Schachter Family Adventures in Israel : 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.