May 31, 2007
May 30, 2007
Five Months in a Foreign Country
Living here feels normal now. Not being able to read signs, understand conversations, find certain products, or go a day without pita bread are second nature.
There are some things I will probably never be completely comfortable with -- such as the toilet and sink being in separate, but adjoining, rooms; sitting on the bus next to someone who is carrying a gun, and not smiling or saying hello to passerby.
There are also things that I will always long for. Like Target. I never, ever expected that Target would cross my mind on a regular basis, but shockingly, it does. So does Crate&Barrel, H&M, and Loehmann’s, but not to the extent that I think of Target and how great it would be to buy an ottoman, a Brita filter, and cute wrapping paper all in one trip.
Of course, having said that, I love that streets here are lined with locally-owned shops and restaurants, to the point that it’s almost ridiculous to even point out that a store is “locally-owned,” since they almost all are.
So, yeah. Two months ago I couldn’t imagine this place ever feeling like home, but now, strangely, it sort of does. It has only been five months. What will it feel like in a year?
May 28, 2007
Windows on Imprisonment
Bahá’u’lláh was brought to ‘Akká as a prisoner in 1868. His imprisonment was unjust, but He and His family were given some of the best quarters available in a place that was notorious for its bad conditions.
The prison cells have been restored, and ‘Akká is a much cleaner city now, so although this looks like prime real estate overlooking the Mediterranean, I somberly think of the time when the windows were boarded up and the Bahá’í pilgrims would travel hundreds of miles to see Bahá’u’lláh -- but could only see His hand waving to them from a window.
The Citadel of ‘Akká
Initially I regretted that I took such tightly-cropped photos, and then I realized that since the citadel was used as a prison, this cropping better conveys the concept of confinement.
May 27, 2007
Three Years of Island Fever
We finally saw the season finale of Lost last night -- so frustratingly glorious and devastating at the same time, right? Ugh!
Anyway, great episode, but I feel sad.
May 24, 2007
Two More to Remember Shingo
In the first photo: me and my office mates, Edward, Patrick (I never actually worked with him -- he used to work in this department and after hearing his name for months I finally got to meet him), me, Bob, Lucas, and Shingo.
Second photo: Shingo with his farewell gift. We’ll miss you!
May 23, 2007
Shingo’s Last Day
It’s a sad day in our office.
That’s why I made sure to post the first picture. Me in a lab coat? Pretty hilarious.
(Photos top to bottom: with co-workers in the Conservation Lab; with co-workers plus Amelia and Shiori; Amelia and I at she and Shingo’s farewell dinner; with co-workers and families at the farewell dinner; Shingo, excited to start his new life.)
A Very Big Mistake
At least six months had passed since either of us experienced the exquisite, the mouth-watering, the matchless pleasure of eating pizza. We had walked past a little pizzeria in our neighborhood many times before, but we always opted for the falafel stand next door. I see now that this was a mistake. A very big mistake.
So yes, when we were craving a delicious, titillating bite of pizza the other day, we peeked in windows of the pizzeria and what did we see? New York style pizza! In a place that feels so very far from New York, there it was.
And oh, ohhh man. The pizza was just the way we like it. Thin crust, by the slice. Every bite both savory and sweet; every bite perfectly, wonderfully, gratifyingly tasty. I have never enjoyed pizza so completely, so totally in each bite. The moment passed so quickly that I’m convinced Eric finished my pizza after he hypnotized me and then erased my memory.
Poor falafel stand. They’ve lost me to the heaven next door. The luscious, delectable heaven next door. Take me to your pearly gates, little pizzeria.
May 21, 2007
Your Perception
I’ve been trying very hard to understand something
that I may never understand.
May 20, 2007
Case of Mistaken Identity
In the last couple of years I’ve developed this bad habit of mistaking individuals for other individuals. Sometimes these are even people I know fairly well, or at least I’ve been inside their homes, eaten their food, looked at their photo albums -- and still I mistake them for someone else. Like:
Me: It was so funny bumping into you the other day!
Them: Huh? What day?
Me: Remember? Last week?
Them: ...
Me: I saw you on the street?
Them: Uh...
Me: And we waved to each other? Remember?
Them: Ohhh! Yes, yes! Right. That was funny... yeah. Hm.
Two hours later I realize they’re not at all who I thought they were and that I’m a giant idiot. And then I have to deal with awkwardness of bumping into them again and explaining my mostly-inexplicable behavior.
Does anyone want to be me for a while? Then I won’t have to be responsible for making a fool out of myself -- you can take all the blame.
May 18, 2007
Teens On the Bus Go Round and Round
Ideally I’d be on the 7:15 bus every morning, but on days I’m running late, subsequent buses are fascinating because I get to see all the Israeli high school kids going off to school.
There’s no real reason to be fascinated, since teenagers are pretty much the same no matter where in the world you go, but perhaps that’s what makes them interesting. On the other hand, Israeli teenagers seem to have a certain innocent-but-mature quality that gives them so much depth. So when I see a group of them, I am transfixed.
May 17, 2007
Even On a Gloomy Day
These things always bring delight.
- Bill Withers
- Brand new socks
- Freshly-squeezed orange juice
- Husband’s kiss on my forehead
- New episodes of Lost
- Velvet
May 16, 2007
Bee Hive
It might be impossible to tell, but those are THOUSANDS of bees swarmed around a hive. Eew! And awesome, too.
So Low
All my clothes recommend a good, “low” tumble dry. But no dryer I’ve ever used has a “low” setting.
Maybe this is a ploy by clothing manufacturers to avoid lawsuits with frustrated consumers who lose their clothes to an old-fashioned “medium” or “delicate” dry.
I pump my angry fist in the air.
May 15, 2007
Thoughts on Flickr
You guys are sweet. Thank you for your comments! But I laugh to myself -- those of you who praise my photography have some enviable photography skills yourselves; so while I look at your photos and wish I could be as good as you are, you’re praising me. How funny.
So! Some of you have been asking me to get myself on Flickr. I’ve considered it, but two thoughts have kept me, and may continue to keep me, from it --
One: I already spend too much time in front of the computer as is.
Two: everything I want to publish online is already on this blog.
Joining Flickr is certainly not out of the question, but my sentimental side says my blog should be the only place online where my life is documented by me. Is this silly? Anyway, I really hope you avid Flickrers can forgive me -- who knows, someday you may change my mind.
May 14, 2007
May 10, 2007
Conversation at the Bus Stop
I just can’t resist recounting this one.
We often see this elderly man sitting at the bus stop, but he never seems to get on or off any buses. He just seems to enjoy watching the street.
Man: (Says something to me in Hebrew.)
Me: Uh... Anni lo medaberet Ivrit.
Man: You want to shit?
Me: Excuse me?
Man: You want to shit?
Me: (Looking at Eric with confusion.)
Man: You can shit! (Points to seat next to him.)
Me: Oh! SIT! No, thank you. I’m fine.
Man: Okay... You have cigarette?
May 08, 2007
National Pastime
Eric: I think it’s a national pastime.
Me: What is?
Eric: Showing one’s buttcrack.
Our First Dinner Party in Israel
Last night we had friends over to welcome our out-of-town visitors, and we also ate a home-cooked, dairy-free, meat-free, wheat-free dinner. (Yeah, we’re amazing.)
Below are some of the people who filled our apartment with love and laughter.
May 07, 2007
Lacey and Myk Are Here
My good friend, Lacey, works for an airline, so she and her husband, Myk, are lucky enough to be our first out-of-town guests! They arrived at our apartment at 3:00 am this morning.
We’ve been preparing for their visit. We rearranged the furniture (to give them a semi-private bedroom), bought HOUSEPLANTS (even cacti), and hung ARTWORK! And then, of course, there was the matter of buying stuff last week, so all this amounts to our place looking a whole lot cozier.
PLUS, they brought gifts from the U. S. of A. Hooray! Everything we desperately missed -- a shower curtain liner, witch hazel, and loads of catalogs from some of my favorite stores (Anthropologie, Crate&Barrel, West Elm) -- came with them on the journey.
All this (including the cookies I just ate) is making me very giddy!
May 06, 2007
Built to Last
Unfortunately -- and frighteningly -- global warming is going to continue to cause severe and deadly storms across the United States. I wonder if this will force developers to stop building cheap cardboard-houses and start building homes that will last?
May 04, 2007
Hallelujah, It’s Raining Mud
There must be a lot of dirt in the air, because when it rained yesterday, it brought mud down with it. It was probably the only time in my life I considered falling rain to be “dirty.” Fortunately, the air feels cleaner and cooler today.
More Consequences to Being Illiterate
Eric: Look, a protest!
Me: Really? Where?
Eric: Over there. See? They’re holding a big sign.
Me: Oh!
Eric: Well, it’s either a protest, or it’s a bake sale.
May 03, 2007
Having a Car Makes Us Spend Money
We had the day off yesterday, so we rented a car and did what any carless person with a temporary wheels would do -- we bought lots and lots of stuff.
The damage started at IKEA in Netanya, where we bought candles and mirrors and other cheap things that we won’t take with us when we leave Israel.
Then we went to a cute, artsy town called Zikhron Ya’aqov, where we had lunch at an outdoor restaurant, walked up and down cobblestone streets, and visited my new friends at Tut-Neyar paper mill and gallery.
We headed back to Haifa at dusk, stopping at Home Center to buy more stuff, Haifa Mall to buy even more stuff, and even a framing studio to pick up stuff we already bought.
By the time we got home, we were very tired. Spending money is hard work.
May 01, 2007
Featheraphobe
In my half-sleep state in the middle of the night, I burst into laughter at a sudden memory: the countless times my sister, Mojdeh, and I tormented our other sister, Mojgan, with feathers.
Poor Mojgan! She’s allergic to feathers, but because of her extreme aversion to being anywhere near them, Mojdeh and I always saw it as an funny, exaggerated fear and spent every road trip carefully placing feathers on her until she screamed. We thought it was hilarious.
In a way, it sort of was. Sorry, Mojgan! You know I love you, and I seriously hope we didn’t traumatize you.