Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004
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My NYTimes debut: experience of an expat Staten Islander during Sandy
My New York Times debut: A journalist found my post on my experience of helplessness as a Staten Island expat, far away during the Hurricane Sandy disaster. After some emails and a phone call, my Staten Island-based mama and I became the lede of his article on New York expats taking action during crisis. Here’s…
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How I call America from Israel for free (and sometimes pennies)
Dear new dual citizens of Israel, I wanted to share some info about the communication situation on the Mediterranean side of the Atlantic. I can actually say it’s a whole lot better than your North American friends and family have it back in the motherland; for other dual nationals, I can’t say for sure. It…
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Tzur Hadassah’s library: introducing English story time
Did you know? Tzur Hadassah has a local library! I knew it but never explored in the 4.5 years we’ve lived here. Which is a shame since I practically grew up in the library. But a friend and fellow local Anglo mom started an English story time on Mondays after gan, around 4:15 pm. We…
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Bebe update: Nineteen months.
I’m calling it: 7:11 am on November 8th – the day Bebe turns 19 months – the day she said her very first toddler-accented: NO! Despite that, I could just roll you in chocolate fudge, cover you in sprinkles, and eat you all day.
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The way we used to vote.
I have fond memories of being a little kid and waiting with my mom at the local polling place on election day. We’d get there early. We’d finally get to the front of the line. My mom would sign in and the three of us would follow her, sauntering over to the curtained booth. After…
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Gasoline is a privilege.
Felt lucky as a I pumped my car with gas last night, with no wait, no lines, no odd-even rationing, and any gas station to choose from. The petrol shortage in New York and New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy is making me consider how it’s probably our future anyway if we don’t collectively do something…
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Fifty-Two Frames: Repetition (Repetition)
Caught this coming off the train in Savidor Merkaz in Tel Aviv. It reminded me of coming off the 10x express bus in Staten Island and walking across the overpass, mesmerized by evening expressway traffic. A common scene that could have been repeated anywhere in the world. Week 44: Repetition (Repetition) Reason #92758947626 to work from…
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Heels in Israel, heart in Staten Island
Not over how odd it is to live in the Middle East and watch your North American hometown get knocked around by the Universe. [Hylan Boulevard is a river… I used to cruise along Hylan for Staten Island Advance assignments…] For the past week, my heels have been in Israel, but my heart is in…
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Dressupween.
I loved dress up as a kid. I love it now. Long live dress up! In honor of my homesickness this week and canceled Halloween across New Jersey, we played dress up after gan today. Butterflies, princesses, and duck-faced farmers included. Fairies first. His combo… Shoes are the best part anyway. He particularly enjoyed becoming…
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By the power of Kanye… (Nike Night Run 2012)
So I’ve run full circle; last year, at this time, my two colleagues were raving about how awesome the Nike Night Run in Tel Aviv was. I was curious and jealous and looking for a personal fitness program so I started running. The first 10k I could do was the Jerusalem Night Run. Then I…
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Highway coffee love happiness.
It suddenly dawned on me, walking along the highway outside Tzur Hadassah for the 3907584376th time… …our highway signs advertise coffee as the pit stop attraction. Maybe they did in the US too, but the icons here look like a hafuch (cappuccino). I dunno why, I just love it.
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Hurricane Sandy. Gaza rockets. It’s raining, and it’s tragic.
Being a New Yorker outside of New York when disaster strikes is hard. I think we have some sort of mutated DNA that makes us deal with crap in a different way. A New York way. Like Hurricane Irene last year, only yeah, this time New York skepticism didn’t win out. Obviously, this is a…
Questions? Comments? Advice?