Hello,

It's time for my weekly edition of where in America is
Michal Taviv?

My last few days in Phoenix were a whirlwind tour of all
types of events and peoples in and around the thriving
Jewish community in America's 5th largest city (it just
overtook Philadelphia).

On thurday I flew to San Diego.
I decided to be independent and make my own way to my host
family. What should have taken 20 minutes ended up being 3
hours :(     but it sure was the scenic route!

San Diego reminds me of Cape Town.
All the big houses on the hills, coastal roads, and tanned
friendly people!

So, my first day was of course....at the beach!
I was amazed by the variety of people that surf here.
Grandpa's, business people, kids, girls...pretty much
everyone. This is truly surfer heaven.
Finally got brave enough to give it a try and was rewarded for my efforts
with a blue eye!

Shabbat at the shul was restful and fruitful in terms of
networking!

Saturday night went with a new made friend to watch some
improv comedy. LA vs San Diego had me in stiches with their
super quick wit and intelligence.

Next we crashed a corporate party at a very posh hotel called De Coronado.

My new crew and I decided to play chicken and headed off to Mexico at 2:30am. The problem was nobody chickened out and before we knew it we
had driven into Tijuana (15 miles from San Diego) at 3am
not having a clue where we were heading!!!

We stopped at a taco stand for the true mexican experience.
Then we got stuck in lineups at the US border for 1.5 hours.
When I realized I had no ID with me other than my South African
student card I really started to panic!!! The idea of
being stuck at the Mexican border at 4am was no longer very
exciting...

I was having visions of my new buddy having to wake up the Rabbi (whose house I was staying at) at 6am to pick up my relevant documents!!!

Baruch H-shem, somehow we got through the border no
hassles. Blessed are we!

That certainly takes the cake for the stupidest thing I
have done on this trip yet!

Anyway, ended up safe and sound and enjoying the dawn as I
got home!

I spent Sunday biking around with a bunch of NCSY kids and
having a BBQ on the beach and watching the fastly fading
sun!

I could get used to this place!!!

Shana Tovah to one and all.
May the year 5765 bring you all peace, love in your hearts
and joy in your lives.         

I wish you all the strength to accomplish all you dream of
and determination to strive to always improve and grow.

Wishing you happiness & wisdom in all you do

Howdy,

So, I've had the most active week of my entire trip.

I went rock scrambling up the Red Canyon, just outside of
Vegas. silly to do it in sandals, but survived with just a
few scrapes & bruises.

The following day went boating in the Black Canyon, swam in
the Colorado River and checked out the Hoover Dam. I spent
the evening hanging out enjoying the starry sky of Nevada, and
jumping from jacuzzi to swimming pool.

Next I flew to Phoenix.
I explored the Superstition Mountains and Goldfield Ghost Town
-sounds cheesy but it was actually pretty awesome (the ghost town was just like in the movies). I took a ferry ride into Canyon Lake.

Arizona is just gorgeous. Its so pretty here. Magnificent Indian
jewelry, I got an opal set that is so sparkly and unique.

I spent shabbat with the Jewish community in Scottsdale.

Sunday & Monday it was time to explore Sedona & the Grand Canyon.
The colors of the mountains were unbelievable. I got some
great photo's. Sedona's red rocks, winding roads and spread
out forests make for breathtaking vista's.
The grand canyon one can only experience for oneself.
It's just too immense to describe adequately.

Managed to squeeze in a quick visit to Sunset Crater, an extinct volcano with gnarled ancient looking trees. Also hiked at Walnut Canyon to check out the cliff dwellings of the Sangui tribe that populated the canyon long long ago.

It just hit me that the High Holy days are in less than 2
weeks. I feel like I have some major spiritual preparation to
do. I am debating where & how to draw the line between my ego
and my self, and who is to be the decision maker...