Ulpan over and now just waiting

Well that is it, Ulpan finished earlier this week, we had the final exam on Tuesday in the afternoon, I'm not sure how it went, all I know is I did my best and hopefully I come away from Ulpan with a good grade. It doesn't feel like 5 months since I got here and started Ulpan, in some ways it feels like I've barely scratched the surface here in Israel in terms of Hebrew and life here. Now the fun comes as its real life again and I've got to find work here in Israel.

Though my first step is to move to Rishon on Sunday and get settled there, before I can get myself a job. Not nervous about moving, nervous about driving there yes though. But I'll take it like I think I've done everything since I moved in my stride and enjoy it. Maybe I'll learn to like driving here in Israel.

Anyway its been fun here in Haifa, made some good friends that I hope to stay in contact with, but now its time to move on and see what else is in Israel for me. Next stop Rishon LeZion

My new Friends

Okay well 5 months since I moved here to Israel to find a fresh start on life, a new dream and start to learn a new language. Hard to believe that its only 5 months, feels like only a day has passed. But in a few days we'll do the final exam of Ulpan Etzion and then everyone in the dorms will go off to do other things, some are staying on here in Haifa to do another Ulpan, others are Army Bound, others going to work, in other parts of the country. All I really want to say is I've made some really good friends here, at least I hope I have LOL. And that no matter where we all are in the country we'll all keep in touch and that this isn't goodbye, its 'Until we see each other again.

Final Ulpan Trip

Well we're now in the final days of Ulpan, on Monday we had our final trip before the last few days of study and the exam. And it was a great day out, good company and a fun was had as we went near the Kinneret and Naharayim the site of the border between Jordan and Israel where the remains of a Hydro-Electric plant stand. Then after the education was the fun, a Barbecue and presentations by each of the classes from the Ulpan, ours was a song with pictures, if you got Facebook, you can see the pictures of my trip. I'm also including again a picture of myself, my class and teacher from Monday :-)

Now onto the serious part, continuing to search for a job for after the Ulpan finishes. While I've applied for many jobs, I've only had a few responses, however its more response than I've really had from when I was in England so I suppose its good. I've had a few interviews and maybe they weren't successful, but its all practice for me and hopefully in the very not distant future, someone will interview me and say I want you to work for this company. All I can say is keep your fingers crossed and maybe a few prayers for me hehe.

The Final Countdown

Well time is ticking on, its nearly the end of the Ulpan and coming up to nearly 5 months in Israel, I feel like I've learnt a lot, still so much to learn in terms of Hebrew and hopefully after I've left Ulpan and gotten a job, I'll be able to find another Ulpan to continue my Hebrew studies, but I think I will try and study during my spare time. But anyway I had a speaking test for the Ulpan on Sunday a couple of days ago and it went well, I feel like I've actually learned something and even if I'm not going to be fluent in Hebrew I can communicate with people in the native language here. We still have the final written test to take, so a lot more study and revision to do before the Ulpan finally finishes. We also have one final Ulpan trip next Monday so something to look forward to.

Meanwhile post ulpan I continue to look for a job here in Israel, I have however at least a place to live now, sharing with one of the girls from the Ulpan near Tel Aviv in Rishon LeZion, so that should be fun, hopefully a job won't be far behind so I can pay for my new place to live :-).

Time marching on

Well we're into March here and I've been in Israel for just over 4 months now and somehow it still feels like a dream some of the time. Still learning in Ulpan and hoping my poor old very full brain will keep learning stuff, I had forgotten how hard it was to learn stuff, and especially learning a new language. Still I think I've learnt a lot in the past few months I certainly know more than I did before I came to Israel, not sure if I'll ever be brilliant at Hebrew, but maybe I'll be at least able to hold a conversation with someone in Hebrew.

Anyway, what else to tell you all, we had a talk on what to do if there were rocket/missile attacks and also if there is an Earthquake. Interesting talk :-). Also I finally picked up my Gas Mask.. never thought I'd ever say or write that sentence, but I have and hopefully it will remain in its box and never have to be used ever

Now onto Jerusalem, I always love going there, love being in the Old City having spent so much time there on my 2 Aish Trips back in 1998 and 1999. And on our way into the Old City and towards the Kotel, I realised we were going the same route I've travelled many times when I was leaving the area to go out for a night. Anyway we went into the The Wohl Archaeological Museum, for a brief tour round there before heading on towards the Wall. Now going to the Wall and standing there for a few minutes is such an experience I can't really describe it. But its such an experience that I enjoy. Anyway after the Kotel we went for Lunch before heading to The Knesset for a tour of Israel's Parliament, which was very interesting as well.

Now I should mention the weather, this week I've seen Sun, Rain, Hail and lots of wind... if I had wanted this kind of weather I would have stayed in England.... Sun come back where are you.