Marbimin B'Simcha

Inspired by the ARHU digest that I still get from the University of Maryland, despite having graduated, I have decided to modify my email format to accommodate those of you with shorter attention spans (no judgement, I am just as bad). Let me know what you think.

 This weeks highlights:

 ~ Turns out I can only handle one day of Purim.*

~ I founded an Israeli acapella group that lasted approximatly 15 minutes **

~ I ate a cow.***

~ I spoke Hebrew for a whole day ****

~ I got free sushi and free beer last night! *****

~ I love Israel and being here for Purim just made me love it more.

 

* My whole "Double the Purim, Double the Fun" plan kind of backfired. Purim is celebrated on different days depending on whether you are in a walled city (like Jerusalem) or out of one (like Efrat). I was planning on jumping from one place to the other in order to extend my Purim celebrations (which include costumes, reading the Purim story, exchanging food, and drinking), BUT I was in Efrat for the first day and we had a big meal with all my fake family (and my real cousin) and I had a bit to drink. So instead of skipping back to Jerusalem for a second go at reading the Megillah, I skipped down the streets of Efrat singing "Mishenichnas Adar" with my friend Dahlia. There was lots of dancing and singing and marbiming b'simcha and truth be told, by the next day I was pooped so its probably a good thing I didnt get in twice the Purim. I think this is a holiday that is not meant to be extended.

 

** My cousin Natalie and I partied it up in my ulpan before heading back to Efrat at about 2am. We picked up three hitchhikers on the way home and proceeded to sing with them the whole way back. Harmonized and everything. By far the best tremp I have ever been in.

 

*** My Awesome Uncle Howard (can someone send me his email address?) treated me to dinner via his daughter, Natalie and we went up to Herzaliya to a restauraunt called Meat and Wine. I ate alot of Meat and Wine. Actually, I think I ended up eating my entire meal (some african sausage, lamb chops, and chocolate envelope thingies) and half of Natalie's (tuna tartar, beef ribs, and chocolate cake). I dont understand how she got full so fast. Well thats not true, I understand how she became full, I dont understand why I didnt. 

 

**** I went to visit a grad school in Kfar Saba. The place was beautiful, the people were nice, and the program sounded perfect, and then I went to talk to the application office and discovered I needed a B.Ed. to apply. poo. But I did make a friend and talked to her in Hebrew the whole day. Go me!

 

***** I got taken out to sushi by the Skversky brothers, who are not as good as their sister, Yael, when put together are pretty darn entertainin. And then I went out for and ulpan party/ birthday party that were conveniently located in the same bar. And I got a free beer before I went and bought the birthday boy and apple-tini because he kind of drinks like a girl (Noam).

 

Ending note: Thank you to Aunt Z and R for the rockin Hamantaschen sent with love from the states. And thanks to the fam for whatever it is that is sitting at the post office waiting for me to go pick it up. I love mail and packages and things sent with love across the ocean. (Kfirah Covel, Rehov Nili 12/16, Katamon, Jerusalem 92548)

Israelis are nice. Shocking, I know.

Once again, I am at the end of the week having trouble remembering what I did before yesterday. So we'll go backwards.

Yadretsey i tnew ot viva let. Haha, just kidding, I cant think like that, much less write like that. But yesterday I did go to Tel Aviv and that did not end well. As I was perusing the ridiculously cheap clothing at the Central Bus Station before I went home to Jerusalem, I realized I did not have my wallet, and probably left it on the bus I took to Tel Aviv four hours before. Faced with the knowledge I would have to cancel all of my credit cards not to mention my Israeli bank card (a process I do not even want to imagine) I started to freak out a little. And then the more pressing issue occured to me. I was in Tel Aviv, it was 8pm, I had no bus ticket and no money and did not know how I was going to get home. Also I did not know how to say "lost" or "wallet" in Hebrew (abaditi ha'arnak sheli). Well after a few frantic phone calls to my Israeli friend, crying to about ten different official type people, and seriously considering just begging people for money, I simply climbed on the bus and tearfully told the driver I lost my wallet. He waved me onto the bus without another word and I was once again eternally grateful for nice people.

 

Before that, Thursday had actually been a pretty good day. I went into the bank and paid my rent, which made me feel competent and mature, I had a three hour lunch with my roommate and talked about wedding plans and grad school plans (my roommate got engaged last week and I wasnt allowed to tell then- but now I can!), and then I went to visit Bezalel, the art school I am looking at in Tel Aviv. They had an "Open Day" yesterday, which was very informative but not very open. We spent about two hours sitting in a hot room hearing about the program and having our questions answered. (By the way, listening to Hebrew for two straight hours gives you a HUGE headache). The program sounds very good to me (not that I really have many other options) but they did not let us actually see any of the studios or facilities which was kind of annoying. The program actually only runs two days a week- Sundays in the studios and Wednesdays we have theory and history classes. But they did say that they basically expect you to be in the studio every day. I learned about the portfolio requirements, the language requirements, how many people get in (about 1 in 4), and that there is a possibility to work for them my second year. I was also told that they dont ask for recommendations because "the only people in Israel worth hearing from already work here".

There were about 50 students there, about 10 of them were men, about 4 of them were within 5 years of my age, and Im pretty sure I was the only religious one there. I have heard quite a few rumors about how anti-religious the art schools are and it makes me a little nervous. But I guess I will wait and see. Keyword being wait because they dont even review portfolios until the end of May.

 

Continuing back, on Wednesday I went to see a band I had met about four years ago and was super happy to find that not only are they still awesome, but they remembered me :) OH, AND bravo to Kfi for being super brave and making new friends. I was alone at the bar waiting for my friend and sitting near this guy who was also alone and I went over and made friends. Too bad hes in the army and was enjoying his last night out before heading back to the Egyptian border for the next four months. But I tried!

 

On Tuesday I volunteered to participate in my Ulpan's Purim skit. Not sure why I did that, but now I get to be the evil, hot, Queen Vashti.

 

I cant recall what I did on Monday so it must not have been that exciting.

 

And on Sunday I went to Nahal Oz and visited soldiers. Which I sort of told you about already. But it was very cool and I am hoping to go again on Sunday and deliver Mishloach Manot (food packages).

 

I am very excited for next week because a) my cousin is coming to visit, b) its PURIM!!! and c) Im going to visit another school. So stay tuned. Further adventures of Kfi to follow. Hopefully they will involve wonderfully nice people returning my wallet.