Another Ulpan Is...

Ulpan is...

Sitting next to someone who busses for two hours and arrives on time

Listening to Carmen on the violin playing outside of your window

Meeting people from all over the world, and having to communicate with them in Hebrew

Making new friends

Trying to figure out Israeli culture while learning the language, why are the teachers crying when it doesn’t really seem that sad of a movie?

Finding your food options limited to Aroma or Frank Sinatra

Finding yourself totally in over your head, not understanding anything that is going on, and having a fantastic day where you shine

An ovation for a great news imitation

Pitching in for the teachers presents

Carrying home drunk yeshiva kids from town

Pretending to sing while secretly doing homework during singing classes

Pizza as a lubricant in spiritual enlightenment

Considering your future in Israel, and much more Ulpan

Talking during class, but only in Hebrew

Forgetting how to say driver’s license and looking like an idiot

Almost coming to blows while critiquing the program

Evaluating everyone you meet by their level

Learning everyone’s name, story, and all the wackiness that comes with it

Doing laundry in the hill while singing show tunes

Checking your gun at the security office, but carrying around the bullets

Thursday to Thursday, working towards the weekend breaks

Writing essays in Hebrew and hoping to spell anything correctly

Giving an interview in Hebrew as an example of an Israeli

Meeting interesting and pseudo famous people, OK?

Absorbing culture through little chocolate bars

Trying to figure out what a gerund is

The mystery of the teacher’s British accent

Pizza study party for finals

Meeting a doctor, an artist, and a future commando who all think Hebrew is important

Learning the coulors of toppings instead of the names

Begging for change for the dryer