SKY DIVING!!!

It has always been a dream to sky dive, so my friends and I decided to finally go for it!!

One of the best experiences of my life. We got there a bit late because as usual, we decided last minute that we were going to jump and only found out that there is space for us an hour before. Unfortunately, because you have to pay in cash, and we were so rushed, I didn't know if I had enough money to get pictures taken of the actual jump. 
But still, I will have these memories in my head forever. Everyone else can see the before and after pictures :)

I didn't really have time to get nervous, we were the last jumpers of the day, so as soon as we got there, I signed a form that probably said something about if I die they won't take responsibility for me. I didn't even have time to read it.

We got geared up and went right to the plane. A teeny tiny "barf plane"(as we like to call it in my family) only 6 of us fit inside pretty much sitting on top of each other. Each of the guides chilled as the plane went up. One fell asleep, my guide was reading a book. They jump so many times a day it doesn't even affect them!
I warned my guide before we took off that he will probably be deaf by the end because I tend to scream loud.

The plane ride was about 20 minutes long, but because it all happened so fast, it didn't hit me that I was about to actually jump out of a plane.
We rose 3km (3000 meters, 9000 ft) in the air. 
2 minutes before the guides opened the door, my guide checked if I was 100% attached to him, I asked about 5 times if he was sure the parachute will open!

Then they opened the door. Shani jumped first and in that second she got sucked out of the plane I thought to myself:
"OH MY GOSH!!! I AM ABOUT TO JUMP OUT OF A PLANE!!"
I moved up to the edge, with my guide attached to me, and put my feet out of the plane, layed my head back on his shoulder like I was instructed and just like that I was free falling from the plane.

I was wearing goggles so I kept my eyes open and looked around! Just soaring through the sky.
Was an incredible feeling!! The fall was for about 35 seconds before the parachute opened, it truly was the most amazing feeling, just flying through the sky, and seeing the beauty from up above. 
As soon as the parachute opened I was kinda uncomfortable but the beauty, the mountains, the sea and just everything from a birds eye view was worth the pain!
I am a bit upset that I don't have any pictures from the jump itself, but the memory, the feeling of free falling, of looking down onto the world, is worth much more than the pictures! 

Definitely a dream come true :)

Getting geared up to jump

Making sure everything is secure

Getting excited...

In the plane..

AFTER THE CRAZY JUMP!!!

Zionist caravan

Right after Yom Ha'atzmaut, (Israel independence day) the Israeli mishlachat ( A group of 10 Israelis that are here like me working in Cape Town) left for what we call "the zionist caravan".
This was a week were we drove to different Jewish communities around the Eastern Cape and spoke about Israel. We prepared a presentation called 65 years of pride, which showed what Israel has accomplished in these 65 years.
We started in Port Elizabeth, drove 9 hours straight from Cape Town.We gave a presentation to the community at the Shul. In the morning we went to the Jewish school and ran an activity all about Israel for the 12 Jewish students.

It was very nice to be in PE with Sandra. I still can't get over how small the world is, both of us are originally from Lowell and somehow we ended up in South Africa!
After Shabbat in  PE we drove to East London. Gave our presentation to the remaining 20 Jews of the community, mostly over the age of 60. 

The next day before we left for Plettenberg Bay we spent the morning on a game drive. It is really incredible just driving and seeing so many animals out in the open, and driving through acres and acres of land. These game drives are almost the size of Israel or bigger.

I pet a baby lion, Was an amazing experience!
Our next stop was Plettenberg Bay, we gave our presentation at the shul, also to the remaining Jews of the community. We stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast and had the morning to chill at the beach. BEAUTIFUL area.
In the afternoon we left for Oudtshoorn, our last destination and gave our presentation at someones house, there are not so many Jewish families left there so they all fit into the living room.
Most of the communities are dying down, not many Jews left. Still, to be there and spread our love and passion for Israel, and to see how much they care and love Israel was really an amazing experience.
The route we drove is called the garden route, the view was breath taking the whole way, and the amount of wild life on the side of the road, especially the baboons was incredible.
It was also nice to spend the time and go as a big group of Israelis! I think it was a powerful presentation and we really presented Israel the right way!
Definitely an experience I am going to remember forever!