Well. I made it back. It's so green here!! I have been on the go since I landed. Got home yesterday around 5:30, got a hair cut at 6:00, ate a burrito at 7:00 (YUMMMMMMM), went to bed around 9:00. This morning I got up at 6:30 and mom and I drove to Colton for my second interview at 10:00. I did not end up getting the job, but in all honesty I actually feel very relieved about it. I am crossing my fingers now for the Instructional Assistant position at Kennedy, but if that does not work either then something else will.
After the interview I went to Willamette University and surprised Stacy, it was so great to see her. I even got to see Erik for a minute. I visited with my college coach, Matt McGuirk, and enjoyed that as well. After that mom and I went to Grandma and Grandpa's for a short visit and then came home. Oh wait, I can't leave out that I ate a waffle with strawberries and whipped cream for lunch....oh man...yummmm again. I wonder when I'll start to miss hummus instead.
Now I'm home and ready for a nap, just a little one! Night night;)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Coming Home
Well it's the day before I leave Israel, exactly one year since I left home. Last week I went up to Karmiel to visit my friends from Ulpan. On Monday I visited with Milton and his son Allan (it's too bad Danny is still in Brazil, I won't get to say goodbye). We had a good day just kind of hanging out at his house. On Tuesday I went with Tatiana, Yoel, Vadim, Diana and her family and friends from Ecuador to the beach in Netanya. I actually hadn't even spent any time on the beach there before. At first it was rather disappointing...the sand was big and grainy and the waves were far to rough for Yoel to swim at all. After a long trek down the beach and along the road (barefoot! oops!) I found a really nice beach. It cost a few dollars to get in but it was clean and the water was slow like in a little lagoon....it was perfect. I spent a wonderful 45 minutes in the water with Yoel, having that kind of fun that you miss from when you were a kid, and talking away in Hebrew...it was so nice. A great time with Tatiana and Diana, I will miss them so much!
It was a really good time up in the North, but hard to say goodbye.
Last night I went out to Tel Aviv with Ben and we met up with Tamar for dinner. It's really too bad I didn't get to spend more time with her because she is such an easy friend to have. Once again...why am I so much better at making new girlfriends in Israel than I ever was at home?! Ben has my camera right now but I'll post some pictures here soon.
Tonight we are going out to dinner with Eran, Bubi, and Dudu (yes those are nicknames), and after that I have a phone interview for a math position at a middle school in Oregon. Wish me a quick mind and good speaking skills..I'll have to remember not to answer in Hebrew!
It was a really good time up in the North, but hard to say goodbye.
Last night I went out to Tel Aviv with Ben and we met up with Tamar for dinner. It's really too bad I didn't get to spend more time with her because she is such an easy friend to have. Once again...why am I so much better at making new girlfriends in Israel than I ever was at home?! Ben has my camera right now but I'll post some pictures here soon.
Tonight we are going out to dinner with Eran, Bubi, and Dudu (yes those are nicknames), and after that I have a phone interview for a math position at a middle school in Oregon. Wish me a quick mind and good speaking skills..I'll have to remember not to answer in Hebrew!
Berlitz
I looked back at the last post I made and realized it was made the same week I began working at Berlitz. Berlitz was nuts. Working with the adults was really ok, they were all very nice and easy to talk to (although not level one because they started with no English), it was the kids that were the devils. The first week of camps I taught 9-11 year olds from 9:00-12:30 and then 13-14 year olds from 1:00- 4:30 and then adults from either 5:30-7:45 or 10:00.....it was awful! So much for Berlitz having everything planned for you, I spent hours planning for my classes (especially the kids classes). I would get to work at 7:15 and work in the hallway until someone came to open the doors at 8:00 so I could really get working. The kids were awful...and that's an understatement. The little ones started off ok, they were cute and sweet and enjoyed any game I thought of. The teens were a big of a challenge at first because they didn't want to be there and they were extremely bored. Then everything switched, the teens got used to it or something and the kids got too comfortable and turned horrid. This one kid who was pretty darn cute was really nice until the moment something didn't go exactly how he wanted it and then he would transition into a little brat. . The next 2 weeks were ok because I only had one camp. These were 7 and 8 year olds and there were only 4 of them. One of them only spoke arabic and the other three only hebrew. They didn't know any English...it was so hard to teach them! Two of them were friends who had been in camp all summer together and I got to experience the end of that summer...what fun.
Here is a list of some of the things that happened during this summer at Berlitz Camp
1. Throwing pens
2. kicking
3. name calling
4. yelling, yelling, yelling
5. refusing to listen (even if my face was right in front of their's is was like they could see right through me to continue yelling at another kid)
6. running away (I had to block the elevator twice
7. playing with ipods and cell phones and refusing to put them away
8. calling parents to complain during the camp
9. whining
10. strangling!
11. Refusing to do the final project when the parents and other camp kids came to watch. For the second camp this left one kid and myself singing a song in front of about 20 people. The kid's sister stood up there with him for moral support (he was a rascal during the week, but he was rather cute during that song).
Really, I think these kids are a combinations of 2 year olds and 13 year olds. It's like they are in the middle of their terrible two's but they think they are grown up like 13 year olds. Kids in Israel go out on the buses alone and stay out at night in the streets when they are 8 years old! I think it's pretty crazy.
I did have a few good experiences at Berlitz. For example, all of my adult students seemed to enjoy having me as their teacher and were sad to see me go. My coworkers were all very cool and made the work environment comfortable. Oh, and I earned some money...that's a plus!
I didn't last long at Berlitz, it was a bit of an unorganized mess of a business. I think maybe it was just Israelized, which made it kind of fall a part. For example, we weren't asked what supplies we needed for the camps, they just ordered without us and the supplies didn't come until the camp was OVER!!
Anyway, glad I did it, glad it's over...moving on.
Here is a list of some of the things that happened during this summer at Berlitz Camp
1. Throwing pens
2. kicking
3. name calling
4. yelling, yelling, yelling
5. refusing to listen (even if my face was right in front of their's is was like they could see right through me to continue yelling at another kid)
6. running away (I had to block the elevator twice
7. playing with ipods and cell phones and refusing to put them away
8. calling parents to complain during the camp
9. whining
10. strangling!
11. Refusing to do the final project when the parents and other camp kids came to watch. For the second camp this left one kid and myself singing a song in front of about 20 people. The kid's sister stood up there with him for moral support (he was a rascal during the week, but he was rather cute during that song).
Really, I think these kids are a combinations of 2 year olds and 13 year olds. It's like they are in the middle of their terrible two's but they think they are grown up like 13 year olds. Kids in Israel go out on the buses alone and stay out at night in the streets when they are 8 years old! I think it's pretty crazy.
I did have a few good experiences at Berlitz. For example, all of my adult students seemed to enjoy having me as their teacher and were sad to see me go. My coworkers were all very cool and made the work environment comfortable. Oh, and I earned some money...that's a plus!
I didn't last long at Berlitz, it was a bit of an unorganized mess of a business. I think maybe it was just Israelized, which made it kind of fall a part. For example, we weren't asked what supplies we needed for the camps, they just ordered without us and the supplies didn't come until the camp was OVER!!
Anyway, glad I did it, glad it's over...moving on.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
I'm still here...
Our neighborhood:
We're settled here in our apartment in Rishon LeZion now. I started my job this week. I am working at Berlitz teaching English. On the 3rd I should be starting a summer camp for children during the day as well as teaching adults in the evenings. It looks like it's actually going to be a pretty busy summer.
I really do miss my friends in Karmi'el. Some of these pictures are from a BBQ at milton's house...so fun! I am hoping to go up there this week to see them. Tatiana is going back to Germany for a month so it would be nice to see her before she takes off. I met another nice 28 year old, I seem to be very lucky meeting friends here. We met at the training for Berlitz. She is from Australia. We don't have much time to get together, but it is nice to know that there is someone nearby with at least the potential to get together without having to travel too much.
Ben is doing great in the Army and absolutely LOVING his job. On Tuesday they army took at 'building morale' day and spent it at a water park, I was so jealous. These are his friends from army. Eran on the left (he has helped us SO much), Joni on the right, and Avi at the bottom (Avi is Ben's commander).
Despite the little afternoon when Ben was sick and I passed out, we are both doing/feeling very well now. We had a lovely afternoon at the beach last weekend. We played Matka until I had blisters and laid in the sun until we burned...whoops. Summer is supposed to begin on June 21st and this year I really think he did...on the dot. It no longer cools down in the evenings here, although so far it is still livable. We don't have to turn the air conditioning on except for moments when we just can't stand it, but they are rare, and short-lived.
Ben and I on the way to see the Monkey's at the Monkey Forest! (It was overrated)
Funny Moment of the Month: Within 5 minutes at the market in Tel Aviv both Tamar (28 year old friend from Berlitz) and I had been mistaken to be Ben's MOTHER!! How is this possible?!!!
Diana at home on Kibbutz Bar-Am (Beautiful Kibbutz, beautiful woman!)
Diana and I on a bike ride on Kibbutz Bar-Am
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Shavua Tov
I had my oral test in Hebrew class today, it went great! It felt like I was just rattling off in hebrew as if it were English, I'm sure I was really speaking rather slowly, but it felt like I was speaking so fast!
Here are some pics from the visit with Ben's family in Portland. It was pretty funny...I haven't riden a camel here in Israel, or in Egypt but I found one to sit on right there at OMSI.
We had a great Independence Day here in Israel (it was Tuesday). Monday night we joined Tatiana, David, and Yoel at the amphitheater for a kids show, music, and fireworks. Then Tuesday Ben and I went on a LONG walk and then Tatiana and I studied in the park. It was a really nice day, although I kind of wished I were a kid because they had a lot of fun things in the park. Those blow up play things you can jump, flop, and bounce on....fun!
I miss you mom.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Re-Start
Well, I'm back. Back in Israel and back on my blog. I'm not sure what overcame me the past few months that stopped me from writing here, but I have to say it was most likely the fact that I was busy with life. I really have been enjoying myself lately:) I had a wonderful trip home last month, I was so happy to see everybody. Really, I was in heaven.
Before I came to visit, Irina made a trip to Israel for three weeks. It was so great to see her and even though I only got to see her on the weekends it was really a good trip, I think she would agree too. Ben did get a little time off from Army to spend with her as well.
Ben is now permanently stationed in Rishon LeZion, having the time of his life. His commitment extends until the middle of December, by which time he will have been in the Army for a full year. At this new base he is having too much fun though. Watch this video to see what he is up to. Give the site a moment to load and then scroll down to the first video. It is in hebrew but the you can get an idea from the video images.
Since Ben is stationed in the center and I am living in the North, we are waiting until Ulpan is over and then moving again. Yesterday was our first day of searching. It's really not a fun process, and we seem to do it more than most people. It was made easier though by the fact that one of Ben's friends from Army drove us around and helped us out with calling and talking to people, that took A LOT of stress off of it, it's so hard in Hebrew!! Especially negotiating price, which is essential. We are finding that it will be quite a bit more expensive to live in this part of the country than it was up in Karmi'el, and it will certainly be a different atmosphere. We hope to live close enough to the beach to make it feel worth living in a city environment. We'll see what works out though, there are always busses, and Israel is pretty good about transportation (except when it's not).
A few days ago we went to a concert in Karmi'el, the band that I knew was Balkan Beat Box, the others I did not know, but it was all enjoyable. It was really a great night. We went with Tatiana and David (the concert was at David's College and he got us the tickets through the student union). It was a great night. No pictures because they would not allow cameras. Tuesday is Independence day here in Israel and we all have the day off. I think Ben will be going to some Army Bases with David and Yoel (Tatiana and David's 5 yr old son), while Tatiana and I stay home, relax, and study for our big oral hebrew exam next thursday;)
I am in Rishon now with Ben and headed back up to Karmi'el as soon as the trains start up again, unfortunately that is not until 9:00pm!! It will be a late night, but as everyone keeps having to remind me, I am young:)
I do have some pics to share, both from my trip back home and some from here, I will share them when I write next (this week!!) because I don't have the camera cord here. I'm looking forward to a good week trying to cram in studying, Ben time, and some good quality time with my friend's before we move.
Before I came to visit, Irina made a trip to Israel for three weeks. It was so great to see her and even though I only got to see her on the weekends it was really a good trip, I think she would agree too. Ben did get a little time off from Army to spend with her as well.
Ben is now permanently stationed in Rishon LeZion, having the time of his life. His commitment extends until the middle of December, by which time he will have been in the Army for a full year. At this new base he is having too much fun though. Watch this video to see what he is up to. Give the site a moment to load and then scroll down to the first video. It is in hebrew but the you can get an idea from the video images.
Since Ben is stationed in the center and I am living in the North, we are waiting until Ulpan is over and then moving again. Yesterday was our first day of searching. It's really not a fun process, and we seem to do it more than most people. It was made easier though by the fact that one of Ben's friends from Army drove us around and helped us out with calling and talking to people, that took A LOT of stress off of it, it's so hard in Hebrew!! Especially negotiating price, which is essential. We are finding that it will be quite a bit more expensive to live in this part of the country than it was up in Karmi'el, and it will certainly be a different atmosphere. We hope to live close enough to the beach to make it feel worth living in a city environment. We'll see what works out though, there are always busses, and Israel is pretty good about transportation (except when it's not).
A few days ago we went to a concert in Karmi'el, the band that I knew was Balkan Beat Box, the others I did not know, but it was all enjoyable. It was really a great night. We went with Tatiana and David (the concert was at David's College and he got us the tickets through the student union). It was a great night. No pictures because they would not allow cameras. Tuesday is Independence day here in Israel and we all have the day off. I think Ben will be going to some Army Bases with David and Yoel (Tatiana and David's 5 yr old son), while Tatiana and I stay home, relax, and study for our big oral hebrew exam next thursday;)
I am in Rishon now with Ben and headed back up to Karmi'el as soon as the trains start up again, unfortunately that is not until 9:00pm!! It will be a late night, but as everyone keeps having to remind me, I am young:)
I do have some pics to share, both from my trip back home and some from here, I will share them when I write next (this week!!) because I don't have the camera cord here. I'm looking forward to a good week trying to cram in studying, Ben time, and some good quality time with my friend's before we move.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Old City Akko with Friends
About two weeks ago we (Ben and I) took a little trip to Akko (about 20 minutes away) with Diana and her husband Badim. This was the first time I met Badim, which was important to me because I like Diana very much. They took a car from Kibbutz Bar-Am (where they live), which is about 45 minutes north of Karmiel. Then together, we headed to Akko. We wanted to eat brunch/lunch at Hummous Said (I believe I have mentioned this restaurant before). Ben and I ate there when we visited Haifa in December, but this time it was already closed (they only stay open until the food is gone, and it always goes...very popular place). So, we settled for a different hummous place, which was really just as good (perhaps better?).
I have been to Akko before but this time we explored places I had never seen, actually I didn't even know they existed. It was amazing. We went underneath the Akko Citadel to see the ruins of the Crusaders fortress, which are actually still being excavated. The Crusaders fortress was built at the beginning of the 11th century....that is SO old! The citadel, which sits on top of the ruins, was the palace of the Governor during the 18th and 19th centuries and then became a British prison in later years. The prison is actually where Ben had the ceremony when he was sworn into the army. I think my favorite part (and this is a bit embarassing) was the lavoratory! I just love seeing the evidence of daily life such a long time ago. Even though our lives are so different than then, we still have that necessity in common:)
I have been to Akko before but this time we explored places I had never seen, actually I didn't even know they existed. It was amazing. We went underneath the Akko Citadel to see the ruins of the Crusaders fortress, which are actually still being excavated. The Crusaders fortress was built at the beginning of the 11th century....that is SO old! The citadel, which sits on top of the ruins, was the palace of the Governor during the 18th and 19th centuries and then became a British prison in later years. The prison is actually where Ben had the ceremony when he was sworn into the army. I think my favorite part (and this is a bit embarassing) was the lavoratory! I just love seeing the evidence of daily life such a long time ago. Even though our lives are so different than then, we still have that necessity in common:)
If my memory serves me, this is a room that was used for torture and imprisonment. It was a very eerie room.
And this is Diana and I in the courtyard. Much of this was not even excavated the last time Ben visited!
A the entrance to the Citadel is a garden. Well, that's what it is called, but I'm not sure I would call it that. It has a fountain and some beautiful trees surrounding it. I took many pictures of the trees...they are green, green is like a magnet for me here in Israel....where it is, I go.
Other than the Citadel/Fortress tour, we also just toured around the market (sh-ooh-k) on our own. It really is an interesting city. It is on the water so we went to the port and took some pictures...it was a nice day at first, but later it turned very windy and the sky turned grey, not only with clouds, but with sand. It wasn't anything close to a sand storm, but sand was definitely flying around, turning the day hazy. However, the first half of the day was absolutely beautiful!
I have too much to write about...more soon. (actually, another trip to Akko!)
Oops...good thing Serge just reminded me..I almost left without revealing the 'surprise'. Well, you may already know, but...I bought a plane ticket home for April 7th and I'll be staying three whole weeks! I celebrate every time I remember:)
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