Blog #3 - Ms. Tornincaso

I was born into the Catholic religion, and for my whole life that is all I have known.  Sure, through the years I have grown to learn about other religions and cultures, but I've never been immersed into another culture.  My boyfriend of ten months is Jewish, and his family has graciously invited me to spend the Passover holiday with them.  I gratefully excepted with excitement, however, I must admit, I am somewhat nervous.  I am aware that Passover is a very important holiday in the Jewish religion and there are certain rules to abide by.  For instance; I would like to bring something to dinner, but what is allowed?  What is "kosher" and what is not "kosher"?  Whatever I do decide to bring, must follow specific rules of the religion and the holiday.  I am aware that some sort of prayer or ceremony takes place during the Passover dinner.  I'm not sure what it is all about, or what I am supposed to do.  I guess I'll just sit quietly and politely.  I'm not sure what Passover is really about, and to be honest, I am curious.  That's just my nature.  I'm a curious person.  So my next question is:  Is it rude or impolite to ask question about the Jewish faith or the holiday?  Despite any anxiety I might have about the dinner, I am very excited and honored to be invited.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Vocabulary

immerse - (verb) to cover something completely, or to be completely involved in

gracious - (adjective) kind and polite

admit - (verb) to tell the truth.  Or to let someone in to someplace.

nervous - (adjective) worried or frightened

instance - (noun) for example

kosher - (adjective) food that has been made to correctly follow the Jewish religion

Passover - (noun) a Jewish festival celebrated in the Spring

anxiety - (noun) a feeling of worry or being nervous


Vocabulary Exercise

Matching Exercise.

___ kind and polite                                                                     A.   anxiety

___ worried or frightened                                                       B.    immerse

___ food that has been made to correctly                       C.    Passover
         follow the Jewish religion

___ a feeling of worry or being nervous                           D.   gracious

___ to cover something completely, or to be                E.   kosher
         completely involved in

___ to tell the truth, or let someone in to                        F.   admit
         someplace

___ for example                                                                          G.   instance

___ a Jewish festival celebrated in the Spring                  H.  nervous


Grammar Point:  The paragraph is written using a lot of adjectives to describe my feelings about the situation.

Grammar Point Exercise:  Write a paragraph using at least eight adjectives to describe how you feel about a certain situation that happened to you.