"One of THOSE Days"

Yesterday was one of those days that comes along every once in a while that just overwhelms you.

At the Ulpan we were given more homework than we get for the 3-day weekend --- 8 pages of “stuff”. While I understood what was necessary, the sheer volume of words and rules we are given each day and expected to remember is tremendous. I am finding that I need more repetitions in order to remember, and this is causing things to take longer.

Combine that with a cantorial lesson that started at 5, from which I did not get back to the apartment to start on the homework until about 8:30, and you have me staying up until 1:30 in the morning trying to get it done.

Oh well.

Today I purchased the CDs that go along with the book we are using in the hopes that the dialogues will help me get the necessary repetitions for me to be able to retain the words and their meanings. We shall see.

I was given a series of new music to work on while at the cantorial lesson. Some of it is quite beautiful and I am looking forward to working on and mastering it.

I also met a young lady (hey, I’m OLD) that is here for her year in Israel from the Reform Yeshiva and is also studying to be a cantor. I’m sure that we will meet again and exchange a few melodies during the year.