Hebrew!

Big Hebrew test tomorrow! She said it was small, and then said it was over everything we have covered so far...hmm...we'll see! =)

The one picture of me in the Diaspora Museum!

Yay Hebrew! "א"  is for אנדריאה!

Article translation

Andrea Weiss, a new immigrant from the United States, was on the line pre-season game in IFL: "I grew up on football, fun to try here"

Tags: Andrea Weiss , Israel Football

Why give up good things offered by America if Israel has them too?Andrea Weiss in action (Photo: Itai Hasid)

Israeli Football League is preparing to open the 2010/11 season, and already underway with the preparation games.Judean rebels on Saturday won the champion Tel Aviv - Jaffa Sieveers 26:46, but the big story was recorded precisely on the lines, Achslotamoddot assigned judge, Andrea Weiss.

Weiss, 25, immigrated to Israel a year ago and studied at Ben Gurion University, where he held a introduction to the black swarm of Be'er Sheva, a group which joined the league last year. "I met a number of players from the team," she says, "I played with them and I thought even the participation in the game, but I got it because I did not want to get hurt. Then I met Ofri Becker (league leaders - Ed.ar.) fundraising campaign in Michigan and then rolled jurisdiction."

Weiss grew up in Indiana, not far from Chicago. "I come from a very competitive when love all sports. My parents are fans the Bears and Green Bay, so that we have a lot of rivalry at home. When I got here I was surprised when I heard that there football and told myself 'how much fun I do not have to give it up in Israel," .

It was Weiss's first game zebra uniforms. "I was excited and I was very nervous before the game began, but after I felt it was fun. I got very positive feedback."

- You will have a problem judging the Be'er Sheva?

"Why? Maximum catch more shouting."

My first IFL game!!

http://sports.walla.co.il/?w=/7/1747305

I am already famous in Israel. Yesterday was my first time to referee an IFL game. They had another referee there with me in my position to help me. It is still pre-season, but the regular season starts next week! It's a lot to look for at one time, but it was also so exciting! I loved being on the field, although I think I would still rather be playing. =)

Small achievements

Yesterday, I went to get my "Teudat Zehut" or ID card. I thought it was one of the last things I had to be in the long list of filing papers. Well, I was missing a paper, and I was in the wrong office, which was a blessing, because they helped me file some back papers, which I never would have known about. Then, after getting a bit lost, I went to Maccabi Insurance http://www.maccabi-health.co.il/ and filed those papers, that was easy and the lady was really nice. I pay an extra 51 shekels (11-12 dollars) a month for extras. Things like getting my teeth clean, and I'm sure lots of other things, but they are all in Hebrew, so I don't really know what they are yet! So this morning, I got up extra early to go back to get the ID card. The woman had set my things aside and just told me to come in and not wait in line (nice!) Well, when I got there, she wasn't there. So one of the other desk guys was searching for my stack of papers, which he eventually found. He took my papers without looking at it and sent me to another window. Then.................I finally got it!! It really makes me feel Israeli. I'm pretty proud of myself, I have been doing a lot of running around and things are finally coming together, just a bit. =)  

If I ever wanted to feel Russian...

I should have moved to Haifa a long time ago. When I go into a building and ask where something is in Hebrew (broken Hebrew, of course) they answer in Russian! When I went to Misrad Hapnim, they handed me a sheet of paper in Russian with instructions, until I handed it back and started speaking English. It's really amazing. And entertaining, and I'm sure eventually, it will be annoying. 

This is the view from the ulpan classroom window. Not too shabby! They put my in kitah bet/gimmel. It's a good level for me!

My first walk to the Baha'i Gardens!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraces_(Bah%C3%A1'%C3%AD)

The actual shrine is covered, usually there is a beautiful golden dome, but you can't see it now. They are replacing all the gold tiles. This place is truly amazing and there aren't many gardens in the world to rival it. I plan to go back many times during my stay. It is about a 15 minute walk from my apartment! 

Awesome email from MAPMES

Dear Andrea , 

 

Congratulations, you are about to become a MAPMES alumni/alumna! Having received all your grades we can now officially process your degree.

For procedural purposes, please send me ASAP an email message requesting to process your degree. Please include your first and last names to appear on your diploma. Your name will appear in the diploma in Hebrew as well, so if you wish that your Hebrew name be written in any specific way, don't forget to specify.

In the same message, please specify your passport number, permanent address, email address and phone numbers.

We will send you an official transcript in about a month. Your Master's diploma will be issued next academic year (June).

Please note: once you degree is processed, grades may not be subject to any changes.

The degree will be processed only after all dues to the university are settled.

My best wishes

Downpour in Haifa!

My whole body is aching, particularly my legs. I have no idea how many stairs I ascended and descended yesterday, but it was quite a few. Roi and I picked up the car in the morning, we were suppose to have it at 9, but we didn't actually get the car until 10. We took everything out of Wingate and packed the Fiat that we rented. I couldn't believe all of the things I had accumulated in just one year. Roi drove to Haifa, he stalled the car 3 times. I didn't stall it at all ;-) But Americans do drive much more than Israelis and though I was quite the backseat driver, I think he liked driving since he doesn't get to do it very often. 

We found the apartment fairly easily. It's on the main road and is really a great location and it will be easy for me to get to the ulpan on the Carmelit, which is an underground funicular that goes up and down the Carmel mountain that is Haifa.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelit We started moving everything inside and started sitting up everything and putting things away. I am in a very little room which is really an enclosed porch.  It's above a gelato shop, which could potentially be dangerous during late night studying.  

Before we knew it it was 10pm and I was getting cranky, (go figure) because we hadn't eaten a real meal all day, just some snacking here and there. We went out and found a really nice restaurant called Magnolia and we shared a Mediterranean salad and a marinara sauce pasta.  I had chia after. It was really a wonderful meal after a hard day's work.  We stopped on the way home so I could pay the rent. 

When we got home I signed the contract which said "no overnight guests". Since it was already after midnight, I wasn't going to kick Roi out, where was he going to go anyway. And even though they said he could sleep on the couch just this one time, it was with reluctance. So we grabbed my camping/hiking bag and headed to the beach! 

We saw a nice spot of grass behind the sand and thought it was better to sleep there than on the sand. So we set up the tent and my sleeping pad and sleeping bag and climbed inside. We had tied up the sides of the tent so we would have a nice breeze coming through and then we fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. 

At 3:30am I woke up as it started to downpour on the beach! As a came to from being hit with water I remembered that I was in Israel and it couldn't possibly be raining in Haifa in October, (at least it's rare). I finally realized that I was being sprayed by sprinklers from three directions. Roi and I struggled through the laughter and water to undo the ties on the tent to release the flaps. We managed and when we were safe inside the tent we couldn't stop laughing. I did enjoy listening to the sound of rain (or the closest I will get while in Israel) on my tent. 

When we woke up in the morning all I could see was old people wading into the Mediterranean. It was a beautiful first site. (The sea, not the back side of the elderly.) Although, we were both exhausted from our sprinkler surprise, we had a great day. We put the supplies in the car and walked up and down the boardwalk. The water was calm and crystal clear. We had fresh squeezed orange juice and then headed out to get some more water and fill up the car before taking it down to Avis.  

Avis was in the port area of Haifa, not quite in the city, so we had to take a couple of modes are transportation to get back. We took a bus, and Roi got on the train to go south and I took the Carmelit back to the center of Haifa.  I went to the store to get some food before Shabbat (but lots of things in Haifa are open on Shabbat, it sounds like an American city on a Friday night, people at cafes, and car horns honking. Not like Jerusalem where you would rarely see a car moving.) 

The internet wasn't working at home, so I headed out to a cafe after a shower and a nap to rejuvenate myself.  I checked and sent some emails and then I heard a big group of Americans walk in. After 10 minutes I went over to the table and sat with them for about an hour. They were all volunteers for the Baha'i Temple in Haifa. I had never met someone who was Baha`i before, especially not a group of 10 who were close to my age. It was really fun and I was glad to meet some Americans.  The more people I meet the better. But I need more people who speak Hebrew! Since that is the goal for the next few months! 

Shabbat Shalom!! 

After a long day of moving.......

Before our break around 10pm when Roi and I finally went to eat dinner! Really exhausted and hungry.

more from the way to Haifa.

You can see where the desert ends and the trees start.

Funny little guy.

A lot of our trip we got to drive along the sea.


My apartment is above the last little shop, which happens to be gelato.

To Haifa

This is the Fiat all packed up from the back.

And from the side...


Roi is ready to go!!!!!!!!!!!


Goodbyeeeeeeee desert!!

Jackkkkkkkkkk

Jack and his mommy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me and Jack!!

I had a really wonderful weekend with my family and grandma and seeing Sevgi! It was wonderful and I'm going to miss so many people. Especially Jack because he changes so much everytime I see him and this will be a very long time before I see him again. I have a feeling it's going to be very difficult not seeing my little man.