So different yet the same

I had quite intense days. Lost in translation to say so.
Sometimes it's really a wonder that happens to me - when I feel tired, lonely and miserable, suddenly I remember some people who have been in my life, whom I have met and how they influenced me with their bright and kind spirits.

I found out that this girl, Ruchi, who I met in Antwerp on Sukkot got engaged. Mazal tov! I am so glad for her, hope she will have hatzlacha (good luck) in everything. She was the first hassidic girl I've ever known. Before I went to Antwerp I was told how strict orthodox those people were. So I was little afraid of hassids, tell you truth. Then we were invited at Belzs' and that's where I met Ruchi, amazing person with kindest and loveliest dark eyes I have ever seen. Then we started this game that all the girls should have divided in two and do conversation with the girl seated next. So Ruchi and I got together, she told me about her family, life in general, so did I. I was absolutely charmed by her natural beauty and lovely smile. When we talked about the difference between our lives, she told me: "We are still same as we are Jewish." That really made me think over many things and decide that difference is beautiful and G-d has known how to arrange this world so we, different people, could come together and share the same faith which lays in/with Him.

Thank You, Lord. Thank you, dear Ruchi and everyone who never stops smiling and knows that we should not take this life for granted, but be thankful and happy for everything we have got.

To Walk The Docks

[Bridge to the Antwerp docks. Belgium, October '09]

Wanted to write to you with a few more impressions of Antwerp. (...) Well, these docks are one huge Japonaiserie, fantastic, singular, strange — at least so one can see them. I’d like to walk with you there to find out whether we look at things the same way...' - Vincent Van Gogh

I can tell what Van Gogh felt walking in Antwerp, and looking for someone to walk and share its thoughts with him. Then I thought for myself - would I like to walk someone in Antwerp to find out whether we look at things the same way? I don't know. Sometimes I just love walking alone and looking at things the way only I see. The reason may be the following: at this very period of my life I have nobody to walk in Antwerp, either in Berlin :) I think I'm on my way of finding the way of my future life, what I really really want and who I want to be with. Imagine, if you date/marry someone and you realize that it's not the one you wanted to walk the docks and see things together.

It's so ironic - as you grow older you become self-confident, but your fears and insecurities grew with you too. What one can do? No need to answer. Just let me find out by myself [and with G-d's help].

Lost in Antwerp

City Hall of Antwerp

Ziskind family

Ostend

I went to Antwerp for holiday of Sukkot. It's been amazing there, I fell in love with Belgium really. Me and other 9 girls from the Berlin midrasha lived in various families. I stayed at Ziskind family. They had made lovely sukkah outside the house, we sat there for seudas. Boys and their father, rabbi Ziskind sang and entertained us.

Antwerp is lovely city and I'd love to live there. People are so relaxed and calm. Jewish neighbourhood has been so warm to us. We went in 4 families for a dinner as ushpizins. The day before our departure, we went to Ostend, rented bikes and rode them down to the beach. It was just amazing!!! It was raining and we still did not care - rode and rode on...

When we got back in Antwerp, Belz sisters and other Antwerp girls threw a party for us. We danced for hours. I even performed georgian dance and everyone just loved it. I had so much fun. Although I missed my georgian friends so much, when I'm back, Bezrat Hashem, I should make something like that in Tbilisi for the MaBaT girls.

Now I am in Berlin already. Till 13th October we have holidays so fun is still there waiting for us ;))

Love ya all,

Tschuß