My program in Ramla ended yesterday, and I have officially moved to Ashkelon. So far, I really like it! Ashkelon is located right next to the Mediterranean, although I don't personally live that close to it. But as bus rides around the city cost 1 shekel each (about 25 cents) I'm sure I'll be exploring it soon! I live in the Kalanit Absorption Center (in Hebrew: Kalanit Mercaz Klita b'Asheklon.) I've spent the last day setting up my apartment, exploring the Mercaz Klita and exploring Ashkelon. The Mercaz Klita is like a really big apartment building, or rather, buildings. There is a large courtyard, laundry room, some common areas, and a huge and very nice lawn outside with a tennis table and benches for hanging out in. My apartment consists of one large room that has two beds, a huge dresser, two desks/tables and three chairs. Connected to that room is a little kitchenette and a bathroom. It was originally meant to be a double, and I'm sure it would be cramped as a double, but it's positively spacious for me!
Living in the Mercaz Klita has a lot of benefits. There are three different staff people who have various jobs (one is the director, one is the "house parent" and I'm not sure what the other one does) and they are all very nice and willing to help me adjust to living here (whether by showing me where the bus stop is, letting me borrow a broom, giving me maps, or just greeting me with a much-appreciated friendly smile.) There are also three security guards who each work seven hour shifts. I've only met two of them (and it's unlikely that I'll meet the one that works from 11pm-7am) but they are also very nice. I introduced myself to the afternoon security guard yesterday and had a whole, complex conversation in Hebrew with him, which was very exciting!
The Ashkelon Mercaz Klita is also specifically for people 18-35 (out of the 200+ people who live here, only 3 don't fit into that age group) so there are lots of social opportunities. Both Oztma and Magen David Adom (MASA programs) have groups living here, and I've already met some of the participants.
The other benefits that come with living in the Mercaz Klita come when you tell people that you live there. Today in the supermarket when a woman found out that I lived in the Mercaz Klita by myself (she was incredulous: "Ainlach mishpachah b'Israel? Ain?") she invited me over for Shabbat. The bus drivers are nicer to you when you ask if a certain bus goes to Kalanit, the people on the bus are nicer, and everyone just is nicer to you. Today after I was food shopping, while waiting for the bus, I opened up the bread and the hummus and ate some (I was hungry, and forgot that Israelis don't really eat in public.) Two older women were staring at me, and when I asked them why, their only response was "Behtai avon" (it translates as something like "Bon Appetite.") Likewise, when I got on the bus the driver saw the half-eaten baguette and the hummus with scoop marks in it and had to tease me about it too. But very nicely.
I'm not sad about my program ending partly because I was ready for it to be over and was tired of Ramla, but mostly because more than half my group decided to stay in Israel. The majority of them are doing Magen David Adom, but one person is making aliyah and me and another person will be in ulpan in Jerusalem. Hopefully some of them will be visiting me in Ashkelon and making use of my spare bed!
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