No success at the bank

This could be a long one, just so you're prepared. A lot has happened - at least that's how it seems right now. It could be one of those times where once I actually start typing it ends up being barely two sentences. Though we all know I'm way too wordy to summarize even the most inconsequential event in two sentences. Anyway though...yesterday was the meeting at my school where I'll be interning. I was pretty nervous on Wednesday, as I'm sure was reflected in my posts then. Wednesday night though, I got to talk to my sister Valerie on the phone, and my other sister Jen sent me an email, and what they had was definitely providential. God used it to encourage me and get me ready for the next day. Both of them signed up for internet alerts so that anytime either Israel or Tel Aviv is in the news, they'll get an alert sent to them. Also Val told me that she found a radio station over here that broadcasts over the internet and plays mostly songs in English, so she's been listening to that. And of course that led us both to make a reference to the cartoon movie "An American Tale" and the song "Somewhere out there," only instead of a star, we have a radio station. Nice. After talking to her and getting Jen's email telling me about the email alert it made me realize something that will probably be impossible to explain. Last night when I was talking to Tiffany I explained it to her and she understood perfectly, so I'll take the risk. (And this is so deep it warrants an entirely new paragraph.)



I suppose that part of it is due to the fact that I have no real home here (the dorm feels much like a crappy hotel room I have to share), and no phone, and therefore I feel a little cut off from my "former life" (which is referring to all of my life prior to arriving in Israel). I told Tiffany that some days I feel like all of my previous years have been some dream, like they aren't real at all, and now here I am. She understood completely, which was nice, because it sounds awfully dramatic, especially considering that I haven't even been here for a month yet. Consequently, living this brand new life, I feel like in some ways I've started back at square one. I've been VERY shy, meek, quiet...only in group settings, mind you - but I haven't really been acting like me. So talking to my sisters helped me to see (by the grace of God only, of course) that the person I am (and am in the process of becoming) IS a real person - personality-wise I don't have to start over here, even though I sometimes feel like I have. So the point is, when I went to the meeting on Thursday I was very confident, friendly, and not nearly as nervous as I was the day before.



Okay...as for the meeting, it was incredible. The two teachers I'm going to be working with are absolutely amazing. They are both extremely warm, friendly, and inviting. One of them insisted that I come find her during the breaks so that she could introduce me to all the other teachers. There will be two other interns at the same school as me, they are both in the second year of the program. Both of them are incredibly kind, considerate, thoughtful - it's just unreal how wonderful the entire situation is as far as the people I'll be working with on a regular basis. At the meeting was the three of us interns, Zvi and Marion (program directos), and one of the English teachers. Alyssa, Veronica, and I (we make up the three interns) got up to use the restroom and as we were walking out there, a bunch of kids came running up to Veronica yelling her name and hugging her. (She was at the same school last year.) It was touching. And Hanin, one of the teachers I'll be working with, told me that the kids had already been asking about when I would be coming in. So a little pressure there, but it's a great thing because they're obviously looking forward to the whole (hopefully) fun experience. So Monday is my first day, I'll just be observing for about a month and a half, and then I'll be working with a small group of students. I'm very very excited - because the school is appreciative of what TASP does there and that isn't necessarily the case in all the schools. How providential!



I STILL do not have a bank account. Since I last posted about it, I've tried three more times. And the infernal bank doors...they ARE NOT smarter than me (though I suppose that's still arguable). It turns out that the bank is just closed all the time, and the doors are impossible to open because they're locked....ALL THE TIME. It really is THE most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. I went to a bank this morning, and got so frustrated that I just cried. I don't even know how to explain it. Financially speaking I'm in a very challenging place, because the student loan money that was supposed to be electronically wired was sent in checks, and since it's an international check it will take about three weeks before I actually have any money. Supposedly the bank that is never open will give me a credit line of so many shekels while the check is in the process of being cashed, but the problem is that I can never get there when they're actually open, which just delays the entire process even more. VERY frustrating, I tell you. And I could send them overnight-ish to my Dad and have him deposit them in my bank account back home, but that presents a problem in that I really do NOT trust the Israeli postal system. And the amount of the checks is a rather substantial amount. So...I'm going to try AGAIN at the bank on campus on Sunday morning, when they are (supposedly) open FOR SURE. We'll see.



Also, and this may not be looked upon in a good way considering what just happened, but I bought a month bus pass, which gets rid of SO much stress on me. I can, with this pass, ride the bus as much as I want over the next month. And considering just to get to the school in Yafo, I'll be riding four buses, it's well worth it, and I don't have to worry about running out of money and being stuck somewhere. I also bought some clothes today, because all the "professional" clothes I have are either sleeveless (and that's unacceptable for the school due to cultural/religious considerations) or are made out of synthetic fabrics and it is just TOO hot and I'm outside TOO much to be wearing synthetic fabrics. Today I bought two pairs of pants and five shirts for 125 shekels. That's about $28 US dollars. Nice.



Ah yes, how could I forget about Ulpan? (Ulpan is Hebrew class) Last night was the first night of Ulpan. It was extremely tedious, which is not so great, considering it was the first day. Let me tell you what I learned:

Ani Teresa (I am Teresa). Ani talmida be Ulpan (I am a student in Ulpan). Ani gara be Tel Aviv (I live in Tel Aviv). I also learned a few other things, but the teacher (mora) went through the first five or so letters of the cursive alphabet which I did not know AT ALL, then she wanted us to start pronouncing words from this worksheet she gave us. It was going a little too fast for my taste, but I'm praying I'll be able to keep up in the class. Ah yes, I also bought my book for Ulpan today. It's been quite a productive day, yet also intensely frustrating. Right now I have to run to a pharmacy or grocery store quickly before they close for Shabbat, otherwise I'm going to be stuck eating out for the next day or so. Love you all!