“Aliza, you are with us. You are from Peru.” Gladys grabbed my hand and pulled it up into the air. It was the Ramla Ulpan Rosh Hashana Party, and the immigrants from Peru had just been called upon to show their national pride. The party was just starting up, and Chana, the Menahelet, director, of the Ulpan was revving up the crowd. She called out the names of countries represented, giving each group a chance to clap and cheer. Peru had just been called, and it was my entire classes turn to show their patriotic enthusiasm. I was prepared to sit silently, but found myself being invited to become part of one of the largest groups of immigrants represented at the Ulpan.

I came to Israel already knowing some Hebrew. I had gone to Jewish Day School for enough years to manage a bit (although I forgot a lot during my later years in public school). With a few exceptions, the rest of my house mates stepped off the plane knowing little more than “Shalom!” My main goal in coming to ISC was to improve my Hebrew enough to consider a longer stay in Israel. We started Ulpan about 2 weeks into the program. After 2 sessions with my house mates I was ready to find the class that suited my level. After trying a few classes I finally found the one that fit. It was like being at a shoe store; you try on every size of a pair of shoes you desperately want, and it’s only the last one on the shelf that is just right. I was put into 3 classes until I settled into the third try. In the small Ramla Ulpan, I was put in the highest level from the start. This is not because my Hebrew is great. It’s only because the Ulpan doesn’t go very high.

Gladys, who invited me to join the Peruvians that day, is in her mid 30’s. She moved to Israel about a year ago with her husband Chisber, and their son and daughter. She is part of a wave of immigrants making their way to Ramla from Peru. There are approximately 600 new Peruvians. I make approximately 601. My class is 9 new immigrants and me. This is what Ulpan is all about. If I want to speak to anyone it has to be in Hebrew. I speak no Spanish. They speak no English. They are an amazing group of people. As soon as I stepped into the class they were ready to welcome me in. We have inside jokes despite our limited conversing ability. The kids my age (18 year old twin boys- Orson and Sandro, and a 23 year old girl Beiji ) invite me out to Tel-Aviv to celebrate birthdays and new jobs. I’ve been invited over for dinner. They’ve given me a title of an “honorary Peruvian.” I have been introduced around the community. Walking down the street, I not only stop to talk with anyone I see from my class, but also a wide network of people from Peru. They love their motherland intensely, speak of its beauty endlessly, and tell me they can’t wait for the day when they will take me there. For 4 hours a day, these people are my family and friends. Oddly, the 18 year-old American looking for adventure and the families looking to escape poverty can find each other and discover a language and culture together. Everyone on ISC came here hoping to assimilate and gain a broader understanding of Israel. I’m doing that in a classroom full of foreigners.