Maybe it is because so many Jews travel to Israel do so many people meet unexpectedly. I have not had as much experience with that until recently.
Today I ran into Jesse from Livnot 170--the program I did the first time I came to Israel. The warmth we had for each other was evident in our embrace. The look of surprise when I realized it was someone from Colorado took time to process and dissolve from both our faces. I cannot say how great it was to see someone from there. Or when standing out front today trying to tell people about this organization, asking where they are from, and hearing Boulder and getting to momentarily reminisce about familiar places. How quickly our minds forget. I was taking money today for passion fruit slushies (so delicious, they contain a stealth brain freeze as an extra surprise!), and some birthrighters only had American dollars. Only a few weeks ago the shekl was play money and now the dollar felt as such.
I met a woman today because she thought I was Israeli and wanted help with her Hebrew. I dispelled that notion with my English. Turns out she didn't really know English either. She spoke French and Spanish. Together we made several sentences of words from three languages (everything but French). High school Spanish made an interesting comeback; which is odd because I didn't think I ever really knew it. Being forced to speak something other than English though made it appear.
What a pity it is that more Americans don't really know another language. I mean, most of us I think are required to take a few years in h.s. and don't really have the opportunity to employ those skills. It's very common to meet people who know 3, 4, even 5 languages. Impressed barely scratches the surface.
That made me all the more excited for ulpan on Sunday, wow, Sunday. Seems so soon.
Dekel is coming up to Tzfat so we can act as tourists tomorrow. Seeing the city from a different view is clearly refreshing. Speaking of views, I got another one today.
In J-lem, many of the shop owners stand outside their doors. I found it very intimidating, as if they were saying 'you have to get through me if you want to shop here'. Mentally I'd reply that I'd rather shop elsewhere. Well, today, I was sitting outside the Livnot visitors center doing an analogous activity. I was sitting out there because there is no air conditioning and the breeze felt nice and provided temporary relief. This in addition to seeing who was coming and smile (that's the American in me). I found that my perspective was altered in a good way. --walk a mile in someone else's shoes--
I washed my feet explicitly last night. I know what you're probably thinking, shouldn't that happen anyway? (esp mom and dad, they are not quite black as when I was younger, but a close second). So I've been wearing sandals, a lot, very Israeli, very comfortable and more fashionable with skirts than tennis shoes. The mosquitoes love my feet. There is dirt everywhere. When I looked at them closely, I couldn't tell if they were covered in bite remains, a funky tan had developed, tons of dirt was caked on, or what. I scrubbed and scoured. Turns out, it was a little bit of everything. I'm going to need a life size brillo pad when I get back.
When I packed for this trip, I decided I didn't want to check my baggage. That saved on time and space and my back (I had to carry all of it several km multiple times). As we are all aware, the airport security people limit liquids to under 3oz, for everything, and only one small bag's worth. I am happy to report that I have only recently been scrapping the bottom for toothpaste and hair conditioner. Everything else has enough for a little while. I was quite surprised and thought I'd pass that little bit of info along.
Not much more to say just yet. I am finally journaling in my little book all the other things that have been happening (inside my head mostly). Those I'll share on a more personal note at a later time. It feels good to get some of it down though. I highly recommend the practice to all.
I'm off to study, need to learn my script aleph-bet (I only know block) and am reading a great book, and the sun will set soon and I have to go to this little cafe in Tzfat for that. It's called Canaan Gallery if anyone is interested or has been there. They are also known (moreso probably) for their hand woven talitot. I am still debating whether or not to get the one I saw last time I was here (Dec '05). I've thought about it ever since. I'm scared to go in there because I don't know how I'll react when I see it, assuming it's still there. Any input or advice is welcome. Actually that statement is true for everything, not just a tallit purchase.
Ahava L'Shalom
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2 comments:
You wouldn't believe what Noah said earlier today: you guessed it, he asked for Auntie Rachael Elyssa Jacob. It floored his Mama but I took it in stride; after all, he takes after me.
Your grandmother said reading your blogs is like reading a college textbook. It sounds like you've grown from the myriad experiences you've, well, experienced. Your grandfather is doing better. He's out of the hospital and back on antibiotics. He'll see a urologist in a few more weeks to decide if the meds for his bladder retention worked or if he needs his plumbing roto-rooted out.
Your grandmother is worrying over his food selections so all is returning to normal.
I took the tractor for a walk around a couple of acres and didn't destroy any thing of value! It does a good job of removing tree stumps with its back wheels.
I've started on the bookcase project, now that the other project is completed. The plans that I paid so much for is riddled wtih errors. Coworker wood workers were impressed when they saw its complexity.
It's been really hot here, upwards of 35C degrees. It's a dry heat though, so you might be able to tolerate it after your months of temperate Mediterranean climate that you've enjoyed. On that note, I have a pile of dirt I've saved for you here to more three feet over. Nothing like good hard labor to clear the mind of needless clutter.
We miss you. God alone knows when we'll see one another again. So we'll leave it in his hands.
PS: You're in need of fatherly advice. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!
Did you know that rubber band pistols aren't allowed in the Middle East math classes. That's because they're viewed as weapons of math disruption.
hahahahahahahahaha!
---You wouldn't believe what Noah said earlier today: you guessed it, he asked for Auntie Rachael Elyssa Jacob. It floored his Mama but I took it in stride; after all, he takes after me.
*
*
---Your grandmother said reading your blogs is like reading a college textbook. It sounds like you've grown from the myriad experiences you've, well, experienced.
*
*
---Your grandfather is doing better. He's out of the hospital and back on antibiotics. He'll see a urologist in a few more weeks to decide if the meds for his bladder retention worked or if he needs his plumbing roto-rooted out.
Your grandmother is worrying over his food selections so all is returning to normal.
*
*
---I took the tractor for a walk around a couple of acres and didn't destroy any thing of value! It does a good job of removing tree stumps with its back wheels.
*
*
---I've started on the bookcase project, now that the other project is completed. The plans that I paid so much for is riddled wtih errors. Coworker wood workers were impressed when they saw its complexity.
*
*
---It's been really hot here, upwards of 35C degrees. It's a dry heat though, so you might be able to tolerate it after your months of temperate Mediterranean climate that you've enjoyed. On that note, I have a pile of dirt I've saved for you here to more three feet over. Nothing like good hard labor to clear the mind of needless clutter.
*
*
---We miss you. God alone knows when we'll see one another again. So we'll leave it in his hands. Either that or Aug19, Frontier permitting.
PS: You're in need of fatherly advice. Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!
*
*
---Did you know that rubber band pistols aren't allowed in the Middle East math classes. That's because they're viewed as weapons of math disruption.
*
*
hahahahahahahahaha!
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