This summer, home is where Ibn Gvirol is (that's the name of our big street). Housing for MISTI Israel was a bit hectic because my roommates and I didn't find out where we were living until a couple weeks before arriving, but as how most things go, it all worked out in the end. I've decided to dedicate a separate blog post to our living situación for the summer because really...it can't be beat.
The Location
The apartment is right in the center of Tel-Aviv, and everything seems to be right at our fingertips. We have a health supermarket (think Whole Foods) right outside our building and restaurant after cafe after restaurant down all of Ibn Gvirol. Public transportation is only a couple hundred steps from our door, and there's even a nice big park just in front of our complex to stroll through on my way back from work. I would say location: ideal.
The Space
Large living room with one couch
Open kitchen space with everything (including a big island, perfect for meal prep) but a microwave
A whole wall of windows overlooking center Tel-Aviv
Four rooms, two beds each. Mattresses are not the comfiest, but they're the least of our concerns.
2.5 bathrooms
Washer and dryer in the apartment. A concept.
The Amenities
Top-floor pool and gym and a rooftop with 360 views of the whole city. I hope to adopt a consistent after-work workout routine for the summer, and the view definitely helps with that. Other amenities include: a handful of friendly front-desk workers that say "Boker Tov!" to me every morning on my way out and "Shalom!" when I return home.
The Roomies
I live with six lovely gals also from MIT, and the apartment dynamic is full of positive energy. I feel very lucky that so many great MIT pals are in the region, as a summer alone is never as fun as a summer with friends. Here is a collage of my fantastic roomies for the summer (give or take a few on weekends).
Pictured (left to right, top to bottom):
Rosie: Queen of commuting to Haifa every day and of waking up at the crack of dawn
Autumn: Queen of rice and beans and of accents
Julia: Queen of big energy and cauliflowers
Eileen: Queen of organization, truffles, and microbiomes
Janice (farthest right): Queen of hugs and of asking about how my day is
Jenny: Self-explanatory
