Aug 2006

My birthday was really good. My roommate woke me up at 7:30am with, "Mika, your dad is on the phone and he says that I have to wake you up, I'm really sorry!" I walked out of my room into a world of colorful suspended balloons that they had hung during the night. I got to talk to my dad and stepmom and sister, which I don't get to do very often, so that was a great start to the day. After going to the gym, I went for hummus in the shuk with a friend and the roomie, who was hilarious because she hadn't gone to sleep the night before (writing a paper) and was completely dilerious.

Afterwards I went to my friend's house and had beers and a lovely chill afternoon with good company and conversation. I went home for a shower and a talk with my mom before people started showing up so that we could go to dinner. We went to this really good sushi place. It was a kind of random group of people - roomie, friends from that area, and friends from work. But everyone got along really well, so it was totally comfortable.

Four of us rallied after dinner to go have a drink at this cool pub I know. And finally, three were left standing at this Russian jazz club - where the live music ended right as we walked in. They put on Russian pop/hard rock, and about 10 Russians spent the next hour+ "dancing" (jumping up and down hideously off-beat) and "singing" (yelling the words) at the top of their lungs. 10 doesn't sound like many, but that place is TINY. I couldn't stop staring, with my jaw on the floor. I know it must have been rude, but I have never seen anything like it.

So all in all, it was a great day. I feel really lucky that even just 6 months into my new life in a new country, I have people who care enough about me to want to celebrate my birthday with me, and who went out of their way to make it special. Of course I wish I could have seen my family and friends from home, but this was also wonderful.

And I'll be home in just over one week!

After work today I got to meet with a real British Lord! He in Israel for whatever politicking, and he wanted to meet with Israeli students. And yes, I realize that I don't really fit either description (I'm Israeli but also quite American), but it was coordinated through my office, so I got to go. There were only about 9 people there, so it was pretty personal. Anyhow, not something you get to do every day!

This guy was hilarious, seriously like the absentminded professor or something. He was a doddering old man, but happy and funny, and interested in knowing about all of us there. But when it came to knowing anything about anything, one of his two aides interrupted with all the information. He didn't know any of it. But in a sweet way, really...

So I was riding to the gym this morning, when my bike lost traction and slid out from under me, sideways. I tummy surfed the streets of Jerusalem for a bit, and when I stopped I took a few minutes just to taste the pavement and make sure I was still alive. I got up, to find that my shirt had done a much better job cleaning the street than the stupid truck-thingie. I took a couple minutes to make sure my bike was ok, and then headed off to the gym. I didn't even see all the scrapes until I got home and showered. Even now, there is dirt embedded in my skin.

You should see the street - it'll never mess with me again.

Before, it was ugly in a pathetic kind of way. Now it's beautiful in a kind of ugly way.

... these are the kinds of projects the Cool People undertake on a random Thursday night....

p.s. birthday in T minus-7 days

p.p.s. trip home in T minus-2.5 weeks

woo!

Well the ceasefire seems to be holding so far, knock on wood and cross your fingers and kiss a shamrock and rub a rabbit's foot and all that. Soldiers are coming home and there is generally a feeling of great relief. I just found out today that the son of the couple who I stayed with when I arrived here (practically family) was called up to reserves, and I didn't even know it. But the husband was collecting him from the base he had returned to from Lebanon, safe and sound, thank goodness. So besides being guilt-tripped about not visiting them in the kibbutz (what else are Jewish mothers for? -haha JUST KIDDING, I LOVE ALL MY JEWISH MOTHERS! plus I am aware that it is quite likely that I will be one of them, one day), it was a good conversation.

What else...? The main editor for the news service I work with is going on vacation on Thursday, which means I'll be the sole editor working for the Hebrew desk (editing items that were translated from Hebrew into English). Usually I work on items from both the Hebrew and Arabic desks, but there will be a lot more Hebrew to do while he's gone, since he does a lot of it, usually. Exciting but a little scary, since I really can't make any mistakes or the whole company will look unprofessional. aaah.

I swear I have more going on in my life than just work! er... no but really, last weekend was a roomie's birthday, and I went to a wine and cheese party (yay! for wine, cheese, and beautiful Jerusalem neighborhoods to wander in afterwards) on Friday.

I totally have a crush on a trainer at the gym. But he's religious. Like, really. And so it's one of those crushes that will forever remain just a fantasy. But he's so cute! I thought those religious guys weren't supposed to be going to the gym, anyways - they're supposed to devote all their time to religious studies. So what is he doing, distracting innocent non-religious girls at the gym? The nerve.

Anyhow I suppose that's it, for now. Home in 3 weeks. Birthday in a week and a half (the 25th, for those who don't know and are curious). Weeeee!

Miluim is the Hebrew word for reserves, referring to the military service all Israeli men (and some women) get called up for periodically, between getting released for the army and retirement age or something. Anyhow with all the craziness going on, many reserves are getting called up, and it is really bringing home what is happening in the north. The chairman of the organization I work for was gone last week for it, and only for a week because he had an office job. The office manager at the company I edit for has been gone for a few weeks now, and it's even more worrying because he was/is part of a combat unit. My roommate's boyfriend was called up a few days ago and it was really somber in the house, but then he got released a couple days later, so we all were able to breathe again. This kind of thing makes the war even less emotionally distant. It is definitely stressful, even though I'm not living in an area getting bombed or anything.

Not to say that life doesn't still have its lighter moments. The other day at the office, the chairman was convincing us how accurate his impression of an elephant was, while someone else was making seal sounds and just looking at the office - it's full of boxes, since we've been moving for a few weeks now. It's all kind of rediculous. But in a good way. And they all keep laughing at me and my left-wing, hippie child tendencies. But I don't mind, maybe in the end I'll be a positive influence for change ......

Here are some pictures from that protest I went to last weekend:

oh, and how busy I am at work

what?? we're moving....

So I moved into my new room last night, and I have to say I love it. I thought there wouldn't be much light, but it turns out there is A TON in the morning, which is when I like it the best! And the mirpeset (balcony) is wonderful - I put one of my armchairs out there already. So. Ready for visitors!

My roommate and I decided to switch rooms, so I'll be moving this evening. Luckily, it's only to the other side of the apartment. This room has a balcony and is off the main street, so it's much quieter. Woo! How much do I NOT feel like packing and unpacking though, seriously. And I'm supposed to edit tonight. Awesome.

No but really, I am excited about the new digs.