How we spend our vacation days (not on vacation!)

I know, everyone is probably wondering, "what happened to getting your license?"  Well, the answer is, nothing yet!  Well, that is not exactly true.  Yesterday, we went to one important office to receive papers that say that I am an olah (immigrant).  That is what I needed in order to go the Israeli DMV and get a paper stamped, which would then allow me to take the driving test.  So, we get the paper that we need, and head to a different but closer DMV.  We sat there for an hour and a half, and were still at least a hour away from being called, when we had to leave to pick up the kids.  Foiled again!  So, next week we try again.  It all is sort of irrelevant because now the driving teacher is not answering her phone.  She is probably on vacation along with the rest of the country.

Next up - education lecture.  We are invited by the Olim department to a lecture about the Israeli education system.  Here is a basic summary of my experience last night (of the lecture, not the school system).  Opening statement (in Hebrew, followed by a French translation, followed by an English translation.)  Next statement said, then repeated in French, then in English.  So basically, I understood most of the Hebrew.  If I didn't, then I waited for the French, because apparently when my brain is trying to process Hebrew, it suddenly remembers my 4 years of high school French.  And then finally, the English translation, for anything I still missed.  By the end, the Hebrew speaker spoke, then the English translation took about twice as long and then the French translation was literally three words.  We have no idea what was going on by then.

My take away from the meeting:  Be supportive, keep speaking your native language at home, help your kids if they need help, but give them a lot of independence.  And please please please, send them a sandwich for aruchat eser (10 am snack)  because if you do not send a sandwich, the Israeli teacher might find you guilty of child neglect.  If you send chips or candy, they will call!  And also, no need to arrange play-dates, as kids just knock on each others doors here.  When they said that, Jon and I looked at each other and mouthed, "nailed it!"  Because our street is awesome and kids keep knocking on my door.

And because every day I have these great moments, I will leave you with one.  We were at the bank yesterday (twice, don't ask) and they asked me a question that I have never heard from a bank.  They asked us, how much overdraft do we want?  As if that is a normal thing?  So I said, well, I don't want any.  Which made the baker laugh and say, well, no one wants any, but seriously, how much? HAHA!  Israel!  (also, the bank is right by a bakery where you can buy a latte and three pastries for 15 shekel)  So, sure, I'll go to the\bank.

picture of back to school shopping from a few years ago.