yodalef's Xanga

Oh yeah...I forgot

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:55:33 GMT

I 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...

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:11:00 GMT

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 Shelter

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 02:55:34 GMT

I 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)

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 15:26:15 GMT

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.

Vacation from Civilization (or at least from the internet)

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:07:45 GMT

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.

On a Lighter Side

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:28:11 GMT

I have written before that at least in Jerusalem I have noticed that people are going about their daily business. Its not that we don't feel pain for our people in the north, but if we alter our life here then this war of terror has succeeded.

So... in the spirit of lightness I decided to write something short about my roommate here. Once again (as with last summer) my roommate is from London. This may be strange coincidence. However, it is my sister who is for the longest time been trying find a way to live in London. Why I'm meeting these Londoners is anyone's guess?

My roommate is very friendly and outgoing. We get along great even though we are not in the room at the same time much (more precisely- I'm not in the room much and he is even less). Basically we joke around and talk about differences in language, culture, etc. I had bought this eggplant puree to put on bread (btw- I used to not like eggplant, but have loved it ever since I was in China in the summer of '02- thank you China!). I offered him some and he said what is it, 'aubergine'. I said, "no it's eggplant". He said, "yeah, aubergine, that's what we call it." So we get in this play argument about the word and how the Brits (obviously from my perspective) have ruined the English language by taking in these foreign words (they also have some French-sounding word for 'zucchini' but I granted him that 'zucchini' is not necessarily English either, so it's a tie). No I had no idea why 'eggplant' is called as such because it doesn't look like an egg, but at least 'egg' and 'plant' are English, ergo 'eggplant' is English.

Just now as I'm writing this I did a very brief search (basically to find out how to spell 'aubergine') and this is a part of what I found:

With this same level of enthusiasm, the inhabitants of Mediterranean countries greeted Arab traders who first brought them eggplant in the Middle Ages. In fact the word aubergine -- used in France, Germany, and England -- is Arabic in origin: al-badinjan, which became the Catalan alberginera, and later evolved into aubergine. The word eggplant derives from the white species, which closely resembles a hen's egg.

So I was kind of wrong, but I still maintain the Brits have distorted our English language. Rejecting perfectly and logical words like 'line' for 'the French word 'queue'. In the midst of joking here, I do have to say something serious. You Americans who like to sound sophisticated and use the word 'queue' just sound silly.

Ok, back to my roommate. I just found out this morning that for the system of weights they use the measurement 'stone', which equals about 14 pounds. Yes, they still use a measurement that sounds like it is from the Middle Ages. For example, he said that when listing football players (btw, I do have to side with them on this word. 'Football' for American football is absurd because one hardly uses his foot. Only the kickers do and everyone knows they aren't even real football players) height and weight it will read- 6' 2" 13 stones. They still use the measurement 'stones'!?! I asked why don't you measure the height in cubits (arm length)? If you want to live in the Middle Ages you might as well be there completely. No reason to accept some aspects of the modern world and reject others. So, that is what this ignorant American learned this morning.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 09:55:42 GMT

Just another update that I am still in Jerusalem and fine. I was planning to go to visit the Gelbets in the Krayot (just north of Haifa) until Katyusha's started landing in Haifa. By the look of things I'm not sure when I will be able to go back and visit.

I was reading an article about the conflict on CNN.com. At the end it mentioned the effect on oil prices and then gave a line to a video clip entitled "How the Middle East crisis affects your wallet". I find that incredibly insensitive (and American) and by far not the most serious effect of this situation.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 05:18:29 GMT

Yesterday I was walking on one of the main streets of Jerusalem and decided to call Svyeta (I call once a day). It was then she told me about the fighting in the north. I was walking on the streets here and could not tell any difference. Now, I am not trying to underestimate the severity of the present fighting, I merely want to say at least in Jerusalem people are going about their business as we all must. It was very difficult to read news articles this morning about the fighting, as well as about the potential for more rocekts from places like the West Bank. I don't know if the Knesset has decided yet, but they may soon to call up reserves. There is a possibility that Andrey (the Gelbet's son), who finished his active duty in March, could be called up. He was a tank driver near the Syria border as well as Gaza. There is no meaning to what is going on.

All I can say is, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem".

Quote

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 05:00:10 GMT

A few weeks ago I watched "Seven Years in Tibet" with the Gelbets (of course dubbed in Russian with English subtitles). I had never seen it. It thought it was pretty good. The Dali Lama quoted one Tibetian saying which I will paraphrase:

If there is a solution to a problem then there is no need to worry about it. If there is no solution to it then worrying will not help.

History

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 10:37:42 GMT

Israel in general has a long history, but in particular Jerusalem. Where ever you walk you can think about who has stepped before you (of course not the same dirt because there are many historical layers, but you get what I mean). There is a heaviness to the air in Jerusalem. It sufficates some and they avoid it. There's a tension in the air. The city has seen many battles over many millenia. Many have claimed her, but can she be shared. I know some feel a hightened spirituality i nthe air and love it. I'm not sure I do. I don't deny it, but I jsut don't feel it. I feel the tension, the history. There is action and movement. I would prefer, however, for there to be peace in Jerusalem. For it to be calm. I'm not sure when that will happen.

As for Israel as whole I love it. There are some who describe Israel as the most beautiful, incredible place in the world. I can't say that. I've been other places that I love: snow-capped volcanoes in Chile, rainforests in Costa Rica, sand dunes in China. The world is an incredible place. All of God's creation is wonderful (well, maybe except Dalton, GA). I know I will never be able to travel to all the places in the world I would like to see. The world is too big and we have too little time. But my point is I feel something special in Israel. While I want to visit other places, only here do I want to live. I feel a sense of belonging here, a connection with history, that I can not adequately explain.

×× ×™ ×ž×¨×’×™×© ×©×”×™× ×©×œ×™
×•×× ×™ ××•×”×‘ ××•×ª×” ×‘×›×œ ×œ×‘×™
(originally when I wrote this in Hebrew it seemed to show up fine)