30th May, 1983

Unfortunately, with all the dropouts from our class, I haven't been able to do much outside work lately. They've been using the available 'Ulpan-power' for the inside jobs like kitchen and dining room duties. I can handle the dining room (it's preparation and cleaning, not serving - this is self-service), but working in the kitchen kills me. When I walk past a mirror and see myself with a apron, it really rocks me! The women in the kitchen are most amused by my attitude - they keep threatening to take pictures and send them to you. Of course, I keep pretending to be utterly horrified by the thought, and walk away mumbling and shaking my head. It keeps them friendly and happy.

Jonathan has really fallen in love with Kibbutz Ein Gedi. In case I haven't mentioned it, he was training in hotel management in South Africa and his idea has been to live on kibbutz in Israel, but to choose one that has a Guest House, so that he can complete his training. Tourism is a large source of income for Ein Gedi. It'll be great if he can go there.

I'll probably stay on here as a Volunteer for a couple of months after the Ulpan, because the process of settling permanently on a kibbutz is a long one. First one has to be invited to the kibbutz of your choice for a weekend. If that is mutually satisfactory, you're invited back for a couple of weekly periods, where you work on that kibbutz. If everyone is still happy, then only are you invited to stay there as a guest. If that works out, you become a candidate for membership and maintain that status for about a year. Thereafter, if you are satisfactory, you're voted in as a full member. So initially, for those invitation periods, I'll need a base - and volunteering on this kibbutz seems to be the most practical solution.

I have just read today's "Jerusalem Post" and tension on the Syrian border seems to have eased. It seems the Syrians really are pulling out and the conflict may be avoided after all. The reports - and editorial - are quite promising. Well, that's good news.