We are back! (not that we've gone anywhere in six months)

Where to even start? At the very beginning perhaps? Like back when the world was open for travel and even for exciting things like shopping at the supermarket?

So, this blog was started in March: 

So it's more of a historical blog at this point. 

Hebrew hilarity (only what I can remember, there has definitely been more)

Boss: Arielle, can you find "some Hebrew word?"
Me: what, I didn't hear you (code for please say that again because I literally have no clue what we are discussing)
Boss: Arielle, can you find "some Hebrew word?"
Me, "of course, just tell me what that is." ( I always try to be agreeable)
Boss and coworker now laughing. " It's not a thing it's the name of a person.
Me: yeah, no problem (thankful that mask hides red face)

Followed a few days later by some slight confusion between the head doctor and myself between the words disconnect and clean. Ummmmm, it all ended well. I promise that I am professional, just I cannot understand a lot with the masks. Luckily for me my most recent shift was full of native Russian speakers. So they spoke Russian most of the time and no one expected me to understand anything. I did ask them to at least teach me some Russian. So far, no improvement.

(I will add an update. I can now understand almost everyone with their masks, so I'm guessing when we can remove the masks, I'll basically be a language expert)

Corona, because that's what on everyone's mind.

But first, let's go back in time.  I was lucky enough to request and receive a few days off from work in mid February, before Corona got out of control.  Obviously I decided to run off to London with the hubby. He worked and I had me some fun!

What did I do, you might ask?

 Well first, I spoke in English to everyone for three full days and it was glorious...

We saw a show, the Prince of Egypt, which was amazing. It wasn't officially out yet but I highly recommend seeing it.

I went shopping

Strolled over the London bridge twice

Went to the Florence Nightingale museum

Went to my first ever martini bar

Stayed in a super cool fancy hotel, complete with doormen with bowler hats

Spoke some more in English

Then back to regular life and the world has now shut down to travel.  We actually spent a lovely few months all at home together. Let me start by saying that we were some of the lucky ones who kept our jobs. My job as a nurse continued on much the same, just lots of new rules. And my husband transitioned to work from home. Our kids sort of had school from home but not exactly. I wasn't too worried. They have experience about how to manage themselves from when I homeschooled them a few years back. Also, you can't really micromanage teenagers because that will just slap you in the face. I remind myself of this every time I try and micromanage my teenagers...

_______

Okay, skip ahead like four months...... (Or I'll never finish this)

Teens are bored

I spend all of my money on food

I'm working more than ever

I have a collection of masks because obviously I need them to coordinate with my clothing/activity

I have learned how to cook many new dishes

I have also learned to make some simple cocktails

Also I spend a lot of time googling cocktails

Teens are bored

We bought a ping pong table

Fire pit gets lots of use

I buy a lot of marshmallows

Work stuff:

I finished my course. Or okay it's not totally finished. But the classroom portion is done. I passed my first set of exams. Now I am in the midst of my internship of sorts. (Well now I'm done because I was slow on the blog). Basically I have to work in a different NICU for ten shifts, with a clinical instructor. I was sent to the other Hadassah hospital. Obviously I was super nervous to start for totally weird reasons. 

#1 I have parking issues

#2 I get lost a lot

#3 how will I know where the bathroom is

#4 what if I forget Hebrew in a new place

#5 what if I forget to bring shoes

#6 can I get out of my parking space

I wasn't worried about the actual internship part. Because that would be too normal. And good news. Parking at this Hadassah is way easier.  And I get to park for free because I work at Hadassah. I leave my house thirty minutes early in case I get lost. Usually this results in me snagging my new favorite parking spot and no, I won't reveal it's place. They showed me where the bathrooms are located. I keep my shoes in my car. And apparently I can still speak Hebrew in a new place. And my clinical instructor is an English speaker in case I forget something. 

What else is new here?

Eldest leaves (already left) for a pre-army prep mechina program soon

Other high school kids aren't really sure what will be with school. (Well, we have a schedule and now they have started but it's still not totally clear). I'm assuming we will get a final answer like two days before. So basically I assume they'll be home? At least most of the time. 

Hubby continues to work from home thankfully.  He is amazing at blocking out all distractions and just working from the middle of the hallway. (This reminds me of when we had twin babies sleeping in our bedroom and he never heard them cry. Side note: they cried basically all of the time for four months).

I continue to learn more and more about life here and about the different types of people. But I'll save that for a talk I'm supposed to give for a Hadassah group. (Already gave this talk and didn't really discuss this much).  Let's just say that two days ago (three weeks ago) at work,my shift (not in my own unit, I was sent to work in a Covid-19 unit) the staff was as follows: 

Russian immigrant

American immigrant (that's me)

Jewish Ashkenazi Israeli

Jewish Yemenite Israeli

Muslim Arab Israeli, son of a mukhtar

We had some interesting discussions in the middle of the night about our various communities and religions. This is the real Israel and this is what happens when we all sit together. (Whether by choice or because they threw a bunch of random nurses together)

I can now say that the son of a mukhtar bought me coffee and if that isn't a new experience for this American, I don't know what is. 

Also, coffee at 1am is amazing!

Okay okay, this blog is already outdated but if I don't publish it then I never will. 

Next blog will probably focus on my exciting life of: work, house, work, house, supermarket, house, work, house, work.... Stay tuned.....