So this has nothing to do with my trip at all, but it's something I HAVE to share with the world. I meant to put this in the ellipses, but forgot, and I've been wanting to put it in my blog for awhile....anyway, it's an "update" of sorts to a classic, "This is Spinal Tap". It's about 15 minutes, streaming video so you have to have quick internet. Ours isn't great, but I gave it about 5 mintues to load and it worked alright. Not as good as the original but there is a fantastic part about the metric system and there are shetland ponies in it. You can't go wrong with shetlands!
Check out the Updated Spinal Tap!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
post a la Boevers
Today's post comes in the style of David Boever's ellipses...the idea is simple-one giant run on sentence of thoughts that stream from my head. Enjoy!
I swear the ants in this country take steroids...The most surprising thing I have found out about Israelis? Almost every single one thinks there are 52 states in the U.S., and are pretty surprised (and fight it) when we tell them otherwise. Blame it on the crappy school system...I have discovered I really LOVE working with old people. Maybe it helps that I go into it knowing I won't understand a word they say....My world tour is shaping up to be fabulous, but I can't help being sad about the people I won't get to see...I know I wasn't paying attention to news much at the time of the war in Lebanon, but I really wish people would give Olmeret a break. He may have screwed up, but so did Golda Meir, and we still sing her praises. It's hard running this country. Plus it means we have to hear more and more about how great Ehud Barack thinks he is...I think in 100 years Israel will be taken over by cats. more than it already is...I don't miss much about America, but I REALLY miss Jon Stewart and the Daily show. I didn't appreciate it enough while I was there...Just when I think my Hebrew is getting better, I try speaking to people and learn, oh right, not so much...I jumped off this (child sized) chair the other day to get around people in the very crowded room at the Ethiopian center where I work, and now I have a very large bruise on my leg. Ow....I don't understand why Haifa is too far from Beer Sheva and could be problematic...The "Little Man" as we call him, who actually is just a very sweet old man who runs the corner market closest to our house, is one of the best things about living in Ramla.......Maybe 4 continents in 4 weeks is a bit ambitious?...half of my roommates spend most of their time talking about how "fat" they think they got here, and it kinda puts a damper on the positive body image vibe Israel has going...movies from the 80's are not "old movies"...Having my phone stolen was really just a pain in the ass...I finally have the group number for the Birthright trip I am staffing so I can compare itineraries with Sara's and see if we will be in the same places at the same time!...I miss seeing movies in movie theatres, but I think Jessica, her friend from the States, and I are going to Tel Aviv to see Spiderman 3 tonight. Talk about a big event!...I think one of the things I like best about being here is finally being in the majority of the population. Erez mentioned it as part of his Lag B'Omer talk, that we as Jews are so used to being the minority, that here, we have forgotten how to be this, which is true. In some ways, we are not sensitive to things we hate in other countries, like for instance every Friday you go anywhere and you sign off with "Shabbat Shalom". It's something I ADORE about being here, but it must be hard for the non-Jews. But being in the majority, for once, RULES...
I swear the ants in this country take steroids...The most surprising thing I have found out about Israelis? Almost every single one thinks there are 52 states in the U.S., and are pretty surprised (and fight it) when we tell them otherwise. Blame it on the crappy school system...I have discovered I really LOVE working with old people. Maybe it helps that I go into it knowing I won't understand a word they say....My world tour is shaping up to be fabulous, but I can't help being sad about the people I won't get to see...I know I wasn't paying attention to news much at the time of the war in Lebanon, but I really wish people would give Olmeret a break. He may have screwed up, but so did Golda Meir, and we still sing her praises. It's hard running this country. Plus it means we have to hear more and more about how great Ehud Barack thinks he is...I think in 100 years Israel will be taken over by cats. more than it already is...I don't miss much about America, but I REALLY miss Jon Stewart and the Daily show. I didn't appreciate it enough while I was there...Just when I think my Hebrew is getting better, I try speaking to people and learn, oh right, not so much...I jumped off this (child sized) chair the other day to get around people in the very crowded room at the Ethiopian center where I work, and now I have a very large bruise on my leg. Ow....I don't understand why Haifa is too far from Beer Sheva and could be problematic...The "Little Man" as we call him, who actually is just a very sweet old man who runs the corner market closest to our house, is one of the best things about living in Ramla.......Maybe 4 continents in 4 weeks is a bit ambitious?...half of my roommates spend most of their time talking about how "fat" they think they got here, and it kinda puts a damper on the positive body image vibe Israel has going...movies from the 80's are not "old movies"...Having my phone stolen was really just a pain in the ass...I finally have the group number for the Birthright trip I am staffing so I can compare itineraries with Sara's and see if we will be in the same places at the same time!...I miss seeing movies in movie theatres, but I think Jessica, her friend from the States, and I are going to Tel Aviv to see Spiderman 3 tonight. Talk about a big event!...I think one of the things I like best about being here is finally being in the majority of the population. Erez mentioned it as part of his Lag B'Omer talk, that we as Jews are so used to being the minority, that here, we have forgotten how to be this, which is true. In some ways, we are not sensitive to things we hate in other countries, like for instance every Friday you go anywhere and you sign off with "Shabbat Shalom". It's something I ADORE about being here, but it must be hard for the non-Jews. But being in the majority, for once, RULES...
Monday, May 7, 2007
But it goes to 11...
Ok, ok, slap on the wrist time. I promised you all, and MYSELF that I was going to post more frequently. And, lo and behold, here I am, a week later, postless. BAD KATE!! My sincerest apologies. But it has been quite the insane week!
The last post I HONESTLY considered making was the one I advanced thought up for the seminar I was SUPPOSED to go on last Monday. It was going to be so cool...I was going to a ministry of defense situation room, and there were going to be lectures from Masa, the people who gave me the money that allowed me to be here, about things...I don't know what things, but when they've lectured in the past, I've generally enjoyed it and learned a thing or two. So Sunday night I began thinking up the really cool post I was going to have Monday night.
Monday morning foiled all my fabulous plans. I will spare you the gruesome details I have told my closest of friends, parents, and that were witnessed by more people than I ever would have wished, but lets just say that something happened to me at a bus stop, in broad daylight, at 8 am, that usually only happens around 2 am when you've spent the night drinking. And sadly, this was not the case. My stomach just decided to revolt against me. So the thought of taking the very bumpy bus ride from tel-aviv to jerusalem was BEYOND unappealing and I returned home...although more embarrasing than this, ALMOST, if I wasn't laughing so hard, was the next day, when I went to my host family for the weekly cous-cous lunch. I still wasn't feeling up to par, but I wanted to see my family, so it didn't matter if I didn't eat. Of course my host mom made sure I had soup and everything. But then after the lunch I still wasn't feeling good and she comes over and (btw, she speaks MAYBE ten words of english, so while my hebrew is improving, sometimes she and I have a hard time because she is very excitable and talks a little faster and excepts me tp understand more than I do...) says "oh, your stomach is still hurting?" and I say yes, so she goes over to liquor cabinet, pulls out the arnak, (licorice flavored liqour with a hint of menthol) and essential tells me to pull up my shirt as she is coming at me with a handful of the stuff and starts rubbing it on my tummy. Let me interject here that Israelis are WAY more laid back with just about everything than Americans. Typical in Israeli society: "Hi, nice to meet you. You are welcome to stay at my house for the weekend. You need to stay a week? Ok. And then next weekend, let me introduce you to MY ENTIRE EXTENDED FAMILY!...." and so on and so forth. Alternately, typical in American culture: "Hi" and then look away and run. So, yea. I am laughing and slightly uncomfortable but by this point in my stay I have learned to just shrug things like this off, and then she tells me to pull my shirt down, but I think she's telling me to keep rubbing, so I do, and it took awhile for me to figure out what she really wanted, which was funny in and of itself, but in the end all was well, and it really did make my tummy feel better....but it was awkward to say the least.
Anway, after FINALLY getting better, on Thursday I got robbed. Ok, I wasn't EXACTLY robbed. It was more like one of the creepy guys who have been coming by our house using any excuse possible to get in from day one of us coming here (really, they are WAY more relentless than in America) finally got in...I heard a man's voice downstairs talking to one of my roommates and I didn't want to leave her alone with a stranger, so I went downstairs. It is a long story that has been rehashed too many times, but the end of the story is she shouldn't have let him in, when I saw him, I should have forced him out, we should have watched him even more closely than we did 9we watched him closely but apparently not enough) and while we still have no clue how he managed it, he SOMEHOW got into my room (my room only....it's a matter of placement, really) and took my phone, a $100 bill that I had from a birthday present (I know, right?) and 2 bracelets-one a silver bracelet I LOVE with sentimental value I am quite upset about, and one that I am sure the stupid gy thought was diamonds but was actually fake as hell, which has brought me some semblance of joy. Luckily, however, I had my computer with me at the time, and my room was fairly messy as I was still in moving in mode, so he missed the money i had just recieved as my monthly stipened AND from payday the day before, as well as some electronics, and, most importantly, my pearls and a very special necklace mom and dad got me while they were here. So all in all, the guy got away with absolutely nothing, so I was very lucky, and most importantly, no one was hurt. AND-apparently the guy was missing 3 fingers on one hand. Which frankly, I still find ways to laugh at. But anyway, at the insistance of our program director, we went to the police, who could have cared less and really just reprimanded us for letting the guy in. Big event for the week, though-Kate's first trip to a police station-ever. And our program coordinator was out of town at the time, and we were a bit frazled and said we didn't want to go alone, so in her place, she sent her son.
Let me pause now to (perhaps finally) mention that I am dating a very nice Israeli boy. his name is Avi and he is quite wonderful. I don't want to talk about him too much because that is not the point of this blog and often times that gets annoying, however, at this point it is necessary to say, that I am dating someone. And, in spite of this, while I am in no way looking for anyone, and have no interest in anyone else...
Chava's (our coordinator) son is HOT. Quite possibly one of the most beautiful men I've ever come in contact with in my life. We will ignore all the problems he has in his life to focus on his smile. And the way he looked in that green shirt when he showed up to take us to the police station.....YUM!
By the way, Thursday also began a heat wave in Israel...it was quite possibly one of the most disgusting days I have ever experienced (since I try to avoid those) Israel doesn't really do A/C so it's just hot, everwhere. It's not like Atlanta where the humidity is so high you walk outside and actually melt, but it's this weird hot that just drains you entirely. So, it was hot. And we're sitting in the police station and Chaim (Chava's son) who is notoriously ADD, runs off. And when he returns, he ahs brought us all popsicles. So there we are, 3 american girls (another roommate came because she had seen the guy before and could give a more accurate description...which in the end they didn't even want to hear) telling our story to the Israeli po po, eating popsicles. It was kinda funny.
And now, I guess, things have kind of settled back down. Saturday was Lag b'omer. While I missed celebrating cinco de mayo, i think my kidneys appreciated the abscence (not that i ever really celebrated, but some nachos, a margarita and some mexican beer the way that place in Austin makes it that now mom insists on drinking everytime we're in texas would have been FANTASTIC in this heat....)Anyway, lag B'Omer is a sweet holiday for all of us pyro's. But apparently only kids really get into it....For those of you who don't know, the story behind lag b'omer is varied, it's either because there was a plague that was killing off a bunch of rabi akiva's students and it finally stopped on lag b'omer, or because of something about the bar kochba revolt which i can't currently remember. The actual meaning of the name is "33rd of the omer" because it is celebrated on teh 33rd day of counting the omer, when all of the restrictions that take place during the days of counting that occur in the 7 weeks from the second seder of passover until shavuot (7 weeks later) are put on hold. people get married, give three year olds their first haircut ever, dance, sing, rejoice...and most importanly-make huge bonfires. For a few weeks leading up to the day, any wood that is outside is liable to get stolen. The table that we had on our front porch, and I lovingly painted as a game table, was stolen two weeks ago, and a neighbor told us they saw someone ripping it apart. All part of the tradition. Construction sites hire extra security because people go crazy to get the wood. Apparently grocery stores lose a lot too because everyone steals the shopping carts to carry around their loot.
The night of, the country is aflame. I drove from Beer Sheva to Ramla, and all along the way there were fires everywhere. Any open patch of land around cities became prime spots for fires, and you would see families gathered around a spot. They would bring plastic tables and chairs, stet up a whole picnic bbbq, and watch as the kids set up a bonfire in front of them. A few feet away would be another family doing the same. Some bonfires were small, some were gigantic. Often times I saw kids running with enpty shopping carts, obviously trying to go to find more wood to kep their fire going. I saw people pulling cardboard out of dumpsters. I saw a kid sitting on a pile of old wood, gaurding it. That morning, I saw people, in the middle of a sidewalk, taking apart a door, breaking it into smaller pieces and carrying it off to their desred locatons. ON the road that night, I saw a truck tied down with old wood and on top of the pile two very large tree branches. It is a pyro's dream. And amidst it all, there are bbqs. So Avi, his best friend, and I, went to Ramla, made a little bbq on our porch, they played guitar, and we had a nice evening of it. Oh, (attention, Mallory)there were fireworks, too! And the next morning, when we woke up, the whole city was covered in a thick layer of smoke....One of my roommates asked if I was cooking. I was going to be but hadn't started yet...then we realized that was just the smell of the city.
Anyway, I have to wake up bright and early to paint a kindergarten! So I must sign off now. I would say I am going to write soon, but we've all seen how well I do at that. To be honest, I heard from dad that apparently more people are reading this than I ever really thought (in spite of the counter I still feel like it's only my parents and maybe a handful of friends who read this thing...maybe they just read it alot!) But so, it's ok if you tell my parent's you read it, but, hey, TELL ME, TOO!!! that's what the handy "post comment" part is for....i swear i don't post as much cause I think i'm only posting for the people who I've already spoken with on the phone...since right now the only people who comment are Sara and my mother, I think they're the only ones reading it....and they already know everything that happens to me. So if you want more info faster....you have to comment! MWAHAHAHA!!!
The last post I HONESTLY considered making was the one I advanced thought up for the seminar I was SUPPOSED to go on last Monday. It was going to be so cool...I was going to a ministry of defense situation room, and there were going to be lectures from Masa, the people who gave me the money that allowed me to be here, about things...I don't know what things, but when they've lectured in the past, I've generally enjoyed it and learned a thing or two. So Sunday night I began thinking up the really cool post I was going to have Monday night.
Monday morning foiled all my fabulous plans. I will spare you the gruesome details I have told my closest of friends, parents, and that were witnessed by more people than I ever would have wished, but lets just say that something happened to me at a bus stop, in broad daylight, at 8 am, that usually only happens around 2 am when you've spent the night drinking. And sadly, this was not the case. My stomach just decided to revolt against me. So the thought of taking the very bumpy bus ride from tel-aviv to jerusalem was BEYOND unappealing and I returned home...although more embarrasing than this, ALMOST, if I wasn't laughing so hard, was the next day, when I went to my host family for the weekly cous-cous lunch. I still wasn't feeling up to par, but I wanted to see my family, so it didn't matter if I didn't eat. Of course my host mom made sure I had soup and everything. But then after the lunch I still wasn't feeling good and she comes over and (btw, she speaks MAYBE ten words of english, so while my hebrew is improving, sometimes she and I have a hard time because she is very excitable and talks a little faster and excepts me tp understand more than I do...) says "oh, your stomach is still hurting?" and I say yes, so she goes over to liquor cabinet, pulls out the arnak, (licorice flavored liqour with a hint of menthol) and essential tells me to pull up my shirt as she is coming at me with a handful of the stuff and starts rubbing it on my tummy. Let me interject here that Israelis are WAY more laid back with just about everything than Americans. Typical in Israeli society: "Hi, nice to meet you. You are welcome to stay at my house for the weekend. You need to stay a week? Ok. And then next weekend, let me introduce you to MY ENTIRE EXTENDED FAMILY!...." and so on and so forth. Alternately, typical in American culture: "Hi" and then look away and run. So, yea. I am laughing and slightly uncomfortable but by this point in my stay I have learned to just shrug things like this off, and then she tells me to pull my shirt down, but I think she's telling me to keep rubbing, so I do, and it took awhile for me to figure out what she really wanted, which was funny in and of itself, but in the end all was well, and it really did make my tummy feel better....but it was awkward to say the least.
Anway, after FINALLY getting better, on Thursday I got robbed. Ok, I wasn't EXACTLY robbed. It was more like one of the creepy guys who have been coming by our house using any excuse possible to get in from day one of us coming here (really, they are WAY more relentless than in America) finally got in...I heard a man's voice downstairs talking to one of my roommates and I didn't want to leave her alone with a stranger, so I went downstairs. It is a long story that has been rehashed too many times, but the end of the story is she shouldn't have let him in, when I saw him, I should have forced him out, we should have watched him even more closely than we did 9we watched him closely but apparently not enough) and while we still have no clue how he managed it, he SOMEHOW got into my room (my room only....it's a matter of placement, really) and took my phone, a $100 bill that I had from a birthday present (I know, right?) and 2 bracelets-one a silver bracelet I LOVE with sentimental value I am quite upset about, and one that I am sure the stupid gy thought was diamonds but was actually fake as hell, which has brought me some semblance of joy. Luckily, however, I had my computer with me at the time, and my room was fairly messy as I was still in moving in mode, so he missed the money i had just recieved as my monthly stipened AND from payday the day before, as well as some electronics, and, most importantly, my pearls and a very special necklace mom and dad got me while they were here. So all in all, the guy got away with absolutely nothing, so I was very lucky, and most importantly, no one was hurt. AND-apparently the guy was missing 3 fingers on one hand. Which frankly, I still find ways to laugh at. But anyway, at the insistance of our program director, we went to the police, who could have cared less and really just reprimanded us for letting the guy in. Big event for the week, though-Kate's first trip to a police station-ever. And our program coordinator was out of town at the time, and we were a bit frazled and said we didn't want to go alone, so in her place, she sent her son.
Let me pause now to (perhaps finally) mention that I am dating a very nice Israeli boy. his name is Avi and he is quite wonderful. I don't want to talk about him too much because that is not the point of this blog and often times that gets annoying, however, at this point it is necessary to say, that I am dating someone. And, in spite of this, while I am in no way looking for anyone, and have no interest in anyone else...
Chava's (our coordinator) son is HOT. Quite possibly one of the most beautiful men I've ever come in contact with in my life. We will ignore all the problems he has in his life to focus on his smile. And the way he looked in that green shirt when he showed up to take us to the police station.....YUM!
By the way, Thursday also began a heat wave in Israel...it was quite possibly one of the most disgusting days I have ever experienced (since I try to avoid those) Israel doesn't really do A/C so it's just hot, everwhere. It's not like Atlanta where the humidity is so high you walk outside and actually melt, but it's this weird hot that just drains you entirely. So, it was hot. And we're sitting in the police station and Chaim (Chava's son) who is notoriously ADD, runs off. And when he returns, he ahs brought us all popsicles. So there we are, 3 american girls (another roommate came because she had seen the guy before and could give a more accurate description...which in the end they didn't even want to hear) telling our story to the Israeli po po, eating popsicles. It was kinda funny.
And now, I guess, things have kind of settled back down. Saturday was Lag b'omer. While I missed celebrating cinco de mayo, i think my kidneys appreciated the abscence (not that i ever really celebrated, but some nachos, a margarita and some mexican beer the way that place in Austin makes it that now mom insists on drinking everytime we're in texas would have been FANTASTIC in this heat....)Anyway, lag B'Omer is a sweet holiday for all of us pyro's. But apparently only kids really get into it....For those of you who don't know, the story behind lag b'omer is varied, it's either because there was a plague that was killing off a bunch of rabi akiva's students and it finally stopped on lag b'omer, or because of something about the bar kochba revolt which i can't currently remember. The actual meaning of the name is "33rd of the omer" because it is celebrated on teh 33rd day of counting the omer, when all of the restrictions that take place during the days of counting that occur in the 7 weeks from the second seder of passover until shavuot (7 weeks later) are put on hold. people get married, give three year olds their first haircut ever, dance, sing, rejoice...and most importanly-make huge bonfires. For a few weeks leading up to the day, any wood that is outside is liable to get stolen. The table that we had on our front porch, and I lovingly painted as a game table, was stolen two weeks ago, and a neighbor told us they saw someone ripping it apart. All part of the tradition. Construction sites hire extra security because people go crazy to get the wood. Apparently grocery stores lose a lot too because everyone steals the shopping carts to carry around their loot.
The night of, the country is aflame. I drove from Beer Sheva to Ramla, and all along the way there were fires everywhere. Any open patch of land around cities became prime spots for fires, and you would see families gathered around a spot. They would bring plastic tables and chairs, stet up a whole picnic bbbq, and watch as the kids set up a bonfire in front of them. A few feet away would be another family doing the same. Some bonfires were small, some were gigantic. Often times I saw kids running with enpty shopping carts, obviously trying to go to find more wood to kep their fire going. I saw people pulling cardboard out of dumpsters. I saw a kid sitting on a pile of old wood, gaurding it. That morning, I saw people, in the middle of a sidewalk, taking apart a door, breaking it into smaller pieces and carrying it off to their desred locatons. ON the road that night, I saw a truck tied down with old wood and on top of the pile two very large tree branches. It is a pyro's dream. And amidst it all, there are bbqs. So Avi, his best friend, and I, went to Ramla, made a little bbq on our porch, they played guitar, and we had a nice evening of it. Oh, (attention, Mallory)there were fireworks, too! And the next morning, when we woke up, the whole city was covered in a thick layer of smoke....One of my roommates asked if I was cooking. I was going to be but hadn't started yet...then we realized that was just the smell of the city.
Anyway, I have to wake up bright and early to paint a kindergarten! So I must sign off now. I would say I am going to write soon, but we've all seen how well I do at that. To be honest, I heard from dad that apparently more people are reading this than I ever really thought (in spite of the counter I still feel like it's only my parents and maybe a handful of friends who read this thing...maybe they just read it alot!) But so, it's ok if you tell my parent's you read it, but, hey, TELL ME, TOO!!! that's what the handy "post comment" part is for....i swear i don't post as much cause I think i'm only posting for the people who I've already spoken with on the phone...since right now the only people who comment are Sara and my mother, I think they're the only ones reading it....and they already know everything that happens to me. So if you want more info faster....you have to comment! MWAHAHAHA!!!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Drumroll please...
Ladies and gentlemen, after almost 4 months, I have finally begun the project of uploading photos to the Internet. I already have 1 album of random things from travel days we've taken with the group, outings we've had, friends, what have you, on my photo webpage. For your convenience (because I'm just good like that ;) ) There is a handy link to the right. There are pictures from things that occurred before my time in Israel, which you are more than welcome to look at, but any album concerning Israel will always have a title that in someway tips you off that there are photos of me in Israel inside. And, (ahem *mom*), just to let you know, these are the pics from my camera, so I TOOK the pictures, so if you're looking only for pictures of me, you may be severely disappointed. Of 60 or so photos, I am in MAYBE 5....but it should give you an idea of the people I know, the places I go, the things I have done. And if you could care less, DON'T LOOK! Also, if there are any problems (see, if you comment, I will fix it. Hearts to the dops) viewing the site, of course, please let me know by the usual means...COMMENTING. Check back soon because I hope to have up an album of birthright photos, and an album of my Pesach trip with mom and dad within a week. ENJOY!!!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Bring your green hat!
I wrote a nice little post yesterday about what I did yesterday-walking tour of Tel-Aviv with my program director, Erez, which included history, some architectural history (fun to see the Art- Nouveau and Bauhaus style after learning all about it in Arc and Decor) and a really cool panoramic overlook of the whole city from a parking garage of all places, and then when I was at work, the new kid that day turned out to be Itai Bronshtein, younger brother of Yuval with whom I attended Hebrew Academy for ten years, and whose father was my music teacher during that time. This kid was not the most fascinating to talk to but the extremely small world/crazy Jewish network that is Israel is always amazing. This is not an isolated Incident. Running into someone from your past happens here everyday to all kinds of people. It's one of many great things about his country.
So, anyway, I wrote a nice little post, as I said, but sadly, when I went to publish it, it mysteriously published only the title and none of the text, and I was never able to retrieve the post....ARGGGGGGGG. The same thing happened to me after writing a lovely facebook note about some friends last night, and so frankly right now I am a little too frustrated at computers to deal and write something more involved and try to recover any wit or witticisms that I may have had yesterday. the main point that I did want to get across, however, is that now that I am back on a more normal schedule, I will try to be writing more frequently, however, when there are comments on the blog, I tend to write a post more quickly. call it motivation, call it an incentive. Call it what you will but the point is leave a comment to say hello!!! This of course does not include the Aussie Reeds who can't seem to figure out how. I will have to handle just knowing you're out there...;) (I love you anyway. I will show you in 2 months how to work it!!!)
So, yes, moral of the story....leave a comment and there will be things to read. Also, start checking back more often cause there may be more gems for y'all!
peace out, ~K
So, anyway, I wrote a nice little post, as I said, but sadly, when I went to publish it, it mysteriously published only the title and none of the text, and I was never able to retrieve the post....ARGGGGGGGG. The same thing happened to me after writing a lovely facebook note about some friends last night, and so frankly right now I am a little too frustrated at computers to deal and write something more involved and try to recover any wit or witticisms that I may have had yesterday. the main point that I did want to get across, however, is that now that I am back on a more normal schedule, I will try to be writing more frequently, however, when there are comments on the blog, I tend to write a post more quickly. call it motivation, call it an incentive. Call it what you will but the point is leave a comment to say hello!!! This of course does not include the Aussie Reeds who can't seem to figure out how. I will have to handle just knowing you're out there...;) (I love you anyway. I will show you in 2 months how to work it!!!)
So, yes, moral of the story....leave a comment and there will be things to read. Also, start checking back more often cause there may be more gems for y'all!
peace out, ~K
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Independence
Hiddey Ho reader-eenoes.
A lot's happened in a week. A lot happened the week before the last post, too, but I thought that last one was too important to skip. I can't put it all in now because there's a lot to do, but hopefully I will cover it all in the next few days.
Sorry I have been AWHOL for awhile. For two weeks it was Passover break and I rarely logged on to the computer. I know, crazy, right? Plus I spent a good week of that time traveling the country with my parents. It was WONDERFUL to see them after spending the longest time away from them that I ever have in my life, and get to explore this wonderful country with them, not to mention spend Pesach in the holy land with my parents. But to be honest, having them here after such an incredible self discovery period really helped me shed a new light on my state of independent being and where they fit into the grand scheme of it all. We'll see what becomes of that.
Anyway, the past week has been a shocker of trying to get back to "normal" life-post break. The only problem is that this week has involved three pretty major holidays in Israel, two days of rememberance, one for the Holcaust and one for fallen Israel soldiers, and Israel's independence day. Amid the strange schedules, ceremonies, times off and such, the days have been anything but normal. In some ways, it has helped ease things in getting back to normal after such a long break, but in some ways it has made it harder when we all know that we really only have about a month and a half left here, and some people less since almost the whole group is leaving early. I'm not going to lie, in spite of the good things we are doing here, and the wonderful people, it is EXTREMELY difficult to find the motivation to get any work done any more. Traveling the country during the week and not just on weekends has become more appealing and widely accepted, spending days on various outings are the norm. Work is a thing of the past...Ok, this is not actually the case, but in my mind it is quickly beoming more difficult to fight, especially as morale (and attendance) amongst the roomates is dropping, and I know it is only a matter of time before I fall victim to the devilish ways....
On that note, I finally quit ulpan. Sad, but true. In my defense, I was the last one to hold out, and I lasted at least a month and a half longer than anyone else. At this point, it became a facade of me going anyway. I was only going two days a week, and when I did go, I was leaving after an hour and a half/two hours because I now have other volunteering commitments in the mornings/afternoons, and Ulpan had become so boring that it was not worth my time. Between Erez, the program director, Orit, my teacher, and I, we all agreed that it was probably just not worth it to go at all anymore. So there you have it. But, the plan now is to come back to Israel in August (so long as I get accepted to the program I want) for an Ulpan kibbutz...which would mean that this 6 months would be a focus on volunteering and the next six months would be a focus on ulpan. Sometimes you just can't have it all.
In other news, our group of 7 that became 8 that went down to 7 is now down to 6. Our lone male, Jon, has left us. It is really quite sad. He and I were just getting to be close, and to be honest, he was often the source of sanity when things got out of control around here. I am really going to miss him and his quick humor. It's really weird that he's not here, like a piece of the puzzle is gone. Laura and I weren't that close, so that wasn't very difficult for me, but this is weird. I know Jon's not dead or anything, but he's not next door when I need to get away from it all...On the plus side, a single room has been vacated, (and the way it worked out I got to move in) so I get my own room until the end of the program, which will probably be good for me. On the downside, while I was moving things around cleaning it this morning, I discovered quite a bit of mold or mildew (not sure of the difference) on the wall which will be bad for me. I'm hoping if I keep the windows open and don't touch it I will be ok? I figure I'll ask Dad about this later, and make sure to watch out for illness. Frankly, at this point, moving to one of the other rooms is not an option. I'd rather live with mold. Crazy, right?
In America, this weekend was carnival. I have heard a few stories but not enough. People, PLEASE send me photos. Who won booth? Buggy?! TELL ME!!! Facebook is my hero because I got to see SOME pictures, (Anne, you rock my world for tagging me in that one...) and I really miss you all and desperately wish I could have been there. But I am glad you all got to be there and hope you had a great time! And while I am on news from America...for anyone who knows my good friend Mallory Snyder: she was accepted into the University of Southern California's graduate program for film. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU MALLY!!!!!!! Ok, while I know what my fam is thinking, yes, we don't like the Trojans-but it's ok because the 'Horns beat them for the championship, and anyway, this is the film school and it's PRESTIGIOUS people. So, as long as Texas and USC aren't playing each other, I am very, very happy for you. But on game days....;)
On another note: About the rememberance days: They have been very poignant for me, being in Israel and realizing things I never have before. In the past, it has always been about school ceremonies and forced feelings, but this year, I see it all firsthand, the effect that history has really had on these people. My people. In America, most of this kind of thing either happened in the time of history textbooks, or to other people. Not to me. Vietnam was before my time and my parents never talked about it. My grandfather fought in World War II but I never heard much about it. I never knew soldiers during the gulf war, and that was that. War isn't something that affected me. (until the war on Iraq, when my uncle Tom went overseas, but when he came back, it was like the war was over...I was no longer affected.) Memorial and labor day are days off, bbq days. But here, it affects the whole country. Every one knows someone who has died, has family, a friend. Or a friend of a friend. It's first degree here. The whole country is a close knit community, and when one person mourns, the country mourns. I saw a very large man cry this week. Men aren't afraid to cry here. On tv, giving a speech, the minister of Defense was visibly emotional over all the lives lost in wars and terrorist attacks. It was incredible to see. One death is a national tragedy. This country will fight and search for one person. In America the question is often asked "how many people have to die before....?" In Israel, the answer would always be "One".
And when it is all over, then and ONLY then, we celebrate our independence. And boy do we celebrate. Fireworks and parties and bbqs and wonderfulness. Happy 59th birthday, Israel. It has been a hard, terrible journey, but on your 59th birthday, we salute you.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Never Again
Today is Yom Hashoah, the (specific, calendar given) day when we remember the victims of the Holocaust. In Israel, this is a national day of remembrance that is like nothing I have ever seen. In America, we have Memorial day, in which we are supposed to remember the soldiers who have died in combat, but let's be honest, how do we remember them? We have huge sales in all the stores, have barbecues, and in general revel in having a day off from our lives.
In Israel, we REMEMBER this tragedy in our history. Everyone goes to work, school, what have you. But at 10 am, a siren sounds throughout the country, and no matter where you are, in your office, classroom, on the road in your car...you stop, you stand, for two minutes you are silent in memory of those who perished in the Holocaust. There is a great picture on Haaretz.com of the middle of the Tel-Aviv highway with all the cars stopped in the middle of the road and the people standing outside of their cars.
So how did I commemorate? I was lucky enough to be invited to the ceremony (Tekes) at the elderly home where I serve lunch. Yesterday, I was told to arrive at 9.30 and wear a white shirt. When I get there, there is cleaning up to be done from breakfast, so I help with that. In general, it seems like a normal day, except that I am at the center earlier than normal. Around 9.50, Ofra, the director of the center who is the only one there who speaks English (and speaks it well) comes in and tells me to start setting up a table in the center of the room and grab a big plate that we put candles on for the folks to light during their ceremony. While we are both setting up, I ask her if their are survivors in the center and she looks up and looks me straight in the eye and says "Of course..." and then we continue working. At this point it gets very rushed as everyone is looking at the clock for when the siren will sound. Just as we think we are ok and we have a few minutes left, the siren beings. It doesn't just start at full blast, but it begins slowly, softly, and then sort of revs up to full blast. I walked over to the doorway of the eating room that lead out onto a porch and overlooked a street outside so I could get the full experience, and this is what happened during the siren blaring:
There were police cars in the street, and policemen and women standing guard, silently, outside their doors. The cars that were driving stopped, or pulled into a parking lot across the way, and EVERYONE opened their doors, got out of their cars, and stood in silence. The traffic lights continued to change as if for no one.
Inside, I was with the people of that generation. All who had the ability to stand, did, even if it was difficult for them. There were some who were sobbing. There was one woman who began to bawl the second the siren started. As the ceremony continued, she continued crying the whole way through. She would sit when she needed to and stand when she felt the ability return to her. She was sitting at a table alone, unlike many of the others, so at one point I went over to her and put my arm around her, because I didn't know what else to do. She immediately started telling me her story, and I have never in my life been in so much pain not to understand someone. My biggest problem in Hebrew right now is simple being able to make out the words when I hear them, and understanding when people talk to me. Besides that she was crying, and I could not understand a single word she was saying. She was obviously a survivor and telling me what happened to her. I wanted to know SO badly, and I wanted to be able to listen to her and I know she wanted me to hear her story, but I couldn't, and I kept almost ORDERING myself to understand, but apparently that's not how it works. in the end, I just listened, I hugged her, and tried my best to make her feel not alone. The one thing I did understand her say was "I want to forget. I want to forget what happened but I can't. I see it always in my eyes. I hear the screams. It is always there with me and will never go away".
The second the siren ended, one man immediately began saying the mourners Kaddish. When he finished, I faintly heard the sound of the children singing in their ceremony from the school next door. It was a perfect moment I wish I could make up but actually happened-the remembrance of the dead and immediately the voices of the future drifting in.
After that, the ceremony began. Other survivors from the group told their stories, or read stories or poems written by people during the Holocaust. Everyone lit little tea light candles, and a few lit Yarzeit (remembrance) candles (they burn for 24 hours). Some of the survivors in the group had brought BAGS of what looked like 25 or so candles. I don't know if this was just their stock or if they were lighting all of them today, but it was a sight to see. The mourner's Kaddish was said again. Throughout the entire ceremony, the survivors remained standing as much as they could. They would sit, and then stand up again when they were able. It was very moving, and again, I didn't understand most of it, some, but not nearly as much as I wanted, but to be there, see their faces, and see the Jewish people continuing to live after such a tragedy was amazing. In Israel, we are not assimilating, we are not forgetting who we are. We are one nation, living together, supporting each other, and you see it, FEEL it everyday. And that is why these people are here.
After the Tekes (ceremony) we served coffee/tee/biscuits, cause it was eating time again (it IS a Jewish place, after all) and then at some point, the kids from the school next door came over and did their ceremony for the old folks. They did little interpretive dances, and read some statements. It was very reminiscent of all the times I did things like that when I was in grade school. At this age, they can't understand how much what they were doing means, that it's just another performance that they do on a holiday. But I could see in the faces of the people in the center that it meant the world. And I looked at the faces of the children and saw that this is what the Nazis feared. The Jewish people, generations later, living, breathing, singing dancing. It's corny, but they are the future, and it was wonderful on this day to see that.
At the end of their ceremony, they sang hatikvah. It was the kids and the elderly singing together. You could hear their young, innocent voices, mixing with that of the voices of those with a past, who have seen the world and the crimes and everything in between. And they sang, one song together, speaking of the hope and the nation belonging to us all. And in those moments, we will not forget.
In Israel, we REMEMBER this tragedy in our history. Everyone goes to work, school, what have you. But at 10 am, a siren sounds throughout the country, and no matter where you are, in your office, classroom, on the road in your car...you stop, you stand, for two minutes you are silent in memory of those who perished in the Holocaust. There is a great picture on Haaretz.com of the middle of the Tel-Aviv highway with all the cars stopped in the middle of the road and the people standing outside of their cars.
So how did I commemorate? I was lucky enough to be invited to the ceremony (Tekes) at the elderly home where I serve lunch. Yesterday, I was told to arrive at 9.30 and wear a white shirt. When I get there, there is cleaning up to be done from breakfast, so I help with that. In general, it seems like a normal day, except that I am at the center earlier than normal. Around 9.50, Ofra, the director of the center who is the only one there who speaks English (and speaks it well) comes in and tells me to start setting up a table in the center of the room and grab a big plate that we put candles on for the folks to light during their ceremony. While we are both setting up, I ask her if their are survivors in the center and she looks up and looks me straight in the eye and says "Of course..." and then we continue working. At this point it gets very rushed as everyone is looking at the clock for when the siren will sound. Just as we think we are ok and we have a few minutes left, the siren beings. It doesn't just start at full blast, but it begins slowly, softly, and then sort of revs up to full blast. I walked over to the doorway of the eating room that lead out onto a porch and overlooked a street outside so I could get the full experience, and this is what happened during the siren blaring:
There were police cars in the street, and policemen and women standing guard, silently, outside their doors. The cars that were driving stopped, or pulled into a parking lot across the way, and EVERYONE opened their doors, got out of their cars, and stood in silence. The traffic lights continued to change as if for no one.
Inside, I was with the people of that generation. All who had the ability to stand, did, even if it was difficult for them. There were some who were sobbing. There was one woman who began to bawl the second the siren started. As the ceremony continued, she continued crying the whole way through. She would sit when she needed to and stand when she felt the ability return to her. She was sitting at a table alone, unlike many of the others, so at one point I went over to her and put my arm around her, because I didn't know what else to do. She immediately started telling me her story, and I have never in my life been in so much pain not to understand someone. My biggest problem in Hebrew right now is simple being able to make out the words when I hear them, and understanding when people talk to me. Besides that she was crying, and I could not understand a single word she was saying. She was obviously a survivor and telling me what happened to her. I wanted to know SO badly, and I wanted to be able to listen to her and I know she wanted me to hear her story, but I couldn't, and I kept almost ORDERING myself to understand, but apparently that's not how it works. in the end, I just listened, I hugged her, and tried my best to make her feel not alone. The one thing I did understand her say was "I want to forget. I want to forget what happened but I can't. I see it always in my eyes. I hear the screams. It is always there with me and will never go away".
The second the siren ended, one man immediately began saying the mourners Kaddish. When he finished, I faintly heard the sound of the children singing in their ceremony from the school next door. It was a perfect moment I wish I could make up but actually happened-the remembrance of the dead and immediately the voices of the future drifting in.
After that, the ceremony began. Other survivors from the group told their stories, or read stories or poems written by people during the Holocaust. Everyone lit little tea light candles, and a few lit Yarzeit (remembrance) candles (they burn for 24 hours). Some of the survivors in the group had brought BAGS of what looked like 25 or so candles. I don't know if this was just their stock or if they were lighting all of them today, but it was a sight to see. The mourner's Kaddish was said again. Throughout the entire ceremony, the survivors remained standing as much as they could. They would sit, and then stand up again when they were able. It was very moving, and again, I didn't understand most of it, some, but not nearly as much as I wanted, but to be there, see their faces, and see the Jewish people continuing to live after such a tragedy was amazing. In Israel, we are not assimilating, we are not forgetting who we are. We are one nation, living together, supporting each other, and you see it, FEEL it everyday. And that is why these people are here.
After the Tekes (ceremony) we served coffee/tee/biscuits, cause it was eating time again (it IS a Jewish place, after all) and then at some point, the kids from the school next door came over and did their ceremony for the old folks. They did little interpretive dances, and read some statements. It was very reminiscent of all the times I did things like that when I was in grade school. At this age, they can't understand how much what they were doing means, that it's just another performance that they do on a holiday. But I could see in the faces of the people in the center that it meant the world. And I looked at the faces of the children and saw that this is what the Nazis feared. The Jewish people, generations later, living, breathing, singing dancing. It's corny, but they are the future, and it was wonderful on this day to see that.
At the end of their ceremony, they sang hatikvah. It was the kids and the elderly singing together. You could hear their young, innocent voices, mixing with that of the voices of those with a past, who have seen the world and the crimes and everything in between. And they sang, one song together, speaking of the hope and the nation belonging to us all. And in those moments, we will not forget.
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