Apple Flavoured Chewing Gum

I am completely confused.

I am sitting here chewing some apple flavoured chewing gum, purchased this evening from one of the only shops open tonight (being that it is a holy day tomorrow). Just checked my email. Hmmm... well earlier today I had an email from Jordan saying that he had handed in his notice and was leaving Bar Am on Friday and would be in Jerusalem then! Surprising information, nonetheless I replied to his email asking for details etc. Haven't heard back, but have an email from Elina (who's also a pal of his) enthusing over coming to Jerusalem on Sunday and us hanging out, and mentioning various people leaving, but not a word about Jordan leaving. Erm??!?! Strange. I'm certain that would have been one of the first things she'd mention, had she known. Oh well... I'm not really sure what to expect on that front. Am majorly looking forward to hanging out with Elina again. We didn't get much time to do so before I left as she had been away for a week showing her parents around Israel. What's going on, eh?!??!

Oh and Adele sent a complaint letter about Raviv to the KPC (Kibbutz Program Centre.. who most people come through) and apparently he called a meeting and had the email read out. Why would he do that? How could it possibly benefit him? He just gets stupider and stupider...!

Splonge?

Today I walked for miles and miles. Part of my new 'Must lose weight or I'm going to resemble Jabba the Hutt' fitness regime. And I ate less. Admittedly I still caved into temptation and had an arab dessert (this time a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy of cinnamon and butter variety), but at least I restricted it to one. And ok, so I had a pitta bread, but again... ONLY ONE. Boy, those pitta breads are simply... mouthwatering. Freshly baked, and still hot, it is difficult to resist. I am having to try and hide my gluttony from my friends. They tease me about my 'boredom' eating, so I'm just slyly buying a packet of peanut M&Ms here and a felafel there... Ahh, still healthier than my lifestyle on the kibbutz PLUS I'm getting exercise. It'll be just fine.

Today I did a lengthy investigation into the purchasing of a new rucksack. 100 shekels seems to be the cheapest I can go to get a sturdy piece of luggage. Darn it! Not sure if I want to part with that much wonga just yet, so I'll keep looking. Went to the Old City also for a bit, ended up walking past security absent-mindedly, to Dome of The Rock, where I got yelled at in Hebrew. This keeps happening to me. Whatever street I take, I seem to inevitably end up at The Dome of the Bloody Rock. Pah!

Ate dinner with the travellers at the hostel. Paul, a Christian Korean guy, cooks breakfast and dinner for all, free, throughout the week, and on Saturday gives a church service and provides a lovely lunch. I will try and attend this Saturday. Everyone was very friendly, and some of them seemed a bit surprised that I didn't find the food too spicy. Must have been thanks to all that time eating Ryan's cooking, back at the squat and also Old Kent Road in London!

Bad news - the Egyptians don't leave til Sunday, so now the managers at the hostel want Adele and I to start work then, as it'd apparently be too difficult before then. Fine by us, but I'm finding it difficult to fill the days, trying to conserve money at the same time. No idea what I'll do tomorrow. Everything in the Jewish areas will probably be closed, so it looks like hanging out in the Old City or going to Liftah for the day.

Boy, I just want to go away til these Egyptians leave. They're driving me nuts!  =(