It's time for an update!
In trying to describe how I am feeling about life, I can't help but think of those wrestling matches on TV. I know it's funny and odd for a girl like me to say such things, but stick with me and you'll see what I'm talking about.
In wrestling, there are some matches that are a 2 person team vs. another 2 person team. Usually in the match, there is only 1 person from each team inside the ring at a time. For team members to switch off, they run to their assigned corner and tag their other team member; thus signaling that it's the other person's turn. This is exactly how I feel. I feel like my "Spring/Summer Season Self" has been in the ring and is about to tag my "Fall Season Self." I can feel the seasons changing and with that the activities that I am involved in, as I inch forward in trying to settle myself even more into Israeli society.
For the past 3 months, I had been volunteering at a children's welfare center in a neighboring town. This experience has helped me so much to gain inner confidence regarding speaking and functioning in Hebrew. I noticed by the end that I desired something a bit more challenging and a change from the current target group (toddlers - AHH!). For a long time, I have been desiring to volunteer and/or work in a Tipat Chalav (Well Baby Clinic) center. I'm excited to share that starting next week, I will be going in every Monday to volunteer at our local clinic! For those of you that are not familiar with Tipat Chalav, here is link that has a good description: http://www.nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/healthcare/595-tipat-chalav-well-baby-clinics.html
I feel like this new volunteer position actually combines several things - my personal interest in Mother/Baby Health, my University Degree in Public Health and my continuing efforts to understand Israeli society. The one slightly disappointing factor about this position is that the Ministry of Health will only allow me to do clerical work as a Volunteer even though I do have a degree in this field. I am hoping that the local nurses, who all seem VERY nice, will allow me some leeway in time. I already know that my first task will be going through the patient files and recording data in order to build an electronic database. This will require me to sharpen my Hebrew reading and writing skills, which is good!
Overall, I am VERY excited about this opportunity and also VERY VERY nervous. I'm afraid to fail. That's the honest truth. I'm scared that this position is over my head and that my Hebrew skills are just not quite at the level that I can accomplish even this simple clerical task. This realization is hard for my type of personality, as I'm a goal-oriented, success focus, high achieving type of girl. My husband has learned the beauty of my to-do lists and enjoys seeing me cross items off these never-ending lists. What a patient man he is :-)
In addition to starting this Volunteer position, I am also going to enroll in another ulpan,which will start in mid October after the High Holidays. This ulpan should be REALLY helpful for me, as it focuses on reading articles and advancing the basic Hebrew skills that students possess. It's like a Level 2 course and even better is that it's in the town next to me. This will be the closest ulpan I've attended thus far! Yea!
So, my new schedule will be continuing to work part-time for Avishalom, Volunteer once a week at Tipat Chalav and take ulpan (this fall) two days a week. I believe overall this is a healthy step for my development and well rounded regarding my interest. I'm also hoping that the dance aerobic class that I took earlier this Spring/Summer will start back up and then I'll add that to the schedule. Oh and how will I travel to all these places, BY CAR BECAUSE I GOT MY DRIVER'S LICENSE!!! WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!! Yes, Folks, I actually passed the test thanks to Sharon, my Instructor, and received my Israeli license! This is a real miracle and I feel like Queen of the Castle for accomplishing such task!
Lastly, another big change in our household will be my husband's return to school full-time this October. I could not be more happy about this change, as I think this program is an incredible experience and perfect for his interest. I'm excited to be on this journey with him and see which doors God opens for us.
Well, that's a quick summary and I hope to be more regular in keeping up my blog.
In trying to describe how I am feeling about life, I can't help but think of those wrestling matches on TV. I know it's funny and odd for a girl like me to say such things, but stick with me and you'll see what I'm talking about.
In wrestling, there are some matches that are a 2 person team vs. another 2 person team. Usually in the match, there is only 1 person from each team inside the ring at a time. For team members to switch off, they run to their assigned corner and tag their other team member; thus signaling that it's the other person's turn. This is exactly how I feel. I feel like my "Spring/Summer Season Self" has been in the ring and is about to tag my "Fall Season Self." I can feel the seasons changing and with that the activities that I am involved in, as I inch forward in trying to settle myself even more into Israeli society.
For the past 3 months, I had been volunteering at a children's welfare center in a neighboring town. This experience has helped me so much to gain inner confidence regarding speaking and functioning in Hebrew. I noticed by the end that I desired something a bit more challenging and a change from the current target group (toddlers - AHH!). For a long time, I have been desiring to volunteer and/or work in a Tipat Chalav (Well Baby Clinic) center. I'm excited to share that starting next week, I will be going in every Monday to volunteer at our local clinic! For those of you that are not familiar with Tipat Chalav, here is link that has a good description: http://www.nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/healthcare/595-tipat-chalav-well-baby-clinics.html
I feel like this new volunteer position actually combines several things - my personal interest in Mother/Baby Health, my University Degree in Public Health and my continuing efforts to understand Israeli society. The one slightly disappointing factor about this position is that the Ministry of Health will only allow me to do clerical work as a Volunteer even though I do have a degree in this field. I am hoping that the local nurses, who all seem VERY nice, will allow me some leeway in time. I already know that my first task will be going through the patient files and recording data in order to build an electronic database. This will require me to sharpen my Hebrew reading and writing skills, which is good!
Overall, I am VERY excited about this opportunity and also VERY VERY nervous. I'm afraid to fail. That's the honest truth. I'm scared that this position is over my head and that my Hebrew skills are just not quite at the level that I can accomplish even this simple clerical task. This realization is hard for my type of personality, as I'm a goal-oriented, success focus, high achieving type of girl. My husband has learned the beauty of my to-do lists and enjoys seeing me cross items off these never-ending lists. What a patient man he is :-)
In addition to starting this Volunteer position, I am also going to enroll in another ulpan,which will start in mid October after the High Holidays. This ulpan should be REALLY helpful for me, as it focuses on reading articles and advancing the basic Hebrew skills that students possess. It's like a Level 2 course and even better is that it's in the town next to me. This will be the closest ulpan I've attended thus far! Yea!
So, my new schedule will be continuing to work part-time for Avishalom, Volunteer once a week at Tipat Chalav and take ulpan (this fall) two days a week. I believe overall this is a healthy step for my development and well rounded regarding my interest. I'm also hoping that the dance aerobic class that I took earlier this Spring/Summer will start back up and then I'll add that to the schedule. Oh and how will I travel to all these places, BY CAR BECAUSE I GOT MY DRIVER'S LICENSE!!! WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!! Yes, Folks, I actually passed the test thanks to Sharon, my Instructor, and received my Israeli license! This is a real miracle and I feel like Queen of the Castle for accomplishing such task!
Lastly, another big change in our household will be my husband's return to school full-time this October. I could not be more happy about this change, as I think this program is an incredible experience and perfect for his interest. I'm excited to be on this journey with him and see which doors God opens for us.
Well, that's a quick summary and I hope to be more regular in keeping up my blog.
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