From JFK to Kiev to Israel!!! | Shorashim - Israel with Israelis

From JFK to Kiev to Israel!!!

Dear Diary,
Our flight from JFK to Kiev was exciting. Being in another country for an hour was an interesting experience. There were many nationalities represented in the airport. The flight from Kiev to Israel took about 4 hours. Once we landed at Ben Gurion airport we were met by the Israeli staff and 10 Israeli soldiers. We stood in a circle, danced and ate sandwiches and then drove two hours to the Golan Heights to Kibbutz Afik where we will be for the weekend.
Today started out like any other day, except we were in a strange land that we had never been to, called Israel, with a bunch of people that we just met. And what a day it was. We started the day off with a little breakfast and rushed off to take a 40 minute bus ride to a spot in Golan Heights where we were to take a hike in an area that used to be Syria. Israel took this area over after Syria attacked without realizing the power of the little nation that we were. When we pulled up to the old bunker, there were old concrete shacks that had been long abandoned after the Six Day War in 1967. It was apparent immediately that war had taken place here because not one of the shacks remained fully intact after bombed had exploded and there were bullet holes in the walls. We all started wondering what kind of hike this was and where the promised land of waterfalls were, but as we started hiking the vegetation started changing very quickly into lush flowers and trees surrounding the river. When we finally got there we all took a much deserved swim at what was agreed to be one of the most serene places many of us had ever seen. To top off this experience we got to hike up a mountain in fifteen minutes that took about an hour to get down too. Once we arrived at the top, many of us were panting and dreaming of water and delicious food. Fortunately a delightful man driving probably the only ice cream truck in all of the Golan Heights was there to welcome us with these tasty treats.
Shabbat is starting soon. We will be at Kibbutz Afik and will be relaxing and getting to know eachother a bit.
Shabbat Shalom from Israel!!!