Let me begin with my usual. I love my neighborhood and neighbors. I mean, without good neighbors, then a neighborhood is just some rocks and such. We were invited to neighbors for both evenings of Rosh Hashanah and they were lovely. A little bit of Hebrew ulpan practice for all of us, great food and conversation and a very very very short walk back home. Like literally between five and thirty steps. One child even left one dinner to come home and sleep, since he spent an hour trying to sleep on me.
Everyone enjoyed shul. I liked that it was quite quiet and that everyone seemed to participate. At least from where I was sitting. The kids liked that it was shorter than they are used to. And Jon just liked it. So I call that a win.
Now we begin to prepare for the next set of chagim and the next and the next. Did I mention that the Schachter challah baking factory is back in business? Finally!
New topic :
So everyone says that life is not cheaper in Israel. And it's totally true. Aside from school tuition of course. But what they don't tell you is that if you spend an insane amount of money at the grocery store, you get a free gift. That right. After we paid, the cashier handed me another receipt and said I get a gift. Hallelujah! I didn't receive just any gift. I received a brand new, shiny 3-pack of paper towels. That's right. Control you jealousy, it isn't becoming.
This week in ulpan fun: So, if you've been reading my blog and if you've been clicking on my links, (and I know you are) then you're familiar with my #1 favorite Israeli song החיים שלנו תותים
My #1 favorite Israeli song (for the moment)
Okay, so this is my current favorite Israeli song. So anyway, we are in ulpan. Every day we read the headlines from some educational Hebrew news website. And wouldn't you know it. Buried past the actual news, was a report that my favorite song was the #1 song of the year here. Of course we played it in class and I sang along to the parts I know (which are the important parts) I'm so trendy!
Next ulpan update. I've fallen in love with this video about learning Hebrew words that a friend sent to me. I have made it my goal to use as many of these words (mostly the appropriate ones) during ulpan. You really must check this out. Then feel free to guess which word I've used the most this week.
Hebrew Dictionary of Key Words
Make sure you clicked that one because it's seriously amazing.
You've heard me discuss how life for kids is different here. They have a level of freedom that didn't exist for us before. For example. Yesterday, my eldest child's school had a trip to Jerusalem that left his school at 8:30pm. They went to the kotel for slichot. They arrived back here at 2:30am. They dropped the boys off at a few locations around the city so they could get themselves home. So yes, at 3am my child arrived home. I had him wake me up so I knew he was alive. Three months ago I wouldn't let him cross a busy road alone.
Tonight I dropped same child off at a park to hear a concert. Then I got a WhatsApp that it hadn't started so he was walking to the mall. Okay then. Just get thyself home so I don't need to park at the mall again.
Finally, I'll close today's blog post with a few key updates.
#1 We have two licensed drivers
#2 We went to the pharmacy and printed out our temporary licenses
#3 Why in the world do you print your license at the pharmacy
#4 Because, Israel!
#5 If you play sports, you need a special sports physical
#6 You can only do this on Thursdays at one place
#7 To understand what this was like, you must understand the Hebrew word בלאגן
#8 This week, I heard 3/4 of my children speaking Hebrew and one who finally admitted they understand what their teacher says
#9 I have to return my tictac car tonight and I'm surprisingly sad.
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