Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I’m in Ar-ara, IL, right? This place is wild. I mean, it’s not your typical city. It’s got this vibe, ya know? Like, a mix of chill and chaos.
First off, I wake up late. Classic me. I’m supposed to give a lecture at the local university. I bolt outta bed, throw on whatever I can find. I think I’m still wearing mismatched socks. Whatever, right? I grab a quick coffee from this tiny café on HaShalom Street. Best coffee ever! Like, I swear they put magic in it.
So, I’m chugging my coffee, and I’m like, “Okay, let’s do this.” I head over to the university, and the streets are packed. I mean, Ar-ara is buzzing! People everywhere, cars honking, kids running around. It’s like a scene from a movie. I’m dodging people like I’m in some kind of obstacle course.
I finally get to the lecture hall, and guess what? I’m 20 minutes late. Ugh! The students are all staring at me like I’m some kind of alien. I’m like, “Hey, sorry! Traffic, ya know?” They laugh, thank goodness. I start my lecture on cultural diversity, and it’s going great. I’m vibing with them, cracking jokes, and then BAM! The fire alarm goes off.
Seriously? In the middle of my lecture? I’m like, “Is this a prank?” But nope, everyone’s rushing out. I’m trying to keep it cool, but inside I’m like, “What the heck?!” We all spill out onto the street, and it’s chaos. I see a group of students taking selfies in front of the building. I mean, priorities, right?
After the fire drill (which turned out to be a false alarm, thank goodness), I finally get to finish my lecture. The students are super engaged, asking questions, and I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Then, I get this wild idea. I’m like, “Let’s do a walking tour of Ar-ara!”
So, we hit the streets. We stroll down HaGalil Street, and I’m pointing out all these cool spots. There’s this amazing falafel place I love. I mean, the falafel is life-changing. I’m talking crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. I’m drooling just thinking about it.
We stop for lunch, and I’m trying to teach them how to eat falafel properly. You gotta get messy, right? I’m showing them how to stuff it in pita, and I end up with falafel all over my shirt. Classic! The students are laughing, and I’m like, “This is how you know it’s good!”
After lunch, we wander over to the park near the center. It’s called Gan HaShalom, and it’s beautiful. There are kids playing, families picnicking, and I’m just soaking it all in. I sit down on a bench, and I’m feeling grateful. Like, this is what it’s all about.
But then, outta nowhere, this kid runs by and accidentally knocks my bag over. My laptop goes flying! I’m like, “Nooooo!” I dive to catch it, and I’m pretty sure I looked ridiculous. The kid’s mom is apologizing like crazy, and I’m just trying to breathe. My heart’s racing.
Finally, I get my laptop back, and it’s fine. Phew! I’m still a bit shaken, but I laugh it off. We end the day with ice cream from this little shop on Yitzhak Rabin Street. I get pistachio, and it’s heavenly.
As the sun sets, I’m walking back to my hotel, and I can’t help but smile. Ar-ara has this energy that’s just infectious. I’m exhausted, but in a good way. I think about all the crazy stuff that happened today, and I’m like, “Man, I love this place.”
So yeah, that was my day in Ar-ara. Full of ups and downs, but totally worth it. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!