Gah!

Apr. 11th, 2005 10:37 pm
theyellowhobbit: (Default)
[personal profile] theyellowhobbit
Summer is back in jeopardy, again!

I'm probably not going to get into Morasha. They were really impressed by my application, but it seems to be really problematic that I don't know Hebrew [even though I'm trying as hard as I can to learn it] and that I never went to seminary or day school. So I find out tomorrow.

But if I don't get in, I'm screwed. Here's why:

1.The apartment with Ilana is going to be expensive. Not insanely expensive, but significantly more than Penn housing [like 100$ a month more]. While my parents are okay with this [they value my sanity a lot, and realize this will make me a lot happier], I don't think they can also afford for me to go to Israel and learn. Though this, too, would help my sanity.

2.Suppose I did somehow go to Israel [like I find a pot of gold in my room...] I can't find any program that would be good for me. I want something intense. Most summer programs are by definition not intense. Like Pardes had an intense morning, but the afternoon was "fluff." I don't want any fluff. I want to be constantly challenged. And Nishmat looked promising, but it's only a month long, which would leave me stranded for the rest of the summer.

3.More likely I will not be in Israel, which leaves me to where can I go? It's too late to get a job, that kind of thing is supposed to be done in January, February, March at the absolute latest. And I can't spend a summer where I only see friends on the weekends. That would drive me absolutely insane. I cannot spend a summer like that. And besides, I really want to learn.

4. Then there's Drisha, which looks wonderful, but alas, costs a fortune [750 for the 3 week session, 1200 for the 5 week] and that's not even including the cost of living in NY.

5. I could stay at Penn, but I don't want to take classes, because I need a break, and I don't really want to stay here. True, I'd have my community, but I need a change of scenery. And besides- I'd have chevrutas, but no shiurim. I need to learn this summer. It's what will make me a good teacher. I don't ahve the content I need yet.

6. No way in Hell will I spend the summer in RI! I refuse. There will be too much stress with my family, and I have no friends there, and I wouldn't be able to learn, because the community is Ultra-Orthodox, so girls don't learn gemara, and the adult women don't do in-depth learning of anything. Maybe they have shiur once a week, but that's it. I'm not making a generaliztion of all Ultra-Orthodox communities, just mine.

7. No matter what I choose, I now have the stress of looking for something, and figuring out where I'm living, doing the application and whatnot, all the while dealing with finals. Not good timing at all. Why couldn't they have decided this sooner?

So I'm upset and stressed out right now and really hoping I still get in to Morasha. I doubt it will happen, though, and then I have to talk to my parents about a back-up plan.

Date: 2005-04-11 09:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mike72486.livejournal.com
Random: from reading your entries, it seems like Jewish life at Penn is AMAZING..at least compared to it here at UNC.

Date: 2005-04-11 09:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com
it is. suffocating at times, but overall amazing. there's so much going on in terms of learning and social events and davening and stuff. and the people are amazing [that's why i became frum]. this is why you should visit other colleges for shabbatot. you get to experience the amazingness of another community for a weekend.

Date: 2005-04-11 10:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tobeginagain.livejournal.com
Psst. Maryland's closer than Penn from NC, if you take her up on her suggestion.

Date: 2005-04-12 06:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com
but Penn is cooler... :-p

Date: 2005-04-12 06:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tobeginagain.livejournal.com
You're at Penn, I'll give you that. But when was the last time you spent Shabbat at Maryland....

Date: 2005-04-12 06:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com
well I haven't yet...though I did spend a few days at Sarah Meyers house during winter break. and she came to Penn and visited me... I definitely should go to Maryland, though. They get out later than Penn, right? if so, maybe I could go after I finish this semester.

Date: 2005-04-12 06:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tobeginagain.livejournal.com
It looks like your last day of finals is May 6th (http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/3yearcal.html) while their last day of classes is May 12th (http://www.provost.umd.edu/calendar/04.html), with finals ending May 20th. So yeah.

Date: 2005-04-12 06:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tobeginagain.livejournal.com
Good grief! Finals During Pesach! Ick!

Date: 2005-04-12 06:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com
i have no finals. only papers, and I can do one today, and the other next week. I also have a final project for Teaching Jewish Texts which I already did and just need to write up-I taught gemara last night. and hebrew classes always end before finals, with either a final in the last class, or no final at all, as the case may be this time.

So I'm going home for chol hamoed, and doing NO WORK!!!!

the only reason i'm going back afterwards is that I have the last TJT class on may 4th, so I'll hang out for a week. And then I go home that night.

Date: 2005-04-12 06:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com
any my experiences are in no way similar to anyone else at Penn's. "Normal" people do have finals, and it will suck for them. oh well.

Date: 2005-04-11 10:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kellev.livejournal.com
*e-hug*

back-up plans?

Date: 2005-04-12 07:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kressel.livejournal.com

Image



First, may Hashem help you to find the best possible program for you. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Moodist in CT. I don't think women learn Gemara there, but there might be a way for you to supplement with a chavrusa.

2) Bais Chana which is run by Rabbi Manis Friedman. Same as above on the Gemara question, but he is an AMAZING teacher.

3) Machon Chana runs something in the Catskills each year. Same as above on the Gemara question. It's also more Meshichist than Bais Chana.

4) If you can get the money together for Drisha tuition, would you be interested in living with my family in Monsey this summer? There are buses in and out of Manhattan every day. You'd have a room in the basement with your own bathroom. We wouldn't charge rent, but we'd accept some occasional baby-sitting. And my husband says that on Shabbos, he'd go out to tisch and let us sing.

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