Overdue

Long overdue update....

I am almost done with my second week of Ulpan (my hebrew intensive.) It is going well..i am understanding a lot! My teachers literally speak for 4.5 hours ONLY in hebrew. It is super intense but I am learning so much. Ulpan is kind of like being in middle school. We have music class, computer time, we all have the same "passing time," stay in the same classroom, and start school super early! We have another 2 weeks of Ulpan and then we start school.

Last week we went to the shuk (outdoor market) and bought EVERYTHING, fresh veggies, fresh fruit, cheese, eggs, dried fruit, and of course marzipan (chocolate rugelech.) It was a lot of fun--totally overwhelming..everyone yelling in hebrew and small religous jews running into you with their rolling carts. After the shuk we went to the grocery store, its down the street from our apartment, and we bought all the necessities. We then ran out of hands to carry everything so we stole a cart from the grocery store...the man at the front (they search your bags before you walk in,) was yelling at us in hebrew but we pretended to be ignorant Americans and kept walking! We then went out in downtown Jerusalem, it was so much fun! We went to a couple bars and dancing clubs with some people on our program. We slept in on friday (we go to school Sunday-Thursday,) and then went to the Kotel for shabbos. One of my roomies left and went to stay with her family in Ramat Beit Shemesh. We walked to the Kotel from our apartment..it was about an hour walk. It was gorgeous...65 degrees..and we walked while the sun was setting. The Kotel was incredible--being there on Shabbat is such a unique experience. After we got back from the Kotel we turned one of my roommate's bedroom into a movie theatre and watched a movie with some of our guy friends. Friday night here is very relaxing/laid-back...everything is pretty much closed. We cooked a delicious shabbos dinner--schnitzel, salad, garlic bread, and pasta--it was yummy!Saturday night my roommate and I walked to a falafel stand near our apartment..it was amazing and only 9 scheks (little over 2 dollars.) It will be a frequent dinner for us! School week started sunday...:( Sunday night we went over to our guy friends apartment for a delicious pasta dinner.

I am really excited for this weekend. My friend from home, Nicole, is coming to stay with me this weekend from Tel Aviv. I can't wait to see her!

more updates to come later...

love always