What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas

I had the most amazing weekend in a place that I didn't expect to like that well. Vegas is a destination in the middle of nowhere that I associated with opulence, excess, and gambling, three things that I don't generally support. I set my expectations pretty low expecting to see too many spring breakers and obese gamblers wasting their lives, trolling for tramps and flushing away their money. Instead, I ended up having one of the best weekend trips I have ever taken.

Two of my girlfriends and I had been discussing going to Vegas since I returned. At the age of 25, I had never been to Vegas old enough to drink or gamble, so I figured it was an experience that one should have in their twenties. When we found out Lady Gaga was to perform in March and we had previously discussed going to Vegas in the spring, it wasn't even a decision, it was an obligation to find tickets and get ourselves to Vegas for the show.

The show, obviously, was amazing, a definite spectacle just as you would expect to see from Lady Gaga. I had high expectations for the show and they were all met. Even our seats were better than I had hoped as we were very high up, but we had a rail in front of us which meant good views and lots of dancing room. Plus we had an excuse to dress-up and look amazing!

Lady Gaga outfits

The following night and days were what surprised me about Vegas. Mostly, that the cliché "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," seemed to be a saying that people really take to heart there. Never in my life have I been to a bar and had multiple groups of guys offer to buy us drinks and chat us up. It was literally one group after another. One guy even tried to get me to talk to him when I was clearly engaged in conversation with someone else, using a line about his friend needing help to get away from another girl (please, like a boy has ever needed saving from a girl at a bar).

Pick-up line after pick-up line were thrown out. We ended up spending Saturday with some guys from LA who asked my friend to peel an orange for him and feed him a piece on a dare from a friend. Saturday we didn't pay for anything. Over the course of the weekend we were bought food, multiple rounds of drinks (always watched them being made!), cab rides were paid for, drugs were offered (politely declined) and plans were thrown out for the next day.

All of this and what I found the most surprising, not one person ever mentioned, or asked if someone had a significant other. Not once. I don't even think I heard the word boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, partner, fiancé, etc. used ever outside our room. Clearly it didn't matter to anyone what was going on outside the Vegas vortex, the only thing that mattered was that the present was fun and maybe the next day.

I am not stupid to think that these people didn't have one objective in mind for throwing money around. Everyone had their vacation hat on and was on the lookout for a vacation romance aka fast, passionate and short-lived. Everyone knows what the priority is, all I know is that my girlfriends and I didn't spend a penny for a whole day, we stayed safe, and came home every night together. I have never met so many characters in my life or had so many funny stories/inside jokes develop in such a short amount of time. I was throughly entertained all weekend by my surroundings.

I will admit that the boys on the other end of this deal probably had the opposite feeling about the fate of their weekends, since they threw a whole bunch of money at girls who ended up going home and not answering calls and texts the next day. Would I advocate doing this all the time in my life? No. But does it happen all the time? No. Would I want to spend more than a weekend in Vegas? Definitely no.

But as you know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

One of our favorite bars in the Cosmopolitan Hotel

Ash Wednesday Mass

I haven't had a lot of time for new experiences recently, but I was able to fit in an hour at Catholic mass on Wednesday for Ash Wednesday. Let me preface this by saying I am not Catholic and could never be Catholic, but I am curious about what goes on during different religious services. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of 40 days and nights of lent before Easter. If you're like me you have probably seen people with ash on their foreheads and have definitely known people who give up some kind of pleasurable thing for lent. I also like to give things up, not for Jesus, but because I think it's good to have self control and not rely on too many things. This year I have given up beer and hard alcohol, one year I gave up facebook.

On Wednesday, two of my friends and I, one Catholic and one not, but like me curious, went to Catholic mass. I had previously been to two Catholic funerals and a mass in Spain when I was 17 that I fell asleep during, so I had no idea what happens when you are at a regular service. Catholicism is so ritualistic and if you aren't familiar with the prayers or the order it is confusing. There is kneeling, communion, Latin, and there was a bell ringing while the priests held a cup up to Jesus. It was probably one of the weirder things I have ever seen, but very interesting to see what a billion people believe in on Earth.

What bothered me is that there hasn't been any changes that allow for how the world has changed. There was one part where they were saying the people of the Synagogues and the "hypocrites" were very wrong in their way of showing good deeds and piety. I understand that it is traditional, but I do not respect religions that bash other religions and if that is not their intent then the words should be changed.

I also do not like being told what a sinner I am and that the music also had a lot of undertones about sinning. This whole idea really bothers me about Catholicism especially, but christianity in general.

I found it highly odd that there were no bibles in the pews, I guess the priests are the only ones that can read it?

I discovered while I was there how lax the Catholic church has become in regards to lent. Apparently, you can do/eat/drink whatever you want on Sundays as per what the Pope has declared. I think that a place so founded in traditions and rituals should either stick to them or undergo some major changes.

Obviously, I will not be converting any time soon, but I think that it makes you a more rounded and educated person to experience these types of situations if not just to be able to form better opinions about them. I respect that it helps a lot of people get through the day and live a more moral life, I just don't believe in any of its teachings. I am glad to have had the experience though, it was definitely a more interesting way to spend the hour than watching TV or sitting on my computer!

We plan to go to a Mormon service next and also to Jewish temple. Luckily we will have people who are familiar with these religions, not necessarily followers, who are going with us so we can absorb more of the experiences.

Update:

I have started my crazy busy interview and travel schedule! Last weekend was intense with two interviews and flying to the east coast and midwest. Tuesday I am off to NYC again! 

Taking a break....

I just wanted to let anyone know who reads this blog that there may not be anything new for the next month and a half or so until the middle of April! I have been very honored to be invited to several interviews out of state to genetic counseling programs, which means lots of time in airports, being nervous and travelling around on top of working and volunteering.

I hope to post something in the meantime since I will be travelling and surely will have stories!

Wish me luck! 

Denver Jewish Film Festival and Yad Vashem

This past Friday I was invited to the Denver Jewish Film Festival at Cherry Creek. Film festivals and anything that gets too artsy and hipster are not my scene, but I wanted to hang out with the person who invited me (my friend's mom), so I decided that I would go. Going into the films, all I knew is where it was and that there were going to be two short films shown.

I was really blown away by the movies. The first movie was called Cohen on the Bridge and detailed Operation Entebbe in 1976 when an Air France flight bound from Tel Aviv to Athens to Paris was intercepted by two German and two Palestinian terrorists and flown to Uganda. Idi Amin was in power and the Jewish passengers were separated from the non-Jewish passengers. In the end they were saved by the elite Israeli Defense Force, the Mossad, and most of the hostages were saved. This was a story that I had never heard before, never even heard mentioned. Normally I would have been annoyed by the nature of the movie- a very hipster, very comic book-esque black and white film, but I was highly engrossed in this story. The thing that impacted me the most was the fact that there was a Holocaust survivor among the hostages and I can't imagine living through a situation like that again, in fact I can't imagine anything more horrifying than that.

The next film was Ammon's Journey, a french film that was partly in French, English and Hebrew, detailing a Ammon, who is a luthier (a person who makes violins) and painstakingly took it upon himself to refurbish violins from Holocaust victims in the second world war. He repaired the violins that were played as a distraction, abusively, for hours on end at Auschwitz. The journey took us from Paris to Austria to Norway and finally to Jerusalem, where these instruments were played at a special concert at the wailing wall. The movie highlighted the beauty and the pain of Ammon as he came to grasps of the horror and elegance of these musicians (including his own father) during one of the darkest times in Jewish history. It was again a documentary, something I normally do not enjoy, but found myself engaged in his story all the same.

During the brief time that I was at the festival, I was again reminded at the time I spent at Yad Vashem, somewhere that I have been trying to decide exactly how to incorporate into a blog post for quite a while. Yad Vashem houses the holocaust museum in Jerusalem. It is a free museum, that exists for many historical reasons and to help validate to anyone curious, why Israel exists as a Jewish state. I have honestly never felt such a dichotomy of horror and hopefulness as I stepped out of this museum in January 2011. I learned and saw things about the Holocaust, which in my mind was already so repugnant, that made me sick to my stomach. I will never forget seeing actual footage of Holocaust survivors and victims proceeding with their daily, atrocious life, side-by-side Nazi propaganda of what the ghettos looked like in actuality. This combined with endless photos, knowledge about death marches, the room of  names of millions of victims, understanding the prejudice and racism faced by survivors after the war, was so overwhelming I was unsure of how to cope. The hopefulness lied in what my friend, Josh, described as one of his favorite views in Israel at the end of the museum as you exited. There was an amazing view, at sunset no less, of Israel and Jerusalem, which left me feeling slightly hopeful, and definitely more understanding of the validity and purpose for Israel as a nation.

As a non-Jewish person I think sometimes it is easy to dismiss the atrocities committed on this religious group of people and only see Israel for the strife and conflict it creates in the Middle East. As I learn more, see more, I understand more why Israel exists, and why it should exist. I've never been that curious about history, but I feel a new wonder and found intrigue to learn more about the history of the Jewish people and the country that I have recently fallen in love with.

I said this in the last post, but I am excited about the cultural growth that I am able to achieve, not only abroad, but in my own country. Being stranded here the last three weeks (I have my passport back finally!!!), had really made me expand my openness to experiencing new cultures and doing things that I may not have been as excited or willing to do before. 

Chinese New Year... In the USA?

My new roommate is the son of a man in the Navy and thus spent a lot of his childhood out of the USA. His family lived in China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Instead of growing up with traditional US holidays like Thanksgiving, 4th of July, etc, he grew up in a place that celebrated such holidays as Chinese New Year. He threw a dinner party to share these traditions with everyone, including me the new roommate.

I came home Thursday, February 3rd, to Matt frantically cooking since 14:30 for a party that was to start at 19:30. Since I was at the time unemployed, I offered my help. I preceded chopping vegetables and rolling out dumpling dough for the next two hours! He didn't need any recipes or measuring cups and just kept mixing ingredients while I, the sous chef, just chopped away. At the end of the two hours we had all of the prep work done, but the cooking hadn't even started. Finally, around, 20:00, everything was made and the guests had arrived. 

The menu was as follows:

27-ingredient salad (or was it 24, Matt couldn't remember)- ingredients included raw fish, grapefruit, peanuts, rice noodles, cabbage, carrots, jicama and much more 

Veggie Dumplings (that also happened to be vegan)

Pork Dumplings (no photos)

Various kinds of stir fry, veggie and non-veggie

Noodle Stir Fry 

Rice Stir Fry

Lots of oranges (you are familiar)

Some items on the menu were traditional good luck symbols, namely the oranges and the salad. The salad even had a special way of being "tossed" to bring all of the guests good luck. Everyone sticks a fork into the salad and then shouts "Lo Hi", while flinging the salad high into the air, the higher it goes the better luck you will have in the year. It was a stressful tradition for someone with cleanliness OCD like myself, but definitely a fun way to commence a dinner party. 

The night went well. Everyone had a good time dressed in red (also traditional), eating delicious, food, and drinking. The best part came the next morning when Matt had cleaned up all of the mess from the night before by the time I woke up at 8:00! Awesome roommate.  It was a great ending to a fun night. 

I never expected to have a close encounter with Chinese traditions outside of China and without any Chinese people... I am interested to see what other traditions I will learn in the next few months! I'm glad I'm able to experience new cultures while not abroad, right from the comforts of my own home. 

Why I loved Israel and no I am not Jewish

A common question that I have encountered is what country and place was your favorite? And irritatingly, people are often not pleased with my answers. I didn't really feel a connection or like India nor Peru, and no I couldn't see myself living in Spain again. So.. where did I like the most? Israel, specifically Tel Aviv.

This is an odd answer to a lot of people, I often am asked, "are you Jewish?", which no I am not. I have also received, the reply, "oh well you just liked it because your ex-boyfriend is there and there is obviously still something there." Wrong again. It has nothing to do with faith nor that specific person being in Israel, I just really liked it there. Let me explain.

Sunset on the beach in Tel Aviv 

For starters, Tel Aviv has a very European feeling to it. There are a lot of outdoor cafes, some pedestrian only streets, tucked away bars, amazing food and public transportation where it is unnecessary to have a car. Tel Aviv is like Europe, only the climate is unequivocally better. I was there on NYE around the coldest time of the year and I was in a thin jacket. There was no need for snow boots, nor a down coat, and definitely not snow pants. If you know me well, you know this is big for me. Tel Aviv also has the carmel market or "shuk" which is a permanent farmer's market where fresh produce is sold everyday, except shabbat (Saturdays). Finally, probably the most amazing quality, is a beautiful, clean Mediterranean beach next to a thriving big city that is amazing for sunsets, running, swimming and sun-bathing.

The Dead Sea at sunrise

It's not just Tel Aviv that I liked. I also enjoyed traveling to the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Eilat, the Dead Sea and the Golan Heights. All very different landscapes from each other, all a part of this beautiful and small country. I even found the West Bank, entirely confusing and a little scary, but nonetheless interesting.  In one day you can see the borders to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. From the Gulf of Eilat you can even see Saudi Arabia on a clear day.

Banyas in the Golan Heights

Gulf of Eilat looking toward Jordan and Saudi Arabia

Then there is the history of the place. You go to Jerusalem and you can see all of the places where the three biggest religions on the planet originated. The very places described in the Old and New Testament, the Torah and the Quran. Three religions all trying to survive in the same small area, literally stacked on top of one another. You can go to Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Masada, where jesus walked and countless other places that events supposedly took place.

Dome of the Rock

It is a combination of all of these things that made me really fall in love with the country, but it is also because of these things that it is not an easy place to move or work. For starters the whole Jewish thing is a prerequisite to getting citizenship, many jobs, universities and work visa programs. There is a lot of strife and potential for violence in the region because of the nature of the country.The fact is safety will never be guaranteed there. They speak an entirely different language and have a different alphabet from anything I am familiar with. Lastly, there are a lot of complex political issues and stances that are deeply rooted in history, hatred and misunderstandings, on all sides. Not to mention the political instability that has taken over this area in the light of recent events and protests, especially Egypt.

Getting artsy on the border of Egypt and Israel (less than 1 yard/meter away!); Also a photo to demonstrate how I feel Israel would be about accepting me

In spite of all of these problems, I still really enjoyed my time there. It is one of few places that I could see myself living (can't say that for anywhere in the USA) for at least a little while. Plus, they have a lot of genetic research and possibilities in the country! I don't know what will happen in the next 3, 5, 12, 24 months, but I do know that my time in Israel was not just in 2010/11 and I am determined to find a way back there in the near future whether it be for an internship before or during school or an option if grad school doesn't pan out.

Negev Desert: so much nothing where no one lives and everyone wants to claim

I often wish I was Jewish so that Israel would accept me! 

Word to the wise

I would like to take a moment out of my usual travel stories and rants about grad school to inform everyone of a very important lesson that I have recently (painfully) had the displeasure of learning. It has to do with health while traveling, specifically dental health.

There is a lot of controversy regarding water fluorination in public water, but in the USA this is a common practice. I never gave it a second thought until going to the dentist this past week after traveling 11 months abroad. After two very unpleasant and traumatizing dental visits this past week, I am now a full proponent of fluorinating water.

I have never really had a lot of dental problems, yes I had braces as many Americans do on the quest to ideal teeth, but root canals, cavities and the like really never affected me. Then I traveled abroad in countries that do not fluorinate their water. And I came home to four cavities. $800 and three excruciating hours of dental visits later... I am never traveling abroad without prescription strength fluorinated toothpaste ever again.

I know that this is not necessarily the cause as correlation doesn't equal causation, but I am not the only one that I have known to have this occur. Do yourself a favor and when you are packing bring some Crest Pro Health toothpaste (apparently the best) and maybe even some prescription strength toothpaste. It will save you a nitrous oxide filled afternoon (not as fun as you would hope) in the dental chair!

And FYI bottled water doesn't have fluoride either... I am so thankful for fresh mountain water at my disposal! I know many countries do not have the same luxury.