Let the ULPAN begin

The first day of Ulpan is kind of like being a kid in a candy store (it is actually nothing like that but I really wanted to use that analogy). A more accurate assessment is that it is like the first day of school. I was excited for everything the day held. I got placed into a good Hebrew class, I was able to meet a lot of new friends right away, and I was in one of the most beautiful sites of the country. However there was absolutely no time for me to think or breathe. Every day was jam packed with intense studying. I had 5 hours of Hebrew every morning bright and early that just took all my focus. We would learn new concepts and grammar each day so to miss one thing meant falling behind which was not an option. Even though I was done relatively early every day(1:30) I somehow had no time to myself. Afternoons were filled with some sort of learning provided by the school, then working out, followed by preparing dinner, doing homework, and then hanging out with people before bedtime. I was on a tight schedule every moment with something new going on. Even though everything was happening so fast, the electricity in the air was too strong to miss.

Being friendly seems to be quite easy for the people studying abroad at Rothberg. No matter who you run into they want to get to know you and establish a friendship. Needless to say, I was ever the outgoing personality and met people from all walks of life. I don’t really like to play the jewish geography game since I know that 99% of the time that I will know someone in common with a complete stranger as long as they are jewish. Unfortunately, I seem to be alone in this thought process since everyone I met decided to play the game. Some of the people I met have been great friends already. I met a crowd of girls from Canada that don’t think they have an accent but we bust their chops for it. I met people from Chicago, Maryland, and Indiana that had heard about me from some of my old Nativ friends. I finally met the infamous Ramah California contingency that sticks with each other like white on rice. I made an interesting guy Jason from Binghamton that I really enjoy hanging out with and showing him around. As well as spending time with the people I knew coming here Leslie, Adina, and Adam. It was a lot of fun to do some new fresh acquaintance interactions since I have been hanging around the same people back in Zona. The week was filled with fun, friends, and activities for all.

Friday came zipping around and I was psyched for it to begin. So far I had only spent Shabbat with family and now I was able to have some free time. I got in touch with Josh Goldberg(Nativ 26) who happens to also be studying abroad here again and asked him if I could stay by him for Shabbat. He was more than happy to have me over(he lives in Baka). I was invited for Friday night dinner to my old madrich Matan Gold’s house for dinner. Everything was falling into place. I went to the Shuk Friday afternoon and purchased some Challah, wine, and Rugalach. I made my way to josh’s and dropped off all my stuff before getting ready to go to shul. It was my first time back at synagogues in Israel and I decided to start off with a bang at Shira Hadasha. Services were amazing and I ran into David Helfand there which is always a present surprise. Afterwards, I ate dinner at Matan’s and met all his friends who happen to be the funniest group I have experienced. We talked about Israel Zionism to American National Parks. It was a wonderful time that I can’t wait to do it again. Shabbat was restful with more meaningful davening followed by lunch with Josh and his roommates. They go to Pardes and happen to be so nice. It was truly a wonderful time and I appreciate him opening his home to me. I could not have asked for a better Shabbat and now it is time for another week of Hebrew to begin and I am ready!!!