Politics : even though I hate politics
Life in Israel continues along. Seemingly much better than whatever chaos seems to be going in in America. Okay so our prime minister is being investigated for a few things and the health minister seems to be taking kickbacks for something else. But Israel is also planning to take in 100 orphaned Syrian refugee children. As opposed to the USA that is now blocking entry to more and more people.
School :
Well, ulpan for the little guy is coming to an end. They have been working on a special performance, which was yesterday. They did a dance with the flags (called daglanut) and in my non biased opinion, they did a great job.
Someone said something to me this summer and it really has been resonating with me. She said that in Israel, moments that make you feel connected to the land and to the Jewish people will just happen. His school ceremony certainly fit the bill. No one had to build a fake kotel and take my kids picture in front of it, or orchestrate an elaborate Israel day. Here they just call that a day! I'm not saying that the Israel days they used to have in their schools weren't good. They were and at the time we would get all excited over it. But now we have jumped up to really just being a part of what is happening here even if we lose some stuff in the translation. (but we get the gist, usually. I hope) This is where I remind you that Israel is open to you. It's never too late to move here. And a friendly reminder to have a valid passport. Always.
We will be sad to see his ulpan end, but I think he is ready for a regular classroom. He has been bored in ulpan for a while, so we shall see if he is ready for the challenge of a full time Hebrew classroom. I know that he is happy not to have to ride the bus anymore. He complains everyday that it smells like bleach. Ummm, it could smell a lot worse kid!
After his ceremony, the adult ulpan crew headed back to our ulpan. But we decided that since we would arrive during break time, we should stop for some coffee first. I'm sorry to report that I didn't get a picture, since you know I'm obsessed with latte photos. We arrived in time for the second half of class. Phew!
Side nots: youngest child leaves the oddest things in his pants pockets. I was doing laundry the other day and his hexaflexagon escaped. He apparently is making them for all of his friends at school.
The girls went away for a shabbaton with the middle school grades in their high school (if that makes sense). It seems like they had a great time, although one did comment that, omg, they had to listen to so much Hebrew. Ummm, yeah kids. Because we live in Israel. Duh. (and I say that duh with love girls). I definitely felt very outnumbered by boys this shabbat. At least we had a lot of company over (15 including us). And most importantly for the girls, their grade made sweatshirts so they have some official, "I live in Israel" gear.
One thing I really love about the schools here (aside from the education) is that when they charge you for school (yes, we do pay for school here, it is just pennies compared to Jewish schools in America) is that all of the trips they take the kids on are included in the school fees. They don't ask us to first pay tens of thousands of dollars and then tack on a shabbaton or an overnight to Masada or an apple picking trip. All part of the fees. Go Israel!!!
Cholim Chadashim חולים חדשים:
This is a play on words of Olim Chadashim עולים חדשים (New immigrants). And means new sickness. Basically because we are not used to the germs and illnesses here we get sick a lot during the first year. And wouldn't you know it, my first real illness is right before my big exam. I can't hear anything, I can't think and I want to hide in bed. Will I magically be cured by tomorrow? Unlikely. I have at least one sick child as well. Luckily just colds but annoying anyway. Now it's a game of who gets it next and how much tea can we drink?
Ulpan:
Which bring us to our favorite subject. Ulpan. Hebrew studies. Tomorrow is my big exam. I would say that I don't care about my grade, except:
#1 I need to pass the gimmel exam in order to take my nursing exam in English. Messed up I know, but whatever. If I don't pass gimmel then I have the option of taking the nursing exam in Hebrew. Or I can take it in English and take a separate Hebrew proficiency exam.
#2 oh yeah, I'm only in ulpan bet (level 2) but taking the level 3 exam. No biggie.
#3 it's possible that I'm slightly competitive. Don't ask my sister.
Hebrew :
And ulpan brings me to my next discussion about Hebrew. So here I am, feeling way more confident about Hebrew than I was a few months ago. I ask questions if necessary, but often pray that no one will ask me questions. So I needed to gas today, which I hate doing. It's always crowded and I always choose a bad line. But the alternative was breaking down on the way to Taekwondo. So I brave the gas station, and accidentally pull into the full service lane. I think to myself, okay, this is fine. Because then I don't have to remember which buttons to push or omg what is my license plate # etc... Except seriously, the guy asks me questions that I'm not prepared to answer. At my confusion, he switched to English. Crisis averted and car filled with $100 of gasoline. Because gas is expensive here. Ugh, way to knock me down a peg nice gas guy.
In other news. Some of my children have entered into the sunset photo contest that hubby and I are having. The following are a few submissions.
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