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Henrik Kibak » On Israel

Archive for the Category 'On Israel'

Entry #12 - Ulpan 3

Sunday, December 10th, 2006

It’s six weeks into the course now and I have sunk to the bottom. I am objectively the worst (and oldest) student in the class although I am passing the practice exams. Subjectively, I’m not such a bad student. I feel that I am good at understanding what is being said… I just can’t read, write, or speak :-) nearly as quickly as the other students. I am now spending 7-9 hours per day on Hebrew and together with my university work it is not sustainable. It is not an easy decision. I am having more fun than in ages and I am really learning. But I have made up my mind that I will stop at Hanukkah when I will have two months under my belt. I have told Chen (my Ben Gurion University host) that I will focus exclusively on Hebrew for this final period and then be able to devote more time to our projects. My ulpan teacher trys to discourage me from leaving because 5 months is typically the tipping point for most learners. But it really takes too much time.

Jerusalem consists of the “Ir Atica” (ancient city) and neighborhoods outside its walls. Thousands of years ago when Jerusalem was at its peak only the wealthy lived inside the walls AND the walls extended out much farther than they do today. For the past thousand years or so until about 130 years ago, no one lived outside the city. Yesterday our teacher was absent so they arranged for a substitute to take us on a field trip through some of the old neighborhoods in Jerusalem… the first ones to be build outside of the ancient city walls in modern times. The tour was both interesting and a bit odd. Not once did this substitute teacher mention any Arabic contribution to Jerusalem… Stopping by the Mamilla Pool we heard about Greeks and Romans, and of course all the Jewish contributions… but since half the class are Palestinians I felt weird. A bit like me at my university giving a history tour in California and not mentioning the Spanish, Mexicans or Ohlones. This is not typical, by the way, our regular ulpan teacher is very sensitive and balanced… and her family has been living in Jerusalem for at least for eight generations. I have a feeling it is because this substitute teacher is an immigrant from Romania and still working on her own identity… but who knows?

Entry #9 - Student Retention - “Listen up CSUMB!”

Thursday, November 16th, 2006

Entry #8 - Dog in Jerusalem

Sunday, October 29th, 2006

Entry #7 - Ulpan 101

Sunday, October 22nd, 2006

Entry #5 - Shvil Israel Part 2

Saturday, September 30th, 2006

Entry #4 - Sabbatical: Shvil Israel Part I

Sunday, September 24th, 2006