So, I went shopping at a huge supermarket called Supersol today. The prices there are the best in Be'er Sheva, according to my housemate who has lived here for a few years. In this lovely grocery store, I learned two things:
1) I have a habit of pulling my shopping cart by the front while I shop.
2) Israeli shopping carts move sideways (the back wheels rotate as well as the front - in the US it's just the front). Therefore, my habit causes me to drag my cart over strangers. I don't even realize it until they're utterly offended, to which I apologize in some ridiculous attempt at Hebrew - or worse, in English.
Speaking of Hebrew, I'm learning. I can sound out anything I see now. That doesn't mean I know what it says (I never do). I've had some broken conversations in which I have realized that I actually know more than two words (Toda - Thank you, and Slihah - Excuse me/I'm sorry). The dictionary on my iPhone is also helpful.
That being said, I know the Hebrew of a two-year old. Literally, that's just about my level of expertise. I probably pronounce things the way a two-year-old would, too. Despite this, the three extended conversations I had today would lead one to think otherwise. They go like this:
Me: Shalom, at medeberet Anglit? (Do you speak English?)
Them: Eh, not much - or eh, a little.
Me: Okay. Ani lo medeberet Ivrit. (I don't speak Hebrew.)
Them: blahblahblahblahblahblahblah (in Hebrew)
Me: (shaking my head) no I don't understand. . .
Them: blahblabblahblahblahblablah. . . .
Me: Um, okay, I understood that one word four sentences ago. . .um. . .it was. . .oh, anashim - people! Yes, people!
Them: blahblahblahblahblah Efo at gara bBe'er Sheva? (Where do you live in Be'er Sheva)
Me: Gimel, vey at (and you?)
Them: Ani gara blahblahbalbhalbhalbahblabhalbhalbhalbhablhablhablblah
So yeah. . .I don't get much out of them. We usually communicate the essentials. Signing up for a credit card at the grocery store today though was quite a trip. They knew absolutely no English, so it was completely dependent on my by deficit Hebrew. After much pain, we got stuff done, and I only had to pull out the iPhone translator once :D Dear, Ulpan. You saved me, even though I thought I wasn't learning anything. . .
So the lady at the checkout was pretty rough. The conveyor belts and the whole system is just like the US, except in this line she was on the same side of the counter as me. I'm pretty sure it was a self-checkout with her operating it instead of me. Anyway, she had a bread roll that she would put down on the metal part of the conveying contraption and pick it up to take a bite every few minutes! I thought it was gross, and I don't think she represents the general population. She had a constant scowl on her face, too, and she got mad at me for holding up the line with my card issues. Oh well. It all worked out. This is what the grocery store lines look like:
You can view all of my Israel pictures if you Click Here! Pretty crazy, right? I'm not sure why people there shop like it's the end of the world, but they do. It's not even the day before Shabbat. It does get pretty crazy before Shabbat, because everything closes at 5pm and stays closed until the next day at like 9pm.
Last Tuesday, a few classmates and I took advantage of our free day and went to Tel Aviv. We swam in the Mediterranean, and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! The water was super warm, too. Oh, and there was also Sunshine. He's so bright and lovely. Here are some pictures:
So beautiful! I'm going back today after class!
While in Tel Aviv, we also went to witness the tent city where the famous protests are happening. We were a part of history!
Last week we had another awesome adventure. We went to a dry riverbed in Sde Boker, which is part of the Negev south of Be'er Sheva. Besides taking some pictures and standing in awe of the amazing scenery, we took a three-hour hike through the "Wadi" in the dark, using the full moon as our flashlight :D It was pretty amazing. This picture was taken by my classmate Devin:
We were on top of a very steep and high hill in the middle of the desert at night. Our guide called for some silence and started to talk about reflection and quoted some deep verse. Then she played an intensely introspective song for us. Yes, it was pretty amazing.
The amazing scenery is meagerly captured below:
In other news, I finally moved in to my new place! I've been buying things for the house, too. I went on a shopping trip and bought a fan, bike lock, power strip, and trash can. Makes it feel like home! I will post pictures later.
Okay, I have to go to class, so that will be all for now!
Lehitra'ot!
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