Shalom Kulam!
So day two of classes and I am pleased to report that I have
no bad things to say about them. I was lucky and got around 4 hours of sleep
last night so that is progress from 3 J.
If this jet lag business doesn’t quit it I don’t know what I’ll do – today we
had an “orientation” with the principal of Neve (Rabbi Chalkowski) and I kept
doing that head jerk thing where you dose off for a millisecond but catch
yourself. It was so bad I had to leave in the middle (even though I was sitting
directly across from him) and later found out that half of the girls watched my
spasms and me! This morning I initiated my new coffee and know that it
definitely had a part in my great start this morning.
The first day I had breakfast here it was pretty measly but
I thought that was because it was Friday and maybe the kitchen people weren’t
here since a lot of people don’t work. To my dismay breakfast is always
mediocre….bad bad cereal…peanut butter, chocolate spread and bread. This is
only half a complaint because although I wouldn’t make my dog (miss you Riley!)
eat the cereal, I could be satisfied for life with chocolate spread and bread.
However, I know my tummy would not be so appreciative nor my thighs so
eventually I’ll have to go in search of alternatives.
This morning I decided to get my feet wet for real at Neve,
just jumping right in – I signed up for a Zumba class (what do Neve girls wear
to Zumba???) taught by the awesome Latin American teacher from last night and
also put my name down to go volunteer at a food charity called Yad Eliezer on
Thursday where we’ll be packaging food. Classes were very good today – Chumash
(learning about Abraham taking his son to do the Akeda), Halacha (learning all
there is to know about hand washing! Lol), more about Chana and finally an
AWESOME class with Rabbi Bear. I think I may have found one of my top teachers
so far. There were only 3 of us in Rabbi Bear’s class and he spent the time
talking about teshuva (repentance) and how no matter what you’ve done in your
life nothing ever gets in the way of your attempts to better yourself and atone
for our various misdeeds. He was so excited that I was from Montreal and told
me that b”h he wants to arrange a speaking tour with stops there. Currently I
am patting myself on the back because I have set up my first meeting with a
teacher…Ruchie I hope your smiling! (Although secretly it was his idea and not
mine….but still progress nonetheless!)
More progress was made in the attempts to be less awkward
department when I had 2 girls to sit down with at lunch without having to
randomly plop myself with people I don’t end up speaking to (I know this sounds
like high school and to be honest it kind of is. A little weird since I never
thought I’d have to go through this again…). I am really lucky that I have
great girls in my apartment and that there are a good bunch of friendly girls
here as well (I gravitate towards the English girls since I can literally
listen to them speak about sewing and I’d be perfectly happy). After falling
asleep during the orientation I had to venture out the market area again.
Without failure, I can never leave Neve campus without
having multiple mishaps. Please enjoy….
First, I headed to the central bus station to get a monthly
bus pass only to find out that I was number 177 and they were at 6 AND number
137 had already been there for 1.5 hrs! Forget that – I left. Excited by the
prospect of showering finally I went to Superpharm to get shampoo, cond and body wash only to
find out that all the deals from Sunday (the day before) were gone. But a girls
gotta shower so I bought everything anyways.
Don’t be silly… I know what you were thinking, “that was
successful, no big problems there” – WRONG! Fast forward 2 hours, I’m finally
in the steaming shower about to condition my hair only to find out that I
bought TWO shampoos…just my luck.
Back to my errrands – stop 3 was at the Shuk
(market) where I wanted to return the iron and water bottle I bought the
previous day. The water bottle had a huge crack in it (which I discovered as it
began to leak all over the principal’s office floor!) and the iron was useless
since the school has one for sale for ONE DOLLAR! The water bottle exchange
went smoothly (sort of…obvi he had an attitude) but the iron return was a no
go. I was told they don’t do return and when I pushed further and asked if I
could call the company he said they would give me the same answer. Then I asked
for his boss’ number and he said that was not an option, that even if I could
return it I would not get my money back. I relayed my feelings that a store
must have a sign that signifies its return policy but noooooo apparently “zeh
yaduah” (“its known”). WELL NOOO DUDE I DONT KNOW!!! So a fight ensued about
the fact that he should have a sign indicating the return policy followed with
me leaving….with the iron L
Obviously flustered I decided that the best way to make
myself feel better was to go to Marzipan – an Israeli bakery at the shuk that
was crafted in heaven. Hundreds of rogelach and danishes, hot, chewy and simply
delicious. Here are some photos of before and during my marzipan eating
experience. For those of you whose tummy’s are now rumbling…. there are two
extra beds in my room if you want to try some!
Rogelach & iron in hand with a knapsack full of hair
products I made my way on to my second home…the bus (kav 75). Note: Shout out
to Joelle Librowicz who I thank G-D on a daily basis is here with me in Israel.
I don’t know how I would get through without my personal life coach and imah J
Back to the bus…as Joelle and I are discussing my future
during the scenic route along the bottom/mid of Har Nof (the name of the
mountain I live on), the BUS BREAKS DOWN leaving me on a random street with
zero percent of my bearings in tact!!! One thing I knew for sure is that Neve
is at the very top of the mountain. I figured I was just one street down (which
is the equivalent of about 6 flights of stairs) so I headed towards the first
flight of stairs and made my way up. Obviously I was wrong so I just kept
finding stairs and kept walking up (in steamy weather, with my heavy load and
Asthma plagued lungs). 35 minutes, half a mountain and aprox 75 billion stairs
later I made it to the top!! ONLY TO REALIZE THAT I WAS ABOUT 3 LONG BLOCKS TOO
FAR L.
I am glad to report that at around 6:55 I made it into the school so relieved and
with a significant appetite….only to find out that dinner was OVER!
So now I sit here venting to you all a very hungry, very
achy jet lagged girl.
Now that you’re all as exhausted from reading my post as I
am from today’s adventures, I’ll drag myself to Building 2 apartment 3 room 4,
for some much needed attempt at sleep J
Layla Tov xoxo
Dana
Ps I have enclosed this last picture which doesn’t show much
but was my attempt at stealthily documenting the angry toothless man from
yesterday who I got in a fight with
when he wouldn’t sell me a bag.
love you! sleep tight!
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