At first, I was really nervous about going, since I was still recovering from a bad migraine and wasn’t sure how much I could take before another one appeared. Thankfully, the classroom doesn’t have florescent lighting, which is sometimes a tigger, and I’m in a class with adults, so there’s not as much drama and immaturity.
Making new friends, hearing their stories, and learning about the countries they come from has been really great. I now have friends from France, America, Venezuela, and Columbia. Hopefully, by the end of my five months at Ulpan, I’ll also be friends with the Russians, Ukrainians, and the man from Georgia (the country, not state).
Almost every night, I go to bed excited because I know that I’m going to be driving to school the next day. I’m strange, I know. My mom calls me a boffin (nerd) everyday, because as soon as I get home I do all my homework before having lunch.
When my mom went Ulpan, she would come home, have lunch, nap and then finally go to a friend’s house to do her homework, which would take over three hours. I really don’t understand how it could take her that long, I come home and within the hour I’ve finished everything.
Elohim has been so good to me! Not only has He put me in a class with a great teacher and friendly people, but He’s also helping me understand what is being said in class. It’s so cool to be around people who are just as eager to learn as I am. I’ve already exchanged phone numbers with my new friends and will get together with them to do homework in the near future.
I love being in an environment where everyone wants to help each other. It’s not “dog eat dog” like it can be at high school. All my classmates are older than me, so there’s far less drama and competition. Everyone pitches in to help those who stumble on words when answering the teacher’s questions.
My teacher, Yaffa, is also really great! Since day one, I knew I was going to excel in her class, and I have. I love how she involves everyone in what she’s trying to teach. After introducing a new phrase, Yaffa always goes around the class and makes everyone to say it or use it in a sentence.
I have another teacher as well, but don’t really know her since I’ve only had her once. She teaches us every Thursday, and is pretty good. At first, she went really fast, but then Timor, one of the Ukrainians, spoke up and asked her to slow down. For some reason, my name is the one she can’t remember so she rarely get picks on me, which doesn’t bother me at all.
I don’t mind having to speak in front of everyone, but every time I do, I almost always mess up or go blank. It’s a bit embarrassing, but its great practice. If I was living in another country and learning Hebrew, it would be impossible for me to learn. I need to constantly practice the new words I’m learning in order to remember them.
Now, whenever I’m out, I try my best to communicate in Hebrew with Israelis. It’s challenging, but definitely paying off. Whenever I understand what someone says to me and am able to answer them, I can literally hear fireworks go off in my head. It’s so rewarding to know that going to Ulpan isn’t a waste.
Of course, on top of going to Ulpan, I’m still editing my dad’s videos. It’s been really fun to learn more about editing and finding awesome shortcuts and tips. One of the best effects I found last week was the de-noiser. Thanks to that little effect, my dad’s videos are no longer crackly and the people in the background are quieter. :)
Even though I’m going to school five days a week, I come home and still have hours of my day left. It’s amazing how much you can get done in that time. Most days I come home, do homework, eat, do some editing, relax, read my Bible, and make dinner.
This passed weekend, we had guests from Canada come and stay with us. I was really nervous about them coming because I had never met the husband and the last time his wife came with all their kids, it was a nightmare. But, I was determined to make their time here a pleasant and memorable one.
On Friday, I spent the day in the kitchen, while my mom picked our guests up from the airport. Unfortunately, I woke up that morning with a cold, but I refused to let it stop me. Though I was constantly having to blow my nose and make sure my temperature wasn’t getting too high, I still pushed through.
For five hours I slaved in our kitchen and made a feast. For starters, I made a tomato and basil soup with a side of six (yes, six) varieties of fresh hummus and homemade pita. For main, I made a lentil loaf with mashed potatoes (which my mom ended up doing because I was too weak to do anymore) and a homemade onion gravy.
Sadly, our guests were so tired from their trip and full from the other courses, that we never got to dessert. I’m definitely not complaining about that though, because by that time I was ready to lie on the couch and rest from my busy day. I believe all my hard work paid off, especially since we now have food to last us half the week! :D
On Saturday, Shabbat, I woke up with a temperature and felt even worse. The medicine I had taken the night before had had no effect, so I decided to not take any more and just took tons of essential oils, which really helped. It was nice to have a day off, but it would’ve been even better if I wasn’t ill.
That evening, while my mom was at a meeting, I watched The Parent Trap (aka, the perfect feel good movie). That movie seriously never gets old! When she returned, I was so excited because she was supposed to have brought me some of my nan’s chicken soup to help my cold, but my papa had rushed her out the door before she had the chance to get it.
So, at 10pm, I had to drive up to my grandparents house, with a fever and all, to get my dinner, which was totally worth it! The soup was delicious and spicy. As I slurped it down, I could feel my body melting with it’s flavors and healing after a long day of attacks. Good old chicken soup!
The next morning, I woke up feeling a lot better and only missed half the day of Ulpan. Now, the week is beginning, and who knows what Elohim has in store for me this week. My prayer is that I’ll grow even closer to Him and hear His voice more clearly as the week progresses.
Next Monday, I’m getting mikvahed (baptised) in the Jordan River with friends. I’m so excited for that to happen, but I want to make sure that I’ve really prayed and heard from Elohim before doing it. Being mikvahed is the next step in this journey for me, and I want to make sure that I’m doing it for Him and not for myself.
Well, I think I’ve written enough for one week. Sorry it was so long, I guess I just got a bit carried away. :P I pray that you will have a God-filled week and take the time to be in His presence before starting your day.
John 7:18 “He who speaks from himself is seeking his own esteem , but He who seeks the esteem of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”
Psalm 32:8-9 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”
P.S. Today, I was told some very exciting news! My really good friends Bethany and Ryker are expecting!!!!!! AHHHHH! I can’t begin to tell you all how elated I am, and it’s not even my baby! I’m so excited to see Bethany’s baby bump grow and see more ultrasound pictures. This baby is already loved by many! I can’t wait to meet him/her (I think they’re going to have a girl). :)