Day 2

WOW!! It's only our first...REAL day of going out-in-about in Israel...and it's been a long one!

I started my day at the NETAFIM plant in Kibbutz Hazareim. It was amazing! Netafim is a drip line that was created by the Kibbutz Hazariem, and it's used ALL over the world. We actually use it at our tree farms, and in some new landscape construction. I met with Naty Barak, head of sustainable development. He has been there since...well the beginning.  I got to see the plant...where it's all made. It was amazing because this one little settlement created this company that is now world wide. Naty even told me that it used to be required that the Kibbutz Hazariem would have to work there at least one shift a week, even though they had other jobs. I can't even explain to you all how awesome it was to see it all!  www.netafim.com.

After leaving Netafim, my host mom took me to meet up with the rest of the crew at the Air Force Museum. I got in on the end of the tour, so I will get details from the rest of the crew. The next visits was a private Air Force Academy where the gentleman who is the head master is a Rotarian. He is also my host family's best friend that I mentioned in the previous post. He helped raise 30+ million to help build this school. The school specializes in technology. 3 different areas...can't tell you them off the top of my head, will post later. 

Sorok Hospital was our next visit. We spoke with a surgeon who showed us a slideshow presentation about the different aspects of the hospital, and what all they specialize in. They service most of the southern part  of Israel. Dr. Shlomo Bleiberg gave us a tour of the Pediatric Intensive Care unit, they used to only have 4 beds, and now they have 10. It was kind of unbelievable how we just got to walk in and see the sick and injured children. We ate lunch there, which is nothing like eating at NWTH or BSA. The cafeteria is small, they have a few proteins to choose from a salad bar, it's buffet style. When I say salad bar, I mean the stuff is already mixed together and they have all different kinds, corn salad, tomato salad, beets, and bread, of course is on every table. They don't go for seconds here like they do in Texas. Sorok is located across the street form Ben Gurion University. 

We were going to have a tour of the university, but we were short on time, and had to get to the Be'er Sheva courts. It was so different the architecture was well thought out for the courts. Some Israelis think it looks like an open book. When you walk inside you can see three stories, when actually the building is taller than that. Those three stories meet a brick column, and it is to represent the Menorah. (will post picture later so you can get a better idea) Sophie was our tour guide, and she did a wonderful job. You could tell she had a lot of passion in her country and for her job. We got to set in on a trial; one we wouldn't usually get to because it involved a minor, but since we all did not speak Hebrew they let us sit in.  Judge Nete, who is a Rotarian let us visit his chambers. In the courts of Be'er Sheva they have a secret entrance for criminals and judges, we also got to see that area as well. 

After we left the courts our host mom took us to the Negev Brigade war memorial. It is an abstract art depiction/sculpture with tunnels- of the paths the war took. It's on a hill that over looks Be'er Sheva and the surrounding settlements. The view was awesome!! 

Finally, we had rest time after we got home it was around 6:00pm here. We rested until 8:00pm. Our resting time went quick, it was time to give our first presentation.... Our team rocked!! The Netherlands team was extremely interesting to watch. They speak more on the history of their tiny country, while we speak more about ourselves.  The club was so generous and the food was delicious....they cooked hamburgers!

I am home now, about to hit the sack...it's a little after midnight here...gotta get up early!

Visiting the Dead Sea and Masada tomorrow.

Our host and the people here have been so welcoming. They truly want to make this as special as possible. It's so great.  Shlomo Blieberg also a Rotarian who works at Soroko (I mentioned above) and is a host parent for Aida, Fernando and Shirley, told me this evening..."We all have life in common, and we need to live our lives, and I want to help you live your while you are here!" 

WOW! 

Good Night!

Love to you all!!

~katt

The top picture on top is Shirley and I pretending to kiss a statue of Ben Gurion, next Soroko Hospital Heli-Pad, and the bottom is me with Naty Barak of Netafim.

P.S. Ben Gurion is Israel's first prime minister.