Banks

Settling in isn't exactly the hardest thing to do in a country that is so different from your home. Being a soiled American I am used to customer service, especially when it comes to banking I am very used to getting what I want. Well today I decided was the day to open my account. I went down to the Bank Hapoalim on Jaffa st. in Jerusalem. First, I had to wait 30minutes when there was only 4 other people in line before me. The Chutzpah in Israel is great. At times it can be very overwhelming. However, for some reason I seem to enjoy it at this point in time (which could change overnight). When I finally sat down with a representative of the Bank we got down to business after 30 signatures (no joke), and two personal phone calls on the side of the representative of the bank (rude, but she was speaking to her bf or husband in English so obviously i knew where he was coming from) the opening of my Bank account was complete! YAY! So I handed her my shekels and my dollars and was informed of the good news. It is not her job to deposit shekels and dollars that i would need to get another ticket. So i recieved another ticket and went to the teller which only took 10minutes to deposit my shekels and then I was told I had to wait on another line to deposit my dollarim! So I waited for 30minutes with my E3 ticket number to find out that the lady wasn't there. Great, so i spoke to the hostess in the front of the bank who escorted me to someone who could help (after telling me that yes i am right, the bank here is crap and i should consider another bank, at least they are honest). So Micah a Teller informed me that they would be charging me 25dollars to deposit a certified cashiers check, crap. So i took it back and am now looking for different options. Afterwards, the lady next to him got into a big huff about the hostess escorting me upstairs to the tellers and was telling me how its not her job and she "demands" I tell her who brought me upstairs to get them in trouble. So, I looked at her and said "No one in this entire bank has been helpful to me other than that hostess who finally brought me here" turned my back thanked Micah for the help and walked out.

If I ever have a reader that is an Olim or even anyone for that matter, i would stay away from Bank Hapoalim on Jaffa St, Jerusalem.

Afterwards I decided to treat myself to McDonald's (greatest evil coorperation in the world) and got a yummy chicken sandwich. There were a lot of Asians there, I was a bit upset they spoke more Hebrew than I did. However, the meal was hard to get down because I am sick and jetlagged.

Following McDonald's I walked home (after getting lost for 15min walking the wrong direction). Just in time to see a man driving a truck hit my door! :( However, he was very polite and honest about the situation and is paying for all the repairs.

So Thus far today i have accomplished what I need to. I wish I had my dollarim deposited but that will be another day. As well as health insurance.

Second Day

Second day ended today: After arriving to Israel I met up with my girlfriend and moved into our new apartment in Nachloaot. Very nice place. A little disappointed with the lack of heat, but I knew that that would be an issue thanks to the other Aliyah blogs i have had the benefit of being able to prepare myself better than any of my other trips to Israel. Luckily, my girlfriend the Israeli had that angle already cover with a heater from "Planero".

I tried to set up a bank account. However, my ID number hasn't gone through as of yet. So I have no bank account, no cellphone, and no health insurance. This should all be taken care of by mid next week I hope.

My Hebrew is non conversational. However, I have a good base from a year and half of college study. A lot of it has been forgotten over the last year two years. However, brushing up is easy and my reading is still on a 3rd grade level which is better than a kindergarten level.


Tomorrow or Sunday i will hopefully be able to get some pictures up of my trip, I mean my life.

The flight ends

Things i left behind:
Leaving to start a new life is not always a win win situation. Prior to leaving I have been blessed with a group of friends who have changed my life in ways i could have never imagined. They have given me their love and trust over the years and most of all their loyalty in a world where it is hard to give your real self to people. Thank you guys.
My parents who have taken care of me my whole life and sheltered me from needing to be independent will be missed. I have spent nearly my entire life being within 20 minutes away at the furthest.
I guess with out the Bitter its just not as sweet?
I would cry, but i dont have a support network for the tissues :o(
Guess I need to buy a pair of crocs now?


I arrived at JFK at 10:00am and check in with my parents and said goodbye over fifteen times. At 11:30 we had a quick ceremony before leaving that was short and sweet and to the point. It encompassed various different CEOs, Israeli athletes and spokespersons from Nefesh BNefesh. Boarding the plane went really smoothy, I feel as though i am starting to get the hang of flying. Waiting for the majority of the passengers to board proved to be the best method to getting on a plane with out that extra competition. After I boarded the plane I was so excited that my seat was next to two empty seats giving me a perfect little bed for me to lay on.

Last trip to israel i was stuck sitting next to the window and on the way back i was on the End seat! Which would have been sick if not for the fact that the older lady offered to switch with me. Chronic urination has its benefits at old age. However, i did have the "pleasure" of her divulging to me that her husband is a fairly popular rabbi and gave me the great benefit of what i call random disengagement debate! She lost... I had sleeping pills with me again!

Anyway, back to current trip. First thing i did (having not slept the entire night for this flight) was order myself a Carlsberg!(AWESOME haven't had one since my last trip to Israel two years ago). Next thing I know I'm being woken up asked for an interview. Which was weird, with in the last 4 days I have been interviewed three times! So i gave another interview and went back to my seat, got myself another carlsberg and i woke up with the plane another 5 hours later. Nine hours down on a 10 hour flight. NOT BAD!

Landing should be soon then another ceremony. Can't wait to see my girlfriend, Inbar ^_^.

Aliyah

I will be stepping into JFK to make my Aliyah tommrow. I feel excited, I feel scared. This will be the first time I will have the opportunity to venture out into the world on my own. Little finances, little belongings, a brand new BA in Psyc and wild fears of unemployment and poverty in a land where I cannot speak the native language. Things seem a tad unsure at this very moment, just graduating college puts me in a position where i have never had a career to even pursue and now I will be in a brand new country with brand new people. I know i can work hard, so i figure that something will pop up in the future. Right now I intend to focus on Ulpan and finding an Ulpan close to my neighborhood.

So as it turns out I fell in love with an Israeli in college and I am now joining her to live in Israel for the time being. I figure I can build a world for myself over there and be a good member of Israeli society. Its not the only reason of course I have always been a Zionist since I learned of zionism and believe that the State of Israel is a haven for all Jews. However, everyone keeps telling me the horror stories of failed aliyahs based on love and I hope I can be successful in my coming journey.