"This is how Sudanese must be calmed down."

Monday morning, we went to an orientation about our upcoming and last trimester in Jerusalem, wherein we signed up for roommates and volunteering placements.  I'm very excited about Jerusalem--all of the volunteering looks excellent, and I look forward to living in a bigger area once again.  Lately, Arad has just seemed very lackluster and boring.  Perhaps it's because I've yet to drink in January, but I'd like to think that's not the reason (if it is, then it's highly disappointing).  Upon returning from the orientation, I and my roommates spent some time in the apartment cleaning up because of the THREE mifgashei dira we were supposed to have this week due to Roni's displeasure with our apartment's cleanliness last time.  We then went to Ulpan and class.  In Ulpan we read a series of comical and sardonic dialogues by Etgar Karet which were pretty funny.  Then in my immigration class we talked about the definition of a refugee, which was somewhat interesting at first but quickly became bland.  After class, my apartment and I went shopping at Mega Bul--going to get groceries there makes me astounded that we ever shopped at Shufersal here.  It's much cheaper, has cheap delivery, and has a driver that picks you up and takes you to the store.  It's fantastic.  That night I just relaxed in the apartment and did some chores.

On Tuesday, I woke up and went to volunteering a bit late.  It was absolutely freezing outside, and I didn't feel so hot.  At about 3 in the afternoon, I just passed out in the gan, so David, the guy who I work with, suggested that I head home.  I did and ended up taking a three-hour nap, missing the English classes I was supposed to help teach to the Sudanese.  I helped Nathan and Jake clean the apartment for a bit before Eli came over for mifgash dira, which we finally passed in terms of cleanliness.  After this, I basically spent the night with Cera and Karin working on our essays for immigration class.  We stayed up pretty late working on them because everyone in their apartment was in a slap-happy mood, or, to translate the Hebrew saying, a "spoon situation."

Today I awoke and went to the gan for a half-day before leaving.  I got home and prepared various things for class and Ulpan--in Ulpan we watched "Waltz with Bashir," which I have wanted to see for a while but did not quite understand.  Mandatory class ended up being canceled, so I came home and cooked a rice and chicken dinner for the apartment. :D

After dinner, I ran a Garin Tzedek peulah at the office that was "Year Course Jeopardy."  It was pretty short, but also fairly fun (I think).  And now I am going to bed.  Tomorrow we are going on a tour to Sderot, the city in Israel infamous for receiving so much rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.  It should be fairly interesting.

Another intriguing thing before I go to sleep: the other day, it was Cecilia's birthday, so she hit the kids in the gan with a barbie doll until they all sat down in a circle.  They then proceeded to sing her "happy birthday" first in Arabic, then Hebrew, then English.  I think she is starting to realize that I am not comfortable with the hitting of the children, as she said to me after she did this "This is how Sudanese must be calmed down."  I wish there was some way I could talk to her about it without coming off as offensive and abrasive.

In any case, tomorrow should be interesting.  I also think I'm going to go visit family this weekend for the first time in a while, so that should be fun.  I hope all is well with you in whatever corner of the world you currently reside in!