Our first full day in Ramla... Meetings, Negotiations etc.

Tuesday

"So how would you say this number?" Nir said pointing at me and at the white board where a two digit number was scribbled.

I lost it.

You aren't teaching, I said, you're just saying things quickly and assuming that we can understand you, read your handwriting, and comprehend all of this at the same time.  I asked you to write things in hebrew since the transliteration isn't helpful down the line, and you used cursive.  But most of us have only had traditional hebrew - what we need to read our torah portions.  I continued derailing the program director on his poor teaching skills.

After that he slowed down, but still lacked any cohesion in what he wrote.  I stopped taking notes, I will wait for the ulpan which begins in a few days, learning random phrases without really understanding what I am saying is not the learning I am looking for.

Ofir came, he is the head of the long term programs.  I listened, and was very quiet until the housing.  I cut into the conversation, and elaborated on what many in the group agreed.  We had expectations, and these expectations included a hygienic and clean place to live.  We shouldn't arrive to deal with someone else's mess.  I commented on the toothbrushes and other shit I had to clean up upon arrival.  I didn't even begin to address how misled we were.  I railed them for a good five minutes, about how aesthetics were not important, but that the level of cleanliness was unacceptable.  Without question, they need to hire a cleaning service to handle this so that we are arriving in a place that we don't need to bring up to expectations before living in.  I understand that maintenance of the apartment is on us, but that does not excuse them from starting it at a reasonable level.

My speech and holding their feet to the fire was applauded by my peers.

After the morning meeting I silently addressed Ofir regarding the other issues.  We arrived with no internet, and because of this, many couldn't email their parents to alert them that they had arrived safely.  I called Oranim to let them know about this situation, and they agreed to take down phone numbers and call the parents of those who wished it to let them know of the situation, but that their children were ok.  I found out this morning that no one had been contacted.

In retrospect, I didn't hear a thing from the organization after giving them my deposit.  Funny how that works.  I had to call to get the address of where I was going the night before I came to Ramla.  Not cool at all.

I then brought to his attention the smoking issue.  I specified one single concern, that I do not live with smokers.  Maybe they smoke outside, but their clothing smells.  Of course, two of my roommates smoke (they are very considerate smoking outside) but the fact that my wishes were not met when I was told specifically that it would not be a problem bothers me.

Finally, I reiterated to him that I was having trouble breathing from all the dust in the apartment.  It needs to be handled immediately I told him.

I don't know how they are going to respond to my volunteer idea.  I am going to be honest with them, this is my MASA grant, my time in Israel.  I am going to immerse myself in my ivrit (hebrew) studies, and I am going to do everything possible to set up my micro-finance organization.

The thing that amazes me most is the anti - arab sentiment.  There is a general fear and mistrust of two groups: arabs and cab drivers.  Having traveled extensively I agree with the second, cab drivers are known to take advantage of tourists.  However, for the second I am shocked at the close mindedness of the community.  The first thing I want to do is head to the arab side of town - I love Hamam, and I bet that there is one over there (Susannah told me that there are five things that one can find in any muslim community - including a mosque, public water source, two more things I can't remember and a Hamam!).  I wouldn't mind checking out some other cuisine as well to spice things up.

Mazi, one of our city coordinators, is coming in a while.  I think I hurt her feelings when I commented on the cleanliness of the apartments.  She claims to have scrubbed the place down - in which case, i am concerned about her perception of scrubbing and cleanliness.  She is supposed to get to know us a little - I am ready to start the ulpan - enough with the touchy feely bullshit.

It is an interesting contrast though.  Birthright is all about seeing the highlights of Israel, the most beautiful places, the trendiest nightlife, the hippest cafes, the nicest shopping.  Now we are working in the Ghetto, the other side, the places that birthright busses make sure to pass in the night or drive very far around.  Not for the faint of heart.

As I keep reminding myself, we live in the projects now.