Safe with caution

A few things have been going in this country that you may have heard about. I want to give you my perspective and that of those who live here.
First, the rockets in the north (kiryat Shemona), from Lebanon. The idea is that a Palestinian went into Lebanon and set them off, not Hezbullah. One didn't fire, one hit the UN area, and two came into the town that was seriously hit last year. Emotionally, it is incredibly tense because of what happened in last summer's war. It is doubtful that is what is happening though. I am not sure what to believe, but my safety is fairly important to me (I'm sure you're glad to hear that). With all the issues surrounding my "long walk" I have decided not to do it. I don't know what would happen if I were hiking in those hills and suddenly a ketusha rocket whizzed overhead. Bummer. I am pretty sure I will go to Tzfat to continue my work on bomb shelters up there (they need to finish like 70 more by summer's end). I liked the work, I love the town, and it'd be good to get out of J-lem for a little bit before classes start.
Speaking of J-lem, I don't know if any info about this city has gotten back to the states or not. If so, let me give my two agarot. There is a gay-pride march scheduled for Thursday. This does not sit well with the Haredi sect of Jews here. In order to protest the parade, certain Jews came out and demonstrated. By demonstrated, I mean used megaphones to curse anyone who supported the gay-pride; threw stones in a seemingly random way; blew the shofar; lit dumpsters on fire. I know that when I'm mad, the first thing I think to do is to burn a trash can. I mean come on people. There is a tremendous police force out and about. All of this is happening streets away from where I am staying. Sunday the air was thick with smoke from the fires. The Haredi are polluting the air of this holy city because they think the gays are polluting the religion. What am I missing? So that adds to the already stifling tension that constantly exists in this city.
Azza (or Gaza) is pretty heated at the moment too, moreso than a few months back. I say that because supplies are actually reaching a low point. Israel imports so many goods to the Palestinians in Azza, and that has recently been put to a halt. The Israeli gov't has promised to keep the water going though (and I think electricity, but there's more controversy there). Hamas and Fatah are verging on civil war it seems like.
Knowing these men, babies really, that are in these elite units, has given me such a different take on the situation. It's become personal. These boys put their lives on the line for all of us, every day. When one says he won't be home for Shabbat because he'll be in Azza (or right next to it), my heart skips a few beats. I feel helpless. It is such a different world here.
On a lighter, more tangible note, I'll be changing residences really soon--hopefully Thursday. For a variety of reasons, it was time for me to take my leave of this place as a home base, though I will be here hanging out and etc. I have actually chosen to live just a few blocks away. I am subletting a room in a 3-bedroom place. One room is for an IDF jobnik, the other for me, and the third is unknown. Has a full kitchen, yippie, finally a stove and oven (I'll be baking some cookies for sure!) And a bath tub. All I really wanted was a shower with a curtain, but a bathtub! What a luxury! It's a little more money that I wanted to pay, but you know what, that's all right. I'm really paying for location and proximity to my new friends. I'm still 15min from the Kotel, Yeshiva is less than 10min, Shuk is 5min, bus station around 20min, everything is walking distance. This is the city center. I wanted urban, I got it.
Because I made the decision to do this school thing, I had to go out and buy some more clothes. I'm all sorts of outfitted with skirts and sandals and look very J-lem. I feel better fitting in too.
I have my schedule of classes for the summer and I think it will challenge me and invigorate me at the same time.
Here's what I'll be doing:
9-12:30 : S-Th; Ulpan (intensive hebrew language learning)
2-4 : S, T, Th; Midrash (I)/ Mishnah (II)
2-4 : M, W; Teffilah (I)/Psalms (II)
4-6 : S; Torah chanting (I)/Prayer leading (II)
4-6 : T; Gardening in local areas
4-6 : M, W; Talmud power concepts (I)/Hasidic Masters (II)

It will be interesting to say the very least.
I hope all is well at home, and I know I keep saying this, but please feel free to write and stuff, i really enjoy hearing from everyone. Lots of love--Rae