One of the most important things I have learned is that I can communicate with people who do not understand English.

I just say “Ani lo medeberet Ivrit,” which means “I do not speak Hebrew.”

Between their broken English and my broken Hebrew (mine is so broken it needs to be fixed ASAP), I have been able to get much accomplished.

Solo Adventure

I actually went to Customs by myself.

I got there (okay, so I took taxis, but the drivers did not speak English), and I was able to give directions and find my way home.

Then I went to Misrad HaKlita, the Ministry of Absorption. I took the bus all by myself.

I had a map in Hebrew, but I was able to figure out where to go.

They still insist I am living in Raanana at the Absorption Center there.

I guess once something is put into an Israeli computer, it takes G-d to change it.

May I Have a Voucher?

I am there to get a voucher for the Ulpan, the Hebrew language school. The problem is that they assign you to an Ulpan where you live.

Since I am moving, I am currently staying in Tel Aviv and I am in the computer for Raanana.

Guess where they want to send me!

Finally, I convinced them to give me a voucher anyway.

Depositing a Gripe

As soon as I move, I will go to the Misrad HaKlita there and get the correct voucher. Since the Ministry of Interior is still on strike, nothing in the computer can be changed anyway.

I went to the bank today.

You get charged for everything you do on your account. You even get charged for making a deposit.

I got a user ID and password so I can handle my account online. Of course after I changed the password to something I would remember, I could not get back into the account. I then sent an email in English requesting help.

No Exceptions

But, it seems that English is for accounts in the U.S., and the bank branches of the bank that are located in the U.S. are not affiliated with the branches in Israel.

Although Hebrew is the official language of Israel, all road signs are in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. Everything else is printed in Hebrew and Russian.

I have met Jews here from all over the world. Today I spoke Spanish to a lady from Argentina, and German and Yiddish to an older couple.

What a Surprise

I am amazed at my ability to speak those languages. I have always had difficulty saying a sentence in one language.

I always seem to have a mental block when it comes to finding the right word. My sentences tend to combine many words from many languages.

Usually I understand nothing, and nobody understands me.

But I actually understood and spoke one language at a time today.

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Thinking in Hebrew

I guess my current mental block is Hebrew, so all my other languages are coming back to me.

I am feeling better, coughing less.

The strikers are still striking, so still no health insurance and no changing of my documents. I am getting used to the bureaucracy involved in every aspect of life here.

L'hitraot, Shachar