Sashita's ISRAEL Blog
Hebrew is Damn Tough! | October 15, 2009
Haifa is in the North
Classes have started. I am learning the Hebrew alphabet and two words: SUPER HARD! I don’t remember the last time when I was not at all familiar with the characters of a language. The Arabic alphabet now feels like native…so its hard to deal with the ‘trauma’ of piecing together these various letters, complete with various dots and hooks. Hebrew has 22 letters…but each letter is written differently: one way for script and one for print. So in all…it feels like 44! Writing out the letters feels like navigating a winding, slippery mountain path. One wrong move, and all is lost. Nonetheless, I now learned how to write my own name and I am able to fluently read exactly one word: Haifa!
I went SALSA dancing for the first time witha group of International students. What can i say…salsa in Haifa leaves much to be desired. As far as I can tell, there are two main groups that dominate the teaching “market”- “Latin Beat” and, the name i like, “Clear Mind.” The “Clear Mind”-ers look like a paramilitary unit, with their dance sneakers and black t-shirts with matching logos. From what I saw, they have a tough time staying on beat and often confuse the ONE and the FIVE.
Nonetheless, they do not lack pride in ther art. For those who know, Alex “Liquid Silver,” an legend of the salsa world, has come to Haifa twice with workshops. This is what one guy called “training UNDER” Alex..)…
My friend Julia and I were standing by the bar and talking. An older guy asked her to dance. She said ‘no.’ He turned to me, and I also declined. We were tired. Then one of the “t-shirts” looked at us and said: “If I asked you to dance and you said ‘no,’ I would just lift you off your chair and make you!” To this, in a lighthearted manner, I tried to explain that ‘No” means NO. The “t-shirt” looked at me like i was an idiot, leaned in raising his voice and pronounced: “YES, but I am a COACH, you SEE!” all the while pointing at the logo of his chest. I guess even without the mastery of dance, Haifa salseros do not lack self -assurance.
But, to end on a positive salsa note, a couple salseros do drive to Tel Aviv every 2-3 weeks specifically to dance. Thats where the real stuff is! So, I got some numbers and was invited to tag along in the next couple weeks. Hurray for networking!
Anyway, this is my sketch for now. This weekend I am going on a 2-day hike in the Golan heights, complete with waterfalls, sleeping in tents and swimming across some impenetrable parts of the trail….
And to finish…this first week has been tough, mostly because of having to settle countless practical details. I also miss a couple people very much and feel a bit of an empty space. Having said that…I really feel that I am in an absolutely right place for me right now. No matter how hard, be it practically or emotionally, I know that I am meant to be here at this point in my life. That gives me strength. I can only describe my general attitude to everything as “zen.” I go about as if guided.
This fills me with confidence.
6 Comments »
sash – i love the photos of the neighborhood! i still can’t believe you’re there. bah.
i was looking up tickets to israel for the spring just to see what i can expect and it’s over a thousand dollars!! holy cow-moly. i think that’s because it’ll be easter-ish. or something of the sort.
in my news – i am not on the yearbook committee and also on the inquiry team… because clearly working and schooling isn’t enough
when do you find out more about all those projects you were telling me about?
Comment by marinkin — October 16, 2009 @ 12:48 am
sash – i love the photos of the neighborhood! i still can’t believe you’re there. bah.
i was looking up tickets to israel for the spring just to see what i can expect and it’s over a thousand dollars!! holy cow-moly. i think that’s because it’ll be easter-ish. or something of the sort.
in my news – i am now on the yearbook committee and also on the inquiry team… because clearly working and schooling isn’t enough
when do you find out more about all those projects you were telling me about?
Comment by marinkin — October 16, 2009 @ 12:49 am
Those Haifa salseros sound like some absolutely LOVELY people. With certain mental blocks that seem to indicate that 1 means 5 and “no” means “sure”. I’m sure their unique grasp of mathematics and linguistics is staggering. Perhaps that’s just them staggering around, like a paramilitary unit attempting salsa. (I kid them, of course. I’m sure they’re delightful. Please don’t shoot me, Haifa salseros.)
Have fun on the hike!
-Joel
Comment by Joel Robert Johnson — October 16, 2009 @ 8:36 am
Yes, 5 black cats staring at me would definitely give me confidence. Confidence that I will probably soon be jumped by a gang of rabid cats that is.
Miss you!
Aud
Comment by Audrey — October 16, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
The Hebrew alphabet seems similiar in pronunciation to the Arabic alphabet with different characters. The meem, noon, sheen, aleph etc.. Remember they are both semitic languages and first cousins! As for the Haifa Salsa, I would say, to be very active in starting your own group and teaching. you are an excellent dancer and beg/I/II/Int won’t be a problem for you. Do a demo, talk to one of the “super coaches” don’t alarm them or make them feel you are a competition. It is a beautiful opportunity for you. Another tip is the “ESCWA” it is in the area, and the headquarters is in Beirut. the UN was my very first employer! Do you have the mirror in your purse to remind you of me and MN?! hugs
Comment by lina — October 23, 2009 @ 11:03 pm
If you go to the Golan heights and stop by Tiberia, that’s my mom’s birthplace. She is a Tabary from Tabaria. my Grandpa was the director of the UNRWA in the region and took me with him to the golan heights long long time ago. It is too sad that I haven’t been to the area recently!
Comment by lina — October 23, 2009 @ 11:08 pm