I just found this as I was combing through my old blog archives, preparing to finally get around to posting new material. So, I figured late than never! Here is what I had to say…
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So for those of you who weren’t aware, I decided to take a semester and go study in Israel. Everything is different here; the food, the smells, the sounds, the language, and people, myself, etc. But, everything here is right. Everything is better and more meaningful here that I feel like I’m on a permanent high on life. So far I’ve been so happy, and I’m counting my blessings.
I love that everything is different. That the ocean is warmer, that the sand is finer. That when you ask for directions people say “go straight”. As if that means giving directions. No wonder GPS’s are big here. The crows are even a different color, and there are jungle gyms frequently scattered across a city. Not just standard, “play-in-the-sand” kind that I see in LA. But humongous, extravagant ones with slides that I even have a blast sliding down; ones with zip lines and tunnels, and crazy giant swings.
Enough of my rambling about playgrounds. Here I’ve decided to take a slower pace, to really get to know myself and my surroundings, and to not spread myself too thin. I’m going to be a master chef, a stellar salsa dancer, and a better person when I’m done here. Not to mention, a more knowledgeable musician.
The music here is great. I’m trying to absorb every facet of it; every corner and every nook and cranny that plays music, I want to be there. I feel like I’m a detective, trying to collect clues to figure out why and how Israeli music is the way it is. Why is it middle eastern but at the same time also Westernized? What is this new version of American Idol? (its called Kochav Nolad, aka A Star is Born). And who is it in this tiny country that is making it as a musician? I’m taking a class called Israeli Music, and I’m learning that music is a huge part of Israeli culture and its history.
