Just arrived

I certainly have had an action packed week. My parents arrived last Thursday and we began the celebration of Adam and Donna's wedding. The rehearsal dinner was fun and the hotel did an excellent job with the catering. The wedding was amazing. Donna looked beautiful and Adam was beaming. I will post pictures soon.

I bummed around for 2 days after the wedding- with Zach in Philly and Adam and Josh in NY before boarding a plane for Israel. My flight was non-stop (good) but I was stuck in the middle of 2 people (bad) the whole way there and I have now been up for 30 hours straight. I am trying to force myself to stay awake a couple of more hours to get on Jerusalem time (6 hours ahead of the east coast) so if I start sounding incoherent it is because I am. Tal met me at the airport and schelpped my 100 pounds of stuff to the hospital. He also took me out to lunch before departing. I love him!

As I was walking into the hospital I was met by a woman who was walking out with a snake- thankfully in an aquarium. I assume she was entertaining the kids. The hospital where I will be volunteering is a rehab hospital for children. There was also a clown in the lobby. I haven't quite figured out the rehab aspects of it but that will come in time. They have a wing of the hospital called the "bayit haim" or warm home. It is for severely disabled children ranging in age from 3-18. They all have trachs and are in wheelchairs. Some also have feeding tubes. The concept is to make the wing a home for these children which is of particular interest for me since I have been involved in the "culture change" initiative at the nursing home where I work. This is where I will be working.

As for my accommodations, I am living across the street from the hospital so that will be very convenient. The home has 3 bedrooms for 5 woman and 1 bathroom so I am thinking there will be some challenges in that regard. There is a dining/living area and a kitchen. There is a patio out back which I hope to enjoy while the weather is warm (86 today). I am definitely going to be the den mother here. I have met all the girls and they are in the age range of my children. I will see firsthand what Josh experienced last year living in a house full of young girls but I hope to stay away from the drama. The all see lovely. One is from Canada, one from Finland and the rest from the US. They love working at Alyn so that is encouraging.

Tomorrow I hope to go out and explore the area a little before I report to work. I will be working at 2:00pm tomorrow and Saturday. Sunday I am working in the morning and I have a 2 hour Hebrew class provided by the hospital. I am jumping right in to my adventure.

Please post responses so I know I am reaching my friends out there. I hope all is well. I am fine and just beginning my adventure!