Today marks the end of our first official week in Ramla. 7 days ago, 9 strangers (one house mate is still on the way); became roommates, and we are still working out the little kinks and quirks that will make this house our home until ISC 4 ends in January. Most of us had just finished up with our Birthright trips right before moving in, but for some, this was their first time in Israel. We are from all over the US, but coincidentally enough, I ended up rooming with Talia, who lives 5 minutes away from me in New Jersey!

There has been a lot of activity going on in and around the house since we moved in. During one of our first mornings here, our house mom, Chava, brought over a small army of local women who cooked a breakfast feast of traditional Israeli dishes. There were a few feeble attempts to help, but mostly we stood and watched in awe as dish after dish appeared on the table. The way we devoured the food, you would think that we hadn’t eaten for weeks! Most of the women who came over didn’t speak any English, and only some of us speak Hebrew, but we managed little by little to help each other. When they left, we couldn’t thank they fast enough for our first proper introduction to proper Israeli cuisine. In fact, when Chava announced on Thursday who our Shabbat families would be, and we heard that Jonathon was being “adopted” by one of our cooks, we were all incredibly jealous!

Those ladies were just our first taste of the hospitality that we are going to encounter here in Ramla. It is obvious that we are foreign, but because there have been 2 past ISC groups here, most everyone in town has heard of “The American House,” and were so excited to see us around town. Even the sherut driver knew who we were on first glance as we nervously boarded his bus for our first trip to the local supermarket. Everyone in town has been so warm and inviting to us, and practically demanded in that sweet Israeli way that we “must call them if we need anything, especially if we get hungry!” It’s only been a few days and already we are feeling very loved here in Ramla.

We also had our first official house party. From what we have been told, going to a house party is a foreign concept for most Israelis; usually they go to bars of clubs. Nonetheless, we were really excited to see all the new friends we made stop by, including our new friends in town and those we made on Birthright, both soldiers and participants. We also learned another important lesson - that once Israelis start partying, they don’t stop until the sun comes up.

For the past week we have been visiting lots of different locations around town, hoping to feel out where we will be the happiest when we volunteer. For of our activities, we got split up into 2 teams and were told to go on a scavenger hunt, looking for different buildings and locations. Some of us went to Attatidim, which is one of the local high schools that is known for its amazing journalism and broadcasting department. We also checked out Mercaza Sport, which is an enormous tennis and sports complex in town. Today we went to the local senior center to meet the director and some of the elderly in Ramla. Boy, were we shocked when we saw the place. It’s a beautiful complex not too far from our house with all the amenities you would see on a cruise ship! After discovering a room with recliners and a flat screen, not to mention a small beauty parlor, card room, and “relaxation room,” we unanimously agreed that it pays to be old! We also learned another lesson and saw another beautiful side of Ramla; that its inhabitants are from all corners of the world. While visiting the senior center, we sat down to play bingo with the residents, and even though we are in the middle of Israel, we heard pockets of Spanish, Russian, English, French, and of course Hebrew. It was definitely a little frustrating to be there because we it was clear that the residents loved having us there, and were eager to talk to us, but most of us could not understand what they were saying in Hebrew. But if anything, that will make us work extra hard when we start Ulpan.

It’s clear that the language barrier is the biggest, if only obstacle that we are having here. It seems like after so many days exploring all that Ramla has to offer, the wheels in our heads have been turning, and we are coming up with more and more ways to volunteer here. But first we have to figure out how to communicate with those that don’t speak English. We are beyond thrilled that we are able to go to Ulpan, and everyone in town has been really sweet in allowing us to practice what few words we do know in incredibly broken and butchered Hebrew.

We all left friends and family when we came to Israel for this program, and its clear that not only did we form our own little micro family, but that we are being welcomed with open arms into the Ramla community.

Written by Diana