Tuesday, July 04, 2006
We got an apartment! It's right in the shuk. What's a shuk you ask? I will tell you. It's a huge outdoor market place. There are two in Jerusalem, the Arab shuk and the Jewish shuk. We're at the Jewish shuk. It's like living next to an enormous farmers market that's open all day, 6 days a week. Fresh produce, meat, bread, sweets, clothes, dishes, all at a very reasonable price! How fun does that sound?
The apartment is huge. They say it's 3 bedrooms, but really that means 2 with a living room. It's really dirty right now and we always have shoes on our feet, but the school is going to help me find someone to clean the floors for me (trust me, it's disgusting). We've taken some pictures, but i won't send them until I have the after shots to show; I don't want anyone to panic just yet.
Everything around here is a new adventure and a learning experience. Before I left, a rabbi told me that Israel balances between 1st world and third world. Is that ever true! For example, we have to buy our own gas here -- literally, we call the company and they deliver a tank of some kind which sits outside of the apartment. However, the cheapest DSL we can get is the premium in the states. No built in stoves or closets, but the best internet connection around. I'm not the only one who thinks this is weird, am I? Today, we are going to test out the washing machine. Say a little prayer for the laundry.
We've been hanging out with Jamie's future classmates. There are 57 total in his class this year, 7 are cantors, a few educators and around 40 rabbis. We were a little surprised by how much we've already enjoyed meeting all these people, but I suppose that it makes sense that we're making fast friends within this group. It's a small group of people who are just as nutty about Judaism as we are, and who are just as confused in Israel as we are! And, so far there's no difference being the spouse of a student. Everyone here is part of the HUC family and everyone seems to want to take care of everyone else. I'm sure once the year gets going, people will start getting annoyed with each other, but for now, we have a really wonderful community and have yet to spend a day without new friends.
Orientation starts next week, which I'll be a part of. After that, I'm off to find an ulpan (intensive Hebrew class) and some paint for our weird cabinets. We'll have our own internet connection soon (we're currently snagging our neighbor's wireless--shh!) and we'll start skyping after that.
All our prized possessions - everything that came to Israel
Outside of our first hostel
Outside of our second hostel (we had a more difficult time sleeping here)
Our very first day having lunch with new friends
Jerusalem
Jerusalem again
The apartment is huge. They say it's 3 bedrooms, but really that means 2 with a living room. It's really dirty right now and we always have shoes on our feet, but the school is going to help me find someone to clean the floors for me (trust me, it's disgusting). We've taken some pictures, but i won't send them until I have the after shots to show; I don't want anyone to panic just yet.
Everything around here is a new adventure and a learning experience. Before I left, a rabbi told me that Israel balances between 1st world and third world. Is that ever true! For example, we have to buy our own gas here -- literally, we call the company and they deliver a tank of some kind which sits outside of the apartment. However, the cheapest DSL we can get is the premium in the states. No built in stoves or closets, but the best internet connection around. I'm not the only one who thinks this is weird, am I? Today, we are going to test out the washing machine. Say a little prayer for the laundry.
We've been hanging out with Jamie's future classmates. There are 57 total in his class this year, 7 are cantors, a few educators and around 40 rabbis. We were a little surprised by how much we've already enjoyed meeting all these people, but I suppose that it makes sense that we're making fast friends within this group. It's a small group of people who are just as nutty about Judaism as we are, and who are just as confused in Israel as we are! And, so far there's no difference being the spouse of a student. Everyone here is part of the HUC family and everyone seems to want to take care of everyone else. I'm sure once the year gets going, people will start getting annoyed with each other, but for now, we have a really wonderful community and have yet to spend a day without new friends.
Orientation starts next week, which I'll be a part of. After that, I'm off to find an ulpan (intensive Hebrew class) and some paint for our weird cabinets. We'll have our own internet connection soon (we're currently snagging our neighbor's wireless--shh!) and we'll start skyping after that.
All our prized possessions - everything that came to Israel
Outside of our first hostel
Outside of our second hostel (we had a more difficult time sleeping here)
Our very first day having lunch with new friends
Jerusalem
Jerusalem again
