A Little Big News November 14, 2006

As some of my readers may know, I have been accepted into the IDF, and given a draft date finally. I am now just counting down the days until December 17. I thank all of you who have been supporting me since I got to Israel, I love you guys!

Finally! October 30, 2006

This update, as you will soon see, is all about quality, not quantity.

Ok… Thursday night, I called about my guitar, and basically I was told “yes, we have it, you can pick it up Sunday night.” So, on Sunday night, I went down to downtown Jerusalem, where they live, and FINALLY got my guitar.

On Sunday afternoon, I received a phone call from Avi Naor. He told me that I needed to show up at this place at 7:30 AM so I can do some stuff. Needless to say, I didn’t really feel like going. But, my conscience finally got the best of me, and I got up at 5:00 AM Monday morning, took the first bus downtown, and made it just about on time.

I was at this place where they tested me like crazy, and basically determined whether or not I’m fit for army service. I don’t know if I passed, but I have an appointment on Nov. 20th for what they’re calling an “interview”. Something tells me it’s not what I immediately think of when I hear that word.

Anyway, so now I am in the system, and I have my guitar. I am a happy boy.

Small update October 19, 2006

I don’t have a whole lot to tell you guys, but there have been a couple interesting things this week.

To begin with, it rained on Sunday. This may not sound like much, but it means the beginning of the ‘rainy season’ here in Israel. After a hot, dry summer, it’s nice to finally see rain again.

Also, on Thursday, I was told I had work, and was finally given something to do (due preferably on Monday). There’s a whole long story about why I was unable to work on Thursday, but I won’t get into it here in-depth; basically, our server broke, so I couldn’t work from overseas. Eventually, (late) Monday night, I received an IM saying that they had fixed it. On Thursday, when I found out that I wouldn’t be able to work, I told them “if you get me access, I’ll have the job done for you in a day.” I hadn’t put a lot of thought into that statement at the time; however, on Tuesday, I spent all day working, and actually pulled it off. This may not seem a lot to you, but if you knew how hard it was, you’d probably be more impressed. In some ways, I am my company’s “Scotty“, somehow managing to do what seems near to impossible, usually just in the nick of time; this is particularly ironic, as my middle name is Scott.

I still do not know about my guitar, but I’ll be calling tonight to find out.

Abandonment? October 14, 2006

No, I have not forgotten about all of you (my faithful… 3 readers), I merely have had nothing really to talk about this past month or so.

So, where to begin?

I finished my ulpan, and I have to say: I loved it! I’ve tried multiple times to learn Hebrew, but this was by far the best course I’ve ever taken.

I spoke with peoples and (after a migrain-inducing day at a government office) got my visa changed to a “Student” visa (yes, I know I’m not really a student, but that’s just what it says); this allows me to travel freely between Israel and the US for 2 years with no problems.

I sent off my special ID# to Avi Naor, and he basically just said “great! I’ll tell you when we have something for you to do.” So, now I’m here with nothing to do for the next month or 2.

The holidays have now come and gone, what with Simchat Torah just ending a few hours ago. I’ll tell you something though: it’s really awesome to be praying in the holy language of Hebrew AND KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SAYING! That made my High Holy Days way more meaningful.

I spent Simchat Torah in Jerusalem with some friends of mine, and it was really fun. I loved the dancing and the singing and the energy of it all.

So, these friends of mine also have some more friends, one of which teaches at this Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and he said that since he has some pull, I might be able to learn there for a month or so FOR FREE! That would be great for me, because I’ve been a little lacking in my Jewish studies since I came here; not by choice, but rather because I had nowhere to go that I could afford.

Also, I have some good news: my guitar should be arriving hopefully this week and if not, then for sure by next week.

So, this should basically bring you up to date on the goings-on regarding me; I’ll try to keep you guys informed as much as possible, obviously within reason. Additionally, if you don’t hear from me, it likely means my life is horribly boring, and nothing has happened… period.

Happy new year, one and all!

!אני מדבר (קצת) עברית עכשו September 4, 2006

For those of you who cannot read that, I just said “I speak (a little) Hebrew now!” in Hebrew.

I went to an ulpan (Hebrew-learning course) today. I LOVE IT!! The place is called “Ulpan Or”, and the lesson was one-on-one, a very good way of learning, in my opinion. I had alot of fun, and will continue going there for 2 weeks.

In this one class, I really realized how much Hebrew I already know. It’s surprising, how much simply was stored away in the back of my head; I never thought I had been taught that much.

As it turns out, Avi Naor SMSed (text messaged) me while I was on the bus to my class, asking if I could have the appointment today… talk about bad timing. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get an appointment this week.

Another misunderstanding… September 3, 2006

So… I went into downtown Jerusalem today, early in the morning, because I was under the impression that my meeting from Thursday had been moved to today.

WRONG!

Apparently, Avi Naor simply meant that today or tomorrow, he’d reschedule my appointment. I’m sorry, but I’m a fairly intelligent guy, and THAT’s not what I heard him say.

Anyway, so I wandered around downtown Jerusalem for a while, while I waited for someone to call me back. Someone I had been in contact with had some old IDF uniforms that were not in use, and since I’m going into the IDF soon, he was giving them to me. Eventually, he called me back, and I took a bus/walked to his house. Very nice people, they’re British; and they told me if I ever need a place, to just give them a call.

All in all, today was another relatively useless day. I could have done so much more today; but then again, chances that I’d actually DO anything are slim.

Long story short… August 30, 2006

I have had a nasty day today.

After what happened this morning, I came home and started looking for an ulpan (Hebrew learning course). I have 8 weeks left before I actually do anything in the IDF, and I need to bring my Hebrew level up, lest I not be able to join.

So I begin looking. Everywhere that has a website says “5 month program” or something of that nature. So we start making phone calls. People left and right are telling me “an 8-week program doesn’t exist”. I tell them “there are a gazillion different ulpanim (plural of ulpan) in this country, and not a SINGLE ONE has a program that I can do?!” Pretty soon, people are calling back to the house and telling my grandparents (who, thank god at least tried to find something for me) that we’re looking for something that doesn’t exist.

Eventually my grandparents cave, and tell me that it’s not gonna work, that such a thing doesn’t exist, that I need to give up on the November enlistment and go with a 3-year Army service. “So what if you have to wait until you’re 21 to start college?” they tell me.

But I refuse to give up… I’m calling people like crazy. I even was venting on my best friend (thanks, Becki!) who didn’t really deserve being smacked upside her head with my frustrations and near-collapse into emo-dom.

Why must everyone insist that it can’t be done? My mom is a professional speaker, and one of her inspirational speeches is based around a saying that she coined: “A person can do the impossible, if they have enough reason to make it happen.”

Lo and behold! My mother did some research (remember, she’s 7 hours behind us) and, yes, there IS an ulpan that I can go to, and it will probably work out well. We’re going to call tomorrow morning to find out.

Now I must go to bed, for tomorrow is yet another day…

Well, THAT was fun… August 30, 2006

</drippingwithsarcasm>

Ok… so I got up at 6:00 am this morning, because I needed to be in downtown Jerusalem “no later than 8:30”. I and my grandparents (they were up, and had nothing better to do) went down to the bus stop and took the 7:05 bus to Jerusalem. Maybe 5 minutes into the bus ride, I realize that although I had every other official document pertaining to me (including my passport photos; I’ll explain later), I left my passport back at the house. As luck would have it, I remember this IMMEDIATELY after passing the last bus stop out of our settlement. We get to the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem, and start making phone calls to people such as Avi Naor (the director of Mahal) and Tziki Ud (my contact at the Jewish Agency Information Center, where I needed to go); only one problem – it’s 8:00 in the morning and no-one’s picking up their phone! I SMS (text message) Avi, figuring that since he needed me to SMS my ID# to him once I got it, that maybe he’d get the message and text me back or even call me.

While we were waiting at the Central Bus Station to figure out what to do, my grandmother said that there was somewhere downtown she needed to go, so if we (my grandfather and I) wanted to join her, we could. And join her we did; we got on a bus headed to one part of downtown Jerusalem and intended to join her, since we had nothing better to do. The bus was packed… like “Another One Rides the Bus” packed… we were already packed in like sardines, and we were stopping to pick up more. Then Avi Naor calls, a little after 8:30 (remember that magic time?); apparently Tziki couldn’t find me, and called Avi to find out what’s up. I explain to Avi that I accidentaly left my passport at the house, and that I could go home and get it, but it may take a while; I asked Avi if I could meet with Tziki any other time, and Avi says “after 10”. I relate my conversation with Avi to my grandfather, and we decide to get off the bus, try to catch a bus going back to the C.B.S. and then go back to our settlement to get the passport.

We get off the bus and cross over to the other side, just as the bus heading back to the Central Bus Station left. Just my luck. While we waiting there, Avi calls me back and says “Daniel, we have an appointment for you, same as today was supposed to be, but on this Sunday… also no later than 8:30.” (GWAA! OK… calm down, this is the only way it’s gonna get done) I agreed, and that was that.

So, after sitting for 5 or so minutes and no buses coming, we decide “it’s a nice day, why not walk back?” Except that we didn’t realize where we were. Sure, it’s probably only a 30-40 minute walk, but it’s up and down hills and my grandfather’s not in perfect shape (unless ’round’ is a shape). We walked back anyway, just as it was starting to get uncomfortably warm. When we got back to the Central Bus Station, we were a bit tired (he was, I wasn’t quite) so we stopped in at this nice little shop called “Café Net”, where we each got a “Iced Coffee” – kindof a coffee smoothie. We then took the next bus ride home, and home is where I am now.

In short, a lot of work to do nothing. Story of my life.

Anyway… so, about those passport photos. If you recall, I was in a bit of a panic because they (the Jewish Agency, whom I was meeting “no later than 8:30”) needed passport photos, and I left them at home in the States accidentaly. So, I stayed up until 1:00 in the morning, when my mom got back to the house, and she got online almost immediately. She asked where I thought I had left them, and I told her… Thank God I was right. She scanned them, and emailed them to me, which I forwarded to my grandfather and he printed off on photo paper. We trimmed them to the right size, and BOOM, now I have 8 passport photos (and the ability to print more).

Now, I need to go call some people about some spare uniforms that are being left for me.

AAAHHHHH!! August 29, 2006

I just got a call from Avi Naor, the guy from Mahal. Apparently, I need to be at the Jewish Agency in downtown Jerusalem no later than 8:30 am. I have everything I need, except NO PASSPORT PHOTOS! I thought I packed them, but apparently not… We can print more, but I need someone back home to find them & scan them. There’s a 7 hour difference, so no-one’s getting back to my house to look for them until 1:00 am my time.

Needless to say, I’m flipping out here!

If all does not go well, I can probably get them done tomorrow around the corner from the Jewish Agency, but I’m a little wary… I don’t know if that will work, and how much it will cost.

Any consolation you can give me would be much appreciated.

Shalom Chaverim! August 29, 2006

(For those of you who do not speak Hebrew, that means “Hello friends!”)

I am here in warm Israel, desperately trying to get things done expediantly. I met with the director of Mahal (Israel’s Army Volunteer Service) on Sunday to get registered. I filled out the registration form, but I forgot to bring my passport photos, so that may cause complications… ehh, hopefully not.

Now, I am trying to get into an ulpan (Hebrew learning) class; I need to know how to speak at least SOME Hebrew before they’ll let me in. Hopefully, an 8-week course is all I need to get a basic handle on what is being said; fortunately, I know a little bit of Hebrew, and I tend to be good with languages.

Sunday drained me of pretty much all my money, leaving me with 40 agarot (about 10 cents in the US). Those bus rides end up costing you quite a bit after a while. Ah well… fortunately, I deposited my last paycheck before I left in my bank account, so all I need to do is take some money back out.

I should be getting a laptop soon, hopefully… my family back in the States is scraping together a little extra money to pay for it, because if I ever want to work from Israel, I’m gonna need my own computer of some sort. Much thanks goes out to my family in the States, and my grandparents (who I’m staying with, here in Israel) for loaning me their laptop until I get one of my own.

Yes, Paypal donations are accepted, in case you were curious.