Lizrael Update

Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Big yellow… tractor.

    In the immortal words of Joni Mitchell… (Paving even more in Tzur Hadassah.)

  • 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…

  • Bebe update: Seven months.

    You’re sitting in my lap right now, sleeplessly staring at the screen while I write to you. So we’ll do this one together. Apropos, you’re going through a separation anxiety phase. Hey, it’s a little bit mutual; it’s not easy not being around your smushy smile whenever I want. It leaves me wishing I could…

  • Todah, dentist.

    Just came back from Koala’s first time at the dentist. I’m pretty sure I managed not to project any of my own dentist dislike onto him, and maybe got him a lil too excited for it, because when we walked into the office reception he was SO EXCITED DENTIST IMA YAY! Then we got called…

  • I have a daughter now.

    I have a daughter now. We’ve begun to play our part in The Girl Effect. And 600 million other girls, trying to survive in the developing world – that’s beating the odds of childhood marriage, teenage pregnancy, sex slavery, HIV – need the same chance…

  • The F-word.

    I’m not my best at 4am. Then again, show me someone who is. Last night, everyone I live with made a subconscious decision to be very much awake and in some sort of need at 4am. My son woke up to pee. Innocent enough, and while I’m very proud, he did it in a shrieking, freaking, panic-y…

  • Koala’s path to big boy-dom.

    Lucky for me, I have a wise, experienced professional at my disposal in times of parenting need (thanks, mom), so about a month ago a ‘sticker chart’ was instated at our home for Koala. I highly recommend it. It has been fun, exciting and super-helpful, and I’m just talking about for me… But Koala has…

  • Welcome home, Gilad Shalit, our brother soldier.

    There’s no doubt: this is bittersweet. Today we’re proud. We’re relieved. We’re emotional. We’re exhausted. Tomorrow we’re going to continue mourning. We’re going to be extra cautious. We’re going to be angry. We’re going to feel even more pain. Today we can be mothers of lost soldiers. Mothers waking up from a nightmare. Tomorrow we’ll…

  • Five years.

    I was 23… I was getting married. I was starting life. It’s been an amazing five years. Israel has been good to me. I have a son now. He’ll be drafted into the army in 15 years. Today Gilad Shalit is 25… He’s probably coming home… He’s hopefully starting life.

  • Messing with fate…

    Today is the day I became a hypocrite. Today is the day I dressed my daughter in tights.

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