Shana Tova

Progress on the apt (since move in):
-Curtains on doors
-Curtains on big living room window
-AC in Ali’s room.
-Shelf mounted in my room
-Outlets in kitchen (We can use the microwave!)
-Shower head mounted
-Shower curtain
-Futon/Allie’s bed/stools built
-Tub leak fixed
Last weekend, we hung out w/ my Israeli friend, Nati, at the apt Thursday night. Friday, Mike, Allie and I went to the beach. I bought a yellow raft! The waves were monstrous. Mike had a blast getting body surfing and getting tossed around. I laid on my raft right at the edge of the water. So nice! That night, Allie and I went to a sports restaurant/bar where a lot of Americans go, called Mike’s Place. I met Lauren and her friend there & then another camp friend, Erica, showed up randomly with her friends. Very fun! On Shabbat, I met up with an Israeli, Tal, that worked at camp in ‘02, ‘03 and ‘05. We went to a hummus restaurant for lunch. If you think hummus is good in the States, you don’t know what you’re missing. I hadn’t talked to Tal in a few years, so we sat and talked for 3 hours!
Sunday, I spent the morning at the bank getting the bank guarantee for the apt and then the elementary interns met to share ideas. I feel much better about teaching older kids than I’m used to now. Allie, Ali and I took our laundry to be done. For a little more than $10, they will wash, dry and fold up to 13 lbs. of clothes. They even separate lights and darks. I get them back today. The do-it-yourself machines can get pretty pricey, especially because the dryers aren’t so good. At least this is what I’ve heard. So, this is a pretty good deal. There are even places that will pick it up and drop it off. I may look into that! Then we went to city hall to get the city tax on the apt and water put into our name. Ulpan seemed easier than the first time. Maybe it wasn’t so overwhelming after I knew what to expect. I didn’t try to understand everything that was said, just the gist of things. I also realized that the people who I thought knew a lot, don’t really. I bought some frozen schnitzel (pretty much breaded chicken), cucumbers, a tomato and more pita on the way home, added hummus and had my first real homemade dinner here!
Monday, I met more of my kids and got to know some of the other classes better. I still don’t know what I’m doing after the holidays (when we’ll start the more academic lessons and units), but I’m looking forward to work more. After school, I met with a woman that Mark connected me with. Her family might be moving to Houston in a few months and she wants to make sure her younger kids (5 and 8 years old) will be ready for school in the States because they haven’t had much exposure to English yet. I get to do what I love and teach them the basics! We’ll start after the holidays. The extra money will be very nice.
Today started out really well. I observed a 4th grade class and worked with 3 boys from the 3rd grade. Tuesday mornings are going to be lots of fun! The principal is also thinking about having me work with 2nd graders at some point during the day. :) The last 2 periods, I have one 6th grade class. I had seen Michelle earlier in the day and she said she was leaving and Tami was teaching for her. Tami is the computer teacher and recently became certified to teach English. She has one class of her own and helps with the others. When I saw her in the middle of the day, she was angry that she was "just being thrown into the class." Anyway, I get to the class to take out my group and there is no teacher. I wait 15 minutes, all the while trying to keep them in the room, to stop kids (girls, too!) from fighting & yelling and sending a kid to try to find the substitute or the principal. I finally realized I'm going to have to do something with the kids. After about 10 minutes of just trying to get them quiet enough to play a game, they are still yelling at each other. I would get them almost quiet and then someone would yell out translations of what I was saying and then there would be chaos again. Someone had gone to the bathroom and I walked over and closed the door a little too hard. That finally got their attention, and then another teacher walked in. She made a deal with me. I took her calmer class and she took mine. But that was only for the 1st of the 2 periods. She stayed a little later, but I still had 30 min. with these disrespectful, boisterous kids. Finally 7 min. till the end, I gave up playing a game with them and made them work in their books. After school, I waited half an hour for the bus and then it broke, after going 2 feet. We all waited another half hour for another bus. I am so glad it's the holiday and we have off until Sunday. Shana tova!