Thursday, September 25, 2003
I've discovered that the idea of a time change is very disconcerting to me.
For instance, right now it's 10:15 am here. Which means it's 3:15am in the parts of the US where most of my family and friends are.
I get up, I'm starting my day, I'm ready to do things (side note: how is it that there are always phone calls to make, emails to return, errands to run, etc.? How is it that these things are never completed, no matter where you are or what you're doing in life? I think sometimes we create things for ourselves so that we don't feel completely useless when we have nothing else to do.), but half of the world is still sleeping. It makes communication kind of difficult...you know, like when you get an email that you really need to know more about, and normally you would pick up the phone and just call the person...but you can't because it's 3am and he's sleeping.
And it makes you feel completely powerless because you're stuck watching the clock and waiting for the hours to tick by until it's a normal time somewhere else.
And it seems really silly because time is such a random, human-imposed thing! There's no such thing as "different time," if you really think about it. It's the same moment everywhere, whether you're awake or sleeping, sitting in class or driving, whatever. We've just decided that because the sun is hitting this part of the world and not that one, that they must be experiencing "different time." It's really kind of funny if you think about it.
But that doesn't change the fact that I can't pick up the phone for at least 5 or 6 more hours...
For instance, right now it's 10:15 am here. Which means it's 3:15am in the parts of the US where most of my family and friends are.
I get up, I'm starting my day, I'm ready to do things (side note: how is it that there are always phone calls to make, emails to return, errands to run, etc.? How is it that these things are never completed, no matter where you are or what you're doing in life? I think sometimes we create things for ourselves so that we don't feel completely useless when we have nothing else to do.), but half of the world is still sleeping. It makes communication kind of difficult...you know, like when you get an email that you really need to know more about, and normally you would pick up the phone and just call the person...but you can't because it's 3am and he's sleeping.
And it makes you feel completely powerless because you're stuck watching the clock and waiting for the hours to tick by until it's a normal time somewhere else.
And it seems really silly because time is such a random, human-imposed thing! There's no such thing as "different time," if you really think about it. It's the same moment everywhere, whether you're awake or sleeping, sitting in class or driving, whatever. We've just decided that because the sun is hitting this part of the world and not that one, that they must be experiencing "different time." It's really kind of funny if you think about it.
But that doesn't change the fact that I can't pick up the phone for at least 5 or 6 more hours...
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Thoughts for today:
-My ulpan teacher wears an outfit on Monday, then wears EXACTLY the same thing on Tuesday, down to the jewelry and makeup. I'm convinced that she doesn't go home and just wanders the streets of Jerusalem from 12:25 on Monday until 8:45am on Tuesday when we have class again.
-Today I went into a convenience store to get a drink and a snack after work. I asked the man at the counter (in Hebrew) how much these two things cost. He mumbled something incoherent, so I asked again. I still couldn't understand, so I guessed and handed him money. He said something else I couldn't figure out, so I gave him more money, thinking he was upset and I hadn't given him enough. Finally he said, "Do you understand English?" I answered yes, then he told me it was only 10 shekels (less than I had even given him the first time) and said, "If you can speak English, why don't you speak English?!" I responded that I'm trying to learn Hebrew. Apparently this is a shocking fact in the middle of Jerusalem. Who knew.
-On my way to work, I grabbed a cup of coffee and discovered that in Israel (or at least in this particular chain of coffee shops) things are cheaper if you get them "to go." I could see that in a restaurant, but in a coffee shop? Hmm. Of course, I chose the cheaper option.
-During our half-hour break from Ulpan in the morning, Zoe and I like to buy ice cream bars in the cafeteria and then walk across the street to the park and play on all of the playground equipment. Yesterday we almost made ourselves sick on a very unsafe spinning thing that was clearly not designed for people over 12. Today I almost broke my tailbone on the seesaw. I think we provide a lot of entertaniment for all of the retirees who also attend our Ulpan and who like to spend their break sitting quietly in the park. At least one part of the morning is fun.
-On Sunday, at the hospital with the EIE kids, a man on rollerskates dressed in a bellhop uniform came rolling through the pediatric ward, in an attempt to spread cheer or something of the sort, I imagine. He said good morning (in Hebrew) to everyone sitting at the tables with us, and was quite upset when most of my ever-enthusiastic teenagers didn't answer back, yelling at them (in Hebrew, which most of them don't understand) that when someone says good morning, you should always say it back. He then rolled away to spread cheer somewhere else. I told the kids that we needed to convince NFTY to work rollerskates into the EIE budget so that we could roll around the hospital when we came to visit, too.
I think that's enough for now. I'm sure there will be more strange tidbits of my life to share soon.
-My ulpan teacher wears an outfit on Monday, then wears EXACTLY the same thing on Tuesday, down to the jewelry and makeup. I'm convinced that she doesn't go home and just wanders the streets of Jerusalem from 12:25 on Monday until 8:45am on Tuesday when we have class again.
-Today I went into a convenience store to get a drink and a snack after work. I asked the man at the counter (in Hebrew) how much these two things cost. He mumbled something incoherent, so I asked again. I still couldn't understand, so I guessed and handed him money. He said something else I couldn't figure out, so I gave him more money, thinking he was upset and I hadn't given him enough. Finally he said, "Do you understand English?" I answered yes, then he told me it was only 10 shekels (less than I had even given him the first time) and said, "If you can speak English, why don't you speak English?!" I responded that I'm trying to learn Hebrew. Apparently this is a shocking fact in the middle of Jerusalem. Who knew.
-On my way to work, I grabbed a cup of coffee and discovered that in Israel (or at least in this particular chain of coffee shops) things are cheaper if you get them "to go." I could see that in a restaurant, but in a coffee shop? Hmm. Of course, I chose the cheaper option.
-During our half-hour break from Ulpan in the morning, Zoe and I like to buy ice cream bars in the cafeteria and then walk across the street to the park and play on all of the playground equipment. Yesterday we almost made ourselves sick on a very unsafe spinning thing that was clearly not designed for people over 12. Today I almost broke my tailbone on the seesaw. I think we provide a lot of entertaniment for all of the retirees who also attend our Ulpan and who like to spend their break sitting quietly in the park. At least one part of the morning is fun.
-On Sunday, at the hospital with the EIE kids, a man on rollerskates dressed in a bellhop uniform came rolling through the pediatric ward, in an attempt to spread cheer or something of the sort, I imagine. He said good morning (in Hebrew) to everyone sitting at the tables with us, and was quite upset when most of my ever-enthusiastic teenagers didn't answer back, yelling at them (in Hebrew, which most of them don't understand) that when someone says good morning, you should always say it back. He then rolled away to spread cheer somewhere else. I told the kids that we needed to convince NFTY to work rollerskates into the EIE budget so that we could roll around the hospital when we came to visit, too.
I think that's enough for now. I'm sure there will be more strange tidbits of my life to share soon.
Sunday, September 21, 2003
I realize I've been fairly awful at writing this week. I'll try to be more timely in adding entries from now on.
The past week was definitely a full and long one, which perhaps explains why I've been so tired...
My birthday was on Tuesday, and my roommates did a fabulous job of making it really special, as did all the phone calls, emails, cards, and gifts I received. We had a great dinner at a restaurant called Little Italy and I even ordered a drink :) It did seem kind of anti-climactic to turn 21 in a country that serves alcohol to teenagers on a regular basis. Oh well, at least it was a good birthday.
The rest of the week was mostly a blur of ulpan classes (including one great session where we listed to a dialogue at least 30 times in an attempt to translate the garbled Hebrew on the tape) and research about the Nixon era, Kissinger and the Yom Kippur War. Somehow, even though I'm not really taking classes yet, I feel like I'm keeping my mind plenty active.
We went to services Friday night at an egalitarian traditional congregation called Shira Chadasha ("A New Song"). There was separate seating for men and women, but a woman led part of the service, and just about everything was sung or chanted in multi-part harmony. It was gorgeous. A classmate of Jaimee's came over for dinner and I tried to teach everyone euchre afterwords. I don't think they particularly love the game...I think it's not really the same without the trash-talking, screaming and swearing that accompany Kutz euchre games.
On Saturday afternoon, unofficially in honor of Jaimee's birthday, we had a picnic in Guy Ben Hinnom, the Valley of Hell (so called because child sacrifices were performed there in ancient times). In contrast to its name, it's a beautiful valley - very green with lots of trees to sit under - and a perfect place for a picnic.
Today I ventured out to Kibbutz Tzuba where the EIE (NFTY semester in Israel) kids are staying, about 25 minutes outside the city. I took half of the students to Hadassah hospital where we attempted to visit patients in the pediatric ward (why is it that no matter how hard you try to arrange volunteer things, no one ever knows you're coming?!) and saw the beautiful Chagall stained glass windows that the hospital is known for.
I can't believe that it's almost Rosh Hashanah...I'm really looking forward to spending some time out at Nordiya (that's where my uncle and his family live) this weekend. The next few weeks should be really interesting, then I'm off to Haifa. That still seems very far away, especially since I've been here less than three weeks and it already feels like forever.
In the meantime, I'm just enjoying being here and especially being in Jerusalem.
Shana Tova...more updates to come soon
The past week was definitely a full and long one, which perhaps explains why I've been so tired...
My birthday was on Tuesday, and my roommates did a fabulous job of making it really special, as did all the phone calls, emails, cards, and gifts I received. We had a great dinner at a restaurant called Little Italy and I even ordered a drink :) It did seem kind of anti-climactic to turn 21 in a country that serves alcohol to teenagers on a regular basis. Oh well, at least it was a good birthday.
The rest of the week was mostly a blur of ulpan classes (including one great session where we listed to a dialogue at least 30 times in an attempt to translate the garbled Hebrew on the tape) and research about the Nixon era, Kissinger and the Yom Kippur War. Somehow, even though I'm not really taking classes yet, I feel like I'm keeping my mind plenty active.
We went to services Friday night at an egalitarian traditional congregation called Shira Chadasha ("A New Song"). There was separate seating for men and women, but a woman led part of the service, and just about everything was sung or chanted in multi-part harmony. It was gorgeous. A classmate of Jaimee's came over for dinner and I tried to teach everyone euchre afterwords. I don't think they particularly love the game...I think it's not really the same without the trash-talking, screaming and swearing that accompany Kutz euchre games.
On Saturday afternoon, unofficially in honor of Jaimee's birthday, we had a picnic in Guy Ben Hinnom, the Valley of Hell (so called because child sacrifices were performed there in ancient times). In contrast to its name, it's a beautiful valley - very green with lots of trees to sit under - and a perfect place for a picnic.
Today I ventured out to Kibbutz Tzuba where the EIE (NFTY semester in Israel) kids are staying, about 25 minutes outside the city. I took half of the students to Hadassah hospital where we attempted to visit patients in the pediatric ward (why is it that no matter how hard you try to arrange volunteer things, no one ever knows you're coming?!) and saw the beautiful Chagall stained glass windows that the hospital is known for.
I can't believe that it's almost Rosh Hashanah...I'm really looking forward to spending some time out at Nordiya (that's where my uncle and his family live) this weekend. The next few weeks should be really interesting, then I'm off to Haifa. That still seems very far away, especially since I've been here less than three weeks and it already feels like forever.
In the meantime, I'm just enjoying being here and especially being in Jerusalem.
Shana Tova...more updates to come soon
Saturday, September 13, 2003
It's Shabbat in Jerusalem and I can think of nowhere else I'd rather be.
Well, maybe that's not entirely true. I'd rather be with all of my friends and family that I miss very much. But if they could all be here...that's probably about as close to perfect as I can imagine right now.
A few words on the week...the piguot (attacks) on Tuesday definitely upset me quite a bit, especially the one here in Jerusalem. I knew that terrorism would unfortunately be a part of my experience here, but I never expected it to hit so close during my first few days in the country. Ironically enough, I spent Wednesday and Thursday afternoons literally on top of what remains of Cafe Hillel, where the attack took place. I'm doing research for an author who's a friend of my mom's and his offices are in the building right behind the cafe. The desk I'm working at gives me a fairly good view of what's going on at the site...it was cleaned up quite quickly, and walls have been put up around the bombed-out interior. Several impromptu memorials have been put up, and people come by all day to pray, take pictures, etc. It's definitely been an interesting way to spend the week.
Zoe and I also started an Ulpan (intensive Hebrew classes) this week. I'm very much looking forward to learning some more Hebrew - I feel like an idiot asking everyone in stores, etc. if they speak English - and our teacher seems nice. The funny thing is the other people in our class...Zoe and I are probably the youngest by at least 10-15 years. There's a couple from France, a man from Morocco (they all speak French all the time and it confuses the heck out of Zoe, who knows French quite well), a Russian woman and a couple of New Yorkers.
Yesterday and today were both wonderful. Yesterday morning, I went to Beit Lechem street to get food for dinner. I had so much fun walking around to the different shops, interacting with people, etc. I came home to drop the food off, then went into town to do a few errands. I walked back (a LONG walk - but it was really nice) and just felt really happy to be here.
We had a friend over for dinner last night, and today I went to services with Jaimee at HUC. Then I met Zoe for lunch with a bunch of her classmates at a friend's apartment. Clearly, I'm adopting my roommates' communities as my own :o) I hope they don't mind.
Oh, and a bit of really good news: we finally got a router that works (no thanks to my now least favorite store in Jerusalem, BUG, who refused to give us anything other than store credit for the one we bought there that didn't work) so I can be online much more! I'm sure I'll be on IM all the time just like any good college student (my screenname is cr12 for anyone that doesn't have it).
More later...Shavuah Tov (a good week) to all :o)
Well, maybe that's not entirely true. I'd rather be with all of my friends and family that I miss very much. But if they could all be here...that's probably about as close to perfect as I can imagine right now.
A few words on the week...the piguot (attacks) on Tuesday definitely upset me quite a bit, especially the one here in Jerusalem. I knew that terrorism would unfortunately be a part of my experience here, but I never expected it to hit so close during my first few days in the country. Ironically enough, I spent Wednesday and Thursday afternoons literally on top of what remains of Cafe Hillel, where the attack took place. I'm doing research for an author who's a friend of my mom's and his offices are in the building right behind the cafe. The desk I'm working at gives me a fairly good view of what's going on at the site...it was cleaned up quite quickly, and walls have been put up around the bombed-out interior. Several impromptu memorials have been put up, and people come by all day to pray, take pictures, etc. It's definitely been an interesting way to spend the week.
Zoe and I also started an Ulpan (intensive Hebrew classes) this week. I'm very much looking forward to learning some more Hebrew - I feel like an idiot asking everyone in stores, etc. if they speak English - and our teacher seems nice. The funny thing is the other people in our class...Zoe and I are probably the youngest by at least 10-15 years. There's a couple from France, a man from Morocco (they all speak French all the time and it confuses the heck out of Zoe, who knows French quite well), a Russian woman and a couple of New Yorkers.
Yesterday and today were both wonderful. Yesterday morning, I went to Beit Lechem street to get food for dinner. I had so much fun walking around to the different shops, interacting with people, etc. I came home to drop the food off, then went into town to do a few errands. I walked back (a LONG walk - but it was really nice) and just felt really happy to be here.
We had a friend over for dinner last night, and today I went to services with Jaimee at HUC. Then I met Zoe for lunch with a bunch of her classmates at a friend's apartment. Clearly, I'm adopting my roommates' communities as my own :o) I hope they don't mind.
Oh, and a bit of really good news: we finally got a router that works (no thanks to my now least favorite store in Jerusalem, BUG, who refused to give us anything other than store credit for the one we bought there that didn't work) so I can be online much more! I'm sure I'll be on IM all the time just like any good college student (my screenname is cr12 for anyone that doesn't have it).
More later...Shavuah Tov (a good week) to all :o)
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
OK, so I just heard today's second bomb go off....I'm fine, my roommates and i are all safe at home. I never really expected to hear an attack happen. I'm more than a little shaken right now, and just concerned with letting people know I'm safe.
Just to let everyone know that I'm fine...this afternoon's attack was near Tel-Aviv, which is at least an hour or so away. I guess the first attack during my time here had to happen sometime. It's very frustrating to watch the news and hear reporters make it sound somehow less horrific because it was more targeted to "soldiers" than civilians...except that the soldiers are 18/19-year-old kids waiting for a bus. How is that somehow more humane?
Updates, updates, updates...
My first shabbat/weekend came and went quite nicely. My family came up to spend Friday and Saturday in Jerusalem with me and my mom and we had a great time, mostly hanging out at the pool and walking around the city. Mom left on Saturday night to head back home, which was hard, but at least I know she'll be back to visit sometime in the next several months.
Jaimee and I spent Sunday running errands and picking up stuff we needed for the apartment. I finally had my first falafel of this trip - SOOO good. The only time I've tasted falafel in the US that comes remotely close to Israel's is at Rami's in Coolidge Corner, and even that isn't the same. After heading home and spending hours attempting to get our DSL hookup connected through a router so that we can all be online, we finally gave up and went to Emek Refayim (the German Colony) to meet Zoe and some other fun Conservative Yeshiva people for "Thai" food. Except it wasn't so much Thai. Oh well, maybe I'll have to wait until I go home to satisfy that food craving.
We spent most of today in the apartment waiting for the cable guy to show up. Once he finally did, we spent the rest of the day channel surfing and watching old reruns of random American TV shows. I find it more than slightly ironic that I can watch Sex and the City here but not at Boston University.
Over the next few days, I'm hoping to figure out what to do for the next several weeks. It looks like I'll be doing some research with Michael Oren, an author who's a friend of my mom's, for a new book. Hopefully I can work one or two other things out as well.
More soon, and I promise to get some pictures up on the website so you can see what the apartment looks like...
My first shabbat/weekend came and went quite nicely. My family came up to spend Friday and Saturday in Jerusalem with me and my mom and we had a great time, mostly hanging out at the pool and walking around the city. Mom left on Saturday night to head back home, which was hard, but at least I know she'll be back to visit sometime in the next several months.
Jaimee and I spent Sunday running errands and picking up stuff we needed for the apartment. I finally had my first falafel of this trip - SOOO good. The only time I've tasted falafel in the US that comes remotely close to Israel's is at Rami's in Coolidge Corner, and even that isn't the same. After heading home and spending hours attempting to get our DSL hookup connected through a router so that we can all be online, we finally gave up and went to Emek Refayim (the German Colony) to meet Zoe and some other fun Conservative Yeshiva people for "Thai" food. Except it wasn't so much Thai. Oh well, maybe I'll have to wait until I go home to satisfy that food craving.
We spent most of today in the apartment waiting for the cable guy to show up. Once he finally did, we spent the rest of the day channel surfing and watching old reruns of random American TV shows. I find it more than slightly ironic that I can watch Sex and the City here but not at Boston University.
Over the next few days, I'm hoping to figure out what to do for the next several weeks. It looks like I'll be doing some research with Michael Oren, an author who's a friend of my mom's, for a new book. Hopefully I can work one or two other things out as well.
More soon, and I promise to get some pictures up on the website so you can see what the apartment looks like...
Friday, September 05, 2003
Shalom l'kulam miyerushalayim (Hello to everyone from Jerusalem)!
And that's about all of the Hebrew I've picked up so far...which makes grocery shopping interesting.
I arrived on Tuesday night after a long but fairly quiet flight with an amazing group of 18 teenagers I was chaperoning (they're spending a semester here as part of NFTY's high school in Israel program). Mom picked me up, we went to her hotel to get my suitcase (and a quick shower, thank goodness), got some dinner at a cafe on the corner, then headed to the apartment.
A few words about the amazingly gorgeous place that I'm currently sitting in...it's big, first of all, especially by Israeli standards. 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, big kitchen and living/dining room. We have an incredible view of some of the hills around the Old City of Jerusalem...it's kind of like living in a postcard. I'll put up some pictures as soon as I can get my laptop connected to the internet (right now we're all using Jaimee & Helayne's since it's the only one set up for the DSL modem).
I should also mention my lovely roommates - Helayne, Jaimee and Zoe. Helayne and Jaimee are both from New York; Helayne is studying at Pardes, which is a non-denominational (I think that's the right word) center for Jewish learning where people from all different branches of Judaism study part- or full-time for a semester or a year. Jaimee is a first-year rabbinical student at HUC, the Reform seminary. Zoe is from London and is studying at the yeshiva (high-level Jewish school) associated with the Conservative movement. They're all great and have been so welcoming and understanding of my jetlag and slow process of settling in.
As for what I'm doing here until I go to school in Haifa on October 20th, I'm still figuring it out. The kids I flew with were really dissapointed that I wasn't staff in any official capacity during their time here, so I'm hoping the NFTY people can think of some things I can help out with out on the kibbutz where they are. I think I'm also going to be doing some research and working with a friend of my mom's who's a author.
All good stuff...updates will come for the website as soon as my computer is online.
And that's about all of the Hebrew I've picked up so far...which makes grocery shopping interesting.
I arrived on Tuesday night after a long but fairly quiet flight with an amazing group of 18 teenagers I was chaperoning (they're spending a semester here as part of NFTY's high school in Israel program). Mom picked me up, we went to her hotel to get my suitcase (and a quick shower, thank goodness), got some dinner at a cafe on the corner, then headed to the apartment.
A few words about the amazingly gorgeous place that I'm currently sitting in...it's big, first of all, especially by Israeli standards. 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, big kitchen and living/dining room. We have an incredible view of some of the hills around the Old City of Jerusalem...it's kind of like living in a postcard. I'll put up some pictures as soon as I can get my laptop connected to the internet (right now we're all using Jaimee & Helayne's since it's the only one set up for the DSL modem).
I should also mention my lovely roommates - Helayne, Jaimee and Zoe. Helayne and Jaimee are both from New York; Helayne is studying at Pardes, which is a non-denominational (I think that's the right word) center for Jewish learning where people from all different branches of Judaism study part- or full-time for a semester or a year. Jaimee is a first-year rabbinical student at HUC, the Reform seminary. Zoe is from London and is studying at the yeshiva (high-level Jewish school) associated with the Conservative movement. They're all great and have been so welcoming and understanding of my jetlag and slow process of settling in.
As for what I'm doing here until I go to school in Haifa on October 20th, I'm still figuring it out. The kids I flew with were really dissapointed that I wasn't staff in any official capacity during their time here, so I'm hoping the NFTY people can think of some things I can help out with out on the kibbutz where they are. I think I'm also going to be doing some research and working with a friend of my mom's who's a author.
All good stuff...updates will come for the website as soon as my computer is online.
