Ten rules of rowing that apply to life

Well, todays 2:30 wakeup for my regatta ended the fall rowing season. The following was a little note that I made for my girls:

Ten rules of rowing that apply to life
 1) always row harder to get better results
2) if you don't work together then you won't go anywhere
3) practice makes better
4) rowing against the current will make you stronger in the long run
5) no matter how many races you win or lose, there will always be food at the regattas ;)
6) rowing through the rain won't always be fun, but it will always be an experience to remember. Make the best out of it.
7) there is never any harm in giving it your all!
8) always be prepared for the weather
9) when  the water gets rough or the wind picks up, raise your oar and push into it. The conditions will get better (even if it's not until next practice)
10) make every practice something to be proud of

<3 Your coxswain.

since forever and a day

wow, it's been forever! After coming home from Israel I spent the end of my summer going all over the place, visiting various family members and friends and mostly doing school work. and then came the start of the school year.

whaddya know, more school work!

And what with the high holidays (yes, my Rosh Hashanah-new year- was wonderful, and yeah the Yom Kippur fast was much easier than usual, and yes there were so many less mosquitoes in our sukkah this year. I know, can you believe Hanukkah is falling on thanksgiving?!?) my life has been just a tad bit hectic of late.

oh hey, and I can drive! Well, I'm not sure that I'd call whatever I'm doing driving... its mostly just freaking out about how fast i'm going in first gear as I stall around a parking lot. But you know, same thing.

So yes, I'd say I've been pretty busy and boy, am I missing those bright and sunny summer days!

 

 

hope to write more soon,

love, Ari

i'm baaack!

Why hello again, my lovely readers! After five weeks of sweating like I have never sweat before, I have returned home to the land of summer humidity and thunderstorms. And yes, I did have an amazing time in Israel. Who would've thought that you can make such close friends with a group of 115 strangers in such a short amount of time? (Heck, I didn't even think I'd remember everyone's names by the end of the trip.) But I did. And all those awkward interactions and attempts at making small talk during the first week most definitely paid off because I do believe that this summer has been one of the best in my life.
  So. An edited version of my mom's post.

 

The Top Five Experiences to have in Israel with my peers

(in no particular order)

 

Five: Visiting the first ever Kibbutz, doing some trust building and bonding activities with the group of friends who I was paired with during the whole five weeks, and receiving the shirts of our movement after a special ceremony.

 

 

 

Four: Building a raft with a group of friends, sailing it across the Kinneret, getting caught by the wind and being towed to shore by a rescue boat, and playing Frisbee with a watermelon with the people rescuing us.

 

[photo taken by a staff person]

 

Three: Climbing Masada 3 hours before dawn while jet-lagged to see the sunrise over the Dead Sea. (And then climbing back down in what turned out to be approximately 124 degree weather.)

 

 

 

Two: Shopping in the Shuk and eating fresh fruits and veggies and other yummy things (and buying 'Israeli clothing' at a good price after haggling)

 

 

One:Spending time on kibbutzim, hikes, and at youth hostels chilling with and getting to know the group of new friends who became my family in just five weeks.

 

 

 

Overall, its been a wonderful summer... but I'm also happy to be home.

 

xoxo,

Ari

 

 

Things Are Happenin' in Israel!!

This is Ari’s Mom pinch-hitting as guest blogger while Ari is travelling in Israel.  I have thought of a few themes that may be of interest to her readers and to Ari and decided that shelikes prioritizing things and ideas.  I am therefore submitting the following : 

The Top Five Experiences to have in Israel with your peers

(let’s see if Ari modifies this significantly)

Five :  Running into a friend from Israel at a Kibbutz (socialist living community in Israel) that you are visiting

Four : Witnessing the power that the Kotel (Western Wall) has on your friends who have never been to Israel before.

Three : Climbing Masada 3 hours before dawn while jet-lagged to see the sunrise over the Dead Sea.

Desert View Hours South of Masada

Two : Shopping in a bustling Shuk (Middle Eastern Open Market) in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv and smelling exotic spices spread before you in colorful piles.

 

One : Building and then sailing, a raft with new and old friends who have spent 3 intimate weeks together and then sailing it across a large lake!

five things (youtube music rendition)

I always have those few songs that are on my playlist (or more commonly just always stuck in my head). Here are the top five from this week that I just can't get out of my head!

1. Skylar Grey Medley
         (video from lollapalooza)

 

 

 

2. Carly Rose Sonenclar Feeling Good (X Factor)

 

 

 



3. Stay by Sara Bareilles

 

 

4. Somebody to Love (Justin Bieber) Cover by Kenyon College Owl Creeks

 

 

5. Ne Me Quitte Pas by Regina Spektor (love this video!)

 

 

Happy Summer listening!

 

xoxo,

Ari

p.s. This may be my last blog post for much of the summer as I'm leaving on a five week trip to the other side of the world in a week and a half! I will be inviting some people to guest blog while I'm away, so I'm leaving you in very good hands! If I'm not on before I leave I hope everyone has an excellent summer!

 



a silly reflection

Hola! So, i spent last week studying for my chemistry final and vegging out one school was over, and the last few days, I spent with Emily and her family on a vacation to Vermont (so beautiful!). Anyhow, I haven't really had time to write a real blog post, so instead I'm posting a silly reflection. (Well really, its an excuse to put more pics of leo dicap on my blog, hee hee.)

No, i am not a One Direction fan girl. Yes, their music is catchy, yes they're all attractive, and yes their personalities are great (what? no, i haven't spent hours laughing at their videos on youtube... i would never...). However, I am a Leo Dicap fangirl. i mean look at him.

[source]
 



Well, to be fair, one of my besties from school is  more of the fan girl. I'm just another one of the many admirers.... So what does this have to do with One Direction? Well a certain one of them looks quite a bit like a certain charming actor.

 

 

 

hmmm... land of the beautiful!

 

xoxo,

Ari

p.s. apologies because none of the images are mine unfortunately, i have never been close enough to either of these guys to have taken their pictures  and i did forget to post links to their sources... thank goodness i can find these on google!

5 things (food edition)

1. Peaches


Source



2. Water

Source

3. Banana-chocolate protein shakes
   (well... it's really a milkshake, but protein shake sounds so much better)

 



Source



4. Lime flavored tortilla chips

 



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5. Fresh strawberries

Source

What are your favorite summer foods?

xoxo,

 

Ari <3