OK, I'm back and in way better spirits. Everyone has been so amazing helping me figure things out. My work peeps rounded up a bunch of money to send me, and of course my family is on it. Everyone is jumping in to help, and, again, I feel so cared for by so many people. Thank you so much! Especially to my sis, Molly, who called all my credit card companies at about midnight her time to cancel all my cards (successfully). She rocks. Monice got on the horn and yelled at some people on my behalf, which was awesome, especially for me to imagine. She gets things done, too, man. The former student is insisting that I take his camera for the rest of the trip when I meet up with him, so I don't have to replace it here. So sweet all around! I even had a faculty member from our department call to make sure I'm ok and to find out if I needed any money.

Thanks to everyone who put in money at work. It may sound corny, but it totally touched my heart to hear this, and it feels good knowing that no one is going to let me sink in Tel-Aviv! :)

Now All You Need Is Love is on the player at the internet cafe! Another goody. It's making me really happy.

The day got a lot better. The lectures and tour of the Diaspora Museum were so interesting. I'm learning so much. It's insane. I hope I remember a fraction of it. Around noon, I decided that everything is ok, and I really wasn't very upset about being robbed anymore. Not even angry. I still don't like it, but things happen. I just hope the person who gets my beloved (but worthless) rings appreciates them.

To add to my banner day, I totally had an embarrassing moment when I stepped off the bus at our dinner location. I was the first one out the back door, talking on my cell, and I took a few steps onto a grate that was actually forcefully blowing a bunch of air upwards. I had on a fairly short flowy skirt, which immediately flew up exposing my thong underwear to the students. Argh! I quickly pushed the skirt down and hopped off the grate, but still. Those who saw were really funny and cute about it. They were like, "It's your Marilyn Monroe moment! Your face even looked like Marilyn's!"

Sigh. Of course!

I have a feeling I'm the new comedy/entertainment for the 20-somethings.