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SO I got to Kefar Sava tired and hungry, and then sat around for another hour before we started. We actully did very little that day just going over stuff, half ther group did their training with me the others needed a refresher. There were 11 of us, 6 were from my course and the rest were from various places.annoyingly others had been told they could arrive at any point so others truned up later in the day. On the course there were400 high school kids from 15-18 and then the 11 of us. Cos of the security situation we wernt allowed out without supervision but they did say they would buy us beer so we made our order. After much room swapping we had our beds sorted. We wernt allowed to drink infornt of the kids so we had to wait untill 11pm to drink outside. It turned out a voulnteer from Rehovot who i knew was working in the office so she and i chatted alot.
So at 6AM one of the girls in my room alarm went off. Then I tried to get back to sleep unsucessfully. At 7.50 I got breakfast then at 8 we started class. The class was all about how to use the taran ambulance in a mass casualty situation. It is only used for a long term incident if casualties cant be got to hospital within 40 minuets. So its rarley used. However the principles link back to my uni course. We also did part of the ICU course on how to prepare drugs basic surgical procedures, intubation, IV's and EKG's. All was very intresting. HYowever the guy teaching us only knew we were coming when we did. SO he was a little unprepared, and there was no schedule for us as we got thru material quicker than the bigger high school groups. So there was alot of sitting around too. The first two days were all theory and in the evenings we had to entertain ourself. Some of the teachers would chat to us, or we would watch ER on someones laptop.
On Wednesday we were praticing with the ambulance itself. SO we had to turn up get the equiptment out and the treat 6-11 casualties. Cos we were a small group we joined wiv some high school kids and played around. Our teacher dissapeared for a few hours and left us, but he did bring me back an ice aroma! so then all 11 of us had a go on our own with the kids as bodies. After we did it Tal used us as an example of how it should be done, saying how efficient we were and wat a good example. AT that moment we decided to start a waterfight with saline out the IV's me being the main victim until someone cut the bag open above Tal's head!
That night as a treat for being locked up wiv the kids we went out for dinner. I sit down and eves drop on the English conversation behind me. I realised i knew them and turned round to see Ann and Harry Praise from Birmingham. I then spent most of the night talking to them as the conversation on the table was less to my liking but none the less i got a shabbos invite.
On Thursday we had half a day of class attempting intubation on the doll and IV's both of which i achieved sucessfully but would never be allowed to do without furthur training. Then in the afternoon we had a graduation ceremony, before the exam, which the paarents were invited to come to and we acted out a large senario. It was weired cos we didnt want to be there but needed to be. The mass event was crazy cos all the parents swamped us to watch their babies save lives so they were getting in the way. Then after as we had already done our exam we got our certificates privatly from the head of voulnteers in Israel, a lovely man from Rehovot. Afterwards there was an ambulance going my way so i got a lift to the door.
Michelle was visitng a freind in Kefar Sava but i decided i wanted to get back. So the next mornign i decided to head into work to rty to catch up on the time id missed. However none of my fasvourite drivers or medics were working so the high school kids who dont like us used this as an oppertunity to push me around as normally we get priority over them. we had Friday night at Anats again which was so nice, then we haeded back as I had a shifton the ICU in the morning.
It was different as most of the patients have either chest pains or problems breathing. However we had one lady who was aspiring and I saw Ami intubate.However i accidently tore out her IV which bled alot at the hospital they asked where i was the Dr just looked at me who couldnt stop appoligising enough! Then we went back to Anats for lunch and chilled before going to one of our drivers fro third meal. It was so nice we met his 2 kids and his wife. He dosent speak much english so we were really suprised to be invites espically as we were scared of him when we first met him. Now if he ever tells me weldone it means more than form anyone else. We also had issues translating babysitting! Then we headed back as i was on the night shit for thw ICU and Michelle was visiting her brother. The night shift was slow with only two calls but it did mean i got lots of sleep. In the morning onone turned up to replces me so i stayed on, they dont need the extra person so i could have gone home but i wanted to stay. It was more intresting with a car crash, another intubation and the usuall chest pains. After the shif we slept till really late so were awake for ages. We had a really strog ice coffee and so i was bouncing off the walls so we went to the station to play with Moshe. We spent an hour playing in his office then the ambulance got a call to where we live but they wouldnt give us a lift so michelle tried running after it, without sucess. SO we went to the bar. That night the ambulance had 3 calls to the fakoolta, one of the calls was to someone who had cut his artry in his wrist when his beer in the freezer exploded, he was in the bar, still covered in blood.
The next morning we went to the airport to say goodbye to Aris girlfriend who was flying home. We all agreed the airport is very relaxing when you dont have to fly. Then we headed into work late. We originally said wed be in by 11 but at 12.30 we roll in. Michelle went to sleep ocs her eye was very red and painful from her contacts. There were no calls while i was there but the regional boss was giving a presentation on how the current situation affects Rehovot and protocals. I sat in cos i was intrested but i still didnt understant it. Then the guy incharge of uniform was around we have only met him once before so we got a new shirt and trousers each and a much coveted MDA belt, its very swanky. SO while we did no work we left victorious.
AFter the shift on Monday we went out for dinner with Anat and Linoy another medic. We went to a posh kebab place it was amazing. After eating too much we bought them back to the bar on campuss so they could see what it was like, they throughly approved.
Tuesday morning we worked a fairly uneventful shift. Afterwards we went straight to Tel Aviv to shop for presants in the market. We managed to get stuff for Ami and Moshe and Anats mum, I also picked up some nice earings! We went to Tel AViv as alot of our freinds were there and were leaving soon so we wanted to have a last goodbye. We had dinner before heading out for some drinks it was really nice. But we had to leave early to get hte last sherut back as we were working the morning.
Again we worked wednesday morning, It was a slow shift until 2.30 when we were told to take a patient to Beer Sheva, which is in the desert below Jersualem. SO we went, it was a 3 hour round trip, which was midly entertaining especially getting lost. And then I slept. I was fasting thursday for Tisha b'av so I napped before meeting Ari and Rottem for an early dinner. AFter which we were going to go to a film but all the shops closed early so poeple could go home and make fast. SO we waved the other two off and it was only 9.30 so Michelle made phone calls and I gave in at 10 and slept.
Thursday morining I wanted a busy shift but it was slow. We had a different driver from another station who we were really scared of to begin with. But it turned out she was Dutch and spoke really good English and was really nice. Our medic a different person kept trying to make me brake fast,very considerate. After work we went to Moshe house without him knowing to drop of an air conditioner, his kids are very cute. Then I slept before breaking fast and then shopping to pick up more stuff for the station. We had arranged to work the night shift, but turned up early so got in the ambulance to take the voulnteers home and got a call to a suicide. We got there and she hadnt even taken the pills. When we got back to the station thousands of people had turned up for the shift so we had 2 ambulances. At about 2AM we got a call to a road crash, there were so many people, crashes at night are always more intense. It was right by the hospital so after taking our two patients there we went back and decided to close the ambulance and head to bed.
Friday we wernt going to work, so we went to Tel AViv for the beach, it was hot, but i am now even more tanned. That night Michelle went to the bar man's for friday night so i went to work. It was a quuiet shift, nothing particully intresting. Then I stayed for saturday morning to work my last shift with Moshe. He and Michelle went on a transport to Jersualem, and left me as they though i wasnt there. Then we had a very slow day. But we did have fun with all the equiptment and the police car. After the shift I slept, as always. kThen we went to Rishon to see Rottem and Abby, so we thought wed take 2 bottles of wine. They had been sky diving in the morning so we watched the videos, with Rottems mum, and we drunk the wine. After 4 bopttles of wine Michelle cant rembember the night and i had a bit of a headache the next day.
I was going to head into work an hour lat but at 9 i woke to a message form Anat saying was i comming. SOmehow I got out of bed dressed and walked to work. Once there everyone asked what happened.I said Michelle didnt come home as she was too drunk and im a little worse for ware. However I did make it on the ambulance and do a call. TYhen we picked up Michelle before getting another all in RIshon. In the lift on the way who did we see, Rottems mum, who was very confused why we had a bed in the lift, bless the Israeli's. It was a sad shift because it was our last official one. So we said our goodbyes and agve presents to people, it was sad, but I know ill be back.
After work we went to the computers where someone stoped us and asked where we were from, shes american and heard us speaking english and got excited. Theres 3 native english speakers on campuss so i can understant her excitement. She made us lunch and we chatted. After a nap we waited for Stu, Abby, ROttem and Ari to come as we were going to the bar for the night, it was Abby and Ari's last night. We had alot of fun and had emotional goodbyes, I really am going to be the last one standing.
So today I start packing as im moving to Tel Aviv next week, then who knows. Were being taken for lunch by a paramedic and his son, and then tonight Anat is in a Karoake competition so were going to watch. Then tomorrow on we go.
Not my Jeans
So after I updated my web log i went to pick up my washing, apart from the machine hadnt finished, the machines are a little crazy, they like to keep going and not stop, so u get a 20 second window to somehow pry the door open and rescue your clothes, many times we have sat in wait to rescue clothes. I wasnt heart broken they had 2 cycles as they were pretty dirty. However after 2 hours I was getting concerned however I had to meet our paremidic for lunch so I decided to sort it out when i got back. We had Lunch at the Weissman sceince institues across the road it is internationally renound for it research, the cafe is pretty good too and at student low prices. So after a plesant lunch we went back to find the machine foaming and crazy. So as my jeans were in there it was time to sort it out we went to the office that was closed and in the shop they couldnt get the person on the phone so we headed to security. I was beginning to panick, Michelle was having a ball as her clothes wernt in there. SO securtiy after laughing at me told us to wait in the laundry. We got there and someone was there, an off duty security man, at this point hte machine had cleared and we could see there were trainers in the machine, which was a little odd. Then the guy said hed put my washing elsewhere. Somewht relieved he then told us about the button on the back that speeds up the cycle, only 6 weeks too late. Once my washing was hung up and we had packed we want for our last walk down Hertzl street, before going out to Natiania with Anat to the Karakoe. It was amazing the standard was so high, we had a great night meeting others of anata freinds and relaxing. After michelle lost the car falg we got back and droped in on our bar one last time, for finial goodbyes and drinks.
The next morning we finished packing and im ashmed to say I now have 2 big bags as i have all my MDA uniform and books and aquired medical equiptment and a few other trophies. SO between us we managed the 200m walk in 15mins to get a sherout to Tel Aviv and then a taxi for me to my hostel and michelle to her hotel. Then We met Stuart, unfortunatly he had to fly home suddenly for his Grandfathers funeral the next day. We spent 2 hours in the El Al office working out the best route. FOurtnatly we were entertained by the crazy lady with the spirit of Diania in her trying to get ot Jordan to meet her lover. AFter that and lunch I headed back to sleep, Stu to pack. I then went to the 'nicest mall in Israel' to meet stu for a last dinner, it started well with a stop in the classy winery then dinner with Rottem joining us. After plenty more wine the other 2 headed back while i explored the mall. Eventually after making a conciouss decision to get the wrong bus back I made it to the beach to meet Michelle and her brother for a drink before bed.
The nextt morning I got up late and headed to the Diasopra museum. I knew it was near where Stu had lived so i got the bus there and decided to wing it. 45 minuets later I found it and the bus stop outside, but i made it. I wasnt overly impressed as i knew much of what was there, but the models of Shuls from around the world was interesting. After that I headed back to town to meet Michelle and AJ to go to Jaffa. But I had time so I got of at Rabin square where Yitzack Rabin was assinated to see the memorial and amble back. An hour later I was at the industrial area 30 minuets from where i wanted to be, my sence of direction really hasnt improved. SO I jumped on a bus back and met the others. JAffa is an old Muslim area of Tel Aviv and is very senic. We had schwama and then wandered the flea marcket AJ looking for last minuet gifts befroe his flight the next day. WHen we got back I grabbed my stuff and met Michelle at her hotel. I had checked out of my hostel to saty with Rotem in Rishon after a goodbye dinner with Anat. SO the 3 of us headed back to Rehovot and met anat. While in the middle of dinner Michelles high school teacher walks in. To cut a long story short, there was a lot of screaming, her teacher invited me to shabbos anytime and her husband was reunited with his best friend one of our paramedics, over the phone. After waffle, ice cream and whipped cream michelle said a tearful goodbye to anat and we got rhe sherut. I jumped of in Rishon. Me at Rotem spent the night eating junk food watching a rubbish movie, that took us an hour to decide on and then slept.
I have never slept in till 12PM but we did. Then we moved to the sofa, then the corner shop, then the garden then the sofa. And that was our day. We went for dinner with Rotems cousin before finially heading to Tel Aviv for drinks with a friend from Jersualem. BUt when we got there she was falling asleep so we haeded back to Michelles room to chill there. Sabrina climbed into bed and mid conversation fell asleep. But ramdomly joined in with her sleep talking. Eventually I headed back to my hostel.
Friday morning I met Michelle and Sabrina at the shouk as they were getting heena tattoos with MDA in hebrew as they were both going home soon. It was very funny, Michelle had hers on her shoulder sabria on her ankle. After we went to the beach. At the beach people kept looking at michelles tattoo one even asked if she spoke hebrew to understand what had been written, throughout the day they kept asking her. Evetually Sabrina left, another goodbye. Then we got a late lunch before going to the hotel room to chill and change. After watching queer eye, we decided to go out for a bottle of wine, which we had to carry back open due to the lack of oppener, wino's! We were being treated to dinner by the barman from where we lived, Sarr in a inial goodbye. He was bringing dinner to us. While we waited Rottem joined us as it was her last night too. Finially he turned up and we did Kiddush, with one eye open as we were under prepared. Then I had my first ever sushi and we talked and drank. Eventually Sarr left so we headed to a bar Michelle likes, where service was nonexistant but eventually we got out drinks and got back at 3.30.
Eventually we slept and at 7.30 we were up again. So now I had to say a finial good bye to Rottem and MIchelle, and then I was alone. So I headed back to the hostel to a bed i paid for but didnt sleep in. I had to be out by 11 so had an hours sleep then packd up and went downstairs to check out and get my daily fix of tea nad toast. An hour later I went back to bed as they took pity and said I could stay till 4. Once I woke I got some frozen youghert, which im addicted to and then left for Jersualem, with my two big bags. Its a good thing im female otherwise I would never have got to Jersualem but they take pity on women. So I got to Jersualem, got a taxi to Lola and Normans and am now here. Lola broke her leg badly on holiday a few weeks ago, so im kinda in the way but ive kept Lola occupied and helped out as much as im allowed.
SO tomorrow im off to Ein Gedi for 3 nights thats where the dead sea is. Im very excited after that i dont know what im going to do. But now im on my own ill work it out.
oppertunities
SO I left for Ein Gedi and after a detour round Jersualem I got to the bus sataion only to find there was no bus for 2 hours, luckly i can now entertain myself and im reading a really good book. So eventually I got to the youth hostel and the veiw was amazing, its right by the dead sea which is allot bigger than i thought. so that evening i decided to find the Kibbutz, which is not only a botanical garden but the only bar in the area. However the kibbutz was an hours walk and no buses. SO i walked to the beach and asked how to get to the kibbutz. It just so happened the lifeguard and someone else were headding that way, the kiosk girl assured me they were fine and wouldnt eat me. SO i went. I got cash from the only machine in the area and then chatted to the lifeguard, and then walked round the kibbutz. Amazingly i recognised the dining room from when i was there at 6. Then i sat in the bar until 11 and decided to start the long walk back, until i got offered a ride half way down so was back in no time. Only i couldnt get in as teh other person in my room had the only key and locked me out. SO the moody security guy with no english eventually let me in the room. And the old lady kept turning off the air con and i kept overheating so a bad nights sleep.
At 6.30 i was woken up by the old lady. SO at 7.15 i was at breakfast which was amazing and i managed to make sandwichwes for lunch bonous. Then I went to get the bus to masada. Unfortunatly i couldnt get there for sunrise which i wanted to do but i got there. I went up by cable car and ambled around using the leaflet as a guide and throughly enjoyed it. I walked down which was hard enough and ten headed back to the hostel. Where i showered and fell asleep. While asleep the cleaning girls came in and tried to communicate with me and my limited hebrew. Then i got to sleep properly. After i thought id head down to the public beach to mabye go in the dead sea. But i have a bad cut on my foot so decided to watch everyone else. So i went back canged and headed to the beach with the new people in my room and tried to get a lift to the kibbutz again, but failed so walked. It wasnt as hot as the sun was setting and it only took 50 minuets, and it was nice. I got to the kibbutz sat and chilled ate drank and was merry. One of the receptioniosts had taken a shine to me so i asked if i could gatecrash the kibbutz tour of the accient synagogue which i was assured would be fine. So eventually it was time to head back to the hostel again i started walking then somone asked me directions to the hostel so i got another lift back. This time when i got back the other girls and the boys they were travelling with were in the room and after i changed and got into bed and stated reading my book they didnt get the idea i wanted to sleep. But i did eventually got to sleep.
The next morning i had breakfast stole lunch and headed to the bus stop to get to the kibbutz. SO i went on the tour and people thought i was staying there i they had seen me in the bar and now i was there. We went to the ancient synagogue for ein gedi village that was going about the same time of masada. Its amazing as its mosaic floor is still there. Then I went to nachal david where david hid from soloman, it was beautiful. I decided to keep on walking (more like rock climbing it was harder than i thought espically as i was in sandles) and ended up at the 'source' of ein gedi bottled water a spring that you can dip your feet in. There i bumped into the pople from my room and the park ranger who sits there to make sure you dont eat or smoke. After the group left i spent 3 hours up at the pool just enjoying the view and chatting to the ranger. Eventually i decended and needed a nap. I had to rouse myself to go out otherwise i would have messed up my sleep cycle. so went back to the kibbutz for a finial night, i tried to get the reception guy to get me a cheap rate at the spa but he wouldnt so i went back. This time i didnt happen apon a lift so hitched back to the beach and walked from there. I had a night to myself in the room but slept really badly.
The next morning i decided to treat myself to a morning at the spa before heading back to Jersualem. After an hour i jumped on the complementry kibuttz bus as the driver rembemberd me from the day before and didnt ask why i had a big bag. SO i got to the spa and meet a guy id chatted to from the bar. He got me a sun bed (typical german!!) while i found a space to stow my big bag. I had a very plesant time sitting by the pool caking myself in mud, and floating in the sea. I thought id see how painfull it was it wasnt so bad, but i didntwash very well after so it continued to sting for a while. SO i went back to the pool before heading for the bus stop. At the stop I got chatting to an american guy who has a flat in Jersualem and every school holiday comes out here to see his wife who is here more often than not. It made the trip go faster. Then in jersualem I got the bus to the old city and shlepped my stuff to heritage house. Its the free hostel id stayed in before and is very nicely placed espically whith free international calls and internet. SO I spent the night just chilling in the old city with a quickie to the cotel which was supprisingly busy for 9Pm. Then I had a disgustingly early night.
This morning I decided to go to the Israel museum. SO walked into town to get the bus and stopped in too many shops and bought stuff. I also had an intresting conversation with a girl form manchester who worked in one of the shops. Then I got to the museum at 11.30 I went to an exibition about bread and religion and the links. Then I did a guided tour of the dead sea scrolls. Then I amblen the sculputre park. Then I ended up on a guided tour of the clothing area. Then I saw reconstructed synagogues and then some other stuff and i left at 5Pm and still ahdnt done 1 and half floors. I had a great day. SO tomorrow im exploring the christian quarter and then going to Ranana for Shabbos before heading back to Jersualem to decide what to do next.
SO iw ent to the christian quarter, and eventually found the churches which are supprisingly well hidden. But are very pretty unfortuantly though i didnt get much history as i was on my own. But I ambled around and conqured my fear of the market in the old city. Then I headed back to go to the bus sation with the mother of the hostel Chaya and her family. However I decided the best shabbos gift was not flowers or wine but a box cakes from the best shop in the world located at the Jersualem market, Marzipan, i love it. SO after that i headed to the bus station and got the bus to Ranana. Once there I got picked by Harry and taken back to their flat. They have had th flat almost 30 years and its pristine and amazingly furnished and makes you jelous. Anyway there was Ann who is married to Harry, Linet their daughter and Alana, Daniel and Gavriel their grandkids. SO it was nice as i havent seen Alana for 2 years and she has just come back form backpacking round Thiland for a month while keeping Kosher. I didnt relise it was Anns birthday so felt guilty for gatecrashing, but they didnt say they minded. So I went ot Shul which was very loanly on the womens side espically As none of the other women came. Then we ate, which was great. Ann dosent cook when in Israel she claims its cheaper to buy in or eat out so she buys shabbos dinner in. None the less it was nice, and there was plenty of alchol going round. Everyone was tired and Ann fell asleep at the table then moved to the couch where she was until 2.30 AM. The rest of us gave up early for shabbos.
The next day I got up late had a cheese breakfast with linet and then slept again for an hour before lunch. Lunch was again nice with more alchol flowing and i found i couldnt keep my eyes open so slept all afternoon, until shabos was out and we did havdalah. As the family were going to Tel Aviv to meet freinds for dinner they droped me at the station to get back to Jersualem. And so i got the bus back, chatted to people and went to bed.
Sunday morning I decided to go to Latrun by bus so headed over there. There is an old police station there that the Israeli's fought hard to get back from the British and is now a tank museum and memorial to all Jews who fought in WWII. It would be more fun with another person as you can climb over the tanks and cool stuff like that. SO i got board with that pretty quick adn walked up the road, in the mid-day heat, to mini Israel. Mini Israel is an expensive tacky torist attraction that is a bit of fun. You walk round looking at minitaure versions of the sites of Israel, i shold have done it sooner as you can window shop the sites you really want to go to! The tacky part is they give you an unbrella as a sun shade or you can hire a golf cart for an hour to cruise around in. It was plesant, if i did dehyrdate while ther. After I head back to Jersualem and sat in the square reading. I was going to study that night as I got bullied to go, but they got the worng date so I ahev to go next week. Then I jsut sat around reading before a relativly early nite.
Today I went to Tel Aviv to the Palmach museum, they were the Israeli troops trained up for WWII but ended up becoming the resistance. It was a great museum all audio visual so very engaging. Then I mooched round the shopping centre before heading home. Once here I just flooped. SO tomorrow i may be going to Rehovot for a few days or I may do something else.We will see