Week One: Almost Done!

Today unfortunately had a less than stellar start.  Five minutes into my walk to campus with Esther, I suddenly realized that after I went to the market last night, I had never put my wallet back in my laptop bag.  Without said wallet, getting onto campus was trickier (student ID) and I wouldn't be able to eat until returning to the Kfar around 6:30.  So I scurried back, grabbed my wallet, and wound up walking to campus with my friend Sandy.  And I was still on time!

In Hebrew, I was once again unimpressed with Shelley (who was late again -- I wish I hadn't hurried so much after my trip back to the Kfar) and with the content of intensive Hebrew.  Shelley has consistently demonstrated her lack of respect for her students' time (arriving late, letting us out late, taking phone calls in class, etc.), and nine times out of then, she calls on men instead of women.  (Interesting the things that two years at a women's college and as an education major will make you aware of!)  It also seems that rather than advancing conversational and practical skills in the extra time, Shelley was only interested in teaching as much grammar and syntax as possible.  So, I went and spoke with the coordinator of the Hebrew program, and I dropped the class.  All of you readers know how excited I was for the content of this class, and I'm sure you understand how disappointed I am that the class wasn't what I expected and hoped it would be.  I guess I'll have to go find some Israeli friends to advance my conversational skills!  (On the bright side, I learned the verbs for "to Facebook" and "to Google" before I left =P)

Afterward I ran into Rachel, Esther, Rob, and Kate, and we all hung out and chatted for a while while Rob waited to talk to the housing coordinator.  Then Kate, Rachel, and I came to the Forum to visit the bookstore and pick up course readers.  Because of my insanely busy schedule, I was picking up course readers 2.5 hours before back-to-back classes with readings assigned in those readers.  Sadly, I didn't have the time to get through all of the material in my limited time =( I promise to catch up this weekend, professors!  What a great way to celebrate Yom Kippur!  I personally think I read an admirable amount given my limited time -- I managed to finish over half!  Rachel, Kate, and I grabbed falafel from a stand in the Forum (sadly not as good as French Hill, but still good) and I quickly caffeinated to wake myself up after reading encyclopedia articles for my Holocaust class.

I headed to my Judaism class, and accidentally went to the class where the Sunday session is -- and of course, the room was empty.  I headed to the right room...and the room was empty.  Shmeh?  I sat down, and shortly afterward, two others walked in.  Whew!  But then someone came in and told us the class was in the room on the OTHER side of the room where our Sunday session was.  But when we walked in, Rivkah said we were right!  So next Wednesday we'll be in the right room.  Man, that was confusing.  But the class was fantastic -- the way we approach ancient primary sources is very similar to what I've become used to in Michael's classes, and learning about this less familiar material is fascinating.

Finally, I met up with Rachel again in our Holocaust class, my first full class meeting.  I got my petition to waive prerequisites signed, so now I can officially add the class (and in the process, drop the ones I've decided not to take).  Hooray!  I was initially a little hesitant to buy the course reader and the textbook, because the way my internship worked out, Israeli Politics might have worked in my schedule.  The Holocaust class was a better fit in my schedule, but was it the best class for me?  After this class meeting, all my doubts are gone!  I was completely engaged the entire time, and it was only background information of the late 19th and early 20th centuries -- the professor is fantastic.  I cannot wait to get into post-WWI material, and I've already started brainstorming topics for my final paper.

I ran into Arielle after class (her class was right next door to mine) and we walked back to the Kfar together.  Now I'm cooking dinner and preparing to catch up on the readings I didn't finish today and study for the Hebrew quiz I apparently have tomorrow?  This is based on hearsay from someone in another class...might as well study just in case.  Lila tov!