A little of this and a little of that

I am back! Literally, I am back in Israel. I mean, I never really left but I did manage to sneak out for a family visit. While in good old Pennsylvania (the keystone state for anyone who is curious) I met some of my blog fans and I promised a new entry. And who am I to go back on a promise I made at a Jewish bluegrass music concert. Just unpack that sentence in your mind....

A few things that were surprising during this trip. First if all it was freezing and I've become a wimp about the cold. Luckily, tucked into my sister's old closet I found my high school sweatshirt from my marching band trip to France. For those that don't know, yes, I was proudly in the marching band and we were awesome. I was a mediocre drummer but the whole experience was awesome. Anyways, that sweatshirt was my buddy all week because OMG it's cold.  So I present to you, the sweatshirt!

Look at this gem I found hidden away! 

Not too cold to drink beer by the fire pit

Next up in photos we have my new book collection. I have a problem and I am not willing to address it. I am hoping to build a library one day. 

 

And yes I brought back canned pumpkin. Because I don't want to pay 18₪ per can here but also, I need to make pumpkin things. 

I mean obviously I also saw my parents, my mother in law, sister in law, aunt and a lot of friends. Flat Arielle was also there for those of you who recall flat Arielle 2020. She hasn't changed at all. 

So let's jump right in.... (Nothing is in order)

In honor of (very very belated) Yom HaAliyah יום העלייה, Immigration Day?  I have some questions and some answers:

Why are certain things called, American? And is it an insult? 

American peanuts:

This means a peanut covered in some sort of coating that I've only ever seen here in Israel. So that's a no. 

American ice cream:

Apparently this means soft serve and I love soft serve so I'm calling this a win. 

American test:

This means multiple choice test, and I have no idea why. Like, okay, we have multiple choice exams in America but we also have other kinds of exams.  Also a no. 

But this corn picture is everything. It certainly doesn't taste like the corn I grew up with but the photo is worth trying it out. 

Arielle vs the language part 1

AKA everyone's favorite section 

Both of these happened via text between my boss and myself. 

נשמה vs. נשמע  

One means soul and one means to hear or like, what's up?  What I said could basically be translated as, it's soul is good. But what I meant was, it sounds good. 

להשיג vs. להציג

Then months later I was stating that hospital employees really need to introduce themselves. Except what I said was, hospital employees really need to achieve/get themselves. 

So that was not my most intelligent moment. But by far it was not my most embarrassing. #winning

The current first place is still when I called little pieces, studs. Or when the head doctor told me to disconnect something and I thought she meant to clean it. Good times.

Still standing in a tie for 1st place of proudest Hebrew moments are when I used the phrase חבל על הזמן properly and when I said וואלה. Baby steps ..

Arielle vs the language (but a different angle)

Okay, any time I see something in English , it just jumps out at me. Like I can't not see it and especially an error or something that doesn't make sense, I just cannot ignore it. Thanks high school English teachers. So, my work unit is finally getting computerized. In fact, we got computerized five days ago. I know what you're thinking. We are way ahead of the times.... No worries we still use the fax machine at work. 

So anyway, I am at this training class for this new computer system, about a month ago. By new I mean, we have never had one. So anyway, I am trying to understand what is going on while whispering questions to my buddy next to me. And then I get distracted by these options at the bottom of the page. Take a look, but don't say I didn't warn you. 

Why is save in English? Why is save and close in English? Why is cancel in Hebrew? Why???

So yes this was bothering me. And then the program went live and it's actually going pretty well except this still was niggling at me. So luckily, we have representatives from the computer program (okay representative probably isn't the word) but we have people from the company on our unit to help us.  So I was getting help with something (I managed to stump them twice with my questions) and then this page cones up again and I turn to the guy and I said , and also I have questions about this but now isn't the time. He got a good laugh. 

And then a few nurse felt they needed to come to me to ask how we can fix the issue of when we write our reports in Hebrew but we need to add an English medical term. It messes up the formatting. I was basically like well, this is an issue I deal with daily in my quest to mesh my two identities together, and how much time do you have to discuss my issues?? Ha. Well I actually just gave them my tips and grumbled to myself about this funny. 

More on the travels:

Since September, we are pretending that we are like a super jet setting couple, instead of a couple who is never in the same place at the same time. And it's weird because he doesn't travel that much for work and I only travel to and from Jerusalem for work. And I run up and down a lot of stairs if we can pretend that is traveling. 

In September he did a nice TLV-LONDON trip, came home on a Friday, went to look at apartments to buy (that's a whole other megillah). 

Then at the very end of October, he did another TLV-LONDON work trip, came home Friday and was home for Shabbat. Sunday he left again TLV-FRANFURT, and came home Tuesday late at night, because I had to leave Wednesday to head to the states to visit the family.  I came home and ten days later he is off to New York for work and lucky for him he gets to see his family as well. So TLV-NYC. 

And obviously, while he is away there is always some drama here. Let us begin with election day drama. You'd think our crazy elections here are enough drama but nope. I volunteered to work that day because they were short a nurse. So they needed a short nurse. 

I drove my car to work that day because after the morning shift I was the on call nurse for the evening. So I brought the car, in case I needed to stay longer. Getting from my house to my work on public transportation is an adventure I don't wish to attempt. 

So, work ends, and I don't rush out as usual. I have a car so no mad dash to the work van. I take my time, stroll the five miles or so to where my car is parked. Only to get into it and discover that it won't start. Like barely making a sound, won't start. Now I'm not a car expert, but it I'm quite sure that this isn't a great sign. So I try a few more times while I am silently panicking. And obviously there is no one around in the parking lot that is normally jam packed with cars. So I send up a little prayer and I kid you not, my car started. The power of prayer in the parking lot in Jerusalem, is apparently very effective. 

After that car drama we had some eyeball drama (all is fine). So I called up my jet setting husband and informed him that I am sending him a link to the diamonds I want him to buy me in duty free. And the guy delivered!

My version of diamonds 

And now my toilet started leaking. But because I am adulting I just turned off the water to that toilet and told the kid it's broken. So I am waiting for the hubby to fix it. I am not an expert in everything. But I did have him teach me where all emergency shut offs are and וואלה I'm glad I knew. 

After this I am hoping not to go anywhere. Well actually I wouldn't mind a vacation but that's not in the cards currently. 

Beer tasting at the supermarket.

Not much to add here. I mean, I actually don't love grocery shopping in person and almost never do it. I order online weekly (way before this was trendy) and my lovely husband goes to buy chicken and odds and ends (and he always comes home with ummmm surprises). But for some reason (obviously divine intervention) I decided to have a hot date night with him at the supermarket. And voila, it was beer tasting night. Yes! So obviously I didn't understand what was going on. I walked by and they offered me beer and I said, no thank you. Then about three seconds later I had regrets. So I circled back and acted all cool and casual and had a few beer tastings. By the way, grocery shopping is much more pleasant if you're walking around with a cup of beer. 

Family time

So it can be really hard to have any time with all six of us together. Between the army, the programs my girls are in post high school, and my baby (my 6ft tall baby) and his school and scouts..... and then you add in my work schedule and it's like a game of rush hour. Over sukkot, I managed to snag two hours together and the soldier was missing but what can you do? So the five of us wandered around and then made coffee. Good times. 

But don't worry, I did manage to see him and catch him having his perfect meal...

Okay, I will finish this off before I forget to finish it off. You probably want more pictures so I'll oblige..

Okay, Israel has the best food but NJ has the best bagels.... The smell, the taste, everything...

Look at these cuties

My favorite aisle in Target 

Cheap pineapple, score one for America

Child heading back to Jerusalem 

Boys acting like themselves

A girl and her backpack heading back to Tzfat

That's all folks .. until next time. I am sure other funnies will occur. Always an adventure here. 

Still alive

 I am just going to start with this:

I don't know who this is, but apparently they now make this girl the charge nurse sometimes. Imposter syndrome is in full force. And the worst part is, I can't even hide from the telephone anymore, because I actually have to answer it. 

See my name listed there as charge nurse?

For those who enjoy laughing with me, I present to your the latest in...

Hebrew adventures:

כובע vs. כוכב 

So there I am, at work, helping two other nurses change a central line dressing. Doesn't matter if you know what that means, that isn't the story. So we are trying to keep the baby as calm as possible during this procedure. We have this toy that sings, and it's like catnip for some babies. It's a plastic star and it makes music and they love it. So I happen to know that this particular baby loves this star. But I can't find it. So I yell out to another nurse to see if they can get her a star to help calm her down. Except the word for star is כוכב (kochav). But instead I said כובע (kova)  which means hat. So they turn to me and say but how would that help?

So I pause, turn all of the wheels in my brain to figure out what I said and after a few moments I was like, oh yeah, I meant star. Oops. 

While changing the central line dressing. We never did find the star. 

Next adventure is called, Arielle takes on the role of math teacher. And fails. 

Okay, let me start by saying that I actually love math. Not the math my teenagers are studying, I've long forgotten that. But regular equations, making change etc... That's my jam. 

A few weeks ago, I went to the little store at work to buy a cold drink. The price was 7.20 ₪. I give them 10.20₪.  I did this so it would be easier for them to make change. Except they didn't understand this. They handed me back 2.80. So I decided to explain that the change was incorrect.  And then explained why I gave them 10.20 and not 10. They had entered 10 into the register so had no clue what I was talking about. 

Long story short, I said to them, I don't care about the few cents, I am trying to explain why I gave it to you, to make it easier. Now two teens are arguing with me in the store. I don't know what came over me to actually spend time arguing in Hebrew with two girls who clearly were never taught how to make change without a register. So anyway, thanks to my first boss in the party store who taught all of us to make change using only our brains. Kids, math is important. But also, I've become brave enough in Hebrew to argue with people. Also, I'm out some money. 

Who are these kids?

Okay, here is a very Israeli thing that I can't imagine getting away with as a teenager. For Purim, the oldest grade puts on a play where they impersonate their teachers. It's hilarious and rude and amazing and my teachers would have sent us straight to the principal if we were ever caught doing an impression of them. 

So, one of my daughters has the role of the male English teacher who apparently has a strong American accent when he speaks Hebrew. I was shocked to see her get up in front of the school and parents and really get into this role. Especially because the kids have worked hard to lose their American accents so she has to be quite brave to get up there and play it up. She was hilarious and we loved it. The whole play was spot on and I was sitting behind a few of the teachers and they were rolling with laughter. 

The other daughter did not want to audition for a role so she was in the chorus or whatever it is called. She is excellent at hiding but I did snag a pic of her eventually. 

Purim Time

Then we moved onto other Purim fun. If you follow me on Facebook you have seen the wild Purim celebration we had for the babies in the NICU this year. 

Some background.

I starting working in the NICU in June 2018.  At some point, probably around Halloween of that year, I saw a Facebook post about a NICU that dressed each baby up for Halloween. And I said to myself, self, you need to do this . Somehow I got up some courage to speak to my boss and she sent me to the 'sunshine' committee and from there, the idea started to come together. We've had tons of donations of costumes, some money to buy costumes and lots of help from the staff. 

But this year I had two amazing staff members with hidden talents, that I recruited onto the team. One crochets amazing baby hats all throughout the year. And the other apparently knows how to sew. Together they made totally amazing costumes for the babies. And this year, the hospital social media spokesperson came to see the hubub and they even posted up on their Facebook page. And then they asked someone to speak for a few moments and my coworkers oh so politely ran away and shoved me forward. Gee, native speakers, thanks! After quickly asking someone the Hebrew word for owl, I somehow got the courage to speak in Hebrew on this video. It's on my Facebook page if you want to view it. 

In other news, a different nurse got two male doctors to wear tutus for most of the day. Overall, it was a very fun day and hopefully the families really enjoyed feeling like a regular family for a few hours at least. 

Okay, this is getting long so I will end with a few other summaries. And a lot of photos. 

Army: eldest son finished basic training. I won't repost what I put on Facebook but to say we are proud is an understatement. 

Travel is back. Sort of. 

Hubby started back with traveling for work a bit. I managed to get to Vancouver and back for my niece's bat mitzvah. It was a bit touch and go as one of my daughters tested positive for Covid one week before my trip. And I needed a negative Covid test obviously, to get into Canada. Thankfully, teens don't actually hang out much with their parents, so we quarantined her immediately and I managed to escape and I made it to the bat mitzvah. My niece was awesome and it was great to see both nieces again after not seeing them for a few years.  And of course the rest of the family. 

I snagged myself an awesome Airbnb and an adorable car because obviously I needed to do some shopping and I need a way of getting around. Some pics for your amusement. 

A little drink called a bulldog. It's a margarita with a small beer shoved into it. 

Went shopping at the outlets right next to the airport. Almost dropped to the ground when I heard a terrifying noise. No worries, just a plane flying straight above your head. 

Luckily I recovered enough to shop

Canada 😂

A bit of coffee with the pops, while we waited for Covid results. Bonus, the parents paid. Both for the coffee and the test. 

Beach walk

Saying our final goodbyes for this trip. And one photo bomb. 

Yes, I live in Israel and we have anything you could possibly want for pesach. But my husband wanted good old macaroons which you can't really find here. But apparently in Vancouver, which doesn't have a ton for pesach, you can find them. 

Okay, I have to finish this because apparently some of my kids want to read it. So my last section will be called. 

"Well, I didn't die"

I had the luck to have a few days off of work in a row this year, during the middle days of pesach. My younger son had been asking for a while to go to the Dead Sea. My girls thought that was a revolting idea so they were uninvited. So my husband and I planned a day out with the younger son. Then he requested that we add on a hike. So me being a good sport, pulled up the Israeli national parks website to see where we should go near the Dead Sea. We decide to go to Qumran and to do a hike there. I'm thinking to myself, well I've been there before so I'm sure it will be fine. 

Spoiler alert. I didn't die. But also, it wasn't fine. After half an hour of hiking I decided that I didn't want to plunge to my death on that particular day (I might have an unnatural fear of heights). So we cut the hike short and headed to the Dead Sea. 

Just me pretending to climb

Here I am using a creative way to slide down the mountain. Note, I didn't die. 

That there is the abyss I didn't want to fall into

My feelings about this hike

Their feelings about the hike

And the Dead Sea. Every single time I go there I think, eh, I've been in the water many times, I won't go in this time. And then I get convinced to go in. And let me tell you. It is just as magical every single time. Yes, you feel slimy and salty when you get out but so what. This place is great.

First time we actually used mud at the beach

View from the beach. Those mountains are Jordan 

Look, we float! 

The Dead Sea is shrinking. The sign on this lifeguard station says that when it was erected in 2002 it was right up against the water. It's a bit hard to see in the photo but the water is how quite a long walk away and this lifeguard stand isn't in use. 

And finally, there was excellent parking. Even space to park your camels, as necessary. 

Then the next day, I was off again so we met up with a group of friends we know from back in the old country. I don't know if they want to be in my blog so I won't post their photos. But I will post the ones they sent to me. We did a hike on a day that was way too hot for a hike. But again, we lived. My national parks card got a nice workout during pesach. Also included, 10% off on ice cream at the parks. If we survive a hike, we eat ice cream. Those are the rules. I don't write them, I just follow then. 

Look, we made it

Me being slightly dramatic

And after all of that fun in the heat, our next day (another day off,  I know, it was crazy) we ditched the planned easy hike and skipped straight to the going out to breakfast plan of the day. Because the novelty of kosher restaurants and kosher for pesach restaurants still has not worn off. 

And just because she is cute. I end this with a photo of my dog Goldie. She is clearly exhausted from eating so many matzah crumbs during the holiday.