Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004
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Running 101: A 10k for beginners.
10k’d, bitches! Last night I ran my first race, the Jerusalem 10k. The plan was to run up to about 6 (my top so far had been 5.3) and walk the rest, maybe attempting to finish the last kilometer on a run. Instead, I ran the whole thing… whoops. How could you not? It was incredible!…
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Jerusalem night run (for mattresses).
Aaand I’m doing this. I was supposed to start the ‘running circuit’ in the Tel Aviv 10k in March 2012, but alas – F it. I’ll probably walk half of it, but it should be a nice and… relaxing? night out.
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Bebe update: Eight months.
I consider this your ‘coming out’ month. Your debutante ball. In the last few weeks, you have sprouted your first two teeth (the bases of them anyway). Just as we were starting to wonder if you’d be a gummy girl forever. You started standing up, holding onto the table, couch, walker, your brother for support.…
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Letting go.
Into my seventh year of aliyah – living in Israel – I finally, finally, finally have been able to start what every oleh needs to do the second they get here. I’ve started letting go. Letting go of my pride. Letting go of my mistakes. Letting go of my fear. Maybe it’s my bilingual kid.…
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Leg warmers. From Beitar Illit.
I gave it all away in the title. Look, I was heading to the Beitar Illit shopping bonanza to find some funky gifts for a friend’s bachelorette – bridal shower. I walked out of one, but did a double-take on the way out when I spotted these: I had to have them. I can’t explain…
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The history of Israeli pretzels.
A short history of flat, flavoured pretzels (bagele) in Israel… true story! If you don’t understand Hebrew subtitles or (exaggerated?) Yiddish, here’s a quick and dirty transcript: The Bagel-Bagel Factory in Poland, 1880 Son: “Father, mother – I have an idea! Thin pretzels – in flavours!” Everyone: “What?!” Son: “Yes, with pepper, chedder, spices!” Father:…
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If you miss what you’re leaf-ing behind…
I discovered a place where you can stroll on Erev Thanksgiving and feel for a second like you’re home in North America: Gan HAPa’amon in Jerusalem. The leaves are colorful, noisy, and abundant. You can crunch them, kick them, and show your kid a lil taste of motherland in just a few steps. While learning…
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We’re doing something right.
Koala spots the new set of Dora’s family members on the shelf. He asks me, “who dat?” “It’s Dora’s ima and abba.” He takes the two plastic parents and puts them up against each other. “Ima… Abba… chibuki!”
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This just made my aliyah.
I swear to the power that makes this universe run, this telephone conversation just happened (in Hebrew). Note: This was the first time in nearly 7 years of aliyah that I have ever used the word מעולה on the phone to someone in a feedback survey of their customer service experience. “Hi! I’m calling from…
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If the shoe fits (and isn’t older than your aliyah…)
On my bucket list, which I tend to revisit before or after having a kid, is to run a marathon. I know there are all types, all distances, but I want to get to the point where I can run together with a giant group of people and feel togetherness. 10k, 20k, 548626mm, whatever. It…
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Big yellow… tractor.
In the immortal words of Joni Mitchell… (Paving even more in Tzur Hadassah.)
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The snail and the sleepyhead.
The latest word I have learned from my son: חילזון. Snail. In their ‘autumn curriculum’ they’ve been teaching about the usual Israeli fall topics: rain… clouds… raindrops… leaves… rain… and snails (?!). I don’t think I’ve ever seen a snail here in Israel. Anyway, the teachers have been getting a kick out of my son…
Questions? Comments? Advice?