Lizrael Update

Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004

  • What have I done?

    I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t freaked. Though the truth is it’s only starting to dawn on me how awe-some and terrifying it is. I’m beginning to comprehend what I’ve done. It really is dawning; first the expectation of the rise, and then the initial tips of the rays. Pretty soon I think…

  • Fire preparedness.

    No winter, an idiot burning trash, a dry forest – Haifa has way too much light this Chanukah. The news has become international that for the last 24 hours 5,000 acres of Haifa (Carmel) is drowning in the worst fire in Israel’s history. Israel is great at being prepared for terrorist threat, thorough in airport…

  • Pedo-grahams.

    I know this is weird, but I realized this weekend that this: …reminds me of this: Too much time on the interknots.

  • Thankfulness.

    It was technically Koala’s second Thanksgiving, but it was the first he could actually eat at. And eat he did. The toddler with three nationalities has plenty of room in his little belly for turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes and pie. But then, who doesn’t? And who doesn’t love drumming the 8-kilo turkey before mama…

  • Koala update: Nineteen months.

    Cars. Cleaning. Cartoons of Latin descent. It’s been a busy month 19 for Koala. He’s managed a girlfriend – one who gives him a kiss on the cheek every morning and kisses up to me when I come in at the end of the day; quite assertive if you ask me (true Israeli woman). He’s…

  • It Gets Better, Jew.0 (have to share, and keep sharing).

    The It Gets Better Project, a series of videos by famous and non-famous people coming out on being hopeful for LGBT teens, has been catching attention around the social media corners I hang out in. But I wonder if, aside from the teens who need the support, the misguided/hateful/ignorant people at the core of the problem are…

  • Signs of second life.

    Differences between first and second pregnancy: You’re fatter, earlier. You know too much. There’s already a kid in the picture, sucking up your time and energy (and probably your vitamin-intake, too). A lot of second-time jokes (Double the fun! Back for more? Double trouble!) For some reason I can’t pinpoint, it’s harder announcing it this…

  • Twilight: The highlights. But mostly the lowlights.

    If I don’t get this off my chest soon, it’s going to haunt me forever and then I may need therapy and that will just make it all worse. Disclaimer: I’m an avid reader. And I read anything. And when I say anything, I mean, I spent an entire Shabbat a month ago deeply engrossed…

  • Do you *heart* cornflakes?

  • Two mothers.

    My mother is a split personality. As long as I’ve known her, this has been the case. She can speak two languages fluently: her mother tongue, English, a language that rolls off her tongue like rain dripping down a car window in the summer; and Hebrew, a language she has been tripping over since they…

  • Tzur Hadassah update: Small town news.

    On Shabbat, I met a couple that is considering moving to צור הדסה and found information about it right here. Not much out there about this yishuv, in English or Hebrew, so I’m happy to fill in when needed. But I realize I haven’t updated properly in a while, and we have some ‘drama’ going…

  • There’s a remote for that.

    A sympathizing coworker brought me this remote control from England. Hmm… the country of mean TV nanny reality shows needs a remote to control their brats? So that must be the secret. For now, it seems the ‘Say thank you’ button will be the most rubbed out. Can’t wait for ‘Kiss granny’ though… (karma, Mom).

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