Gl-Gl-Glorious!

Namibia - via 19 Months

So I've just booked a small vacation in Rome! I'm really looking forward, particularly as I've never been to Italy (I know...). If you have any recommendations about things a person should absolutely do - and things that should be seen only if the time presents itself, holler at your girl!

But I think this little holiday - planned to coincide with my transition from Israel back to the United States - will be just the thing I need to look forward to to lessen the nervousness I feel about living in Orange County again.

Who knew that 4 years could be so long - or go so quickly!

...but seriously, sorry I'm so MIA. One of my besties is coming to visit next week, and I'm kind of (read: actually) freaking out about moving half-way around the world in less than 2 months. And finding a j.o.b.

Excuse me while I go breathe deeply - and stuff.

Choose Your Own Adventure...

So this video likely exceeds the parameters of the little space that is typically provided on this page. Sincerest apologies.

Because I was seriously just getting the hang of the optimal viewing size ratio.

But that's not really important in this case, anyhow. What is important is that my friend Andy Grammer has created an interactive video! What you see above is the one I made...

But that's only kind of cool - I'm actually curious to know what the video YOU design looks like!

So here's the fun part! Check the link above and make your own video for Andy's new single "Keep Your Head Up" - and then post the link for your version in the comments field. Oh, and tell me your name (even if it's your super top secret Ninja-web name) and where you're from.

Because it's interactive

Tee Double You...

Shadi T.W. and Aimee P.

(courtesy Mona Y.)

Shadi and I served together at the Baha'i World Centre from 2008-2009 and she's here visiting her sister Hoda at the moment. Last night Hoda arranged a really lovely devotional program, following which Shadi shared pieces of her debut album, "Leather Bound Book". Luckily I got back to Haifa in time for the reunion times and soulful devotional the T.W. ladies prepared!

CNN Presents a Tour of the Baha'i Gardens in Haifa, Israel

So for those of you who haven't had a postcard from me in all of my time in Israel - sorry - but CNN has done us a solid and provided a brief video of the beautiful Baha'i gardens here in Haifa, Israel.

No, Mom... I'm not in the video - but a colleague of mine, Rob Weinberg, is.

As of today, the 7 Baha'i leaders in Iran who have been held for over 2 years, are still imprisoned. Just this month they were sentenced to 20 years prison, each.

I humbly ask that you keep these people in your prayers and positive thoughts... in the meantime, you can read more about their story and their false imprisonment here.

Home Entertainment System...

So I found a xylophone today! It's hanging out on my balcony. Oh! And I also found a really cool beach/picnic blanket! This is code for "Dear summer - we're going to have so much fun, you and I!"

Right... so if you ever find yourself in Haifa - you can expect picnics and slightly tuneless (I mean charming) musical offerings from yours truly!

[This is code for "come visit - we'll have so much fun, you and I!"]

Minor Instruments, Major Fun...

Last weekend Haifa had the opportunity to entertain a number of visitors from the UK which naturally inspired a "Come Dine With Me" (International Edition) themed Ayyam-i-Ha party.

Milly, Claire, Liam, Andisha, Aimee, Mona

*Ayyam-i-Ha is a period of thanksgiving, service, and celebration in preparation for the Fast.

Liam, Mona, Aimee

14 Sheqs, Haifa

The Ides of November...

This weekend was a celebration of all things amazing. Like birthdays (so many I can't count - tallying to 3 parties, though), family (hey Hoffmans!), and picnics.... Matt, Will & I - breaking it down 80s style

Big shout out to the rad playlists supplied by Shaza & Abi

...we couldn't have done it without you. Don't be jealous, we're just rolling down the hill.

...okay, no. Be jealous - it was glorious.

Despite (or maybe because of?) the fact I somehow rolled sideways.

Me.

Someday, Mr. Hoffman, you'll teach me to get the color to pop when I take pictures.

Someday.

Sunset. Haifa. Glorious.

(what, where, why)

Sir Will does a ribbon dance.

Amazing.

My friends are boss.

But Let Me Clarify...

*As seen through Hoda's eyes*
...why they really come:

The Shrine of the Báb

Haifa, Israel

In a few seconds you're going to read about how much I like to have visitors... and this is true. *Come visit and find out - I'm a pretty fair host, even if I have to say so myself!*
But yeah, they don't come here to see me.
They come to seek reunion with their Lord.

...Spring's Eternal

Sometimes I wax poetic about things - and other times I'm so excited by a thing that I don't even want to waste time talking about it! Take the recent visit I had from my friend Hoda, for example. One would think that she never even came - much less that I was bouncing with excitement for days and days and days!
Or how about the times when it was so good to have a friend from home - someone who knows you from before - so that when you talk about all of the wonderful things you're doing and changes you're making it all seems somehow MORE profound - because this friend knows the old you, and it's like meeting the new you for the first time? And you get to see yourself, I mean really see yourself - what you've learned, how you've matured - through another person's eyes.
Yeah. It was like that.
So I'm still sort of processing that - I don't know that I'll ever share much more from my few days in the Holy Land with my friend Hoda than what I share today. It's all better in my heart and my head, anyhow.
But! Here are some pictures from that time - clearly I didn't take them... although I did take about 6 or 7 pictures on my film camera maybe 10 days ago - so there's hope I'll finish that roll soon!

Hoda, Aimee, Kadria

The Celebration of the First Day of Ridván

Bahjí

Sina, Aimee, Hoda

Local Haifa favorite - Café Louise


Hoda & Aimee
Bahá'í Terraces
Mountain of God, Israel

!!!

Have you ever been so excited that your whole body vibrated with it? Yeah, I'm pretty much uncontainable right now.... Hoda is here, in the Holy Land! Parisa is coming to the Holy Land - and so is Sanaz, she just doesn't know it, yet. ...mwhahahahaha.

Parisa, Hoda, Sanaz
(respectively)

From the Archives...

Lauren, Veronica, Aimee

Excerpted from the 'parentals lunch' at Safa's - Safa's parents were in town, and so was my mom. Rad day - truly.

...Never Gets Old

So I was at a birthday party recently for my friend's brother, Thierry (he actually took this picture). The crowd was pretty big - well, at least for the room that we were in - so some friends and I eventually sat down on the floor. One thing led to another, and Nava and I started playing those hand-clapping games every girl in elementary is the queen of....
Don't front - you know the ones I mean!
Anyhow, as I am clearly no longer in elementary school, I kept messing up the game. Funnest night in a long time, all down to a game borrowed from my childhood....

The Parentals Are Coming...!

So I'm sure that you know by now that my mom is coming (tomorrow!!!) - my friend's dad will also be here. As I love to host dinner parties, we thought to team up on a 'meet our parent(s) dinner'.
To make the invitations, I printed one of this guy's pictures and hand colored them - as they've gone out today (by post is the way to go), I feel safe to share them here with the rest of y'all.
I took the liberty of coloring them - in roughly the same way the actual invitations look. Sometimes I think I'm so clever......
Ps. You really should check out this guy's stuff - his name is Christopher David Ryan. Super talented.

Holler!

Coral Fortuna & Vanessa Piper

My mom (pictured here with Coral 'hipster in training' Fortuna) leaves sunny California in 1 week to come and visit me!

It Just Keeps Getting Better...

Riding camels in the desert - you're only in Israel once, you know?
Great shot, Nava!
Breakfast and laughter: Before our Bedouin Experience
What would a car trip be without two guys checking under the hood?

Vafa and Ray

Ray and Joe:
Ray was slightly less undercover than the rest of us...

But First!

My brother Bill is coming to Haifa to visit me! I'm really excited! I'll probably see more of Israel while he's here than I have already seen in the 10 months (!) I've been here. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted.
So yeah, besides a recent obsession with RISK in all its myriad forms and my continued (although relatively new) love of photography and cooking, this is what's new in aimee piper land. Unless you count the more serious things in life - like the recent arrest of six Bahá'í leaders in Iran. But I'll have more to say about that, soon.

Friends and Family - O My!