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| Oh yeah...I forgotI meant to mention this in my previous entry. So, my being a history geek almost got my in serious trouble with Israeli airport security. Let me explain. First, you must understand that Israeli security is always very tight and they hand search every bag. And when I mean hand search I don't mean rummaging through the bag like most people do, I mean they practically take everything out of the bag. Now they do this to everyone, not just to people with beards like me. However, as they were looking through my bags they found something very interest, or shall I say suspicious. It was a book (in Hebrew) called "Jewish Jerusalem in the 16th Century". Basically it is a collection of Ottoman Tukish documents translated into Hebrew. To a normal eye this may be a rather boring looking book, but not to Israeli security. This book set of a red light. When the girl checking my bag asked why I had it I said that I'm insterested in history and that I'm taking a class this semester in the history of Jerusalem. For some reason she couldn't understand when I said (in English) "history of Jerusalem". So I said it in Hebrew "historia shel Yerushalayim" (big difference, huh?). So then she found out I knew Hebrew and that was it. She then called over the security manager to begin questioning me. (I must say the girl checking my bag was quite poilite throughout the whole thing, oddly enough.) Normally when you go through security they ask all sorts of bizarre questions jsut to see how you respond. This time, however, when the manager was asking my "why I studied Hebrew? why in Israel? why...why...why?" she was serious. She really wanted to know to make sure I was safe enough to get on the plane. After a few minutes of interrogation (all in Hebrew of course) the girl asked the manager if she should continue. I thought, "should you continue? Am I that suspicious?". The manager paused for what seemed like 5 minutes but must have been only 5 seconds. She finally said (as her only response), "Have a pleasant flight". But she said it very begrudgingly as if to say, "He's a fool, but an honest fool" (Lord of the Ring quote). 10 minutes later the search was concluded and I was free to go to my flight, which I almost missed due to the prolonged search despite the fact I arrived at the airport two and a half hours before my flight. Having read all of this please don't misinterpret my attitude, I appreciate the security and am thankful for the job they do to protect us all. I just think it is funny sometimes what sets off the alarm in their heads. | | |
| Georgia on My Mind...Wait a minute. Actually it's "Israel on my mind" because I'm back in Georgia now. But for some reason that does sound as nice with the melody.
I returned last night after a couple days of travelling (I spent the night in Nice, France). It was good to sleep in my bed here at my parent's house. It's oh so comfortable. Last night was defininitely the best night sleep in 2 and a half months. I only have a few days here until I go back to St. Louis to begin classes of what should be my last semester.
A friend of mine, who read some of my previous entries, informed me that my tone seemed a little strong in trying to convince someone (I'm not sure who) of my desire to be here. Looking back I think that it is fair assessment, although that was not my intent. I'm not trying to convince anyone, especially not myself, of my desire to move to Israel. But maybe I picked up somewhat of the Israeli mentality. Israelis always are defending themselves to the world about the right to live in the land of Israel and even to protect themselves against enemies whose stated objectives are to annihilate them. The Middle East conflict, such as the recent war with Lebanon, is not about border disputes...but I digress. My point is not to discuss politics here, merely to explain that Israelis are always on the defensive. So, maybe I unintentionally incorporated that into my writing about my desire to be there. That said, my heart is in Israel and I look forward to someday staying and not having to leave again. But for now I have to get back to studying and enjoying my last few months in St. Louis (seriously guys, 8 years after moving to St. Louis I am really going to leave...I mean it this time). | | |
| Bomb ShelterI think the strangest part about the sirens was the need to be ready at any minute to run to the bomb shelter yet not live in a state of fear. I was here for only a day while there where many people in the building here all month long. What I saw on this last day (I hope it continues to be the last day) was pretty amazing. People ran to the shelter, but I didn't see panic in any of them. After a month you form a routine. In the bomb shelter people had "their" spot. When we came in we were unaware of this and accidentally sat in other people's spots. I could tell they were perturbed, but no one even said anything. After the first few sirens we caught on and sat in the back away from the regular spots. I must make something clear. I'm not trying to make light of a very serious situation, but trying to reveal a different side that you would not know or see unless you were there. Also, the Krayot was not the most severe area hit like Kiryat Shemona, Carmiel or even Acco less than 10 miles a way. That said any siren is pretty serious. Nonetheless, it was good to see some people still had their sense of humor. As we were leave the shelter to go back upstairs some would joke around. Imagine how much better they know their neighbors now after a month of this.
Anyway, back to being ready about leaving the apartment. I was aware that any minute a siren could go off. It's interesting that every little sound outside (especially car alarms) make you jump for a split second, but the siren is unmistakable. I wanted to take a shower in the evening, but didn't because running down 8 flights of stairs in 60 seconds is a chore in of itself. There was one girl who came in one time with a towel on her head. Her mother was telling someone that she she still had some soap in her head. Even though you have to be ready that doesn't mean you sit by the door. Merely if you hear the siren be prepared. For example, one time I was eating some borscht when it went off. I put my spoon down and ran out. But then when I came back up 20 minutes later I began eating again as if nothing had happened.
Truly an experience like none other. But as I've written before, this is a part of Israel (unfortunately). Take it or leave. You should know my answer by now. | | |
| I'm Back! (in northern Israel that is)As I last posted I have been gone at a camp for children from the north for the last two weeks. I have been sleeping in a tent in an olive grove at a monastery outside of Jerusalem. I don't really have time to explain about it, but it was a trip. Out of about 65 people (adults and children) I was the only non-Russian-speaker. Sure all the kids spoke Hebrew, but some of the adults didn't. The camp was run in Russian. At times (actually the whole time) I had to remind myself I was in Israel not Russian. I was definitely outside of my comfort zone and whenever that happens you learn a lot.
All that to say I am back in Kiryat Bialik (Haifa area). The Gelbets wanted to return home and I felt my time at the camp was coming to an end. We decided to return before news of the proposed cease fire. I'm not sure this will make sense to anyone, but I wanted to be hear and experience what everyone else is experiencing. If everyone had left I wouldn't care to return. People are here, so I am. I want to learn what it is like living in Israel, the good and the bad. It's a package deal. None of this dissuades me at all from wanting to live here.
That's the background for wanting to return. The reality is that we returned and within the first 3 hours there were 4 sirens that went off. That means you have about 60 seconds to get to the bomb shelter. We have to go down 8 flights of stairs. Once I got to the bottom I hear "boom... boom... boom" in the distance. Maybe a few miles away, but not too close. I really can't explain the feeling. I doesn't seem real to me. Being an American and living in a safe place makes it hard to comprehend what is going on. In the bomb shelter people are listening to the radio trying to figure out where the (side note: there was another siren and I had to go to the shelter. While there another 3 sirens were sounded.) rockets fell. There have been some people here for the whole month doing this almost every day. Given the situation people are realitively calm (in this building). We, of course, are not in the worse area, like Kiryat Shemona or Carmiel, so I imagine things are worse there.
Maybe some other time I can compose my thoughts better. I haven't processed anything really.
I write this so my friends know what is going on. Please don't worry though. I'm fine and will be. Everything is in God's hands.
Until someone can give me a convincing reason to worry I won't.
Peace be upon you.
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| Vacation from Civilization (or at least from the internet)Just another reminder to those you might be reading this: I'm still doing fine.
I finished my class on Friday, which was such a relief. The material was not that hard, but it was too many hours a day crammed into one month, 6 days a week. It's over and all I have to do now is wait for my grade.
On Sunday I went to a camp, in a olive grove at a monastery outside of Jerusalem, for children from the north. We came back to the Krayot (Haifa area) last night just to get a few things. So far it has been quiet, i.e. no bomb sirens. We haven't left yet though. We're planning to go back in a few minutes.
I'll be helping out at the camp for a few weeks (less I hope, but it depends on the situation). Therefore I won't be writing for a while (for practical reasons- there is no computer in the field). Sometime when I leave it I'll try and explain more about it.
Peace.
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