Lizrael Update

Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004

  • Conversation peace.

    So on Thursday, from 2 am Israel time to 5:30 pm New York time (with a 2-hour stop in Geneva), I experienced the worst trans Atlantic flight ever. Koala was a wreck. This is a boy who, when overtired, refuses to make that better by actually sleeping. Ah, yes, all kids do that, you may…

  • Must be dreamin'.

    There was ridiculous traffic on the dirt road leading up the hill towards Arafat’s compound. We each supposedly had meeting times but were all very late for them in any case. To the right was the beginning of the dusty compound and to the left was the beginning of the dusty hills. To get into…

  • Love/hate.

    The thing about love/hate relationships is that eventually you come back to the hate. It’s triggered by anything. Items on the news. The news reporters themselves. People on the street. Commercials on the radio. Things your friends say. Things your neighbors do. So, if you haven’t guessed, I’m in the hate phase. Which is ok,…

  • A baby in toe.

    For the last 20 minutes of the drive home from shabbat in the Galil, Koala was hysterical in the car. It’s amazing how hysterical a car ride can make him, but last night was particularly bad. The heaving was worrying, and when we got home, I raced to get him out of his seat and…

  • Motherhood inferiority complex.

    More than once I’ve been told I’m a pretty laid-back first-time mom. I think when I got pregnant, I became so overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of what I was about to do and I kinda just let go of trying to even attempt to control the situation. I’ve just been able to take one…

  • Life lessons in Tel Aviv.

    I was in Tel Aviv today for the Bird Brain Unconference. The event was great, thanks for asking, but then three things happened that left me feeling like I learned about more than just Vardi awesomeness and actual birds. 1. Cabbie culture. I don’t take cabs often because I hate the experience of feeling waited…

  • Purim, baby-style.

    Nothing like Purim to separate the early-risers from the late-bed goers from the up all night due to teething painers. Wait, I think we were actually all three… In many ways, Purim is more fun when you have an extra body to shove into a costume. But you kinda miss out on the party-parties. Still…

  • Koala update: Ten months.

    Koala is ten months old and both his life and mine are starting to fall into place. While Koala does not sleep through the night at this point, he does have a bedtime and he does collapse into it every night, for which I’m grateful. Having a routine is not one of my fortes, but…

  • Camels and TV channels? Hasbara misses the point.

    Israel’s new Ministry of Hasbara and Diaspora is not a shocking development, though probably ten years late. The thing is, it seems it’s completely missing the point. The heart is in the right place, but the message is… a bit off. The videos on the homepage: Do British people honestly think we ride camels? Who…

  • Look who's moving to Tzur Hadassah.

    Somewhere deep inside, I knew this day would come. Tzur Hadassah is getting a ‘commercial center’ – which is basically a supermarket and an ATM – on Rechasim street. I am not for this in any way, but I suppose my opinion isn’t worth much since I moved here two years ago and I don’t…

  • Israeli Innovation.

    When I think of ‘Israeli Innovation’ here are some of the associations I make: micro chips water purification desert irrigation swallow-able pill-cameras Google, Intel, IBM R&D centers Uzis What I don’t think of is… hair conditioner. I did pretty well though for 10 shekel. Product of the year!

  • Hopefully a happy יום המשפחה (Family Day).

    Five years in Israel, and this is the first one where “יום המשפחה” or “Family Day” has caught my attention. Well, it figures. What used to be Mother’s Day here in Israel evolved into Family Day, including celebration of mother, father, grandparents, or whoever is taking care of you. It’s not a Hallmark holiday; there…

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