I guess the next chapter of my time abroad has begun. I'm beginning to settle in to Kibbutz Yagur, where I'll be studying Hebrew and working for the next three and a half months. I arrived yesterday evening, and it's a little strange because it feels like I've been running around the country (and Egypt!) so much that I haven't had the time to sit down and digest what I've been doing and what I'm about to do. Before I left, Brittany, a friend from school, told me to sit down and mentally prepare. And I didn't do this, and now it kind of feels like I'm a small particle in a rapidly moving stream of colors and faces and a different bed to sleep in every night (although I suppose things will be a little more permanent from now on). It's like, everything that was overwhelming didn't seem overwhelming before, because I had no time to think. But now it's all catching up to me.
But the Kibbutz seems really great. It's very close to Haifa, and today, two guys from the Ulpan and I caught a bus to to Haifa, walked around, saw the Bahai Gardens, which are absolutely gorgeous. Kibbutz Yagur is HUGE. I spent some time in the pool this morning, an olympic sized monstrocity. There is also a pub, a club (called the Discotheque, and apparently it attracts people from all over the area), a zoo, a small amusement park, a store--it's like a little town! The other ulpanists seem really cool. We're from all over the world--US, Canada, Columbia, Latvia, Russia, Turkey, Hungary, France, Brazil, England, Japan, Korea, and I'm sure a million other places I've forgotten. The languages being spoken around me are fantastic.
This morning we got tested to see which class we'll be in, and I got put into Kitah Gimel, the most advanced. Hopefully my Hebrew will really begin to improve! I have a small room in one of four ulpan dormitories. My roommate's name is Lillian, and I think she's from the US, but that's all I know about her as she hasn't arrived yet.
Anyway, there are people waiting to use the few computers available to us here, so I'm going to let somebody else have a go. (I've been hanging around these British girls...)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Mariel dear,
I am sure you will make good friends in your "new home", just as Daddy and I did so many years ago when we were on Ulpan on Kibbutz. Write when you can about where you work, and how your Hebrew class is. (By the way, I knew you needed "Kitah Gimmel").
Rayna is in Israel now. I will let you know how you can contact her (probably by Jordana's cell phone, until maybe we get her one of her own) when I have the #. Hopefully, the weekend of 7/13-15 you will meet up with her at Shai and Shoshi's in Hadera, as this is her "Shabbat Hofshi".
Rest up this Shabbat. I can't imagine how sleep deprived you are!
Love,
Mommy
Hi Mariel!
This is Joan, from Metar in the Negev, reading your blog. Sounds like you will have fun. Remember to come visit us down here sometime. Dan, Gilad and Mikey are going to the States and Germany for part of July. I will be working and as you know, the university semester was extended due to the student strike. Glad you went to Haifa. Yes, the Bahai Gardens are beautiful. Keep writing! בהצלחה!
Lehit- Joan Kahn
Todah Joan! I'd really love to come visit you when I can, but it's so hectic travelling befor shabbat but after my class on friday, and then getting back for work on sunday. I was in Jerusalem for shabbat yesterday, and even that was difficult! Hope everything is great with you guys, and that Dan, Gilad, and Mikey have a good trip!
Mariel
Post a Comment