Signs here tend to be in military time. Which is fantastic, as far as I'm concerned, because I love military time. It's more elegent then "am" and "pm" and I enjoy being able to switch back and forth in my head. Both the digital readout on all of my watches and my computer have been set in military time for at least three years now. The only thing that has seriously confused me was when I was at the bank. The bank opens pretty early, then closes for around three hours in the middle of the day (siesta, as far as I'm concerned, but most places seem to not take them here anymore. In Argentina, everywhere except Buenos Aires SHUTS DOWN during siesta.) and then the post office reopens. Anyway, the times were written left-to-right, but arranged right-to-left. I didn't realize it, and spent a good three minutes, staring at that sign, trying to figure out why the post office had the absolute wierdest hours ever. (I won't be writing in military time here, mostly, because most people reading this are American. I am starting to use it when writing notes to myself.)
Now, time difference is a whole 'nother ball game. Frustrating at absolute best. The East coast of America is normally a 7-hour time difference. I have one of those world-time options on my watch, and it's perpetually set to New York. I also got pretty good at counting back seven hours in the first few days of seminary. Ah, but then it all changed. The clocks here change right before Yom Kippur, so that the fast ends waaaaaay early. (This is also a political issue, involving the government, and the rabbinate, and the public complaints. But that's the basic expliantion.) Anyway, now the East coast is only six hours away. It means I don't call in the morning anymore, because I don't wake up that early, but I can call earlier in the afternoon. It also means I haven't spoken to Zvi in a while, because I'm normally in class before he's heading to school and I'm going to bed when he's coming back, roughly. Also, my roommate is from Seattle, so her time difference is also a whole different set of problems, and is also more frustrating for her. She sometimes does wake up early to call her friends, as they're all still up.
And then there's Sundays. Sundays here are just another work day. Much less of Christian influence then America, you see. It took a bit getting used to. Scratch that, I'm still not used to it. Saturday nights were the party night, and now I have class at 9:15 Sunday morning, so I'm more careful with then. Thursday night is that party night now, as there are no classes on Friday. But partying can't start until after Bkiut class, which ends at 10, or Mishmar (which is optional, but normally full) which ends at 11. And curfew is still 12:30, if you're planning on sleeping in the dorm. So...we watch movies, mostly. Good movies, bad movies, chick flicks, etc. Someone is normally wandering down the hall, knocking on people's doors and asking if they have any DVD's. (That happens every night, though, not just Thursday. Talia, a friend of mine at another seminary, came to visit one Wednesday night (I don't kn0w why either) and we found out she'd never seen Dirty Dancing. Needless to say, I was really really tired the next day during morning shiur.) Then whoever is in the room (I normally watch in Michal's room, because I'm friends with the room and it's right next door to mine.) votes on a movie, and there we go! The only problem is if you want to do things on Friday, you have to get up earlier to have time before you start heading to your hosts for Shabbos. So...not so much sleep Thursday night. I've ditched the movie a couple of times, because by Thursday night I am crashing. I don't get a lot of sleep during the week.
But our lack of free Sundays has resulted in me calling America around 7 in the morning on Sundays a few time, because I'm wide awake and chipper because it's lunch time for me, and I forget that there's no work on Sundays in America. It's a normal work day for me, after all. I laugh about it every time, because I find it amusing. I'm not sure anyone sleeping in my house Sunday morning would be inclined to agree.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Advocacy
The David Project is an organization that teaches students how to advocate for Israel, specifically on the college campus. My program offers a course every Tuesday, I'm taking it. Last Tuesday night one of our teachers invited us to a talk he was having with some Irish tourists, who he hinted might be a bit anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian Arab.
To sum up, they were. Well, at least the ones who spoke. There was a whole large group, and we all sat around in a rough circle. We (the students of the class) were basically instructed not to talk, as this was supposed to be a learning experience for us, and we'd only had a few advocacy classes, so we couldn't really be expected to do a good job. They (the Irish tourists, and I only mention that they were Irish constantly, because their accents were very cool) mostly didn't talk. It came down to about four very loud, insistant people and maybe five people who actually waited their turn. It was clear that anyone who spoke had a pre-existing Pro-Palestinian Arab bent. Some were a bit more obvious in their bias, accusing Israel and demanding explinations. One guy tried to give the whole thing a religious basis, but he was also pretty anti-Israel. One woman was a little bit over the top (she claimed that you can "blame the victim" - at least when the victim is Israel.) but on the whole they were pretty polite. It was astonishing how wrong their facts were a lot of the time. How can you argue against things that aren't really true? They were nice peole before and after the talk at least.
It's a taste of what might come, but when we spoke about it in class the next day, some teachers expressed their personal beleifs that the whole process might be futile. I'm inclined to agree with them. Maybe it's the cynic inside me, but I don't really think anyone who has clearly made up his or her mind is going to change it, especially based on one hour-long talk. I do think it's important to do this, as peaceful discourse is always a plus, but most advocacy is not peaceful, sit-down discuccsions with people who want to talk. It's rarely a sit-down discussion with people who don't have an opinion. So...important skills to have, but it's not the most important part of advocacy. Intersting experience, though.
To sum up, they were. Well, at least the ones who spoke. There was a whole large group, and we all sat around in a rough circle. We (the students of the class) were basically instructed not to talk, as this was supposed to be a learning experience for us, and we'd only had a few advocacy classes, so we couldn't really be expected to do a good job. They (the Irish tourists, and I only mention that they were Irish constantly, because their accents were very cool) mostly didn't talk. It came down to about four very loud, insistant people and maybe five people who actually waited their turn. It was clear that anyone who spoke had a pre-existing Pro-Palestinian Arab bent. Some were a bit more obvious in their bias, accusing Israel and demanding explinations. One guy tried to give the whole thing a religious basis, but he was also pretty anti-Israel. One woman was a little bit over the top (she claimed that you can "blame the victim" - at least when the victim is Israel.) but on the whole they were pretty polite. It was astonishing how wrong their facts were a lot of the time. How can you argue against things that aren't really true? They were nice peole before and after the talk at least.
It's a taste of what might come, but when we spoke about it in class the next day, some teachers expressed their personal beleifs that the whole process might be futile. I'm inclined to agree with them. Maybe it's the cynic inside me, but I don't really think anyone who has clearly made up his or her mind is going to change it, especially based on one hour-long talk. I do think it's important to do this, as peaceful discourse is always a plus, but most advocacy is not peaceful, sit-down discuccsions with people who want to talk. It's rarely a sit-down discussion with people who don't have an opinion. So...important skills to have, but it's not the most important part of advocacy. Intersting experience, though.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Fruit is not in Shmitah yet, a fact for which I am eternally gratefull
Did you know that oranges here are green. You heard me. And they taste wonderful. A little fresher then American ones. Of course, nearly all produce tastes better then American produce here, but I'm not a big orange fan in America and I can't get enough of them here.
(Which may or may not have anything to do with my utter delight at the color. Green! I don't think I can eat orange oranges anymore. Green!)
I also need to figure out how to make food besides cerael and milk, as I'm getting a little sick of it as my main souce of snacking and my backup when I miss meals. I'm a little leary about buying vegetables, though, as I haven't quite figured out exactly what signs will tell me if something is keduashat shvi'it and such.
(Which may or may not have anything to do with my utter delight at the color. Green! I don't think I can eat orange oranges anymore. Green!)
I also need to figure out how to make food besides cerael and milk, as I'm getting a little sick of it as my main souce of snacking and my backup when I miss meals. I'm a little leary about buying vegetables, though, as I haven't quite figured out exactly what signs will tell me if something is keduashat shvi'it and such.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Ah, Hebrew
So these two Israeli girls (in the Israeli program) are offering an ulpan type thing for any girls who are interested in the American program. Now, anyone who knows me is fully aware of my hyserical Hebrew skills, so I figures this was probably a good oppertunity for me.
Well, the first part of the program is taking a test, to establish skill levels. The test is around five double-sided pages long and it gets harder as you go. I figured I'd go through a few pages and give up. But no, apparently I'm good enough to finish this thing! So I did. With occasionall complaints to the poor girls proctering us.
My favorite part were the sentance fill-ins. I just had fun with them. In multiple sentences I mentioned my desire for the test to end. Sometimes I mentined how I would never again travel withough my trusty Hebrew/English dictionary. Best part was when a sentance would begin with words I couldn't understand. Something like "Ani GIBBIERISHWORDSTHATIDON'TKNOW _________________________" I'd fill in the blank with something along the lines of, "aval ani no mvinah "GIVVERISHWORDSTHATIDON'TKNOW"' and that would be my complete sentance. It took me an hour and half, but I was entertained!
Well, the first part of the program is taking a test, to establish skill levels. The test is around five double-sided pages long and it gets harder as you go. I figured I'd go through a few pages and give up. But no, apparently I'm good enough to finish this thing! So I did. With occasionall complaints to the poor girls proctering us.
My favorite part were the sentance fill-ins. I just had fun with them. In multiple sentences I mentioned my desire for the test to end. Sometimes I mentined how I would never again travel withough my trusty Hebrew/English dictionary. Best part was when a sentance would begin with words I couldn't understand. Something like "Ani GIBBIERISHWORDSTHATIDON'TKNOW _________________________" I'd fill in the blank with something along the lines of, "aval ani no mvinah "GIVVERISHWORDSTHATIDON'TKNOW"' and that would be my complete sentance. It took me an hour and half, but I was entertained!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Too much to explain, so I'll sum up
Yom Kippur: We went to Kibbutz (No, I don't remember the name. It was more then an hours drive away) and the whole group split off to different minyanim, either at one of two Hesder Yeshivas, one in the Kibbutz shul, and one Sephardi minyan. I went to the Hesder Yeshiva on the main kibbutz campus, and it was wonderful. I didn't make it to everything (I was still feeling sick) but everything I was at was more inspirational then many minyanim I have been at. There was great singing, all of the guys were really into it, etc. There was only a half-hour break incorporated into the davening, and at the end we sang random stuff to stall for time until Maariv. Also, they sang every single line in Avinu Malkeinu, which was partially to stall for time, and partly the local custom, apparently. I wan't expecting it, though. I also noticed for the first time that the sun takes around twenty minutes to set here. Maybe less. One second it's light outside, the next it's not. A little bit disorienting.
Succot: So, there is entire saga of calls made between me and Ruthie (a friend of mine going to another Sem. who I really wanted to spend some time with, so we were trying to get together for the first days.) and Tzippy H. (my cousin, who we were trying to spend the first days at). But in the abbreviating attitude of this post, it all worked out and Ruthie and I met a the Kotel Wednesday afternoon (we were supposed to meet at noon. I got very, very lost, first on the bus system and then later in the Old City. So we met closer to one o'clock.) and we went out to lunch before picking up her stuff at her Sem. and heading to the Tachana Merkazit (Central Bus Station). We caught the right bus, no problem, but ended up gettting off a stop late. Oops. Still, I called David (Tzippy's husband) and he picked us up. Good thing, 'cause Ruthie had at least three bags, and I had my HUGE Israeli backpack I had bought on Tuesday. It is large, blue, and awesome, I could smuggle small children in it, and I can fit six outfits along with toiletries and other stuff for traveling. It's a little unwieldy, but I like it.
Anyway, I then meet my second cousins - four boys and a little girl. Anyone who know me knows that it took me the better part of two days to remember everyone's names, but I've got it down now. :D Anyway, Wednesday night through Thurday was run-of-the mill, we went to shul, ate meals, napped. Thurday night, it got a little interesting. Ruthie is keeping two days of chag this year, and I'm only keeping one. So, basically, we found a local place that was having a second day davening (Reishit Yeshiva, for the curious) and we decided to go there. One of the boys drove me there so I'd know the way Friday morning, and I set an alarm before we went to sleep. And the next morning we got up bright and early and trecked to the Yeshiva. I brought a cell phone in case we got lost, and I hid it before we got there. The Yeshiva gate was propped open with a rock, but there weren't any clear directions, so we wandered for a bit unti we heard davening, and then we just followed the sound until we found it. We made pretty good time.
That afternoon we read for a bit. I was in charge of the lights and the fan. It was pretty hot, so we wanted to fan on, but it made this annoying THUMPTHUMP noise after a while, and it got hard to concetrate. So it was my job to fiddle with it, turning it on and off. Then Ruthie decided to take a nap and I went to check my e-mail.
That night was our last night and it was great. Some friends from up the street came to visit and we ended up hanging out in the succah until 1:30 in the morning, joking around and having a great time. The next day, after lunch, we went over to the friends' house and played Power Grid, this interesting German board game. The instructions were badly translated and hysterical to read. I also borrowed some books (I've been trying to get my hands on good R.A.H. and there he was!) I don't really get a lot of reading time, but I'll be here all year.
The bus ride home was a first for me. This very clearly drunk Israeli girl was harrasing me, but I couldn't understand most of what she was saying. She did insult my manners, though, which I found hysterical in retrospect, because she was loud and obnoxious, and repetedly told to shut up by other people on the bus. Still, adventure, right?
Ruthie and hung out in the Tachana Merkazit for a while. We met a friend of hers and ate dinner, while contemplating what to do next. I wanted to take the bus back to Sem. but I didn't feel comfortable leaving Ruthie in a cab by herself. So we took a cab together to Ben Yehudah, where she met up w/friends and I caught the last bus. (Funny fact. We both know Rami L. Me from school, and her from Machach. And guess who the first person we saw on Ben Yehuda was?) I got back to the dorm and crashed. It was an awesome weekend.
Succot: So, there is entire saga of calls made between me and Ruthie (a friend of mine going to another Sem. who I really wanted to spend some time with, so we were trying to get together for the first days.) and Tzippy H. (my cousin, who we were trying to spend the first days at). But in the abbreviating attitude of this post, it all worked out and Ruthie and I met a the Kotel Wednesday afternoon (we were supposed to meet at noon. I got very, very lost, first on the bus system and then later in the Old City. So we met closer to one o'clock.) and we went out to lunch before picking up her stuff at her Sem. and heading to the Tachana Merkazit (Central Bus Station). We caught the right bus, no problem, but ended up gettting off a stop late. Oops. Still, I called David (Tzippy's husband) and he picked us up. Good thing, 'cause Ruthie had at least three bags, and I had my HUGE Israeli backpack I had bought on Tuesday. It is large, blue, and awesome, I could smuggle small children in it, and I can fit six outfits along with toiletries and other stuff for traveling. It's a little unwieldy, but I like it.
Anyway, I then meet my second cousins - four boys and a little girl. Anyone who know me knows that it took me the better part of two days to remember everyone's names, but I've got it down now. :D Anyway, Wednesday night through Thurday was run-of-the mill, we went to shul, ate meals, napped. Thurday night, it got a little interesting. Ruthie is keeping two days of chag this year, and I'm only keeping one. So, basically, we found a local place that was having a second day davening (Reishit Yeshiva, for the curious) and we decided to go there. One of the boys drove me there so I'd know the way Friday morning, and I set an alarm before we went to sleep. And the next morning we got up bright and early and trecked to the Yeshiva. I brought a cell phone in case we got lost, and I hid it before we got there. The Yeshiva gate was propped open with a rock, but there weren't any clear directions, so we wandered for a bit unti we heard davening, and then we just followed the sound until we found it. We made pretty good time.
That afternoon we read for a bit. I was in charge of the lights and the fan. It was pretty hot, so we wanted to fan on, but it made this annoying THUMPTHUMP noise after a while, and it got hard to concetrate. So it was my job to fiddle with it, turning it on and off. Then Ruthie decided to take a nap and I went to check my e-mail.
That night was our last night and it was great. Some friends from up the street came to visit and we ended up hanging out in the succah until 1:30 in the morning, joking around and having a great time. The next day, after lunch, we went over to the friends' house and played Power Grid, this interesting German board game. The instructions were badly translated and hysterical to read. I also borrowed some books (I've been trying to get my hands on good R.A.H. and there he was!) I don't really get a lot of reading time, but I'll be here all year.
The bus ride home was a first for me. This very clearly drunk Israeli girl was harrasing me, but I couldn't understand most of what she was saying. She did insult my manners, though, which I found hysterical in retrospect, because she was loud and obnoxious, and repetedly told to shut up by other people on the bus. Still, adventure, right?
Ruthie and hung out in the Tachana Merkazit for a while. We met a friend of hers and ate dinner, while contemplating what to do next. I wanted to take the bus back to Sem. but I didn't feel comfortable leaving Ruthie in a cab by herself. So we took a cab together to Ben Yehudah, where she met up w/friends and I caught the last bus. (Funny fact. We both know Rami L. Me from school, and her from Machach. And guess who the first person we saw on Ben Yehuda was?) I got back to the dorm and crashed. It was an awesome weekend.
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