Wow, time flies when you're doing.. well okay we haven't been doing that much, with the world shut down and all. Of course, in our family we still manage to have interesting things happen.
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| Gratuitous photo of me working on Israeli Independence Day |
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| I worked two shifts so obviously there are two photos |
Remember the course I mentioned over and over. Where I was freaking out at the beginning because obviously the course is in Hebrew? In case my education isn't at the forefront of your memory, I'll remind you. I took a year long course for some sort of certification (details still fuzzy there) in Neonatal Intensive Care.
Spoiler alert: I passed
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| Me after the exam |
Anyway, we finished and had our big exam in January. Let me help you picture what this exam is like.
Half of the exam is a typical multiple choice computerized test. If you are wondering how to say multiple choice exam in Hebrew, it's ...
מבחן אמריקאי= American exam. Why? Because apparently the idea is this is the only way Americans take exams. So anyway, that's half of the test or maybe 1/3. Then you have another computerized test on any random medical subject they want and basically they hint at the issue and you have to diagnose it. We got seriously the most random thing, but I managed to fake it enough.
And then the stressful part. (Well for me the stressful part came first and then I had the computerized test, but it's half and half and then you switch). Okay, so then there is this part called simulations. It's exactly what it sounds like. Except it's worse. You stand in front of a closed door and read a paragraph about a scenario. From this you are supposed to begin to have an idea about what is behind the door. Then a bell rings and you enter the room. And that's when all heck breaks loose. Some situation is occuring and you have to treat the patient. And you don't actually know what's wrong. And also the patient is a doll.
Remember, this is all happening in Hebrew and Hebrew is still fairly new for me.
I'll just give you one example of a scenario I encountered. A 'baby' was in distress and I had to gather the correct equipment to assist the doctor in putting the baby on a ventilator. So I wanted the little tube we use for suction. Except I couldn't remember the name of the tube. So I said ummm, I want the this thing (pointing to said tube) and the examiner says, what thing. And I'm like, the this thing , this blue thing. So, as a way of helping me out she said, it's okay you can say it in English if you don't know it in Hebrew. I was like, that doesn't help me at all, I also don't know the word in English.
If you're wondering what the word was, it was catheter. How do you catheter in Hebrew? Catheter. So that's basically how the exam went, more or less.
But I passed. And good memories. And it also definitely helped my Hebrew (catheter aside). Also my husband has been instructed to not let me sign up for more courses in the next few years. Since we have been married I have gone back to school at least three times, and that's after us going through two university degrees together. I have a love hate relationship with school.
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| This is what was waiting for me after the exam |
Okay, so this was already months ago. Like 8 months ago. Because apparently I have not taken time to keep the people posted about life here.
Israel fully reopened around May I think? Life is (was) back to normal here. We did have a glorious 10 days where masks were not required anywhere (except for the hospital and such) And then we had an outbreak of Covid and masks were back. But store and restaurants and absolutely everything is open. But traveling outside of Israel is tricky because the rules are constantly changing. Hubby and I managed a two night getaway at my favorite hotel. It's so relaxing and just the right amount of fancy. Also they have killer cocktail hour.
So this means that's almost all Israelis are here for the whole summer so everything is packed and booked. Which I guess is fine by me because I hate traveling when everyone is traveling. Give me a nice vacation in a mostly empty hotel please. See above ;-)
Well, apparently the last time I wrote was in May and now it's October.
Here is a quick rundown of what has happened.
Kid #1 drafted into the army. He loves all of it.
Kid #2 worked at a summer camp for kids who love science and questions and talking and such. Basically the camp was made for her. She loved it. Now she is back to taekwondo and her pre army fitness course.
Kid #3 started driving lessons and worked at a sports camp and did scout stuff. Now she is coaching netball and creating a scout troop from nothing.
Kid #4 basically loitered around town all summer with his buddies. Attended his art course in August and basically had a way better social life than I'll ever have. Now he is back to art and scouts and taekwondo and some other stuff.
What else happened this summer? It was hot. But somehow I am more used to the heat now. Or I own appropriate clothing. Or I've learned when to go outside and when to hide inside.
Anyway, gratuitous kid photos from the last six months.
We worked a lot. I finally made it to the beach at the very end of the summer. Very exciting. It's beach season here from like April through November so I was just a slacker. Since writing this we actually went again! Shocking.
My mother in law came to visit us for sukkot so we did a lot of fun outings. But I've already put those on Facebook.
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| Here she is |
Okay, now that it is now October and apparently I've been even more of a slacker. I'll finish up this blog with the latest Hebrew flub. It's a good one, so buckle up.
I am at work. We had a crazy busy morning shift. Like really really busy and our shift is ending and I'm running through in my head what I still need to do so that we can finish up. One of the nurses was saying something and then said CPR. I was like, wait, what are you saying? CPR?? What does that mean?
Yes folks. Yes. I couldn't figure out that she was saying English letters to stand for what I now only refer to as החייאה. AKA CPR. Something that we often do and apparently I have forgotten what it is called in English.
Just add this to the list of 'why it is fun to work with Arielle. You never know what she might say.' (also she brings treats to work)
Until next time folks.....
