Never a dull moment

   Last Wednesday I went to Jerusalem to meet up with a friend named AYal (not to be confused with my boyfriend EYal) from my summer camp who I have worked with for several summers now. He is working for the JDC (Joint Distribution Committee) with a focus on using environmental actions to bring communities back together - using community gardens is one example. So anyway, I took the bus to Jlem that day and was lucky enough to be able to try the new Jerusalem light rail for free. It will start costing money in just a few weeks - it is still in the trial period. Since it's free, everyone wants to take it. What's the result? Sardine experience. I couldn't even fit into the first light rail that came by because I didn't push hard enough to squeeze my way inside. Second time around I made sure it didn't happen. I squeezed my way on. It was hot, uncomfortable, babies crying, people arguing - it was ridiculous. It turned out to be one of the most uncomfortable public transportation experiences I have ever had. I was also concerned because I kept falling into the religious guy in front of me. Only in Israel.  

   

  After finding Ayal, we found a good cafe to sit and in order to catch up and people watch. Always a treat to people watch around there. We walked around the busy Jerusalem market, bought warm roasted and salted peanuts, fresh rugelach. It was amazing. Here's a pic!

  We also met up with other fellow summer camp alumni that evening before heading to the street festival that was right on my friend's street. The theme was movies so there were fake popcorn boxes and big light set-ups all over the street. As the street festival began tons of performers set up around the street. Some performed for free, some performed if you dropped a few agurot (cents) in the donation box. There was a group of 4 young men dressed up in cowboy hats and leather pants playing drums and other portable instruments all up and down the street. The best part of the evening was when we went into the section called Fiddler on the Roof. We were led up the stairs of an apartment building to the roof where there was actually a fiddler on the roof. He was accompanied by a drummer and classical guitarist. It was incredible music!! The whole roof was packed with young people. The fiddler was awesome. His music was unique, hip, modern, and powerful. It was sooo much fun! We danced, stomped our feet and even yeehawed a few times. Super great. 

   Now it's Monday. Yesterday I had my first day of Ulpan in Haifa. It was quite the experience. I had to wake up at six in order to catch the bus. It took my 50 mins to take the bus there. The traffic was awful. I was pretty excited so it didn't bother me too much. When I arrived there were barely any people there. As I soon became aware, the time had been pushed to 8:30 and only those living in the dorms near the campus had known. No e-mail had been sent out to the students living outside of the dorm (and there is a lot of us!). There are about 180 people from all over the world attending the Ulpan. I heard Russian, French, Spanish...there was evening a guy from Belgium! I met some really nice folks from Britain, Canada and the U.S. I met some super cool girls from Canada who are also summer camp-y like myself - counselors and unit heads and all that jazz. 

The teachers had us a take a written exam. After the written exam we, all 180 of us, had to take an oral exam. And because this is Israel there was no system set up. There were about 6 teachers, 180 students, and a very small hallway stuffed full of 10 different languages waiting for the exam. Everyone asking, "What's going on? How do we know if it's our turn? Why isn't there a system? Why didn't they separate us by names so we wouldn't have to stand here waiting?" But, not surprising, there was no answer! Oh, Israel. It was a good time to get to know people and I really enjoyed spending time with the Canadian young women who are summer camp goers like me. 

I return back to Ulpan on Wednesday. The teachers need time to grade all the tests and place people in different classes. I'll find out Wednesday what level I'm in. Exciting!!!