When It Rains, It Pores

So I got to my new kibbutz less than 72 hours ago. I have been warmly welcomed by the Ulpanists and volunteers. They are a tight bunch of people. There are maybe 60 people all together. And again they are from all over the world.

This Kibbutz is different but beautiful. I will take some pictures soon. If you were to find Ma-Agan Michael on a map (that was my former kibbutz) and follow in a straight line east, just a few centimeters you would find Kibbutz En Hashofet. It is much colder here because there are no warm sea breazes to warm the land. This kibbutz is in the mountains and looks out over everything. It is stunning. My room is right in front of the ref-et (open dairy barns) and the zoo. So in case you were wondering there is a lovely smell coming through my windows. I can't imagine how bad it will be in July!!

My cousin Dawn sent me an email that En Hashofet was the kibbutz that she did her summer ulpan may years ago and fell in love with Israel. She ended up married to a wonderful Israeli, named Yoram and they lived in Israel for something like 15 years. Had a daughter, Noa and now are living in Oregon. So I wonder what she will think when she sees the pictures. Probabaly not much has changed since then.

I am again working in the laundry. It is much smaller here. There are maybe only 600 people on the kibbutz as oppossed to 1500 in Ma-Agan Michael. Also they don't iron all the pants and sheets and pillow cases and they just throw the baby clothes into bags and let the parents fold it. So that makes for less work.

I have had one class already and it seems right. It is hard to follow, but good. I got homework and am studying, so far so good. The teacher is beautiful. She must be close to 50 and has 4 children and has the most beautiful body and face I have ever seen. She is Yeminite, I think and in my opinion Yemini people are some of the most beautiful in the world. My friend Daniel and I used to call them "Yummy-Yemmies" when we would see a cute one!! She is a good teacher. She speaks at a normal pace and has a wonderful pronunciation (I probabaly butchered that word, right? SOrry no spell checker).

So again 72 hours here and I get a letter from the draft office. I am to show up for the army on September 11, 2006 in Haifa. Wow. or as Israeli's say :OOuu-aWOW. Thats right. I have a little bit more than 7 months of freedom. But it is all good. I am happy. And very motivated to learn. I feel like I need to verbally and physically get in shape. I know I will be hearing more in the coming months but as of right now, you know what I know.

So just in case someone out there would like to send me a letter. I post my address for you:

Elizabeth Schecter
Ulpan
Kibbutz En Hashofet
19237
Israel

Well that is about it. I will write in a few more days and hope fully have some pictures to show you all. All my love.
Cheers.