You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
\ ^ ך /<br />
The setting was the Summer of ’86 as I arrived w ith<br />
excitement and anticipation at Ben Gurion A irport. The exact<br />
date was the 5th of August and I remember vividly the sun’s<br />
blistering rays accompanied by happy images of a wonderful year<br />
ahead.<br />
But, dear reader, you must disregard the pleasantness portrayed<br />
by my arrival to the Land of M ilk and Honey for it was only 5<br />
days later the the S u m m e r N ig h tm a re began. It was truly the<br />
most dreaded period of my young life. W hile my friends were<br />
lounging their life away on Summer Vacation, I was in a<br />
classroom 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 10 long weeks.<br />
Then, just when things were looking up, the reality of Summer<br />
Ulpan hit me. It was the most intensly scary situation I have ever<br />
faced: Not only would I have to be in a classroom 5 hours a day, 5<br />
days a week, for 10 long ,״weeks but I would have to be there at 8:00 in<br />
the morning as well. This was not my idea of a pleasant way to<br />
wake up.<br />
P rior to coming to Israel, all I had heard about was the<br />
beautiful Israeli girls and how taken I would be by their beauty. I<br />
am sorry to report th at not only were the hours scary but our<br />
instructors, too, fit into this category. These beautiful creatures I<br />
was told about were just th at -creatures. The Ulpan staff could<br />
have been taken from a horror flick - a suitable addition to my<br />
S u m m e r N ig h tm a re .<br />
Being taught by gruesome creatures<br />
speaking Hebrew at neck- breaking speed<br />
made the half-time break so much more<br />
appreciable. The 15 minutes given to the<br />
students was a welcome time to escape from<br />
the Summer Nightmare. All 900 students<br />
jammed into the coffee pit to socialize and<br />
plot our flight from the Humanities Building<br />
out to the beckoning sunshine.<br />
As I look back at the summer months, the<br />
phrase "I hate Ulpan” brings a somewhat proud<br />
grin to my mischievous face. For now, seven<br />
months later, I can boast that I survivied<br />
those ten long weeks. I would like to express<br />
my congratulations to all of those who also<br />
^ 6 ’8 of made'י' it” w ith me through the Summer<br />
ai<br />
11
Change language