Brake

My short brake is almost over, which is a shame but i am ready for the term to begin for really, and it will be very nice indeed to do something other than Modern Hebrew. In fact we do lots and lots of things so i am going to be rather busy. We start tomorrow with Israel Seminar and then things go on from there.
My hoilday included quite a bit of cleaning, which isn't too bad because I quite enjoy it and the flat needed/needs it. And getting ready for semester tomorrow. But I did get to hang out with Laura, we went to the Old city, which I hadn't really been to the whole time I've been here. (I know I have gone to the Kotel twice, once on Tish ab Av and once with women of the wall) but this was a propper trip we did go to the wall again. And around the Jewish area and then the Shuk and some of the Muslem part and finally the Chirstain section. Before we headed to King George the 5th Street and did some book shopping. Today I am just resting and doing a very little cleaning. Although I did have to get up early to go for my LD Hebrew lesson Yossi says that I am getting better but I am still finding it very hard work.

A short brake

At the end of the Ulpan and before we start our Fall Semester (which looks like it is going to be both interesting and very hard work) we have a short, and I mean very short brake. Friday is Friday here, although it is filled with the stuff of life: Cleaning and wahing and generally getting ready for shobbos, this Friday was quite stressful because we had to going down town to try and sort something out, which cut into what little time we actually had. The Vice Prinicle of our College was in Israel so he came to Friday Night dinner to see how we (all the LBC Students were doing and to general say hi and make sure that we are getting everything we need.), that was really nice and we had a plesant meal together earlier we went to Kol HaNeshamah, and I went there the next day also for Shabbat Mornng. In the evening Laura came over and we had the traditional Saturday night meal (leftovers) and we had a fun evening I have persuaded Laura to learn chess. (I love chess) and we had our first game. We also went for an evening walk, not far but we got some beautiful views of the oldcity, from two directions. And then today some more cleaning of the apartment (Which is looking really raher nice at the moment.) And later I will do some work before heading out to meet up with Laura again.
I am starting to really really love it here and to appericate quite how lucky I am to be here. Although I will almost certainly need reminding of that at a later date when I am struggling to keep my head above water workwise. But at the moment all is good and things are going well. :)

End of summer Ulpan

At last the summer ulpan is over, not that that is the end of my studying modern Hebrew, and I will in fact miss my Ulpan teachters Tammy and shelly. In the end my overall score was 90%, which was made up from attandace and participation in class, homework, quizes, tests, and the final examination. I am happy with my overall result as i can now go on into the accademic year proper.
Yesterday we had a serisis of seminars on aspects of the yomim norim. (the High Holy Days), which were, at least for the most part interesting. Now i have to clean the flat and get ready for shabbat. And then we get a nice if short hoilday and i may actually get the oppintunity to explore Jerusalem. I am also pleased to say that it is cooler in Israel than it has been.

Another weekend

Well, its almost shabbat which is nice but I have quite a busy one this week. At least all my homework is behind me. which is great and sort of got the odd jobs we needed doing done. Just about to head off to Har El synagogue. But it is just too hot here in Jerusalem today. I find it almost unbearable. Its something like 108 today which is just horried. I am hoping that it will cool done soon. Apart from that there isn't all that much to report on.

Hebrew, and Hebrew and Hebrew oh My.

So we have finished the 5th week of Ulpan, which is good...but there is the 6th week to go. Today we had accademic orintation which was a bit intense, and our time table looks a bit full. I don't think that it will has hard as it seems at least I hope it wont be. There is lots and lots Hebrew, Classical Hebrew and Biblical Hebrew and Prayer Book Hebrew so lots and lots of Hebrew (oh My)...I am a bit behind with my Hebrew but I am going to have a really push forward with it tonight. (Its not actually that bad as I have only got two bits left to do.) Plus some flash cards to make.

I had a nice date with Laura yesterday we had pizza on Emek and then we went to her house and did lots of study.

I am quite glad that as a class we will do soming else other than modern Hebrew. But studying Modern Hebrew with Laura is much more fun than studying it my own. Anyway I had better go and get on with studying.

Exciting times

Well another Jerusalem Shabbat is over, and another week of kita alef is about to start. I am now hafeway though my Summer Ulpan course and i think that it is going really well. This week a group of us went to Sir Hadasha (a Modern Orthodox) synagogue in Emek. I really really enjoyed it and think that i will probably go back there to do Kabalat Shabbat. We had a really nice Shabbat dinner at our flat.
I feel that I am getting the hang of being in Israel in general and in Jlem in particular. But it does have a habit of fooling me into thinking that I am back in western Europe and then reminding me that No I'm not I'm in the Middle East.

But i don't know why I am going on about this when the big news is that I am now going out with a wonderful young woman called Laura. She is in my kita (class) for modern Hebrew and is going to be a Cantor. Its early days, but it certainly makes being away from home in a strange place much nicer.
We have only had a couple of dates (0ne was for sushi). But its great and exciting and I'm really happy. :)

We are having a heatwave here so it was 104 degrees F. Today which didn't make for a great shabbat shalom. Hopefully I blog more oftern, but cannot make any promises.