The First of the Lasts

Just finished up my last Shabbat dinner in Israel, and yesterday was my last day of my internship--can you believe it?

Before beginning my last day, though, the Stark family (holla, at you Sarah, ily) and Atara were arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, and, in addition to it being my last day, it was Sarah's birthday!! The Morris family woke up super early to decorate the Stark household and cook a delicious breakfast. I set my alarm for 6 AM... Then sat for an hour and a half due to the delayed plane. I basically fell asleep sitting up--

waiting like

After a lovely surprise (and an amazing gift of some trashy magazines from Sarah), I went in for my final day of Institute for Counter-Terrorism research on Thursday, slightly nostalgic. I put on a sad face, exhibiting my nostalgia and reluctance to leave....

But the sadness was a front.

To be honest, I was just so excited to wrap up this amazing experience, check off my accomplishment, and kick back to relax with the family (and two very special visitors arriving tomorrow!!!).

They're the best, you guys. I have so much fun with them. I honestly don't know what I'm gonna do without them once I leave.

I woke up this morning to a quiet house.

I honestly thought they might have abandoned me. I felt like Sid the sloth.

But it turns out everyone was just really jetlagged and sleeping in. So I wasn't left alone, thank God.

I spent the day preparing Shabbat food with Esther, watching Orit dance and perform for us, and preparing flower bouquets. Shabbat dinner was delicious and lovely; I even told some really hilarious jokes that people almost giggled at. I'm kinda almost part of the fam (:

Tomorrow is my last Israeli Shabbat, which about kills me inside. No more fresh hallah, which tbh is the best bread in the world.

No more Hebrew prayers--I mean, do I understand the words? Of course not, but I basically know the rhythms now.

No more benching and candles. SO SAD. 

But I'll probs end up going back to Harvard Hillel and celebrating Shabbat with everyone and I'll end up being a better Jew than all of them. I'll be like, "um excuse me did you wash? Then why are you speaking before we break hallah. Ignorant. Ugh."

The traditions have become so comfortable and homey to me, as has Israel. I plan on spending this last Shabbat really reflecting on the amazing times I've had in this beautiful country and the fulfilling relationships I've formed.

Shabbat Shalom, dear friends,

Aubrey

Shalom/Ciao, Kajsa!

Today is a sad day--Kajsa, my travelling buddy/feisty Harvard peer/white counterpart (kidding, girl) has abandoned me. She left today for a week-long vacation in Italy before she returns home then back to school. So even though it will seriously be less than three weeks before I see her again, I'm about to pass out.

Me as Kajsa tried to leave work on Thursday

Kajsa and I have experienced a ton together. Here's a compilation of our cuuuutest pics:

Over the last two months, we've experienced: 

2 new languages

17 different cities in 3 different countries

Planes, trains, hitchhiked cars, trams, buses, and vans

Beaches, mountains, forests, and deserts

We've fought off creepy perverts; we've made friends with waiters, world travellers, and stray cats;  and we've traversed holy sites of 4 major religions.

At this point, Kajsa probably knows more about me than any other person on earth--travelling really does expose the quirkiest, most personal, and most unexpected pieces of a person. I literally know the most random and minute details about Kajsa, as well. So, if any boys are lookin' to catch Kajsa's heart, call me first, and I'll give you a 100-question test to decide if you're on her level, then I'll be your Hitch if you do happen to qualify. But if not...

Seriously though, Kajsa and I can communicate with just a look...

And I'm gonna miss her like crazy these next few weeks. So, even though it's difficult to say goodbye to such an amazing friend, I'm oh-so-thankful that this internship gave me the opportunity to forge such a cherished relationship with someone I'll be able to hang out with at Harvard!

So, Kajsa, I'll miss you, but I'll see you soon. Have a wonderful vacation in Italy--eat some passionfruit gelato, and drink beer even though you pretend to hate it, and stay away from dead bugs, and feed cats some more granola bars, and get off at anahaba'a, and find a CafeCafe, and find the man who is your "perfect match" who makes it past all your deal-breakers. 

Can't wait to see you soon!

Sending hugs your way--

xox,

Aubs, your "spicy" travelling partner

Bomb Coworkers and Beach Bumming

These past two days have deepened my appreciation for the place I'm living this summer and the work I'm lucky enough to dedicate my months to.

Yesterday, one of my fellow coworkers spent her final day at the internship. Luckily, she's a fellow Harvardian AND country music lover (which we discovered due our mutual depression and agony over Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert's divorce, RIP to love), so we bought tickets to attend a Little Big Town Concert together in September! This was the first event of a day that reminded me how awesome my fellow interns are.

All of the interns headed out to a small, very Israeli cafe for lunch... and instead of our usual one hour break, we took two. Oops. We tried to slyly slip back into work without our absence being noticed...

Oh so quiet

And we thought we were super successful until our boss came in and remarked, "yeah I was getting worried, where were all you guys?" Maybe if I'd had practice sneaking out in high school, I would have been better at this. (Translation: parents, I was such a good kid, appreciate me more.)

But the lunch was so fun and hysterical and awesome.

Then, later that night, one of the fellow Californians at the internship (throwin' in that qualifier because #solidarity) threw a get-together at his apartment that was, of course, America-themed, which meant all the red, white, and blue that could be amassed in Tel Aviv. 

We had the funnest time--

And all the Harvard gals gathered for a pic as well--

This internship does remind me of Harvard in a way--I'm surrounded by intellectual, intelligent, and intriguing twenty-somethings that share some of my interests and beliefs but challenge me to think differently and entertain new ideas. Plus, they're just fun!!! It makes me excited to get back to school and to get into the workplace in a few years; to be surrounded by individuals that inspire me and challenge me.

Today was all about recovery from the 3 AM bedtime and long work-week. Nava, Michal, and I spent a few hours on Herzliya Beach, roasting in the sun and relaxing. 

Nava and Michal!

The water was just as warm as the 90 degree air; floating in the sea felt like flying in a way--there was no difference between the air and water. I felt totally in my element. 

My final Shabbat with the family until their departure to America began tonight. I love them so much. Should be a wonderful weekend. 

With love,

Right-at-Home Aubs

Is This Really My Life?

Honestly, there are so many days I wake up, I live through, I savor, and I wonder... "Is this really my life? Could this be possible?"

For example, today. I woke up early to do sun salutations for yoga, which is about the most relaxing way to begin a day and such a loving treat for your body and soul.

I got dressed and stepped out into the 90-degree heat, welcoming the warmth on my skin. I made a promise to myself that after this atrocious winter (I'm still having flashbacks--I'll shiver and chatter my teeth when I think about the horrors of a New England February) that I would never--EVER--claim it was "too hot." Ever. So while everyone else is like--

I'm like--

But to me, the heat and humidity are quite heavenly. After an ordinary attempted kidnapping (two middle-aged men insisted I get in their car, even after I'd refused over ten times--normal), I hopped on the bus to get to work. 

At work, I accomplished my goal for the summer--I finished my paper!!! Well, the first draft at least.

210 footnotes. 10,500 words. 40 pages double-spaced. Over 75 sources. Blood, sweat,, and tears. It's done! At least until I turn it in proudly to my internship director, she glances at it, then goes--

Then, as I walk away dejectedly, I'll hear her mutter--

Classic. But actually, typing out the conclusion felt like such an achievement. I'm proud of myself!

A few hours after getting back home, Michal and I headed to Herzliya Beach to read and watch the sunset.

I mean... it's only my paradise.

Look at this view.

WOW.

We set up our chairs right on the shore where the waves broke. The water was the temperature of a jacuzzi, offsetting the slight chill of a breeze. Then--as if my life couldn't get more perfect--a tiny, few-months-old puppy frolicked past me.

OH

MY

LANTA.

Petting random animals is apparently kind of my thing...

After the puppy romped across the beach, I continued to read and the sun's orange bled into the water.

Heaven. Came back to the house for a lovely meal with the family--Akiva is back from camp!--and then into bed for some relaxation. 

Honestly, life is so good. I'm absolutely blessed. Fulfilling work, stunning beach views, an incredible family, adorable dogs. It's like I'm living in a dream. Is this really my life?

Goodbyes Abound

The past few days have been full of farewells, to both people and to the first half of summer.

You went so soon...

On Saturday, host father Ronnie left for a week of work in the US, follow on Sunday by Nava (the host daughter closest to me in age), who left for a week-long retreat. Atara (my fellow "Friends" and Harry Potter fanatic) departed for America for summer camp (still jealous about camp, ugh), so it looks like I'll be watching Ross and Rachel reruns all by my lonesome.

It's been sad--like I've said, they've become family, and as they depart, I feel like pieces of my new home leave with them. For now, it's Esther (mom), Orit (youngest daughter), and Michal (oldest daughter, frantically studying for finals--she's still in school!!!) with me in the four-story home in Raanana. Pretty quiet, as I'm sure you can imagine--but Orit still keeps us on our toes.

The first of the interns to depart came into the office for his last day today.

Charlieeeee

From here on out, at least one intern will leave every week. How did the weeks fly by so quickly!?!

All the interns and our director

I can't believe it. I'm exactly halfway through my time in Israel, and I still feel like I have so much to do and see... I'll definitely be making the most of the next few weeks as I travel up, down, and across this beautiful country.

In the meantime, I'm reaching the end of my first paper draft. So much of my conclusion depended upon the outcome of the Iranian nuclear deal, so I spent more time than I'd like to admit sitting at work waiting for the end of negotiations that is two years overdue.

Me to Secretary of State John Kerry

I actually literally tweeted at the White House, not so subtly asking them to get a move on.

"the end of my 30 page paper depends on the Iranian nuclear deal outcome, so if Kerry could wrap this up, I'd appreciate it❤ ily @WhiteHouse

— astod (@Aubrey_Stoddard) July 13, 2015"

Yes I actually tweeted this

This morning, a deal was reached as soon as I walked into work, and I was over the moon--wahoo, I can finish my paper! Then... I remembered that many people around the world--and basically every Israeli--have called this deal "a historic mistake" that could result in global annihilation. At that point, my celebration looked a little more like this.

yay...??

I should be finishing my first draft by next week, which leaves me over a month to edit... By the end, I'll be second-guessing every period and semicolon I included.

One more day of work, then it's the weekend--and that's something worth celebrating.

Cheers,

Aubs

Because It's Monday

What is something you desperately require if you're writing a research paper that requires about a hundred online sources, fifteen word documents, and some bumpin' music to crank out the pages to?

That's right. A computer.

Well, I'm currently in a fight with my computer. I don't know if she/he is having a tantrum or if I mortally offended him/her, but we are not on good terms.

Here's just a list of what has had to be replaced in the two years since I've had my laptop:
- The battery
- The hard drive
- The charger

Here's what is currently broken on my computer:
- The left speaker (nice)
- The touchpad
- All of my USB ports (aka I can't plug in a mouse and use that anymore)

Now listen. My dad taught me how to use an item until it literally falls apart. He didn't feel like buying a Bluetooth for his phone, so he decided to glue velcro on the back of it and stick it onto another velcro strip that he glued to his sun visor. He drove his ratty old minivan until it stalled and died in the middle of an intersection. I KNOW how to make something last until the end.

It's the end.

My laptop is dying.

And at first, I was dealing with it.

Especially not in front of my coworkers who already think I'm a crazy cat lady. 

But then, after exiting out of all of the tabs I'd opened, or trying for an hour to fix my USB ports so I can plug in my stupid retro mouse, it started.

Or maybe this is more accurate...

Okay I'll try to calm down. *cries*

YES I MADE MYSELF A GIF OKAY, DON'T JUDGE. But really, I was able to control myself, but JEEZ, can't a girl get a working laptop??!!! He/she is behaving her/himself for the moment, but I know that there will be a dramatic turn in mood in the next like three seconds. These are the times I wish I could just throw my hands in the air, hand my laptop to my dad (who'd ideally be in the next room over), and go hang out with my dogs until he miraculously fixes it or admits defeat and buys me a new one. Instead, I'm in a foreign country and I just have to try my hardest to use my mouse as little as possible. I've gotten really good at keyboard shortcuts. (endorse me for that on LinkedIn, please).

But my day got infinitely better once I got back home. We had another beach dinner and arrived on the sand about an hour before sunset. It was stunning.

Wow

That's Orit, the youngest daughter, standing on the edge of the water! We watched the sun sink below the horizon--and I got some pictures taken of myself, of course.

Right as the sun is kissing the water

The last reflections

I watched with serenity as the sun left Israel to go warm the days and shoulders of my family and friends back in the US. Time difference is something I'll never get used to--especially a 10-hour gap from my loved ones. It's really difficult not being able to even call my parents or sisters when something is on my mind or I have a question. Going away to the East Coast definitely made me realize that physical proximity is a luxury, but now I'm realizing that immediate access to the voices and words and ears of my family are a gift as well. I'll never take them for granted again.

I'm back home now, coaxing my laptop's happy spell to last through this post. I have work tomorrow, but I'll be spending the weekend exploring Israel. Very excited!

Enjoy the sun, my friends,

Aubs

Two Normal (But Still Pretty Awesome) Days

Sometimes I feel weird posting about my normal workdays, but the ordinary days I spend here in Israel are still pretty extraordinary to me, and I still want to have documentation of all the moments I spend here. So, if you're only lookin' for some awesome wanderlust-y pics or me in a new travel destination, this post won't quite be it. But I promise to make you laugh once or twice.

Yesterday (Monday) was a productive but mentally exhausting day. Now that I'm beginning the attempt of putting my thoughts about terrorists and attacks and a millenia-old conflict onto paper, my mind basically just goes to mush. It's difficult for two reasons: first of all, I'm sorting through like ten different documents of information from about seventy different sources, which is just, like brain-boggling. Then, I'll spend a half hour painfully eking out a sentence or two--before seeing another one of my tiny bullet points that completely counteracts my progress.

When you realize that the PA, not the PLO, is the government formed in 1993

Writing a paper like this is also difficult, because I'm trying to disprove world-renowned politicians, career terrorists, award-winning journalists, etc. etc. They're all fighting and using big words and making policy changes and I just roll in like

DONKAY.

But it's all about doing the little bit that I can and contributing my eensy bit of knowledge to the vastly important subject. Of course, by the time I'm done with this paper, I'll probs be knocking on the White House door like, "um excuse me, I really think you should read this, it could help you lots, you're welcome."

*flips hair*

I also (very unsurprisingly) have befriended a cat at work and feed it at lunch with all the other interns' leftovers that I beg off of them.

Me

Other interns

I mean, yes, I'm highly allergic to cats, and yes I sneeze and rub my eyes for the rest of the day, but it's WORTH IT. All of the interns also know me so well by now; they basically understand my life goals and needs after a few weeks. *actual quote* "Aubrey, you just need to find a guy that loves cats and animals as much as you do, and then you need to marry him.... But that might be hard to do."

That's basically the Aubrey dating mantra in two sentences.

I also presented a briefing on the Middle East yesterday called "The Middle East ABC's." I was quite proud, cuz it was very clever. Feel feed to read/skip it:

ABC’s of June 29, 2015

Attacks and AccusationsOn Friday, June 26^th, jihadist attacks occurred in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait. The French attack took place in an American-owned chemical plant; the Tunisian attack was on a beach; and in Kuwait, a Shiite mosque was bombed. The latter two attacks were ISIS-affiliated. Such attacks emphasize the vulnerability of civilians in the ongoing war on terror.
 The International Criminal Court is entering preliminary investigations of war crimes committed by both Israel and Palestine in last year’s war against Hamas. Palestinian Authority foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki submitted a dossier to the lead prosecutor outlining alleged crimes committed on Palestinian soil. The ICC will most likely dismiss these files as politically motivated, but the independent investigations by the ICC could lead to a potential case against both countries.
  Border Towns and Bringing Them BackISIS attacked the Turkish town of Kobane on Thursday, slaughtering over 200 men, women, and children. The Kurds, Assad-loyalists, had regained control of Kobane by Saturday. The attack is said to be in response to the Kurdish victory over the supply routes of Tal Abyad to ISIS capital Raqqa, Syria.
 Obama recently made a speech that families who attempt to negotiate ransoms with terrorist groups holding American hostages will not be prosecuted. This change in policy is meant to give families options and reduce feelings of helplessness and inaction. However, this new allowance of negotiation could not only weaken America’s hard stance against terrorist groups but could also encourage kidnapping as a method for groups.
 Compromise and Code RedAmerican Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are holding negotiations in Vienna regarding the potential attainment of nuclear power by Iran and current US and UN sanctions against the country. Kerry says he and the foreign minister are “hopeful” about a deal in the next few weeks. While the pre-set deadline for agreement is supposed to be June 30^th, it is more likely that negotiations will last until at least July 3^rd.
 Yesterday, code red sirens went off in southern Israel as a rocket flew from Gaza. Though the rocket harmlessly landed in the Gaza Strip, it is the fourth rocket to violate the ceasefire in the last few weeks. The rockets have been shot not by Hamas but by Salafists hoping to incite a civil war with Hamas. 

It was a great presentation, if I do say so myself, and we had an interesting conversation with one of the Israeli senior researchers afterwards. While it was an educational discussion to be sure, but it definitely made me aware of how bias can affect one's perceptions and why one should be careful to keep others' experiences and points of view at the forefront when considering issues. And for the fear of overstepping my boundaries in this topic,

I went home early because one can only take so much terrorism and hatred before she says,

And I even decided to have ice cream and popcorn for dinner, because

... Then I went to see the new Pixar movie "Inside Out," so maybe I'm not really an adult quite yet (but it was an amazing movie, I highly recommend). Interesting fact: seats in Israeli movie theatres are assigned, and you are required to sit in your assigned seat. People will make you move ten to fifteen minutes into the movie if you're in their spot!

Today was more of the same--more terrorism, more productivity, more eating. Our supervisor did have to yell at some college students that refused to leave the conference room we were working in. The entire conversation was in Hebrew and there was so much sass emanating from the conversants, and the other interns and I were just sitting there like,

doo doo doo, we're just working, can't hear anything, la la la

Came home for the last real 'normal' day with my host family. Their eleven-year-old son, whom I play catch with and get ice cream with, is leaving for a three-week camp tomorrow, and Ariella, one of the daughters closest to me in age whom I really love and discuss books/eat sushi/learn Hebrew from, leaves on Thursday for two months. Their summer is actually just beginning in the next few days; the colleges don't begin their summer breaks until August 9th. I'd die--so much beach time lost!

Tomorrow is my last day before the weekend

So ya know it's gonna be a good day!

If you've made it this far through such a normal post, I love you. Send me a message or something with the words "King George" (the name of my cat friend) and I'll give you extra currency in the Aubrey Bank of Love. 

TGIT,

AubStod