Holy shiznit, y'all ... this Midwestern girl has been in Israel for SIX YEARS!! I've been a full fledged, passport-carrying, chutzpah-spewing,
harif-eating Israeli for six years now. Among the Anglos, we call this day an "Aliyah-versary". Aliyah literally means to ascend in Hebrew but it also means to immigrate in the common language. I'm still a no0b (
olah hadashah - new immigrant) but I've finally started to learn the ropes on how to get shit done here.
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Fresh off the boat airplane! |
Yesterday I got a phone call that Yoav's eye appointment was being switched to today from Thursday because the ocuplastic surgeon was going to be in surgery all day on Thursday. My Hebrew isn't
that good and the woman on the phone was in a rush so I barely understood her. I handed the phone to one of my Hebrew-speaking
chevre (friends) and he told me the gist of the situation. I called the hospital this morning to confirm everything and what they told ME wasn't what they told HIM. I had two choices:
- Get pissed and start yelling.
- Get pissed and ask more questions.
I did not start yelling. I killed 'em with kindness. They can't get mad at you for asking questions if you act all sweet and polite. My friend, Sarit, would argue this logic but it's worked for me in the past.
A lot of us complain that being here means fighting for
everything and, in some respects, it's 100% true. However, this country is still small and as long as you know someone who has a cousin who works at the place you need to get through to, you're fine. Somehow, I think that no matter how this country grows, it will always be about WHO you know and not WHAT you know. I also secretly believe this is how I got into college in Israel.
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| I cried like a baby during graduation ... and found out 4 days later that I was pregnant. |
Israel gave me a lot of room to spread my wings and fly. I met a boy, fell in love, had my heart crushed, fell in love with someone else, moved home, came back, met a guy who I swore was really 12 (but turned out to be 24) - fell in love with him, married him, and had his baby. I also became employed in something I would have never chosen as my career - fell in love with it and then found my passion through what I do.
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| Welcome to the world Yoav Rubin Glaser! |
Now we're moving back State-side so I can pursue my passion. What's my soul-centered vision? Changing the way kids are taught Holocaust History. How f*ckin' cool is that?! That's what I want to do with my life - and that's what I'm GOING to do with my life. Israel gave me the strength to do it. This country gave me roots and gave me my sense of self.
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| His future's so bright, he's gotta wear shades! |
So, it's six years later - what have I learned the most? I'm capable of doing anything I set my mind to.
Ain Li Eretz Aheret (I have no other country) - Israel will always be my home, no matter where I physically life.
Am Yisrael Chi y'all.
3 comments:
Im so scared to travel overseas because I don't know any other lanuages. I can read spanish enough to get the gist of what im reading but when people start talking really fast i get lost! Kudos for sticking with it and loving it! Hope his apt went well!
You are more than incredibly brave to move to another country! What an experience, I can't even imagine. I love your family photos, especially your precious baby! Thank you for sharing :).
Shared for you! You have done so well in 6 years... I've only been to one other country... Canada. I am just so fascinated with all that we can do here in CA and terrified of flying that I choose to stay put! :O) Also physical limitations for flying too far. Nice write up!
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