As I said earlier, the cost of a water bottle is about four shekels, or $1.08, for a 1.5 liter bottle of water. When going on hikes, my program makes sure that my roommates and I each have three liters of water. If I have six people living in my apartment, including myself, how much money in dollars and shekels do I need to buy us all the needed amount of water for a hike in the Golan Heights (the beautiful northern area of Israel)?
I have mentioned Shabbat before, or Saturdays, when all the public transportation shuts down. Another special aspect of Shabbat is Friday night dinners. Here in Israel, these dinners provide a special time to spend with family and friends, and I have been lucky enough to spend it with many different families. This week was extraordinary because I was able to spend it with my co-teacher and her family. The food was amazing and plentiful, so I didn't even have room for the ice cream bars at the end! We ate some of my favorites like chicken, brisket (a type of beef), and potato kugel (a casserole of potatoes, my favorite!), all dishes that felt very familiar to what I eat when I am home in New Jersey or at my grandmother’s for Jewish meals. Not only was the food exceptional but so was the company. We laughed a lot, and the younger children tried their best to communicate with me in English. My co-teacher and I burst out singing and dancing to “Baby Shark” (a song we often sing with our students) at the dinner table!
I could not take any photographs this evening because they keep Shabbat, which means that this family does not use their phones, watch T.V,.
