiked down to Elijah'south tomb, where I stood and prayed a bit. It had that Western Wall element to it, which helped me have my mind off the heat and reflect on the day. Sammie, Haley, Lily, and I then ate at Port Saed (they did not want a piece of my chicken liver), and ventured to the port for the lightshow. Overall, the 24-hour interval was bang-up; everyday is dandy.

July 28

I finished the Advanced OnePager for our company. I take also finished the newsletter workflow, the full general 1 pager, the strategy of the lath invitation letter also as a sample one, the strategy for the donor newsletter, and the greeting and cheers cards (with the aid of my coworker, Aimee, she did that ). I experience accomplished and ready to do fifty-fifty more. It is a shame that I have a few days left. I won't think nearly them though.

Nathan Lapin is a recent graduate from The College of Wooster, with a groundwork in Communication Studies and Education. He is currently interning at a get-go-upwardly called OneDay Social Volunteering equally a Public Relations Manager, targeting 18-35 year olds for unique, hands-on volunteering programs.