Archive for the 'new york' Category
March 29th, 2008 by elie
Over the past few months, I’ve been watching people come and go from Israel. I haven’t been back to New York in over a year and it’s nearly a year since I left the country at all. If you take a look at my past passports, you know that’s a bit insane.
At this point, I’m holding out for the summer, when I have a couple weddings I’d like to attend. I’d likely stay for a couple months over the holidays. Various family members, however, disagree and want me to visit ASAP.
We will see what happens with regard to New York. I’m losing my patience as far as leaving Israel for a trip to anywhere. I have time and I could have money.
Stay tuned…
May 2nd, 2007 by elie
Here is example #178 of something you’d never see handed out in Jerusalem:
I heard about these NYC subway edition condoms being handed out in a new campaign while I was in New York in February… I thought it would make the ultimate token of NYC love. My brother was kind of enough to mail me a couple. I hope that’s not weird.
February 19th, 2007 by elie
I’m not a particularly nice person. And certainly not always thoughtful, either.
But I guess leaving New York and living in Jerusalem for two years has ingrained in me a greater sense of respect; at least, respect that transfers from words to actions.
So that’s why I was stunned when an old guy got on the semi-packed train and no one got up to let him sit.
I got up after a few minutes of deliberating (Maybe New York elders don’t expect it? Maybe everyone just fends for themsleves?) and then he did indeed sit down.
On an Egged bus, you’d never see that or have to deliberate.
February 18th, 2007 by elie
I’m in New York. I found a two-way ticket for $499. Actually, the ticket found me, and just in time.
No shock that I’ve been feeling jaded and weary lately. I don’t know if it’s aliyah fatigue or general Israeli fatigue. It’s not easy living here, even if you do have food to eat and unpaid cable TV. If the drivers don’t kill you and the bombs don’t kill someone you love, you still experience pain every time you have to endure the news or the people on the news who tell you who you are but won’t let you correct them.
Which is why the ticket to New York was meant to prevent the dangerously-close burnout I was facing. I think most Israelis feel it at some point and I think this is a culture of traveling. I booked to come here for a week and I’m on day 4 and feeling very healthy.
As always, I’m experiencing bouts of culture shock here and there (weather is so cold, people are so cold). But, as my trips to New York usually do, I’m getting a cultural energy-boost. A web-cultural boost having to do with my current employment, that is. On the train to the city last night, this group of people in my age-bracket were standing around chatting about Web 2.0. Wow, I thought, people actually talk about this somewhere. I mean, it is essentially my job’s focus, but in Israel I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone chatting about it on the bus.
The last four days have been peppered with being invigorated by the people around me. I feel revived, respirited. I’m surrounded by the culture I work for, normally from a distance. And I’m remembering how seriously I should be taking it - and how not seriously I should be taking it.
This is definitely some of the best $499 I’ve spent in a while.
November 18th, 2005 by elie
This sounds silly, but I really miss New York lately.
Remember this? and this?
With Thanksgiving and even Christmas coming up, I’m beginning to actually miss ’tis season… Imagine that.
Is that what it is to make aliyah? To always miss home, whether I’m here or there?
December 9th, 2004 by elie
bagels.
green and white street signs.
skyscrapers.
brook-len.
hip hop.
bodegas.
beastie boys.
christmas.
catholic school uniforms.
new jersey turnpike.
window shopping.
labor day.
snowstorms.
November 7th, 2004 by elie
i was going to the city and there was a fatal accident and they closed the entire eastern spur both ways for 2 hours so hundreds of people were parked on the turnpike.
most bizarre thing i’ve ever experienced.
to the people i met on the NJ turnpike tonight: it was great hanging out with you while waiting 2 1/2 hours for the cops to let us go…
to the dance party car in back of me: you guys were mad fun, specially with the seven year old who was with you.
to the cab dudes smoking off to the side: thanks for offering me one.
to the woman in the cab coming from the airport: well, i hope you were coming from and not to the airport, cuz your flight was missed. sucks. and that cab fare - ouch.
to the cute guy i was talking to on the service lane: thanks for the walk down the turnpike towards the cops. i’ll never forget the way we raced back to our cars when the traffic finally started moving when we finally got to the end of the road. shame i didnt get your number. we could have partied in a proper club as opposed to the highway.
i’m glad i got a chance to spend some intimate time with NJ before i leave… i’m also glad i got to experience what the turnpike looks like with hundreds of cars sitting idle with their lights turned off.
October 21st, 2004 by elie
next year in shearusalem.