The system failed miserably, I have tried to stick to shorter, yet more updated posts, but as you can see, its two weeks later and only now I found the long missing muse. However, let’s not let this discourage us, do stick with me dear friends, and allow me to indulge you some more with my quest in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

First allow me to say that I’m definitely getting too old for this crap. Going out 4 or 5 nights in a row is not as easy as it was in high school (did we even do that in high school?!), but I’m doing my best, and some day this effort will pay off. Maybe not in the near future, since I begin to develop early stage of alcoholism and a never ending cold, but one day it will pay off.

So, prom: I had a wonderful dress, slutty boots, little black purse and I did something weird with my hair. Dressed to kill. And then I arrive and it turns out that everybody look good (!) so nothing left but to drown my sorrow in a lot of cocktails. Mmmm, those apple martinis with the cherry at the bottom of the glass, soaked with alcohol… I could drink them forever… Thank God I had all kinds of guys bringing me the drinks (the line to the bar was very long). So the prom was very good, I still haven’t talked to any Americans, but I no longer care, the foreign students are much more fun. J

Great success (go and see Borat! Now!!) with the Polish guys — I think that it has something to do with the inferiority complex they have with the Russian people, and maybe it’s a sick way of getting their confidence back by winning a Russian girl. Or maybe it’s just because I’m so darn charming (especially when drunk).In the end, the party was over too soon, like all the parties in Philly, and around 2 my lame prom date took me home (that was his only role…) As a revenge I have dragged him with me on the next day all the way to fucking Baltimore, to listed to wonderful Regina. Oh my God, that was a great concert! If you haven’t still fallen in love with her, you obviously haven’t listened to the songs. She was the single most charming creature in the world! Her voice is enchanting, and she is so sweet… Amazing. It has been a while since I was so excited by music; I actually had tears in my eyes when she sang Après Moi. Check out the picture of the line; this is unbelievable, in no place in Israel a line like this could ever exist, it must be a parallel universe, and don’t get the picture wrong, the line goes around two more blocks, it’s fucking 5 degrees and fucking Baltimore…

The following week was also very nice, it was thanksgiving, and the university pub was rather empty since all the kiddies went to mommy and daddy home for thanksgiving, the beers were cheap and the bartenders sad and gloomy. Great times. I went to a thanksgiving dinner with some friends– humus for appetizers, turkey for main course, pumpkin pies and the whole nine yards for desert and lots ant lots of Israeli wine (it was at a Jewish guy’s place, so, all kosher). Everything was super tasty; my thanksgiving resolution is to start cooking (laugh all you wish, but c’mon! how hard can it possibly be? It’s all a matter of finding the right incentive. So is it that my thanksgiving resolution is actually to find someone I would like to cook for? Is it harder then just start cooking? I’m too confused now…). The rest of the weekend I just spent drinking, with various people in various places. As I have mentioned, early stage alcoholism. Very sad… and the girl had such a bright future… I’m sick again, and that’s the third time in two month, it seems that I can’t quite grasp the concept that outside it 5 degrees, and if I step out of a club after dancing and sweating and what not, I should better put my coat on. Let’s hope that I will learn it eventually, I’m running out of nose drops and friends’ sympathy.

I got my first American grade, it’s for a paper on Human Rights and National Security, and I got an A-, given the fact that there were no A+, I’m in a good place (especially for a little immigrant child in an single parent family, to get an A in an Ivy league school…) Like a good, and optimistic friend told me, “you can’t take the A out of the A-.” Ok, enough excuses, it’s a good grade and let’s just pray that the finals will go as smoothly. What else can I tell you, dear friends, about my struggle with Americanization? Ah, Xmas time is near and it means a few things: it’s fucking cold (still), there are Christmas trees and decorations on the streets, and sales in the shops!! Very nice… (Go see Borat, seriously, leave everything and go see it). A few days ago I went to the art museum (the one with the Rocky steps) and Rodin museum, had a very nice cultural afternoon, dragged a poor fellow with me, apparently my charming company compensates for hours of looking at some art that I find nice… Took some great pictures from Rodin’s museum and had Chinese for lunch.

The week goes by smoothly, between lessons and meek attempts to catch up with my readings. And then the weekend comes again… This weekend started with a party, the party was yesterday, now it’s 21.00 in the evening and I’m still struggling to recover. Sooo drunk… But I had a short skirt, sexy boots, a lot of fans, danced with a black guy, fell down, and now I have a bump on my forehead. How silly can one get? Apparently a lot… Let us all hope that it will help me get it all out of my system and when I come back, I’ll be finally ready to settle down and lead a quiet boring life, without black guys and vodka-cranberry. Well, the exams are coming up, time to panic, time to study all day long, muy kef.That’s it for now…

Keep in touch…

Muchos besos…   

New system: I’ll try to do more posts but they are going to  be shorter.

Tomorrow in prom-dress-shopping-day, everybody are very excited (and by everybody, I mean me).  And maybe boots as well. I know all of you must be wondering how I was  getting along without boots so far, well, it is a mystery.  But hopefully I will manage another few days. Just so you’d all know, I’m very tempted to go back to the US right after my internship. All the signs point to the fact that it’s the smartest decision. So Berkley (UCLA?) here I come. Ready or not.

Regina Spektor (http://www.reginaspektor.com/index2.html) has a concert in Brooklyn, and I even got Koot all excited about it, because apparently everybody know about dear ol’ Spektor, only nobody knows that everybody else know. And what turns out? Of course, all the tickets are sold out. So there is another concert in Baltimore but I’m too cheap to pay 50 bucks for a one hour bus ride. And even then, I’ll have to go to the concert alone. Please tell me I should go…

I start to notice strange eating habits that I have now, I started to buy chips as a snack after lunch (in Israel, never in my life). So there you go, I’m going to be fat soon. Another funny thing is that since I have no sugar, I drink coffee and tea without it. But also, when I drink tea I just keep adding hot watter to the cup, until the tea bag loses all flavor. This is exactly what Andrey (Ilya’s) used to do and at the time I remember that I thought that this is so weired. Nonsense you say, that is true, but a peculiar one.

The end is near… I can fell it… I really don’t like it. Must find a way to stay! Dammit.

If you wonder about the basketball game, well, it was very fun, Philly team (the 76ers) won and everybody were happy.  So there you go (don’t know how to fix the pic, just click)… I’m going to have a beer with a Polish guy… Had a long lazy day.

If the people demand a new post, then the people shall have one.
It’s 30 minutes into my First Amendment class, and as usually I have lost all track of the class. It’s impossible to take notes. This is what happens when the fancy law school builds classes that look like huge ball rooms, the acoustic is pretty bad and the microphones aren’t working. …something about freedom of association… Dammit.
How are you dear friends? Do the fine people of Israel plan to change the government system while I’m gone? Can anyone please tell them not to? I promise to explain why it’s bad when I return, laden with my rich experience regarding the presidential system, just make sure they don’t do anything until February.
Can you guys believe that I have only two month left here? I’m starting to save money for my second degree in the US, already have like 5 bucks in pennies (seriously, what to do with the pennies?! I have a sandwich plastic bag full of them). I have a great plan now: I’m going to work in Israel for two or three years, then take a student loan, do my Masters here in the US then work in a big bad corporate law firm in NY, make 140,000$ a year, pay back the loan and be rich and happy. It means that I have to marry someone very successful in the upcoming two years, who will be able to find a job in the US while I study. I think it’s a great plan. OR maybe find a nice Jewish lawyer here… Even better.
Zis said that he will come with me, any other volunteers? But with all the due respect to Penn university (and trust me, there is plenty of respect) I think I’ll do the second degree in Berkley, it’s just too fucking cold here. I need a place with sea and sun.
Now, allow me to say a few words about manners (dear Romch’ka, you can skip this part): I know it sound Russian and old, and uncool at all, but some things need to be said, there is a certain charm to men who act like gentlemen! (Meanwhile, in Berkley, some angry feminists add my name to the black list, meaning I’ll have to study in a cold sad place). What I don’t understand is how come we became a culture that despises all manners? Ok, of course I know why that is, it’s the bloody army and the fucking Israeli pride and God knows what else. But can you imagine living in a society where all the doors get open for you? All men actually care about how they look and what they wear and don’t think that it’s super cool to wear the t-shirt from the tironut 10 years after? Men that don’t think of a haircut or a shave as something so bad that if only you postpone it long enough people might just cancel the whole thing altogether, so it’s worth waiting. A magical kingdom where if a girl is in a bar, it’s almost natural to offer to buy her a drink, even if you’re not hitting on her (especially if you’re not hitting on her), not as a trade off in hope of getting lucky, but out of an honest belief that she should have a drink! I know that you all must think that it stands against all my radical feminism, but it is really not like that. It doesn’t meant that the men think that the girl is too weak that she can’t open the door herself, or that she can’t afford a drink, it a matter of respect. Respect both to yourself, that it matters how you look, and respect to the girls, it’s like saying “wow, she is so classy, she deserves to be treated like a queen”.
Does any of this make any sense? Or am I just living in a movie (surrounded by Italian guys who dress like fucking models)? Why is it that I find it so magical to watch a man tie a tie? Well, I don’t know… but those were 30 seconds about how I would like to be a princess.
But enough about that, let me tell you what I have been up to. So, lots of fun stuff here in Philly, most of you has already heard of my misdeeds, but in short, the exciting moments are as follows: I’ve been to Washington DC, took a look at the big stuff like the Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, the White House and the memorials, saw Dick Chaney coming for lunch in the white house, took a lot of pics and was generally very pleased. We had a Halloween, so I went to a few parties, had a cool costume as you can see from the pictures, I’ll stop being pretentious and just simply admit that it’s Humphrey Bogart in drag. The parties were super fun, had a lot to drink, danced till I dropped and in general had a good time. As far as academic experiences go, I’ve been to a Posner lecture (sorry, legal crap), and also heard an interesting talk from a human rights professor from Iran (!). And make no mistakes, all the lectures are in fancy rooms, with reception, and snacks (cheese and fruit and sweets and other nice stuff), and the professors talk to you like you are a real person, and not just some silly student who should be punished just for taking precious room. On Sunday I’m going to NBA game (it’s the 76rs V. Miami heat) given the fact that I’ve never been to a basketball game, I think that NBA is a good place to start.
Other then that, I’m proud to introduce you to a new member of the Journal of International Law and Policy editorial staff! Could you believe it? I just sent them my CV and got in, despite the fact that I’ll be doing the editorial work only for two month!! No academic credit for it, but think of the eternal glory!!
I also wanted to tell you about how power corrupts people (hence the title) but I think I will leave it to my next post. And it’s not that interesting anyways; it’s just me bitching about men.
To set the record straight: Andrey gets to comment first (since he loves me, and also he changed his name, so congrats are in order), then Yos (I hope you were kidding about the job, right? BTW, the leaves are great, all yellow and red and swirling), then Romch’ka (sorry about the manners stuff, maybe I am getting old), then Alinush, complaining why is it that she is in the fourth spot in line (Hun, you know I love you), and last but not least, everybody else, that promised to read and comment but have disappeared ever since (Adi!! Another Adi!! Gena!! Etc…)
Kisses and such
Miss you all very much
Don’t quote me on that
Click to enlarge

Buenos dias amigos, it’s half past ten in the city of brotherly love (that is Philly) and it’s Monday, which only means one thing: A new week is about to begin on all it’s glory.

It’s funny how things slide into this sort of comfortable routine. I get up, have coffee, muffin, try to catch up on my readings for class, check my e-mail, go to class, have lunch, etc. Once in a while I do stop and realize that this isn’t my routine at all, on the contrary, this is probably the most unusual thing I’ll ever do. It’s a strange and new place, in the F states, far from home, fancy school, great people, interesting lectures… It’s funny how these things work out, but I even got used to the terrible coffee.

I have been trying to change my eating habits though, I have realized that if I continue with the hoagies (yes, my dear friends, they named a sandwich after a little pig, quite so) and the cheesestakes (I haven’t tried the very famous one’s yet, but I got a pretty good idea of the concept), then the lovely city of Philadelphia will manage to do what the IDF failed to accomplish: make me gain weight.

And we don’t want that, now do we? We all like me in my slim version. All in favor say ay! Thank you. So anyways, I’m switching to salads and Chinese, it’s a bit further away from my dorm, but c’mon, let’s admit it, I could use the exercise. And I will not go jogging! They can’t make me! And I’m not getting an I-pod and it’s final.

So I have done some fun stuff this week: I went to a salsa class on Monday, it wasn’t that exciting since it was very basic but even the salsa here has a certain something extra cool. Maybe it’s my imagination. On Tuesday I have managed to embarrass myself in front of my peers in the first amendment class, it’s so strange, it’s just this class, and just this professor that somehow make me lose all my confidence. And he’s not even tough he is like a big teddy bear, just until the point where he asked me to make the strongest argument against the court’s decision. At which point I have decided that the most logical thing to do is stare at him for a few seconds and pray to all the possible Gods that this will go away. And seriously, don’t get me wrong, I knew the answer! I had the argument! It was just something like a bunny that freezes in front of the car lights. And then the terrible accident… well, no, it wasn’t that bad, he just thinks I’m stupid, and most likely he’s right. Ah crap.

New weeks’ resolution: always speak my mind in classes!! (I’ll let you all know how it went).

I have managed to survive Wednesday without incidents, on Thursday I went to a dinner with my Italian friend (pasta, mind you!) and after that we headed to a party. It’s a new concept to me but apparently it’s quite common that if there is a party in the evening, people tends to meet early and have dinner and then head to the party all together. It’s actually very nice. The party was so so, lots of first year-runny nose- law students that surprisingly all of them look the same! It was quite interesting to watch, there was a bunch on those kids, all fairly good looking, very healthy, all had light shirts and the same smug look on their faces. No wonder everybody hate lawyers.

Had a few drinks, mingled, went home. Actually I went to Michal’s to walk the stupid dog–Chip, see picture attached. But he was a good boy, except the times he decided to tease me by climbing on the bad and pretending that my attempts to get him off there are some kind of a new and cool game, in which I obviously lose.

Friday was more fun: I made Ernesto come with me to walk Chip and then we went downtown to all the cool places. We were so damn cool that we have actually managed to have drinks at the bar of one very fancy place, to have dinner in another fancy place and then to go to a salsa party in a very cool looking Cuban style club, Where we were joined by other people. Very cool.

On Sunday it was ice skating and sushi at the park day. Also very nice. The thing with all these entertainments is that I’m actually trying to study in between.

I’m a week away from my due day on my seminar paper, and guess how many pages do I have? That’s right, not so many!! And I plan to go to the theatre this week (“Waiting for Godot” masochism in its purest form, I love it) and do all kinds of other stuff.

And my lovely law review have decided that I was actually serious when I told then that I’ll do the editorial work via e-mail, and they gave me an article to work on. How rude is that?!

Ok, this actually starts to sound like I’m bitching again. I am truly sorry that this time I was more informative. Next time I promise to tell you all about the leaves that are changing color, because they are, really. Very nice.

Muchos besos, mis queridos.

P.S. hanging out with Ernesto really improves my Spanish. I can now say two words in a row, it present tense. Preferably “muy bien”.

The angel fled the country but promised to return.

And Noam had a birthday, but so did Vladik, so what do I know…

P.S.2 Adi, it’s now or never, I’m expecting a comment.

I’m losing my crowd, I can sense it. The problem is that I fell the need to write nice and funny posts that require more then one second, but for that I must have a muse, and you know how these chicks are, very unpredictable. Therefore, I’m willing to suffer for my art. I prefer quality to popularity. I hope that the ones who stay my dedicated readers, will do the same (word of advice, the “Goodbye Lenin” ost, that accompanies my humble attempts to indulge you, might to well to the reading process as well).

Allow me to start with some sad news (and I do hope my Mom wouldn’t try to read the blog again, at the first attempt she called me and said that she didn’t understand much, but she did get that part when I’m saving on food to buy boots. Naturally she was very worried. So, Mom, this part is not for you. And yes, I might have decored my body in my early twenties). I went to the dentist today and he was kind enough to surgically remove my wisdom tooth (the one that Fima didn’t take out, and is going to be sued for like there’s no tomorrow). You see my dear friends, I get so smart here that my wisdom tooth gets inflated. So no more smart stuff for me. Just ice cream, penicillin and a world of pain from a nice little Korean doctor. I hate him. And want to die in general. And have 3 stitches. And was in bed all day, not studying. My new friend Daniella came back from her Mom’s coronation and even required upon my health. Very kind of her.

But enough about that, let me tell you about the fun I’m having. In reverse chronological order: Yesterday I went to a road trip to the Amish countryside, they were very friendly and dressed funny. The name of their village is Intercourse (you can’t even imagine the amount of silly jokes we came up with. And it still goes on). The Amish are very nice and willing to sell their unique lifestyle to the higher bidder (or to any tourist that comes to town). I got a souvenir key chain that says “I heart Intercourse”. Amazing.
On Saturday we (and by that I mean me, Daniel the German, Ernesto the Colombian, David the Spanish, Jose from Dominican Republic and Ana-Lucia from Panama) went to Atlantic city. Another nice road trip with the guys. Who would have thought that Atlantic City is such a crappy place?! I bet you all are saying that “well, yeah, Vegas is the real thing, this is just a pitiful copy” but I’m sure that Vegas is the same shit, only bigger. The stench of ripoff was surrounding us. I lost 10 bucks at the Taj-Mahal (Trump) casino, and felt that i got out cheap. But the stench didn’t let go. Crappy city. Even the beach was so so (although it is an ocean… respect…).

Andrey-if you are reading this, I’m not being whiny, it’s just a healthy criticism. Before that I was whiny but I had my tooth extracted, so I have a good reason.

Speaking of criticism, since I’m only hanging out with my European (and South American) pudding, I must say that the American have seldom managed to win my appreciation. And they still are stupid, over-patriotic and self-righteous. But what do you know, maybe the Michael is yet to come. My writing instructor in school is Canadian, and they, I think, are better. At least in some aspects…

On Friday I was invited to a lovely dinner of caserol and wine (pictures are to come soon) with some people. After the dinner I refused to join them for a “back-to-school” party or one must say that a more appropriate name would be the “let’s-dress-all-the-girls-as-catholic school-girls-and-get-really-drunk”. I officially can declare that my catholic school girl period is over (for those of you who remember, that is, Noam, but he isn’t reading). Sad? Who knows. This whole growing up thing is pretty sad, but then again, it gives you a more complete feeling (and wisdom tooth). Or maybe not.

But I did go to a party the week before that, and that was a cool one, in an amazing house in the old city, crowded rooms, wooden floor, cigarette smoke, goodwine, handsome men… The whole deal. Got drunk, danced, took a taxy home. nice.

I think it’s enough for today. I also had a very strange dinner with a Jewish girl from law school who didn’t stop talking about dead babies in jars and Lindsy lohan’s vagina (as seen here… http://www.idontlikeyouinthatway.com/pictures/20060906/lohan%20venice00/llven2.html  it’s ok, you can go and check, go on… I would tell). But I think I can skip this story or just save it for next time). And also went for a beer with an Irish guy and had him saying funny things in Irish and Scottish accents.

As you can see, my adventures in the big city continue. Next week is babysitting Chip and Rosh-ha-shana. Until then, God bless us all.

P.S. What to do with all the pennies? And how how to keep my readers loyal? Maybe something with Guantanamo bay? The big book of caves showing his signs again…

Hello everybody, I hope you all are nice and warm in that holy land of yours.

I have moved to the dorms a few days ago. It’s a huge building with lots of little Asian people coming and going all the time. I have a nice room, all to myself, it’s a bit empty but I do feel silly to put money into it if it’s only for four month. And everything is super expensive, I feel like I spend a small fortune every day. That’s why I try not to eat to much, you know, so I can buy some nice boots when winter comes. I have a nice bathmate (we like share the same bathroom), she’s Chinese, and after some feeble attempts from my side to pronounce her name, she just told me to call her Victoria. Which I did. She on the other hand really put her heart into her room, with a refrigerator, and a TV and a microwave and even a little cooking thingy. And she cooks for herself, while I sit in my empty room and starve. And then I go outside to smoke, alone, in the cold.

But that’s life I figure. Some people can cook and the others have blond hair… What to do.

Yesterday I had my first class, it was Telecommunications and it was really good, the subject is interesting (at least to me) and the professor is nice and cool. And today I had another cool course, in which I actually participated in class. The professor asked me my name and then said out loud “So, what’s Ms. Simsky is telling us is…” and that was rather cool. Not many people refer to me as Ms. Simsky. That would be a good place to say a few words about the Socratic method: The thing is that you are actually supposed to read all the material to each class you have, the professor has a list of all the students and he picks a name and asks Mr. Whatshisname about the reading for the class. It’s as scary as hell. So I figure if the professor notices me from day one, he’ll ask me less. A fool’s hope of course, but better then no hope.

Daniela Beinish is in my class, she is very nice, we’ll see how long will it take me to turn her into my best friend. With my social skills it might take some time. But at least she’s polite. To all of you who wonder who the fuck she is, you can just Google it and then try and realise the importance of vitamin P in the overwhelmed lawyer market in Israel.

I went to some siteseing, a tour in the city hall, the Liberty bell (which is still a mystery to me), the first supreme court in the country (just a room, with some tables) and the something of the constitution. It’s nice. Still have the old city to go to, and of course China town, which is always cool.

Today, me, Michal and some other guy had a lunch with the Dean (no less), he was very nice, I told him about myself, he payed for the food, great deal. We should have more of these…

So this is it, so far. The room is a bit cold, the evenings are a bit lonely. The days are good and I have tuns of reading to do. Ah, and there is a phone line in my room, to those of you who can’t stand the separation, it’s:(code of US) 215-417-6036. Sometimes I’m in my room so it might actualy work.

The thing about trips abroad is that you can’t complain! You are supposed to have fun and if not, then there is something wrong with you. You are expected to have fun, and everything is supposed to be perfect. That’s why it’s called ”abroad”, ’cause it’s fun…

OK then. Fun it is. Keeping my spirits high. Looking at the bright side. Positive perspective and shit.

The flight was ok, even though I had the saddest little seat in the back of the plain, with a little “dos” next to me (he was afraid to look at me for the entire 12 hours), I think I managed to sleep most of the flight. Of course I woke up for an occasional chicken with something old as a side dish, but other then that, my sore neck proves I actually slept (for a while I even tried to stash some pillows on the little sleeping dos, for a better position, it actually worked…)

Finally, NY and some friendly faces - Kooty is as sweet as always, carried my bags all across the city to get me on the train to Phily. Actually she helped me, but so did this guy (I was supposed to meet him, to give him something from his dad, a friend of my mom, the guy is some one I dated like 7 years ago, and then he asked his dad not to invite me to his wedding… funny story). Kooty joked that I have a guy in every harbor (airport for that matter) after he carried my bags and had coffee with us… But never mind that… then I got to Phily…

 And then the solitude begins…

The place I’m staying at is the cutest little condo, I suspect that my dorm room wouldn’t be as cosy and nice. It’s even got cable TV. The city is big and gray. Or maybe it’s the weather (it’s warm and humid but cloudy and gray… very gray…). Kind of gives you the feeling that it’s the end of the world.

I remember now why I didn’t like NY to begin with (and now Phily for the similar reasons) It’s coffee and cigarettes hell! You can’t smoke anywhere. And you don’t even feel like ’cause the coffee is sooooo crappy! It’s terrible. And they pay 2$ for a cup of this crap! Talk about looking at the bright side - After a few hours I have managed to operate the coffee maker at Michal’s apartment and now I can have cups and cups of this crap for free. Amazing. I want to have a smoke and I feel like a criminal.

But enough about that. The campus looks nice, lots of people, been to the orientation today, all of the foreign students are from Asia (A.K.A small and yellow. Some are indian with a funny accent. One Muhamad from Syria. Scary…). I think that there is a problem with my visa, and my health coverage, but I’ll try and sort it out tomorrow.

To all of you who are worried for me, nothing even looks like a Michael… Or John for that matter. All alone here. And who said that the world is easier for blonds? Who?!

Anyways, I do hope my mood gets better, it’s sort of grayish, like the weather (it’s raining now, I might as well have went to London, at least the TV is better). And I do hope that the black people on the streets will stop mumbling things as they go by me, sometimes it’s “how’ya doin’?” but sometimes it’s “get de fuck ‘outta here”… on the other hand maybe I’m getting it all wrong and it’s all about cultural differences. Which reminds me that I have to write my seminar.

Bye for now.

They say that there is a thin line between love and hate; I think that it can be considered true about most of the strong emotions. The thing is that sometimes it seems as if it’s all a matter of definitions, whether I decide to call it depression and sadness or rather euphoria and joy. The level of excitement in the brain is the same.

Now, what the fuck am I talking about? You see, I can’t quite decide how I feel about this trip.

There are times when I tell people that I’m going to study for one semester in the states and then travel for a while and all that, and it sounds absolutely great. What can be better? New country, new people, excitement, crap like that. And when I tell about it, I feel like the luckiest girl ever “look at me, I’m all grown up now, going to study and travel abroad”… That’s the euphoria part.

And then there are those times when I find myself alone in my room, staring at the familiar walls, wandering “what the fuck was I thinking?! Is it too late to cancel? Maybe just cancel the ticket and it will all go away?” Cummon, don’t say I’m a chicken, It’s just pretty scary! To be all alone, new school, new kids, I don’t even know if I like Americans… They all talk funny and pretend they care… And I didn’t get all the courses I wanted, and the ones I got I’m not sure I want.

What was wrong with staying here? In the war stricken, good old, hot-as-hell,
Israel?

I got one semester left, I know the drill, lot’s of spare time on my hands, all of my friends have moved to Tel Aviv (finally, you see the light!)… Hang out? Go to the beach? But no! I’ll go and freeze to death with those snobbish IV league kids, who are 10 years younger then I am and think it’s cool that I’ve been to the army (how little do they know).

That’s the depression part (for all of you who fail to keep track of my whining post).

And I don’t have any winter clothe…

And no shoes either…

And I get these mails from Penn about orientation saying “On Sunday we will all go for a tour in the old city, and then have a drink at Joe’s and then a steak at Mike’s and after that totally informal cheese and wine evening, no tie (but no jeans either)…We are so cool and welcoming and we love you all and welcome diversity…” GOD!

I already hate them…

And the girl I’m going with asked me to baby-sit her dog…

Dear friends, help little Lika to feel better about herself (although most of you think it’s fun and envy me for going).

Or just say whatever you feel like.

P.S. next time I promise more foul language, more juicy stuff and maybe even some legal stuff to keep it down to earth. I’m warming up… Keep track…

Isn’t this a silly line? I think it was used for programming exercises long long time ago, or at least that’s how it worked when I took the silly idea to study C language. But never-mind all that, what’s most important is that I have a blog!!

Yuppey!

That means I can share my wonderful and interesting thoughts with the world. Or does it mean I’ll have to narrow my thoughts to the minimum that I’m willing to share with the world? Well, that is yet to be seen.

Right now what matters most is that I have a blog! I just have to decide who do I tell about it… Never mind it’s on the web for the world to see, I trust the world not to care for me enough to read this crap. But I probably should tell some people about my new way to communicate.

And the name is silly too… Not only that “lika” was already takes (Who the hell is named lika these days? What kind of a name is it?!) but the blog title is also pretty dumb. Hopefully I’ll change it some sunny day (unless some good friends will convince me not to).

So let’s turn it into a blog test: Who thinks my blog title is silly and should go away? And I want to see you offer something better.

Shoot.