1st day of Ulpan

Well today was the 1st day of Ulpan, there are about 160 of us starting this term and I was surprised by the amount of people and different languages spoken, but something to get used to. We had to take a placement test, unfortunately my knowledge of Hebrew isn't the best, while I can read a Siddur and various other texts, I often don't understand what the words mean and while I know a few spoken words and a few sentences, its likely I may end up in the bottom class and I am okay with that, sometimes its good to start at the bottom and work your way up. I feel like I know bits, but what I know really isn't that much. Still I will see what class I will be in Wednesday and take it from there

The Weekend

Hi all, well today is Saturday and its been a fairly chilled day, a lot of Haifa is closed due to the Sabbath so many places will start opening now its dark. Most places closed around 3pm yesterday because of the sabbath so it was an evening where we stayed close to the apartments and in fact some of us shared a good shabbat meal followed by some music, talking and playing games, a good evening. This morning/afternoon a few of us went up the road to beach, honestly if I thought I would be going to the beach in October, most people probably would be suprised as being from the UK going to a beach is probably the last thing you would think of but 3 of us did and we enjoyed a nice time there for a few hours with a bit of pizza from a place on the beach and then back here to chill out again before the evening.

Tired

Well I didn't realise how tired I was today until I slept way later than I normally would and also again this afternoon, guess all the excitment and addrenaline is finally wearing off or taking a break today. Haven't done much today, had my 1st Shwarama for lunch but apart from that, its a chilled and relaxed day where i've rested

Day 3

Well this is my 3rd full day here in Israel, after a whirlwind 3 previous days , i've spent today relaxing mostly, but also opening a bank account here in Haifa. So many signatures required, i'm pretty sure my hand was ready to drop off from writing my name time after time. But finally i've opened the account and now i'm just relaxing before our orientation meeting in a couple of hours. I've made contact with a few people whose emails and phone numbers i've gotten before I came out here, so fingers crossed I can make time to see them in the not too distant future. Yesterday my 1st full day in the Big Brother House...LOL. Was spent buying food and crockery for my shared apartment and then following that I went off with others from the apartments for a bite to eat, before chilling out on the roof and then I went off to meet a friend i'd made online who lives here in Haifa and she took me to a club with some of her friends and after a few hours at the club we returned back to Haifa via a coffee spot and I eventually got to bed at 3am!!! Not bad for my 1st few days in Israel. And a few people who read this are probably going to be shocked that I disappeared off with someone I've never met in person before on only my 2nd night in Israel, but life is short and I while I'm the same person I've always been and always will be, this is a new start for me and I intend to enjoy. As for pictures, I will start taking more soon

Israel is now

Well I arrived a the coach pick up point and met a few people whom I'd met before so that made me feel a bit more at ease, after saying goodbye to my parents, we headed off to Luton Airport and eventually took off around 1.30pm, we landed 7pm Israel time and after a quick stop to passport control we were whisked over to the old terminal at Ben Gurion Airport to fill in some forms and get our Teudat Oleh, after that we headed to our 1st stop and our hotel for the night. Some of us found time to chat and before we knew it was 2am before we headed for bed. After little sleep we got up and faced our 1st full day in Israel and it was a busy one. We started by attending an expo to get our phone contacts, our banking sorted and other things as well. That took us until lunchtime and after a lunch we headed for the Kottel where the ceremony to give us our Teudat Zehut our Israeli IDs took place and after that we headed back to the Hotel to pick up our luggage and head off to our respective destinations. After a 2 hour drive myself and other arrived in Haifa at the place that will be our home for the next 5 months while we learn hebrew. And after that its job hunting but thats a worry for another day.

Off to London

Right my bags are packed, the car loaded, my goodbyes to my sister and we are on our way to London and then tomorrow its Israel. While I'm now a little nervous I don't feel too nervous and I hope a good sign

Okay I nervous now

I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be, but lots of things going through my head, like hoping to make friends quickly to make it easier, as I am a stranger in a strange land :-).  Hoping that when I start the Ulpan that I pick up the language easily and quickly.  But apart from that i'm excited, I'm going into this open minded and take each day as it comes, its a new adventure and one I want to succeed

Nearly there

Well after a slight panic, i've filled 2 suitcases and nearly filled a rucksack with clothes and personal stuff.  All that really needs to be packed is electronic stuff which will go in my carry on.  I'm surprised at how calm I really have been, not sure if thats a good thing or not as this is a big life changing move and apart from a bit of sleeplessness, I feel pretty good about this

Packed

Well I've started packing now, filled one suitcase and hopefully fill the other one as well, still got more stuff to pack, but hopefully tomorrow I will be fully packed for Israel.  Please note the length we've gone to make sure I get everything in :-)

Vacuum sealed towels, pillows and Hull City Oven Gloves

A week today

Well a week to go, and this time next week, I will have landed in Israel.  I'm not nervous... okay I am but not as much as I would have thought.  Sleeping a bit poorly so thats probably where my nerves are showing.  Got a few more bits and pieces for my trip, so all that is left to do is pack and I'll do that tomorrow and then I hope to be able to relax for the last few days before I fly out

Time ticking on

Its all falling into place, still a bit of work to do in terms of stuff from London, got rid of a lot of stuff and packed away even more.  Still strange to feel like i'm packing up my english life, but come a week on Monday I will be off to Israel, where I intend to go with an open mind and embrace a new start.  If i'm honest its really scary, but also exciting, I'm not sure what to expect, at least when  I start this I'm not alone, everyone who is in the group like me is in the same situation.  Still its a big change and one I want to make

And more boxes dealt with

Because of a shortage of space the hallway of my parents is cluttered with boxes, fortunatley I've started to condense and get rid of boxes and bits and pieces.  I've managed to get rid of a few boxes and i've stored my DVDS in Dvd wallets, since alcohol is expensive, I'll need the alternative entertainment, so i'm taking as many series, feature films etc with me.  Its a big job culling stuff accumelated over nearly 10 years in London, but i'm doing it and i'm being strong in what I want to keep.  Meanwhile Israel is getting closer and I'm still quite calm about it, I thought by now I'd have freaked out over it but, in someways I'm happy about this

More work done

Spent today, going through boxes and sorting out DVDS, trying to make sure I bring everything I want to watch, the rest can stay at my parents for the moment.  Got rid of a few dvds and a lot of books, feels odd to get rid of stuff i've had for a while, but most books are available on the kindle, so seem sensible for the benefit of making room to just get rid of the books, also got rid of cds as well, charity shop is going to be very happy.  Meanwhile i've also fitted in a haircut, so I now have short hair again, ready for Israel.  Its all very exciting :-)

Goodbye London

Well thats it after 12 years of the last 14 being spent in London, i've now moved all my stuff to my parents in Manchester for the short-term, some of it will come to Israel and some will be binned, the rest stored until I have my own place.  Feels a bit weird London has been a big part of my life, work and social and now its ended.  Somehow I thought i'd feel a bit sadder about it, but I don't I'm ready for a new challenge, new fresh start in my life

Down to London to get my stuff

Okay shortly i'm off to London to go and pick up my stuff from the house.  So far we've sorted out what i've brought up with me already.  So we've now gotten rid of some clothes, put a pile of i'm keeping but will come later and also a pile of what's going with me, though I suspect we'll cull the pile to go again, trying to maximise my stuff so can take as much as I want and not what I don't.  After all though I'll be on a limited budget I can still get bits and pieces out there.  Got the bedding sorted and someone has said that I can get crockery over in Israel so not total panic on bits to take yet.  Going to be weird going back to London overnight, for over 9 and a 1/2 years London has been my home where I have lived, worked and socialised and its strange feeling to be saying goodbye.  But one door closes another opens, 2 weeks to prepare for the next chapter of my life.

All so complicated

Yes I've got accomodation and stuff, but now I need to sort out how to get bedding and crockery as well as all my stuff to Israel in 2 weeks... I think I need to grow another hand!!!!!!!!!!

Left my job, next stop Israel

Well i've done it, I'm now officially unemployed having left 40 Melton Street at midday today.  Up in Manchester for the next 2 weeks, going to be weird and I'm still not sure what I'm feeling, pretty much my head is all over the place, keep wondering what the heck am I doing?  Am I crazy, I'm going openminded into this, but still can't help being nervous, worried, terrified, but excited as well, a real trip into the unknown.