Before making Aliyah, numerous people told me that I should date an Israeli because that was the only way to truly learn Hebrew. Well actually, most of them told me that I should marry an Israeli. People are very subtle with their advice.

The Katamon single scene seems to be split into two – Anglo and Israeli – with for the most part, surprisingly very little interaction between the two groups. As an American with limited Hebrew skills, the Katamon Anglo scene is much easier for me to break into, both for dating and for making friends.

Nevertheless, when someone suggested setting me up with an Israeli, I decided to give it a try.

Yes, the conversation was definatley not as natural as it would have been in English. In Hebrew, I have to think much more about how I’m saying something, not just what I am saying.

But I don’t think that was the main problem with the date.

Like many Americans who I have gone out with, he was boring. I literally do not think we had a single non-generic conversation. Instead, we discussed the weather, our parents professions, where we davan on Shabbat, etc…

The only interesting part of the date turned out to be the fact that we were speaking in Hebrew. At least there was something original about it.

So, I decided somehwere in the middle to think of the evening as a productive if dull ulpan lesson instead of another blah date.

Would I date another Israeli? Sure. Maybe it could even turn into an interesting ulpan lesson.