Shalom! Naim Me'od!

So today was the first day of class and I am reeling! Hebrew from 9-2 Sun through Thurs then dance for 3 hours an hour after! Whew!!!! And having class on Sundays is very confusing - I am still convinced today is Monday!

So, this weekend we went up north. A long bus ride, then an Israeli breakfast which consisted of a bag of chocolate milk, which was fabulous, and a roll, which was not so great. Then we began our hike. The hike was supposed to be easy. Me, a kid from CO in decent shape, figured it couldn't be too bad. The beginning wasn't....and then on the way back up, well, let's just say, we were hiking at at least a 70 degree angle. I was cruising past poor people who were panting and wheezing, but boy oh boy was I tired when I got up to the top! In between, the guides lead us to a waterfall. It was beautiful and tiny, although actually the biggest waterfall in Israel. "Swim!" the guides said. "What?" we said. Israelis have a different concept of communication than we Americans. Instead of telling us 50 times when we would need our bathing suits, they just randomly told us to have them. So, we all jumped in in shorts and sports bras and t-shirts. It was a blast. Soooo beautiful. Did I take  pictures? No. Lame. Sorry!

Then we went to the hostel at Tel Hai. We had a Shabbat service - my first Orthodox one. I was trying to explain the little I know about Judaism to the new friends that I had made, while trying to understand the service myself. I have NEVER before sat through an Orthodox service. The barrier was up between men and women and it was verryyy different, although the boys kept crossing over to talk to the gals, which was funny. Made me miss my reform temple and Wes' services!!!

We did some bonding, which was astonishingly fun (Israeli games are much  more creative than American ones: find 7 gumballs in a tray of flour! Eat a pan of bomba covered in chocolate and carmel  (bomba is basically peanut flavored cheetos)). A nice evening sing-a-long and then bed.

The next day, we were taken to an Industrial Park. At first it was fun, as we got to wander around a really neat photography museum (the only one in Israel), but then we were put in front of a video about how industrial parks are changing the world. They are bringing about peace, didntchaknow?! It was very odd. Luckily, I slept through most of it, hee hee.

More food! We were most excited about the food. None of us have really started cooking yet and having a hot meal was AMAZING. Not to mention more and more and more. Ate so mmmuuccchhh. Soon, we were on our way home. I maintained a long conversation with an Orthodox lad and learned so much. What different views of religion we have!!!!!!!!

Classes started yesterday and, even though I know some Hebrew, my brain was EXPLODING. Hebrew from 9-2 is pretty intense! But, I'm picking it up fast, as are my classmates.

Today I had my first dance class. Taught by two famous Israeli choreographers: Noa and Rina Wertheim. They were amazing. The first part, with all the typical modern dance theory stuff (move like your vertebrae is water, move like there is a stick up your butt) was great and pretty normal for me. Then "on your feet!" they commanded and began teaching us a combination. 30 seconds later, everyone knew the first part and I was looking around like "what?!". I worked my butt off. I'm glad I'm at least in shape and not affected by the altitude (woot CO!). I have a LONG way to go but will learn a lot. One of my roommates, who I really respect, didn't give me any crap about being fine. "You'll work really hard," she said. "It will be a trial and if you approach it the right way, you'll learn a lot. If not, you won't." I agree. And I plan to not be intimidated and just keep working hard.

My accomplishment of the day? I learned how to do a jete! They put this into the dance we were learning and everyone knew how to do it. I was pretty intimidated. A jete is when you spin your torso and your legs come out looking like they are straight and fully extended. A bad explanation for a beautiful move. I am pretty comfortable with the other dancers, thank God (otherwise I would be sooooo intimidated), and asked them to teach me. In 2 minutes, they had shown me a move that they have been working on forever. I have a loonnggg way to go before it looks near as pretty, but I am planning on practicing up and down the halls of Rothberg!

Rock on beauties!