If you can't beat them, join them (sometimes)

I'd like to start this by saying that Israel has just been through  some devastating wild fires. Some seem to have been natural and some seem to have been arson.  Please support any organization that you deem worthy to help out with this crisis.

And now,  on a lighter note.

So I've been pondering this one for a while.  Since we have been here we have gotten all types of interesting comments.  They range from,  "wow,  your kids seem so Israeli already,  you guys are calm like Israelis,"  all the way to,  "you guys are too American,  that's so American."  so today's post is dedicated to the numerous people who make random comments.

And these of course don't include the hundreds of comments I received when I had twins and then when I  had 4 kids in 3.5 years.  Those ranged from the totally inappropriate to the hilarious.  "How did that happen (ummm)  Do you have twins in your family (we do now),  Which one is the boy?"  Etc....

But that's a story for my book.

Ways in which we (think we) are Israeli :

* I allow my 9th grade child to hang out in the park with friends well past midnight.  This is not something I would ever do I'm America,  but apparently this is done here so he goes.

* My kids all ride their bikes or take public transportation to school.  In America that wouldn't be happening.

* Today my youngest child (5th grade)  was running from school to catch the bus.  He tells me that the driver didn't open the door so he just banged on the door and yelled. Who is that child??

* The way we stand in line.  If the line is slow,  we have to move to the side to investigate.  I didn't know this was an Israeli thing until a friend happened to mention it.

* Here in Israel,  the traffic lights flash yellow again before turning green.  If you don't have your foot off of the brake by the time you see yellow,  expect honking.  So now I'm all, omg,  it's yellow,  move it Arielle!

The ways in which we are American :

* I like to mind my own business. Israelis do not. But it's (almost)  always with good intentions.

* Please stop talking to me in line.  I don't actually know you,  but more importantly,  I don't understand your lightning speed Hebrew.

* I take my big kids with me on trips.  (and they like it,  and I don't actually care if they don't)

* I'm all about the please and thank you,  which to be fair Israelis are as well,  just to a lesser degree.

* I'm not abrupt.  I get to the point in a slow round about fashion.  Israelis just generally get to the point and move on.

* probably tons more that I can't even think of.  But please don't point them out.  My American feelings might get hurt.

Other news from Israel :

My girls just returned from their school overnight tiyul.  Where did the school go you might ask?  Well,  of course,  Masada and Ein Gedi, AKA, the two places that my girls have now been to three times in a year. At least they knew the way!  But they had a great time,  despite some nerves.  Climbed Masada and climbed down in one piece,  didn't get eaten by a wild animal,  slept in a cool tent room thing,  took selfies and ate candy (and Israeli tiyul tradition that I've been clued into)  and returned home full of smiles and dirt and omg  I hope not lice.

Addendum.
I thought that I would publish this last night.  Good thing I didn't.  Because another new thing happened : Scouts had an event,  going to see auditions for the show "Rising Star,"  and the big kid went.  He was fuzzy on what time he would return home.  Well,   he rode his bike back from where the bus dropped them off and arrived home at 12:35am. I only texted him once to check for signs of life.   Changes!

Leaving on a (5) jet planes...

Well,  this sure has been a whirlwind of a week or so.  I did a surprise trip to America,  to Texas to be more specific.  My brother was having an engagement party and my wonderful husband told me that I should really go.  So,  after a few weeks of searching for tickets,  I was all set to go.  My brother knew that I was coming,  but the big plan was to surprise my parents who were also flying to Texas for the event.

To make a long story short ; success!!  It was such a success that my dear mother almost fell off of the escalator when she saw me.  I am that striking I guess.  Note to others.  Maybe don't surprise people on an escalator.

Of course,  I can't just have a regular trip.  It has to be interesting.  Here are a few bullet points only about my travels.  The actual trip seems well documented on Facebook already.  But I will mention that while in Austin,  Texas,  I had my hair cut by a Persian woman who was overly excited to meet someone Jewish.  Apparently her husband has Jewish neighbors (I'm assuming in Iran) and he always told her that Jews are very nice people.  I try!

Anyway.  Travel highlights :

ISRAEL  - JFK -  AUSTIN
+ aisle seat on flight to New York
- teenager next to me had no sense of personal space
+ kosher food went off without a hitch
- almost spilled my water when I heard the flight attendant explain to an Israeli that the kosher food was blessed by a rabbi.

+ on flight to Austin,  there were three Israelis
+ I told the one next to me that I felt like he was sent here by my ulpan teacher
- he half smiled and then went to sleep.  So no Hebrew lesson for me

AUSTIN - ATLANTA - PARIS - ISRAEL
- needed to pay for a second bag because I might have done some shopping
- both bags were then overweight,  by a lot
+ I totally MacGyvered those bags at the delta counter and made them both weigh 51lb
- which meant that my carryon weighed about 40lbs
+ plane back home was overflowing so they asked for volunteers to check their carryon bags
+ boom,  now delta had to deal with my extra heavy bags anyway for free!

+ I'm old enough to drink alcohol on the plane
- pretty sure the Russian flight attendant thinks I'm a lush
+ but she brought me extra mini liquors as a souvenir
+ Paris has a massage place in the airport (highly recommended)
+ latte is a universal word
-  I have zero sense if what a Euro is worth,  so it was monopoly money
-final flight home from Paris to Israel included a couple smooching next to me
- and the guy kept drumming on the tray  and he wasn't even good at keeping the rhythm
+ they finally fell asleep
+ back home and it's like I never left

Israel :
I had my first experience with getting to wait in the Israeli passport control line.  I was pretty excited at this new development.  Because now I'm officially Israeli and I have the travel documents to prove it.  But that excitement turned to panic.  "omg,  I'm in the Israeli line.  So they'll assume I'm Israeli.  And what if they ask me questions in Hebrew and I don't understand them and I seem suspicious." And then it was my turn.  They just looked at my documents and at me,  and didn't even ask a question.  They didn't even comment about my name,  telling me that I have a boys name.  I was actually sort of disappointed.  But since I'm Israeli now,  I just acted like it was no biggie.

Come one, come all

Oh gosh.  So much to share.  Let me begin with saying that this week,  Monday was designated as a new holiday, (Yom HaOleh) basically the day to celebrate all of the immigrants to Israel ,  all of those that have made aliyah.  Modiin's absorption department sent a bus of us olim (immigrants)  to the celebration in Jerusalem .  We had no idea what it would be  but we were told that Bibi Netanyahu would be speaking.  I have always wanted to see him in person ,  so I was sufficiently excited.  And then I heard that Natan Sharansky would also be speaking.  If you were a child in the 80's, then you likely attended many rallies in support of freeing the Jews of Russia .  Well,  now I got to see the main man.

Okay , so we go,  and we are waiting in the "line"  (scrum) .  In front of us is the senior center and behind us is a huge group of soldiers .  So of course ,  my ulpan beastie and her mom (Bubbie)  start chatting up a group of soldiers.  I was distracted by this man behind me who had a full chest of ribbons from military service .  Turns out they were from the Russian military .  Okay then,  that was unexpected .

Anyway,  there was some embarrassment when someone thanks the soldiers for their service  but uses the word for bathroom.  (I promise it wasn't even me this time) .  So lots if awkward laughs.  But then it turns out that actually you can use this word (confirmed by slightly scary but handsome security guy) .

So we are still waiting outside.  Luckily  someone from my class had brought her harmonica.  She starts playing and the soldiers and a bunch of us newbies begin singing and clapping .  Where else does that happen ? ? ? ? Thanks for helping us out  you young people and thank you for your service (and also for bathrooms ,  we like those ) .

We get through security eventually ,  but while in more security lines,  same person begins chatting up some men in the next line.  She was curious where they were from.  Turns out they were new immigrants from northern India .  So she welcomes them to Israel .  But it turns out they have been here a year and a half and we are only here for three months.  So then they welcome us to Israel ! ! !

Finally we find our seats ,  except not exactly because apparently our ticket said we were in the balcony but we didn't know that.  So we basically just joined the chaos of finding seats and sat down somewhere .  And it's a good thing we did because we were nice and close to Bibi .

I'm trying to keep this short so stay with me.  A band is playing ,  people are dancing and stealing each other's seats,  many many languages are being spoken ,  and Jews of every ethnicity ,  shape,  size and color are there .  Then the emcee announces the dignitaries .  You would think they were rock stars .  They walk in to music and with spotlights following them.  Everyone is up and cheering.  Very exciting !

My selfie with Bibi .  He spoke so well that he turned into a ball of light and smoke .

Now the speeches.  Bibi of course is a very polished speaker.  He spoke ,  I understood most of what he said.  Oh  did I forget to mention that the entire event was in Hebrew ?  They did have a few announcements in French   Russian and Amharic .  But not English .

After Bibi,  the minister of defense spoke ,  Avigdor Lieberman .  He was almost my favorite speaker of the evening. His basic message was this.  Israel has about six million Jews now.  But the rest of the Jews need to come here and make Israel even stronger.  The United States has over five million Jews.  We need to come and make Israel our home. I just felt like he was speaking from the heart .  So please no one burst my bubble .

Thanks Natan Sharansky spoke.  We all noticed that of course Bibi was surrounded by security ,  as was the minister of defense.  But then poor Natan Sharansky got up to speak and not even one security guard .  So Sharansky spoke as well with a similar message.  And then finally,  my favorite speaker of the night took the stage : Sofa Landver.  She is the minster of immigration and absorption .  She was basically the highlight of the evening for me.  And it wasn't even her message .  It was her style.

Here is a basic summary .  Sofa says something , pauses,   and a handful of  people applaud .  But apparently she was expecting more .  So she says ,  yes,  you can clap.   Then she says something else and didn't pause because she wasn't expecting clapping .   But as the clapping begins ,  she stops and says,  yes  bring the clapping !  And my favorite .  During another awkward clapping or not clapping time ,  she says , Nu  where is your clapping ,  come on!

Well,  we (maybe just me)  just couldn't stop loving her after that.  I mean,  maybe it's one of those "you had to be there " moments,  but you'd need to live here to do that ,  so nu ,  where are you ? ? ? Overall,  a great night of speakers ,  dancers,  singing groups,   video clips, tons of energy and balloons and streamers falling from the ceiling .  All in a room filled with immigrants from all over the world .  Including the Brazilian olim sitting next to me who were less than thrilled that Brazil wasn't mentioned.

I definitely don't want to turn this into a speech on why you should make aliyah.  I mean  look at me.  I was first approved for aliyah in the year 2002,  and didn't make it here until 2016. I get it.  It's hard to leave family and the comforts of America .  But whenever you feel like aliyah is hard or you're having a tough adjustment ,  or you aren't sure if you can change your life to live in Israel,  watch  a few video clips and photos from the Ethiopian immigration to Israel .  Because those images (aside from making me cry )  make me think to myself.  If they can do it,  then so can anyone really.

I definitely felt all the feels at Yom HaOleh,  and so that is a successful program.  In conclusion.  At least consider aliyah.  You probably won't end up in my amazing neighborhood,  but I hear that a few other good Jewish neighborhoods exist here in Israel.    Remember that many have come before you and will likely come after you,  as long as you get on it so you're not last.  After all,  there is a housing crisis over here.

Victory victory that's our cry....

Okay.  So it has been a while (one week but okay)  since my last blog .  I'm sure you've all been waiting to hear about our next adventures.  Fear not, for there have been adventures.

Last time I did an update,  I highlighted the boys .  So this time here is a bit of a girls update.  Both girls have joined the school band.  One plays the bass and one plays the drums.  And yes,  one did ask me if we could bring the drum set to and from school.  Ummm  that would he a no.  But we did compromise on a snare drum for performances .

One girl also decided to join the sparring team for Taekwondo .  Which means she now travels to Jerusalem every week to practice with them.  We have a little  carpool to Jerusalem with the coach bringing them back here.  Let's see how this new element goes.

Basically ,  since we made aliyah, the kids have been trying to do as many activities as possible so that I never have a quiet night.  I'm pretty sure it's an elaborate plot to make me forget the glory days when they all went to bed at 7pm. I mean,  okay,  back then I always had at least three in  diapers and a stroller that needed its own zip code.  But at least they went to bed early and I had some alone time.

Oh yeah.  And one had this assignment to bring in something that has to do with someone's name in her class.  She picked a person whose name means dew.  Well,  apparently they don't sell mountain dew around here .  So plan B,  after asking other people,  it turns out the name also means curls .  So curly bisli and curly lollipop win out.  Yay for projects that are hard enough in English,  let alone in Hebrew .  But at least she was able to walk to the store without me and take care of it.

So there girls.  I do care about you and I wrote about you.  Sorry that you're both middle children !

Now,  you're probably wondering why you haven't heard more about my awesome neighborhood .  That's because I was saving up for a big update.  This past shabbat ,  we went on a shabbaton .  That's right.  We all went away together for shabbat.  Okay,  not all of us,  but a group of us went away together.  Someone who wasn't me did all of the planning and I just got to go.  I'll be playing that new Olah card for a while.

Anyway,  Friday we drove down to Ein Gedi. Most of the people went on this long and hard and hot hike. That was group #1 and that included my husband and children.  I,  however ,  went with group #2. Group #2  had a lovely tiyul at Nahal David,  aka what people refer to as Ein Gedi.  We had a nice walk in the warm weather,  saw the water falls, and then we had a lovely and very informative class given by one of my neighbors .

You know,  we just plopped down on a rock and opened up our Tanach (Bible)  and read and translated a story we that happened very close to the spot where we were sitting.  Even though that's not my first time doing that,  it's amazing every single time.

Okay  so after our mini tiyul ,  we headed out to lunch.  Because ,  well,  it was a vacation ! I met some nice people who I didn't know before and one of them treated us to lunch . Thanks group #2!

Then the whole group reconvened at the field school for shabbat .  The short story is that we had a really great time.  The kids all played with each other .  Some of them actually spoke to some other kids who they don't really know.  The kids ate plenty of candy,  ran around ,  and basically had a  blast.

One of th residents of the field school .

The adults also spent time hanging out.  Jon and I lost pretty terribly at a trivia game.  I mean,  the questions were all in Hebrew .  So by the time we understood you question,  someone had already answered it.  Maybe next year we can get a few more correct .  However ,  I did get to be the one who translated a word into Hebrew that some other English speakers didn't know.  Thank you story about Petach Tikvah that included  the Hebrew word for swamp.  You made me sound super smart .

Okay,  who is ready for an ulpan update.  Or not really an ulpan update,  but rather a successful outing based on what I've learned in ulpan update .

Yesterday ,  I went to lunch with my ulpan bestie .  My youngest child who normally finishes school before 1pm ,  has a club on Mondays .  So it's my day where I have some time to myself.  Anyway,  we have a lovely lunch where we order half in Hebrew ,  half in English and half in hebraicized English .  פייש אנד צ'יפס was on the menu.

Anyway, then we decide to peruse the stores in the shopping center because I don't even know what's there.  After a few stops ,  we go into a judaica store to buy a few things.  Long story short ,  the owner is totally my new bestie .  Why you may ask? ? ?  Because first,  he didn't make fun of my Hebrew or switch to English .  And next.  Because he asked us how many years we've been in Israel .  And we laughed and said,  years? ? ? ?  We've been here only just 3 months.  Well ,  if he were from the southern states,  he would have likely uttered my favorite phrase of,  "well,  butter my buns and call me a biscuit . " Or in Hebrew I guess my 2nd favorite Hebrew phrase ,  " אני בשוק ! "

He said he was very impressed with our Hebrew.  So of course we had to tell him about our teacher,  and how she has taught us (almost) everything we know.  Then he goes on to tell us that he sees Americans who are here for users and barely speak Hebrew .  Exactly.  He has totally nailed one of my aliyah fears.  Must overcome fear by speaking Hebrew to random people and being super nerd in ulpan.

So there you go.  Ulpan is working.  Yesterday was the first day where I felt brave enough to really speak Hebrew . Then I took my newfound bravery to the hardware store and tried my luck there .  But since I didn't know the word in English for what I was searching for,  let alone the word in Hebrew ,  that was mostly a comedy scene .  But whatever .  Whenever I feel down about my Hebrew ,  I'm totally going back to see my new bestie in the judaica store.