Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
ARRIVED!
Well, I've arrived on Metzudat Yoav, and am done with my first 24 hours in Israel.
Of course, the whole thing wasn't so simple. I got to the airport and my flight to Toronto was delayed--and then cancelled. I went to customer service and they put me on standby fr the next United flight to Toronto--which was overbooked, so there was basically no chance of getting on that.
With my Israeli cell phone (and no American one) I was left to scrounge (American, not Canadian) cell phones off other frustrated and rushed passengers and even to use a pay phone! (those still exist?) I called home about 5 times, figuring out what to do, and at one point we thought I might fly to Frankfurt, to London, and then to Israel. But the man who I asked to switch it for me was typing veeeeery slowly, and then plane was leaving in literally 15 minutes. Needless to say, that didn't happen.
I called Dad from the phone at the customer service desk, and had him talk to the United man, who then called the Air Canada desk at gate E (I was at C) and finally arranged for me to take a 7:25 Air Canada flight to Toronto. (My original flight was 3:59 with a 5 hour delay in Toronto. This still got me there in time for my 11:55 flight to Israel).
I arrived there, and was in time and everything. On the plane I sat next to a Canadian-Israeli kid my age, so we had a good time. He offered me to watch movies on his computer, and it was nice to be able to talk to someone.
When I finally got to Israel, I went through immigration/etc with no problem, got to the baggage claim, only to NOT find my luggage. Good thing I packed an extra pair of clothing in my backpack! So I had to go through the whole mess of filing a missing baggage report, blablabla.
The Shaaltiels picked me up and we went back to their apartment in Tel Aviv. We chatted for a while, and then went for a walk along the beach (they're about 3 blocks away). When we came back around 10 or so, we ate (a lot! They kept giving me more delicious food) and talked for a long time, and then slept. (A much-needed sleep, as I'm terrible at sleeping on airplanes).
This morning I walked a bit to change some money, then walked back to catch the bus to the train station (sounds like going to school...). Anyway, I missed the stop, and had to get back on the other way, but I arrived only 2 minutes late.
Today was basically a day of meeting lots of people and explaining that "no, I have no family in Israel" and "I learned Hebrew in Jewish day school" and etc. etc.
We're five girls in my room--another American (from LA) named Galya. The rest Israelis--Gal, Adi, and Neta.
As I can't unpack (they called this morning to say they found the suitcases and would bring them to the Metzuda, but they didn't. Hm) I think I'll go to sleep, because I'm a little jetlagged
Of course, the whole thing wasn't so simple. I got to the airport and my flight to Toronto was delayed--and then cancelled. I went to customer service and they put me on standby fr the next United flight to Toronto--which was overbooked, so there was basically no chance of getting on that.
With my Israeli cell phone (and no American one) I was left to scrounge (American, not Canadian) cell phones off other frustrated and rushed passengers and even to use a pay phone! (those still exist?) I called home about 5 times, figuring out what to do, and at one point we thought I might fly to Frankfurt, to London, and then to Israel. But the man who I asked to switch it for me was typing veeeeery slowly, and then plane was leaving in literally 15 minutes. Needless to say, that didn't happen.
I called Dad from the phone at the customer service desk, and had him talk to the United man, who then called the Air Canada desk at gate E (I was at C) and finally arranged for me to take a 7:25 Air Canada flight to Toronto. (My original flight was 3:59 with a 5 hour delay in Toronto. This still got me there in time for my 11:55 flight to Israel).
I arrived there, and was in time and everything. On the plane I sat next to a Canadian-Israeli kid my age, so we had a good time. He offered me to watch movies on his computer, and it was nice to be able to talk to someone.
When I finally got to Israel, I went through immigration/etc with no problem, got to the baggage claim, only to NOT find my luggage. Good thing I packed an extra pair of clothing in my backpack! So I had to go through the whole mess of filing a missing baggage report, blablabla.
The Shaaltiels picked me up and we went back to their apartment in Tel Aviv. We chatted for a while, and then went for a walk along the beach (they're about 3 blocks away). When we came back around 10 or so, we ate (a lot! They kept giving me more delicious food) and talked for a long time, and then slept. (A much-needed sleep, as I'm terrible at sleeping on airplanes).
This morning I walked a bit to change some money, then walked back to catch the bus to the train station (sounds like going to school...). Anyway, I missed the stop, and had to get back on the other way, but I arrived only 2 minutes late.
Today was basically a day of meeting lots of people and explaining that "no, I have no family in Israel" and "I learned Hebrew in Jewish day school" and etc. etc.
We're five girls in my room--another American (from LA) named Galya. The rest Israelis--Gal, Adi, and Neta.
As I can't unpack (they called this morning to say they found the suitcases and would bring them to the Metzuda, but they didn't. Hm) I think I'll go to sleep, because I'm a little jetlagged
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Contact Information
My contact information for the year:
Email: abionsky@gmail.com*
*Disclaimer: I am not bringing my own computer. While there are computers on the Mechina, I am not sure how often I'll be using it--mostly to check and send email rather than Gchat I think, but you never know.
Skype: abby.klionsky
Cell phone: 057-270-2106*
*Disclaimer: If you are calling from the US, you should dial 011-972-57-270-2106.
Snail mail:
אביגיל קליאנסקי
מכינת נחשון
מצודת יואב
ד.נ. לכיש דרום
ישראל
Abby Klionsky
Mechinat Nachshon
Metzudat Yoav
D.N. Lechish Darom
ISRAEL
Email: abionsky@gmail.com*
*Disclaimer: I am not bringing my own computer. While there are computers on the Mechina, I am not sure how often I'll be using it--mostly to check and send email rather than Gchat I think, but you never know.
Skype: abby.klionsky
Cell phone: 057-270-2106*
*Disclaimer: If you are calling from the US, you should dial 011-972-57-270-2106.
Snail mail:
אביגיל קליאנסקי
מכינת נחשון
מצודת יואב
ד.נ. לכיש דרום
ישראל
Abby Klionsky
Mechinat Nachshon
Metzudat Yoav
D.N. Lechish Darom
ISRAEL
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