ok... so it's been 2 months - about time for a blogpost

So... I realize that it has been wayyyyy too long... 2 months almost... since my last blog post. So much has happened in the last 8 weeks...its been wonderful, but rough, and my homesickness is sticking around longer then I hoped it would. In the last 2 months, I left my apartment, spent 4 wonderful weeks with 2 of the most amazing people in the world, came back to my apt, started the official HUC Ulpan, and pretty soon, my Mom and Dad will be here, and then I will be back in LA for Sukkot break.

I am really making some amazing friends here and life for the most part is going well. Missing home and Andrew but I am figuring out ways to cope, and thankfully... I am not the only one in my situation. There are so many people who are dealing with being away from their significant others (or SO's as we call them here).

My big announcement is that I bought myself a new tallit! It is really amazing! For so long now, I have wanted a big one (like my Daddy's). It is however much more feminine and girly - will upload pictures soon. It is something that I am so proud of and will wear it and always remember that I got it during my year in Israel. Why, do you ask, did I not wait to buy one until I really looked around? Well, I unintentionally went into a very well known tallit store off of Ben Yehuda to just look, and of course, after describing what I was looking for, the owner said he had the perfect one for me. As soon as I put it on, I knew it was the one. It is a lot to get used to though, as I am constantly having to fold it and I am not sure if I have it down yet.

Got my first Ulpan test back! 94%! can't get much better then that...I am now in Kita Bet. At first, I was unexpectedly placed in Kita Gimel - which proved to be very hard - I went from Pre-uplan to the 3rd level... missed a ton in the middle. So I decided that instead of struggling and driving myself crazy, I would go down a level and now, I feel like that was the best decision. I am doing well, and still learning things that I didn't know before. My teacher is hilarious too. Her name is Hannah, and I am pretty convinced that she wears the same black dress everyday and puts a new pin on the front to change it up. She is so great!

Living in Jerusalem, I am learning not only things about myself, but also about being a reform Jew here. I am learning how we are viewed by the Haredim, which is not in a positive light. But learning that, also empowers me to want to do more. Becoming a Reform Cantor is not that far out of reach, and I want it even more now that I am here.

On a lighter note, I have fallen 2 times and really hurt myself. The first time, I fell down a set of stairs and landed straight on my tush... the second time, I slide done a cobblestone ramp... banged myself up a bit... but I survived. I know that most of you are probably laughing and are not surprised at all. Even in Jerusalem, my inner klutz comes out... oy vey.

Love and miss you all

Update

So, it is Day #3 in Jerusalem. Got to the apartment and despite it being a bit dirty, it is really amazing. Cleaning ladies coming tomorrow c/o our landlord in the states. Got new bedding, towels etc. yesterday. I am completely overwhelmed here, mostly in a good way. It is such an incredible place and so full of different kinds of people. We live in a neighborhood called "Musrara" - which is a quiet neighborhood with all kinds of people - apparently we live next door to a music school - always hearing music and different kinds of instruments. Last night, there was a gathering of all of us that have arrived in Israel so far at an Israeli Rabbinic students apartment - very close to campus. A bunch of us went to dinner after on Ben Yehuda which was really nice.
This morning, a few of us braved the Shuk - which was really cool. We got a ton of food for the apt and spent very little.
I miss home a lot, especially Andrew, but I know this is only going to be a brief moment in time. I have been told over and over that this year will be wonderful and that it will go by very fast. I am settling in slowly, but know that I am going to be okay.
Ok, out to buy a new fan for the apt - the no A/C thing in the dead of summer kind of sucks. But it actually stay pretty cool in the apt - but those of you who know me well, know how much of an A/C sucker I am.

haha, ok that's it for now.
Stay tuned for a new video of the apt! coming soon!
Sara

Last day at Federation

So, here I am. Believe it or not, today is my last day at Federation. I must admit, this is all very surreal. I actually got accepted to HUC, I am actually finished with work, and I am actually moving to Israel. It's pretty amazing.