Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004
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Fifty-Two Frames: Imperfect
Week 19: Imperfect Screw this.
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When the kids had a sleepover
Before kids’ bedtime last night, just for the hell of it, I offered Bebe to sleep on the pull-out bed from under Koala’s bottom bunk. Usually she sleeps in her crib, adjacent to the massive bunk bed, which has served mainly as a hulking piece of furniture potential. She took us up on the offer. As young…
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On Jews, Jerusalem, Women and Walls
Note: Reflections based on my rare February and March 2013 trips to the Kotel. Based on today’s news, I figured today’s as good as any to post. I’ve been to the Kotel, the Western Wall, way too many times in the past year. Previously, I had a comfortable average of maybe once every two or…
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Israeli “Who’s on First”
“יש לי חנות.” “מה יש בחנות?” “פיצה וקוסקוס. מה את רוצה?” “פיצה.” “אין לי.” “אבל אמרת שיש פיצה?? אוקי אז קוסקוס.” “אין לי.” “אז מה יש??” “כלום.” “אז אני רוצה כלום.” “אין לי!” “אבל אמרת שיש כלום!” Little does he realize this is EXACTLY how it happens here. #sabrakids Loose translation: “I have a store.”…
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The one where we lose our pet snail
It was a dark and rainy day… oddly, since it was May 3rd in the Middle East. We had piled into the car, giddy about the surprise rain, and drove to the nearby nursery to pick up new flowers and herbs for our modest mirpeset garden. The kids were delighted by the plants, the rain,…
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Fifty-Two Frames: Perfect
Last Thursday, on a morning walk, I noticed this lil guy on the pavement, off the highway. He (or she?) was just sitting there, taking it easy. Even when I bent down to take a few photographs it didn’t fly away. I decided that chillness served as an excellent lesson with which to end my…
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Ka-pow: the Super-simple outdoor Superhero birthday party
Last week we celebrated Koala’s 4th birthday with an outdoor ‘everything Koala loves’ party. Ok, not everything Koala loves; I couldn’t get a real policeman to breakdance on a firetruck, for instance. It came out looking more like a superhero birthday party. Superhero outdoorsy explorer theme with chocolate cake. First, the binoculars. Because I’m crafty and…
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Fifty-Two Frames: Trees
Week 17: Trees “So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!”
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Koala update: Four years
Koala, I love you so freaking much. Sometimes I look at your face while you’re babbling about throwing lions at people or how all your friends’ dads are policemen (somehow?). I look at your face, the same exact face I watched when you were laying on me, four years ago, staring off into space, with your…
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Is this Lag-pocalypse? Fire safety events in Israel for Lag Ba’Omer
Are you an Anglo immigrant? Is it sometime around April/May? Have all the branches/wooden planks/crates been mysteriously removed from your neighborhood? It’s time for the Lag Ba’Omer nag! Nah. This year I have some praise. Turns out fire departments across the country (or maybe just one in Bet Shemesh) have taken on performing a fire…
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To the immigrant parents I grew up with:
Dear immigrant parents of childhood friends, Hi. How are you? Have I told you lately your English is incredible? It was really fun growing up with your kid. Maybe I’m still even friends with your kid. Most of my friends from childhood had immigrant parents it seems. It really felt that way, at least. To…
Questions? Comments? Advice?