One of the interesting things about being on a program with people from so many different places is how many languages are constantly in use. For example, right now I'm using a computer whose language is set to German. Today we had a tiul (trip) to Tel Aviv instead of having class, and we went to a museum about the Jewish Diaspora. We had separate tours for English-speakers and Russian-speakers. In my English tour group we also had translation from English to Spanish, because although most people here speak English to some degree or another, this is not true of everybody. Lazar, my boyfriend, speaks very little English, and it's always a challenge communicating with one another solely in Hebrew. If I don't understand something, I can't ask him to translate into English. It's not just practicing my Hebrew, it's living it. And imagine being Jimmy Katz, the guy from Columbia who doesn't speak any English or Hebrew, and coming to live in a new country where almost nobody speaks your language, and you don't know anybody! I think I'd cry all the time.
I've got to go because the girls have finally kicked the guys off the soccer field, and we're having a girls only game tonight. I should wear my "This Is What A Feminist Looks Like" shirt.
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2 comments:
Hi mariel,
Dad and «i are on a computer set for French in Alma, quebec, Canada which is 3 1é2 hrs. north of Quebec City. We are on the last 2 miles of our 160 mile trip. I think we`ll make it!! It was soooo much fun. I`M HAPPY to read your journal again and so glad you saw Rayna. Hope to call you this Friday night. Be sure to call Rosa this weekend, as she has your bag!<
Abba loves you of course. H E SAID TO tell you.
Love,
Mom
Hi Mariel,
Regarding your thoughts on personal diary versus chronical of trip/journal, I say continue doing both! I LOVE reading any and all of your musings, feelings, reactions to any and all things concerning your trip. I also love to read your accounts of things you are doing and seeing in Israel. In fact, reading your blog has encouraged me to begin my own diary/journal. I've been toying with the idea FOR YEARS. And every time I began, I thought it was "silly" to start at age 30, or 40, or 55 because I hadn't kept a diary for all of the previous years. Well, now I realize that it doesn't matter at all. I, too, like writing very much, and there's no better time than now to begin. So thanks for the inspiration and thanks for sharing your trip with us.
I miss Mom and Dad and am glad they are having a wonderful time and surviving the long biking trips...Robin if you see my comments, HI TO YOU AND STEVEN! And Mariel, please give our regards to Rayna when you speak with her. I look forward to your next blog engry...Love, Tova (and Barry and Talya!) xoxoxox
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