July 29, 2004

Hi all,

i'm so sorry it's been so long since i've updated the site.  things have kicked into high gear in my life since hearing the news that i've been accepted into graduate school in social psychology at Ben Gurion University in Beersheva.  this is great news .. i can hardly believe that i actually made it into a grad school after being here for only 9 months.  i had never even planned to apply this year, assuming that my hebrew would never be good enough to actually get in.. but i took a chance and applied, and now here i am -- so i'm very proud of myself!

i'm still keeping up with the aliyah articles, and the latest one is now up on the site.  in general, however, i'm having a hard time keeping up with much else at this point, because my current ulpan program is incredibly intensive and requiring at least 5 hours a day of homework (in addition to the 5 hours a day of classes).  it's a lot of hard work, but this is my last chance to get my hebrew as far up as i can before i start classes in october.. so you can imagine my determination to do so!  i'm motivated by pure fear, believe me!  the thought of sitting in psychology classes, all in hebrew, in barely two months, makes me break out in a cold sweat.  but it's a good sweat, i swear. :)

so please forgive me if i haven't emailed or called.. i just have so much on my mind and no time to get anything done.. it's been a stressful time.  i have a feeling it won't be any better when school starts, but i'm hoping to have at least a week of downtime between the time that i move and the time i have to start classes.. so hopefully i will be able to catch up with you all then.  if not, we will be in touch, i promise.. and keep checking the website, because i try to use this more as a forum to keep you all posted.

i will be moving to beersheva (the middle of the freakin' desert!) in late september or early october, so all my new contact info will be posted on the site around that time.  i think my american phone number and cell phone number will stay the same.  we'll be in touch, and thanks to all of you for your patience and understanding about these trying (but good!) times!!! :)