Kibbutz Ketura

Right now I am sitting outside at Kibbutz Ketura in the middle of the Arava desert. We are here for a 5 day orientation to the program and it is beautiful...and extremely hot. After the stressful bus ride through the one winding road that connects Be'er Sheva to Eilat we arrived at the Kibbutz. So far the experience has been incredible. Everyone on the Kibbutz has been so friendly and I'm sure they are wondering why we are here eating all of their food....it seems as though we have bottomless pits for stomachs because I always find myself holding a pita with hummus. 

So far we have just been doing ice breaker activities and sessions to learn about the program. Everyone on the program is so nice and I have already found my group of friends (which of course includes my friend from preschool that is here). Today we climbed this rock (I'm not really sure how to explain it- but it over looks the kibbutz and the valley) and let's just say thank goodness for my hiking shoes- loose rocks are not your friend. But despite the climb, from the top of the "rock" I could see the whole valley and to my surprise, I learned that we were less than a mile from the Jordan border. In fact, there are a bunch of date trees that are technically in Jordan, but Israel leases the land so they can claim ownership of the trees (everything was messed up when the official borders were drawn). 

It's funny to think that I am in Israel because so far we have only been speaking English, but as soon as we get back to Tel Aviv we will be jumping headfirst into Ulpan.

I'll send picture soon...but I'm not sure if anyone wants to see how dirty I am. Living on a kibbutz really has no pressure to shower or wear real clothes and I'm not going to lie, I could get used to this (I can see why my dad liked it so much). There are also so many cats running around the Kibbutz, thanks to the brilliance of the British Mandate, and they are disgusting!! If there is any sign of food they are there and they are not pretty. I keep thinking that my dad would be the first to run out of his hut and shoot them. 

The Israeli air has really done a number on my hair and I have succumb to the fact that it cannot be tamed. 

Ok. I think this blog is long enough. I will keep everyone updated and I miss you guys so much (but I also love Israel)!