Category: what a country
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Israeli Pet Peeve #127: Wrong number.
I have never experienced this anywhere in my life but here with my Israeli mobile number: *Ring ring* Me: “Hello?” Israeli caller: “Hello?” Me: “…hello?” Israeli caller: “Hila?” Me: “No, must be a wrong number…” (about to hang up) Israeli caller: “Who is this?” Me: “What’s the difference?” Israeli caller: “Hila?” Me: “No. Wrong number.”…
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The plumber just high-fived my husband.
We’ve been living here for two and a half months and I still can’t get over how freakin’ nice everyone is around Tzur Hadassah. My landlady is a complete doll (read: Polish) and gets everything fixed for us right away. She’s professional, polite and considerate. This is the exact opposite of the experience we had…
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My time in jail.
Remember the nationwide drill I wrote about? The emergency sirens went off today at 10 am all over the country, wherever you happened to be standing. And me? I was standing in Ma’asiyahu prison in Ramle. And let me tell you, it’s a little surreal to hear a siren go off in a prison. I…
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ICQ Toothpaste: Because you never know.
The Israeli hi tech world is alive and… brushing. Gizmodo posted that the Israeli software company that created ICQ, the instant messenger we all lost our virginity to, teamed up with an Israeli pharmaceutical company and together have created this bad boy of a Frankenstein: That’s right, ICQ toothpaste. Why, you inevitably ask? The Israeli…
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Attempting snow in Israel.
Just went for a drive… sort of. I guess I underestimated the snow; we tried driving to a friend’s and although we didn’t make it far, I did get a dose of nostalgia for snowy days back in upstate New York. Yep, stuck in the house all day, playing in the snow by night… I…
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Someone has to heal Oren Zarif’s marketing campaign.
Sometimes, we have to heal the healer. I’m referring, of course, to Oren Zarif. And by healing, I mean help him out with his horribly cheesy marketing schemes. Sounds familiar? Not sure who I’m talking about? Sure, you do! Here’s a clue: There are plenty of healers out there in the world, across cultures. There…
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Adam Sandler's Israeli side.
Like so many of us, I am an Adam Sandler fan, for better or worse. I’m not yet sure if this is best or worst, but his latest – You Don’t Mess With The Zohan – is certainly… relevant? Adam Sandler definitely takes on one of his most ridiculous roles – and worst accents –…
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Polite/funny/logical Israeli building notice?!
I got this forwarded to me the other day and I felt it was important to share this ‘holiday season’ of giving. In case you don’t read Hebrew, here’s the gist: On Saturday night I’m having a small party on the roof. It might be a bit noisy (until the acceptable hour) so right before…
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The view from here and National Geographic.
On Sunday nights there is usually nothing on TV for basic-cable watchers; or at least this one. Tonight, however, National Geographic had a special on anti-terrorism technology. And wouldn’t you know, Israel served as all of their examples for technological solutions to preventing terrorism. Sure, they butchered our names – Amos is ‘Aymus’, Pessach is…
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An Israeli workday.
This hasn’t happened in a while, but today was a high terror alert in Jerusalem so the police were everywhere. Here’s what I watched from my office window after police discovered a suspicious package near the Malha mall: The bomb squad guy getting the act together with (Israeli) man’s best friend. Traffic backed up…
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All aboard: Morning minyan on Israel Railways.
New from Israel Railways: Pray for the train to be on time… Late for work or school because of long Morning Prayer? Do you get stuck in traffic because you were held up at shul? Israel Railways presents ‘Synagogue Coach’. Project’s initiators at Union of Synagogues wait for green-light from transportation minister, generous donor to…