Stage Presence Comes from the Armpits

Also known as my first week of real school. I think this wisdom, uttered by my Contemporary Professor,  was very applicable. What can be more nerve wracking than the first week? But it is the sweat that one puts in that makes the impression! Or something like that...hahaha.

(What does this mean? What have I been doing for the last two months? September: I was in Ulpan (Hebrew Intensive) with the DanceJerusalem classes (learning choreography, taking modern and Gaga classes. October: Rothberg International School classes began (Hebrew, Hasidism, The Emergence of Biblical Israel) and DanceJerusalem classes (choreography, ballet, modern and Gaga classes).)
In Israel, classes began on October 30th. Now I am taking my Rothberg classes along with classes at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.

My week was filled with quite a few hilarious mishaps.

• Was unsure where the bus would pick me up. Instead of standing at the bus stop, I decided to stand outside the gate of the Student Village. From there I had a fabulous view of the bus passing me by...
• Assumed that the "behina" being given in class was a quiz, not a test (people here don't really distinguish). Even though I knew we were supposed to study two chapters of material. So, I didn't study very much...Boy, wasn't I surprised (although, hurrah for being a good test taker, I still got an A).   
• Tried to walk into friends' apartment (they live exactly below me). Was so embarrassed I ran up the stairs to my floor, only to realize that I had managed to wash my keys (stuck my keys in a jacket pocket, stuck jacket in laundry). Had to then walk back downstairs to ask them for asylum till my laundry was done. 
• Decided to buy a chocolate croissant. Dropped said treat. Down a flight of stairs. A nice lady in front of me picked it up and handed it to me...I waited until she couldn't see me to take a bite out of it. Yum. 

My first day of classes at the Academy last Sunday began at 8AM in the morning. Not only was it the first day of school, but we got to perform for all of our new Israeli peers! That was not intimidating at all...What was actually more intimidating was the mass of 80-some people who filled the studio for our mass warmup (done hiphop style: now lean back, lean back, lean back! Now pop! Now lock!) who seemed to be quite interested in us. They had the upper hand in this instance as they could say anything that they wanted and we wouldn't be able to understand them. A bit like high school, except with the advantage of a language barrier. After our performance, we went to classes. I have decided to take 3 classes on Sunday and Tuesday (and 3 academic on Monday and Wednesday), giving me Thursday off! Free time! Sadly, my other dancer friends have committed to being in the Ensemble, meaning that they are busy on Friday as well as the rest of the week. Sad times.
It is very difficult taking classes in another language! I had gotten used to navigating Israel with the minimal amount of Hebrew that I need to know ("Kama ze ole?" "Todah" "Slichah"). All of a sudden BAM I was very aware that I am living in Israel again! Each teacher adjusts differently to having International students in the class (I have met a Greek student and a Polish student. The former picked up Hebrew last year, the latter does not speak it any better than I do!). What tends to happen is they talk mainly in Hebrew, translating the important parts for us every now and then. This works OK most of the time, as it is easy enough to follow along by just watching people move. It can be kind of frustrating when we are sitting for 15 minutes while the teacher chatters on about the interesting things they have done in the dance world, while we English speakers sit around and stare at our feet.
I have liked the classes that I had so far (Gaga, Improv, Contemporary, Contemporary Rep). I also am taking a Composition course, which I will love, and a Choreography class! I will get to choreograph! I have so many ideas.
Meanwhile, I have been trying to adjust to having an actual schedule with actual homework. I didn't do it very well (although I still had a great time!). Attended a Day of the Dead celebration where we drank hot chocolate and ate sweet bread, then visited the military cemetery that sits between the apartments and Hebrew University. This was instead of doing the homework that I have let pile up...oh well!
What did I do with my (almost) free Thursday? Went adventuring with a friend! We scoped out a restaurant that I fell in love with on Birthright. I ordered sweet potato ravioli which was to DIE for. My friend ordered a spinach parmesan tortellini with sundried tomatoes -AMAZING. We couldn't decide which was better. We walked around, stopped in some shops, just enjoyed the nice weather. I really, really enjoyed having free time. We grocery shopped at the Shuk, got ice cream (I got Maple!) and then lazily meandered back home. I then took a nap, did my laundry and had some tea with some friends. I taught them how to play a fabulous game - Jotto - which involves guessing a 5 letter word using 5 letter words. We then went out for Thai food (again!) and got caught in the rain. When we were thoroughly soaked and still hadn't decide whether or not we wanted to go to a bar, we got on the train.  Watched "Se7en," which was fabulous and horrifying (put me in a bad mood for 24 hours) and called it a night.
Yesterday, we went to a fabulous movie about the dancer Pina Bausch's life. It was so beautiful and aesthetically delicious. The movement was fluid and gestural and so interesting. The entire movie was in German and Hebrew, which was difficult to understand. Our group of 6 people all fell asleep during the same scene. It was a really beautiful movie and I was glad that I got to see it (although tickets were about $15!!!), as I don't think it is coming to the States. I'll have to go see it again before I leave! 

Finished up the week with a fabulous Shabbat dinner. I made wild rice-orange lentil patties (with cilantro, red pepper and onion). They were delicious (after I figured out how to keep them from falling apart!). We played some more word games, laughed a lot, then called it a night.
Today, I have eaten a yummy french toast breakfast made by some friends, watched V for Vendetta ("Remember, remember the 5th of November"), and now am attempting to do homework. But have obviously gotten distracted! Was a lovely, lonnggg weekend. I am really trying to experience things here, but more than that, I feel like I just spend my free time resting. It is quite an anomaly to be so well-rested! I love it! And on to Week Number Two.