"Let's see, we've got quick death, slow death, painful death, cold, lonely death..."

Contrary to what this blog might profess, I am still alive. And I actually did go to Egypt. And it actually was awesome.

However, I am now being buried under the weight of six classes (e in idiot, much?) and attempting to have a social life and failing quite miserably. SO. I will eventually get pictures and exciting things like an Egypt!re-enactment a la 'netspeak posted, but for now, just letting you know that I did not, in fact, run off with an Egyptian man, as M and R kept teasing.

I am also not dead.

Horray!

Going to bury self in Arabic now. al-humdu lillah!

*head --> desk*

Oh, and Shannon I got your email and will be replying asap! <3!!

"I gotta blow, homes."

Pictures from the Shuk/Souk

- Group of us went to the Souk (al-Arabiyya > Evrit) last night and bought lots of fresh foods! Babo would have drooled over the fish, Mombo over the pastries. Catherine drooled over the basil. Mmmmmbasil. Going to make Italian dinner one of these nights. Possibly tonight (bi'layla)! We shall see (what thereat is, and this mystery explore! Let my heart be still a moment, and this mystery explore! 'Tis the wind and nothing more!).

- *nerd*

- First epic Evrit test today. Think it went well. We shall see (c-caw c-caw!). Set expectations low and be pleasantly surprised, y/y? N'am.

- Going to the Golan Heights this weekend with a group of talmidim/tulaab. There's hiking involved! Outdoorsy things and possibly bugs! Shocked, aren't you? Hopefully I'll remember my sunblock this time. Whoops. We're staying in a hostel and having Shabbat dinner. ....I should bring my own food, shouldn't I? No challah for me. :(

- Should see Gili again Mon or Tues before she leaves! I do not enjoy this irony NOR do I want to pay for it. Ugh. Can we move SAIC to Israel?

- S. from J-Fund emailed me yesterday! She is so sweet. She gave me her email and told me to keep in touch, even though she's leaving JF for other work. I miss them all so much. Must be awesome and get job at Pal NP here in J-Lem. M. from Hebrew class (formerly known as Arabic!Girl) said she'd help edit a letter b'il Arabiyya to one of the NPs I'm looking at. Just my luck I'd end up writing, "Good day, kind sir, and what a large penis you have!"

My brain. It fails.

- Lazy evening. Just may break out those SGA discs (still did not watch The Last Man). Oh, how I miss my sci-fi! And Torri! And the Flan! This requires impromptu Flan vid!

(10 minutes later) Ugh. Israel won't let me upload it. Ho. Anyway, it's here! Also, the classic - (15 minutes later) Ooh, and this one worked! Huzzah!

He is so totally my TV boyfriend.

- Just might take a nap. Brain = fried.

- BUT BUT BUT!! Recessional a la Babo! Shukran, Abee!!! I love it so much (even though you jazz'd it up ^^).

- Lehiterot! / Ma asalaama!

"Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time." - Steven Wright

Shalom/Salaam from Kfar Saba! Made it safely (no Petah Tikvah!), and got to talk to an Israeli art student on the bus who was getting off at the same place. She was very awesome, and very helpful, and slightly hungover. WIN.

Gili is currently taking a nap, for she is an insomniac and did not sleep. I, on the other hand, fell asleep at 9pm and didn't wake up until 8am. (Still jetlaged, mumkin?)

So I am catching up on my nets time, and will eventually shower/go study mah Hebrewz.

Sent an email to my old work to see if N. knows of any places in J-Lem that need volunteers/anyone who can help me with my atrocious al-Arabiyya.

Might get to see C. (girl from GW) who was studying in Jordan last year. She might come visit in J-Lem! PAR-TAY. Her al-Arabiyya is going to be so goooood. JEALOUS.

Went to the beach in Tel Aviv (b'il-arabiyya, it's Tel Abib (تل ابيب). Because there's no "v" in the Arabic alphabet. SO CUTE.) Met up with Gili's friend O.; she is so sweet! We are now Facebook BFFS. May or may not have gotten massively sunburned. We shall see.

Gili made me a gorgeous package with all kinds of awesome stuff, including a Zionist bear! I think I shall name him Jabotinsky. For the LOLs. And the most beautiful Hamza (Hand of Fatima) - it's clay and hand painted and just stunning. Pictures of all this to follow. Using Gili's sister's computer, so I'll have to wait until I get back to J-Lem to upload everything. Also took lots of pictures of Choompas - 'ch' pronounced with the gutteral 'ckh' sound, like in 'challah' or 'L'chaim

For Shannon:

Arabic: سلام اليكم
Salaam Alaikum, means hello. Arabic is the "cursive/scripty" looking one, and it looks the same whether it's typed or handwritten.

Hebrew: שלם
Shalom, means hello. Hebrew is "block letters" that don't connect; it has two scripts, one for
handwritten Hebrew and one for print (computers, books, etc
.)

Keyboard is going wonky on me because it's in Hebrew and English. Going to go before I confuse myself. Love to all

"Petah Tikvah?"

اذحب الى كفار سابا بالاوتوبوس ان شاء اللة! مع السلامة!

"Je suis le President de Burundi."

Ah, the ultimate question when in Israel:

Fireworks or gunfire?

Par-TAY.

(Don't worry, they weren't aiming at the Americans. (OH, ZING.))

- Hebrew lessons: are awesome.

- Housing situation: is resolved! Now living with non-sketch chick who desires to clean apartment from head to toe. WIN. Still have a few of dumpsters, but at least it's from the 8th floor, not right out my window.

- Shabbat: bodes well. Provided I can find the bus to the Central Bus Station, and from there to Kfar Saba. And not wind up in Petah Tikva. (Unless Ronit Elkabetz is there. Then I might not care.)

- Went with a few peeps to Ben Yehuda street. Witnessed crazy white African dummer, Rabbis dancing on top of a mini-van, a girl balancing on top of the street signs, and the most awesome falafel of life. (That last one I ate, not just witnessed. For the record. It comes with french fries! I think this country was made for me.)

- Still trying to figure out how to talk to Arabic!girl without making an ass of myself. Ahlan, ismee Catherine. La attakelm al-lukhet al-arabiyya jayyid. Ana "fail at life". Blargh. Must read up on Arabiyya mufradet.

- "Two languages in one head?! No one can live at that speed! Good lord, man!"

"But the Dutch speak four languages and smoke marijuana."

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJQsvoY6VU)

- Totes exhausted. Going to look over Hebrewz one more time, watch The Last Man (SHUTUP I'm having Flan withdrawals!), and then die.