Initial Thoughts: I was rather excited to see the brand-new Roladin cafe while searching for a place to grab a sandwich and/or salad for lunch. Not for any special reason, however, other than my desire to not only eat Kosher, but eat at places that have a certification from the Rabbis.

What I Bought: A small green salad that came with dressing. The dressing destroyed the simple salad that consisted of cherry tomatoes and iceberg lettuce. I also picked up a salmon sandwich, choosing it over the Bulgarian cheese sandwich only because that one contained mushrooms (icky). It is utterly fishy and lacking on any real taste besides the salmon. Maybe with the right seasonings it could have worked. To finish it off I bought a Kinley Soda Water.

Final Thoughts: Perhaps I should've bought a cake or some sort of pastries. This bakery should stick just to that and avoid anything else, besides coffee (which I didn't try yet). The service was rather efficient, although nothing particularly spectacular. The atmosphere inside is nice, but the food was a major let-down.

Arcaffe - ארקפה

Initial Thoughts: I've always been rather intimidated when considering going into any Arcaffe. It gives off an "upper-class gal"s dress down spot,' which really means it's stuck up and you expect to see a gold-digger housewife (who does no housework) sitting with her girlfriends sipping bottles of Voss water and picking at a frisee salad. I didn't allow myself to go in until I knew I was looking 100% and had my new, shiny credit card on me.

What I Bought: A mozzarella/pesto/basil/tomato sandwich (carbs!), which was rather good because they toasted it. I had to grab their small cup of chocolate mousse (more carbs!) that I saw sitting in the case with the sandwiches. It was alright, rather rich. I was going to buy mineral water, but I saw the free filtered water tank and decided to go with that, instead.

Final Thoughts: It is a nice place for a business lunch, blind date (I did meet one up there), and yes, even for some stuck-up gals to get together and drink iced tea. The set-up is a non-chalant sort of luxury, and you feel odd if you go in just to take something to go, so sit! Expect the servers to be stuck-up, though, and the only real help you'll find is with the busboys (who are usually foreigners). The sandwiches and coffee are good, but I'd stay away from the sweets and their salads.

Aroma - ארומה

Initial Thoughts: Cool, a coffee shop. Thought of it as the main and one of the only Israeli coffee shops when I first came here. They're spread out all over and seem to be acceptable for all income levels to be seen at.

What I Bought: I usually pick up the chicken salad (comes in 3 sizes) with 1000 Island lite dressing. It's good, nothing amazing, but very edible and a good default choice if I'm not in a risky mood. In the winter, I loved the warm roast beef sandwich and tomato soup, but never get the bean soup (it really looks disgusting and is bland). The iced coffee my friend likes from here, but I find it lacking enough flavor and don't like that it's sitting in one of those little machines (I'm a former Starbucks type of gal).

Final Thoughts: The food is good, but not gourmet. I usually prefer to take away what I order, but sitting down is also doable. The servers/cashiers at most Aromas can be rude, so it's important to be firm with them when ordering and ask to make sure they gave you all of your dressings and plasticware. I don't recommend buying coffee from here, however, just lunch.

Coffee Bean

Initial Thoughts: Awesome, American style coffee! (This is when I still thought American coffee was good...) Well, screw the hot coffee, I'm going for the Ice Blend because Starbucks made me an addict of Frappy-type drinks. Added benefit? They for sure have to speak English, since the owners are Americans from Los Angeles.

What I Bought: I've had nearly every flavor of the Ice Blend they have to offer here in Israel. Most are pretty good, what you like will depend solely upon your preferences, but you usually can't go wrong if you like fresh blended drinks. The food isn't so bad, though I don't prefer their salads, since there's always those terrible dried tomatoes. Mini sandwiches are a perfect choice with a drink. Get desserts (overpriced) only if you're going to split them with someone else, they are extremely rich (this is from the owner of the ultimate sweettooth).

Final Thoughts: If you go here, you will be tossed into one of two categories: American, or a wannabe American. Neither are good in my opinion, but I don't really care because I get my favorite drinks (most iced drinks in Israel taste terrible and are sitting in those rotating machines for the entire day, sometimes for days at a time, even). The sandwiches are a good bet, and the service is usually up to basic American standards.

But tourists needn't be religious to enjoy a stay in one of the Jerusalem hostels in Old Town. Neither is this the case for exploring its historical sites that predate many others across the western world.

The Old Town's history stretches back more than 3,000 years, but its most prominent feature is a much more recent addition in the 16th century Ottoman city wall ruins.

Tourists taking the tour along the wall's Ramparts Walk, running from Jaffa Gate to Stephen's Gate can catch a glimpse of Jerusalem's other buildings, from the Temple Mount to their own hostel in Jerusalem.

Christian Quarter

Highlights in the Christian Quarter are the famous Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is where many believe Christ was crucified. Tourists keen can even stay in a Jerusalem hostel along the historic Via Dolorosa route itself.

Also dubbed the way of sorrows, it is supposed to trace the last steps taken by Christ before his crucifixion.

Muslim Quarter

In the Muslim quarter, the most famous architectural piece is the Dome of the Rock, which is one of the earliest pieces of Islamic architecture. Many consider it the Old City's most impressive and awe inspiring attraction, with a golden dome visible from great distances.

Other highlights include the Al-Aqsa Mosque, constructed shortly after the Dome of the Rock, and the Museum of Islamic Art.

Jewish Quarter

This feature is open all year round and marks the western edge of the wall that surrounds Temple Mount. Also dubbed the "wailing wall" it is a point of great spiritual significance for Jews, with many reciting prayers and inserting parchment text into the wall's crevices.

Despite the heat, those venturing out of Jerusalem hostels eager to visit the Western Wall need to be aware that it has a specific dress code demanding that legs, midriff and shoulders are covered. Conveniently, shawls are offered on entry.

When I waved my hand to my family before going towards the gate in airport I had strange feeling. Actually it was the first time I was leaving my family for such a period of time. When we landed in Tel-Aviv some staff from Yad Vashem was waiting for us. We greeted each other and then we were asked to wait for other participants. Actually I guessed that we were waiting for guys from India, because I met them in the row for passport control. So finally they came, they were nice, smart guys. While we were waiting for other guys we spoke about different things. We discussed Indian movies, Bollywood and etc. As the time passed other participants were coming. The guy from Japan, girls from Norway and the girl from Turkey joined us later. Then we were accompanied to bus, and started off to Jerusalem. There was not much traffic on the way. The guy from Japan, Gyo was sitting in front of me. Every time when I hear something about Japan, immediately I remember about Japanese cars and racing. So we talked about those things. And for a moment I slept, and when we arrived I was woken up by my friend Hamid. The Hotel seemed to be nice and it really was. We waited a little in lounge, because we wanted to make calls home. After calling home, making moms calmer, we went to our rooms.

The next morning when I woke up, I was fresh and feelings were strange. Because I didn't hear voice of my mom calling for dinner or dad's waking me up. Then I washed my hands and face and went down, because the bus was waiting for us. Hamid and I went down. When we got in the bus, I had the feeling that everyone was waiting for us, because it was full. Afterwards we started off. There were two girls from Turkey on the back from us. We spoke with them. While we were going our guide gave us different information, and then I began to feel headache and suddenly I saw numbers on the left side of the way. They were the signs showed us how under from sea level we were. After hour or more we arrived at the hill. It was some kind of village of Bedouins. Then our guide gave us information where we were. The way he informed us was interesting. He used one the guys as the map of Israel. It seemed interesting. Then we went into the tent where Bedouin meal was waiting for us. We took our plates, and sat around the table on the floor.

For the first time I was sitting at the table with different people, from different countries. It was really nice, we were joking, laughing while we had dinner. After finishing dinner we had some kind of photo session. Everyone who had camera took photos. Then we went out of the tent, and there was a wonderful to the Dead Sea. It was beautiful feeling to be there. We didn't stay there for a long, but we would have stayed there if the weather was nice. Because the organizers wanted to give us chance to swim in Dead Sea. But the weather didn't let. So we came back to the hotel. We had a rest for an hour or more then we had supper. After the supper we divided to 5 groups. There weren't two guys from same country in one group. Then we went to the place which was waiting for us. There were more than 20 guys in our group. We introduced ourselves to the group. Then we played the game, during which we spoke to each other more about ourselves. Let me explain how we played it. 12 guys sat on the floor in the circle and the other sat in front of those, and then when time was up we switched off our places. Actually during this game I was covered in sweat, but in spite of that it was interesting. By the way our guide's name was Yiftach. After this game we were informed about next day and we were given nice bags. I was very tired after long day, so I went straight to my room. I watched football with my roommate and discussed the finishing day.

It was hard to wake up the morning, but we managed. We went downstairs, had breakfast and then left hotel for the Yad Vashem museum.

While you walk in the museum strange feeling mixed with horror covers you. It was the horror of the past. Photos and documents of victims filled me with strange feeling, I had never felt before. We saw there how everything began, how everything was coming to the end.

There were different rooms initiated to different events. As we visited these rooms our guide Yiftach told us different stories. And I remember there was room about different places where Jews lived before and during the war. And there was place initiated to Ukraine, and guide asked Ukrainian girl to read the announcement was read to Jews before mass killing them in Babi Yar. While she was reading it, I was reading too and then suddenly she stopped and began to cry. It was an awful scene. While I tried to make her calm she said Babi Yar was close to her house, so understood her. Then no more talks were about it. The last place we visited in New Historical Museum was place where information about victims was kept. I mentioned that some of the shelves were empty, I understood it. And then I looked up, the faces were looking at me I looked down I saw mine among there's. As we left that place wonderful view of Jerusalem was in front of us. It was the sign that never mind what happens the better future waits for us.

The day continued with sensitive lecture of Shulamit Amber. In spite of being sleepy, I listened her. I do think that she was the most impressive one among others.

The day continued with opening session and lectures. And at the end of the day we were taken to the Moroccan restaurant. It was amazing, I don't know whose idea was to take there but I'm sure that it was very smart idea. I sat around the table with guys from Asian countries. We ate Moroccan meals; the meals were familiar to me, because we had same meals in our kitchen. After this amazing supper we were back at the hotel. We discussed the amazing supper, and then went to our rooms.

Every day in Jerusalem was special; everyday was more interesting than the previous one. That day we had tour the old part of Jerusalem. At the end of that tour I understood the reason why Jerusalem is known as holy city. Holy place for Muslims, Jews and Christians were close to each other, it's amazing. Then we saw people dressed in white celebrating Shabbat. Jews were praying in front of the Western Wall and my friend Hamid wrote something and put into the little hole inside the wall. I asked our guide whether I can do same thing or not, he didn't give exact answer. So I just took picture there and went back to place our group gathered. After tour we had dinner in local restaurant and finally I tasted Jewish sweets. They were so similar to ours; even the names seemed to be same.

Then we were back at Yad Vashem complex for the lectures. The first one was about genocides. And the lecturer-Yehuda Bauer mentioned “Armenian genocide” during his speech. At that time I felt terrible, because I didn't expect to hear this. As he finished his speech I want to go towards him and to say about my feelings, but I couldn't go because the other lecture began by Shulamit Imber. Again after her lecture I was full of impressions. After her lecture I asked one the staff to give me the presentation was used during her lecture. Then I met her in the corridor, I approached her. I didn't how to begin, at first I introduced myself. And then I said how I had felt after Mr. Yehuda Bauer's lecture. She listened me carefully, I said her everything I knew from history.

I told about genocide happened in different regions of Azerbaijan not only against Azerbaijanis and also against Jews in region Quba in 31 March 1918. Guilty in that massacre were Armenians and everyone person who helped them. Rescuers were soldiers of Ottoman Army who were on time. She promised me to make survey about what happened in 1918 in different parts of Azerbaijan and in Jewish villages of Azerbaijan. I was so impressed, so happy that I was listened; I was promised to be helped. Its great feeling. But the most interesting part of the day was waiting for us. After meeting with Tzipi Livni we met the survivor of the Holocaust. Nearly at 5am we were in the room, and waiting for the survivor. Actually the man entered the room wasn't the man I was expecting to see. I expected to see an old man, but the man entered was full of spirit, energy in spite of the things he saw. Everyone in the classroom was listening him in silence; everybody's attention was on him. That man was from Belgium, and he was nearly 6 months child when we his father was taken by Gestapo. And the most amazing thins was that the Nazi soldier let his father to pass him to neighbors. He survived the war, and he was the one of the first citizens of Israel State. When it was the time of questions I was thinking of my question I wanted to ask to a Jew survived from horror and terror of II World War. And I raised my hand and asked my question:

“Sir when you-Jews saw how your fathers, brothers, sisters, neighbors were taken to police stations or some where else, why didn't u escape? Didn't u realize that the horror was waiting for us?”

His answer was:

“Then we didn't realize such things, we didn't realize that mankind could do such thing”

This answer was enough for me.

After meeting every group went to bus that were waiting for us. We went back to Hotel. After having supper groups joined together to draft a declaration.

By the way I want to say something about our guide Yiftach. As I know he is nearly 26 or 28. He was really nice, smart and cool guy. He had ability to control us, u could see us laughing, joking and for a moment the atmosphere could change in the group. Every time when we were in the bus we were playing different games, but the base was same. The games purpose was to whether group members were together or not. May be it doesn't seem to be interesting for you, but in that atmosphere they were funny and as he said “cool”. Actually things were divided into “cool” and not “cool things”. But we always tried to be cool guys, because our group was the coolest one. Everything was so nice, so interesting that I'm sure I'll never forget time I spent in Jerusalem.

The next day we were in Art museum, Synagogue and Learning centre. The most interesting moment was waiting for us, it was meting with president of Israel State Shimon Peres. He made speech, he answered to several questions. And we took photo together. He showed how he believed to youngsters with his speech with following words:

“You can do more than you think, than your parents think, than your teachers think to build a better future for yourself for and other young people”.

During that day we met Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv and we were in the place that was built in remembrance of children perished during Holocaust. It's hard to understand how mankind could kill just a child so savagely. I can't accept such things; I even refuse to understand it. To kill just a child for being from not “right race”. Allah will punish them.

Then the concluding session was waiting for us. The declaration was handed to Avner Shalev. Every ambassador of each country was given books about Holocaust. And during this session our guide-Yiftach approached to me and asked whether I was agree to speak with reporter of BBC for Latin America. I didn't know what to say, of course I was agreed, I was surprised and at the time I was astonished. I thanked him several times for choosing me. I introduce myself to the reporter and then she gave me several questions, about my country about myself. And she was surprised when I said to her that I was Muslim. She asked me about terror acts that happen in Iraq or in other Muslim countries. My answer was: “I'm fed up of that, I feel sick when I hear such thing. Why do we divide each other to Shia or Sunni? But it's stupid. In my country there're different national minorities, and I have relatives among them. We live happy and friendly life together”. If we divide people among us for their religion, belief, appearance and another thing, we will never be able to live peaceful life.

After the last session we were taken back to the hotel and we asked to pack our luggage and to be ready to the last tour during the congress. As the weather was getting bad and everybody was expecting snow. We packed our bags and got in our busses and started off towards Tel-Aviv.

While we in the bus, the driver tuned to different radio stations and then we stopped in one. I liked the music and asked our guide and turn it up. Oh my god, you can't imagine the atmosphere there inside of the bus. Some of the guys were thinking, some joking, laughing, some singing. It's hard to explain such feeling. Actually during the tour I listened the music I had never listened, really, but in such atmosphere such music seemed to be the music I loved. Funny girl from Poland-Zuza was sitting next to me; I spoke to her as we had known each other for years. I wish to be in such atmosphere again, I wish everyone to feel it.

We arrived to the Hotel in Tel-Aviv, where accommodations were booked before our coming. After an hour or more we were in the restaurant, we were having our last supper together. After supper groups were together again. It was our last gathering during the congress (I hope we'll meet again). Some thanked Yiftach and staff of Yad Vashem, some just listened in silence. After gathering some guys spoke to each other, some took pictures and some went to upstairs to pack their luggage.

I left Tel-Aviv early in the morning on 30th January. Those 4 days I spent in Israel were amazing, unforgettable. During these days I gained friends from Poland, Finland, Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, Germany and so on, I gained valuable knowledge about Holocaust, I visited different beautiful places, and I tasted different meals. I'll get in contact with guys I met there and specially with our cool guide Yifatch. While I have been coming to the end of my story, I remembered that I missed a lot of stories, but I'm sure of one thing that these days left in my mind unexhausted trace.

All she gave me was $200 she was saving for a pair of Manolo Blahniks , what ever that is, and she says she will talk to Dad. Next day is Saturday, and I hopefully go out to the garage where Dad is working on his project, cabinets for the den. Dad, did mom get a chance to talk to you? Yes, she says you want to go on vacation to Israel.. Yes, and I hope you can get enough money to go. Well, can you be of any help? Yes I decided to give you $200, I believe thats the amount your mother gave you. Yes, but I was hoping I would get more from you. No, you want to go, you figure it out. You're an adult now.

Being an adult sucks at times. and this is definably one of those times. So being a journalist major, I wondered if I could write an ad that would get people to hire me for well paying jobs. After all I have three months, if I work two months I might get enough to pay for the trip. So I wrote my most heartfelt plea in the jobs wanted section. and it worked! One lady called me. She needed a dog walker, I love dogs, ok then. She had a pit bull with attitude,"Pugsley". He was huge, he was strong too.

.Luckily, he liked me. I had several close calls, but managed to keep him off any people, or other dogs. She paid me well, but that was still not going to get me to Israel. Then a guy called. His elevator operator was going on vacation, would I like to fill in for a month? Sure. So there I was, up and down, up and down, down and up. I ran the two blocks to Mrs. Meyers house, to walk Pugsley. It took up my whole break time, and half of my lunch.The elevator operators job, you would think was easy, and it was. It was also frustrating.

Why is it, people get in an elevator, and don't know where they want to go? What floor, I'd say, and they would start to search for the letter, or the little piece of paper that the office number is written on. Why don't they do that before they got into the elevator? I' ve never worked in a restaurant, but they get good tips, don't they? I applied for a part time job waiting tables. I went for the interview, while on my lunch hour. I didn't want to wear my uniform, so I brought a nice outfit in my backpack with my lunch.

So , he said he would give me a try. Come tomorrow at 6:00pm. So then, I get off the elevator job at 5:00 pm, I will go get Pugsley and walk him, and come straight from work to the restaurant. Mrs, Meyers suggested I could take a shower and change at her house, and I did. So this was my life for a month. The elevator operator came back from vacation, but the other guy left, so I continued for another month. When it was time to leave the elevator operators job, they gave me a cake, and were sorry to see me go. I found Jeff, he is a veterinary student, and he will walk Pugsley.

I found a replacement for my waitress job too. Mom! Turns out she used to waitress, and was feeling like she needed to get out of the house. Dad was all for it, and she can make some of her own spending money, he said. I had a month left, before I started my permanent job, so I went down to the travel agent with Mom and Dad, when we got there the agent shook their hands like he knew them . Turns out he did. My mother, and my father had purchased a ticket for me over a month ago. I was so proud of you Dad said, how you were really determined to realize your dream .I couldn't say anything, I just cried. Everyone should have parents like you two. No, every one should have a daughter like you , Dad said. It's really happening,

I'm on my way to Israel!