The Adventures of Mika

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.

"I wish I could be there to hold your hand.... or your toe..."

I'm going to be in San Francisco in September!!!!!!!!!!! Something like the 7-23. I am so excited! So if you want to see me (and I hope you do, if you are family/friend/etc.), let's make it happen. yay!

In the 2-ish weeks of continued bombing and etc. in northern Israel and Lebanon, I have become very aware of a dual-reality in my life. On one hand, there is my day-to-day existence. I get up, go to the gym, go to work, come home, edit, etc. I read the news of course, as always. On the other hand, my country is pretty much at war with a neighbor, whose strings are pulled by religious crazies with nukes who want Israel destroyed and all Jews dead. So I read the news more closely.

It's hard to realize, at times, that it is here that all the fighting is going on. By American standards, the fighting is going on in Jerusalem's backyard - but the thing is, it isn't all that close. It feels very remote, what is happening. Not to say that we're all in denial about where it's really happening; it's just that it hasn't affected my daily life. Today is Saturday, Shabbat. The sun is shining in the clear blue sky, and I can't even hear any cars (and I live in the middle of the city, where there are almost always cars) - because this is Jerusalem, on the holy day of rest.

I'm not silly, ignorant, or in denial. I read 5-10 newspapers online from the US, Europe, Israel, Arab world, Australia, etc. Jerusalem has not been touched, even hinted at as a target. IF it gets to a point where I feel that I am in danger, I have no problems jumping on the first plane outta here.

Until that point, I am going to continue living my life, including neighborly dinner parties and anti-war protests, both of which were on the agenda this weekend. Friday night my roomie and I turned the kitchen upside down cooking some grub (I make a MEAN mashed potato - thank you, Irish genetics), and went over to a friend who lives literally like 2 buildings down. This friend is I guess a bit more traditional - we said the Shabbat blessings and everything, which was actually kind of nice. It was this group of young modern people, taking the time to say a few blessings before digging in to one of the best meals I've had in a while. I mean, whoa. Of course, in typical Middle-Eastern fashion, it didn't start until like 10, so we got home around 2, but whatever. It was really nice and fun.

And today, I went to an anti-war protest in Tel Aviv with another friend. It doesn't feel right to live in a country involved in a war I don't agree with, and not do anything about it. I was in the newspaper last week for this pro-Israel campaign to balance out all the negative attention we're getting in the media - the whole campaign is being run by my office - and someone asked me how the two vibe. But the thing is, I don't see them as contradictary. I am pro-Israel, AND I don't agree that war is the answer to the current set of issues. Ok so I don't think it's the answer to any issue, but the point is that I believe in the country enough that we have more/greater resources than reckless violence. Anyhow it was great - we went with some women-against-war group, but there was also a gays against war group, and Arab/Palestinians against the war, and etc. etc. It was a pretty good turnout, and I feel more like an active part of my community, and that I am participating in a democratic, free society. Because I do love my country, and I think there are better ways to treat it than to subject the land and its people to war.

It's been kind of surreal, living in Jerusalem these days. On one hand, Israel is at war - there are daily reports of the death and damage in the north, as well as military activity. And the thing is, Israelis are really good at living in war-time situations. Everyone knows how to watch the news, and settle in to a state of resignation to the fighting and getting ready to hear about the casualties. I'm not quite so stoic (well I'm good on the outside, but a little more stressed on the inside), but what can you do. Little-big hippie children from San Francisco aren't supposed to know about war - but then again, I'm not in San Francisco anymore.
At the same time, Jerusalem has (somehow) become one of the safer cities. So the day-to-day life is pretty much the same, for me and eveyone else who lives here. The sun is shining today, and all is quiet, since it is Shabbat. There are a lot more tour groups here, and there are many displaced Israelis who have fled the north in favor of Jerusalem. A friend of my roommate's is here from Haifa. She had enough of sitting in bomb shelters all week, so here she is.
I can't even imagine what it's like in Lebanon. My heart goes out to the people living in a constant state of terror. I don't mean for that to sound patronizing. I know I have no idea of the true horror they are experiencing right now. I think there is blame to be placed on both sides, but that won't help the people (in Israel and Lebanon) whose lives and property, everything, may very well be lost in the coming time of war.

Work (all the jobs) is going well. On Thursday, I went to a meeting for the editing job, after a full day at the full-time job. It was really fun, good to meet everyone and hang out with cool people. Then I went out, and met up with a group who is here on a program hosted by the first job, so that was also fun. With all this working, I should be able to afford to come home for a short visit in Sep.
Yep, that's right - I'm going to try to come home for like 2 weeks in the beginning of September!!! I'm really looking forward to it, it's been so long. A little nervous, since I'm not sure how I have changed, or how everyone and everything in SF might have changed. But it will be good. Now all I have to do is find an affordable ticket.....

Unless you're living under a rock, you are probably all aware that Israel is on the brink of another war, on two fronts. Increasing numbers of soldiers have been sent to (and have been engaging in violent activity in) Gaza in the last two weeks or so. A soldier was kidnapped, and various Arab and Palestinian groups are trying to use that as leverage to free Arabs in Israeli jails. And yesterday, the shit hit the fan on the Israel-Lebanon border, when two more Israeli soldiers were kidnapped, and 8 were killed, during some fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas. Since then, Israel has been bombing, shooting, etc. etc. This morning, I opened the news to see that they (the Israeli Air Force) has bombed the Beirut airport as part of the government-approved "severe response" to the Lebanese/Hezbollah attacks.

The less-terrible news is that so far (knock on wood), the violence has been contained to these two areas, and so it's not like I'm living in a war zone or anything. There are a few more police and soldiers in the streets these days, but other than that, life in Jerusalem is about the same as usual, for now. It is just a strange thing, to be living in a country that is basically at war. Yesterday, as I left work to run an errand at the bank, I asked the security guard (there is a security guard in front of every building, even restaurants and stuff) how he was doing. He said, Not good - and that's how I found out about the two kidnapped soldiers up North. I checked in with family and friends who might have been in questionable situations, and all is fine (b"h), but of course I will continue to think about family and friends, and friends and family of family and friends. There is no doubt that this is turning out to be the most interesting time of my life!

In totally unrelated news, I got another job! So now, I have 3 sources of income: my regular job at WUJS (which is going great, by the way), helping this old poet-lady write emails for a couple hours once a week, and now I'm going to do part-time editing as well. It's with this news service that translates news and political and business interviews and whatnot from Hebrew and Arabic into English. So I'll be editing these final articles, which is awesome because a) I'll get to keep up with the news, b) the cash is always nice, and c) they're an expanding international company, and the guy I interviewed with said there is definitely room for movement! I start training today after my regular job. And it's also awesome because my roommate and another friend both already work there as translators, so it's going to be so much fun, and I can work from home, too! You might think that I will be filthy rich from all this work I'm going to be doing, however wages are substantially lower here in Israel. Oh, well.

Starting to think about a visit home...

My cousin's wife had their third child last week, and today I went to the kibbutz for the Brit Milah - or the Holy Snip, you could also say. It was the first one of those I have been to, and I guess it was fine, since I didn't watch *it* happen. I have to say, that is one beautiful baby. And I usually think newborns are ugly, not their fault, just the unfortunate byproduct of having their face smushed out of shape while squeezing through that tiny birthing canal. well. anyways. This baby is c-u-t-e. And it was good to see the fam, even though it wasn't for very long because we had to get back to J-town by 1. But anyhow. The fam continues to grow. As long as they aren't looking my way for that, haha

The second week of work was fine, blissfully quieter, although it was a little disappointing after soooo much stimulation last week. I guess it will even out. AND I got a side-thing helping this old woman write emails for some extra cash, once a week. AND the place where my roommate and another friend work, a news translating place, needs a weekend editor, so I will go there next week to talk to them about it. wooo extra cash, and helping old people, and keeping up with the news and getting paid for it!

And don't worry, I still make time for important life events like the Mondeal (soccer world cup) - an event that really stops the world (outside the US, that is), and is great fun to watch in a crowded pub over a beer or two. And I go to the shuk just about every week; there's nothing like it.

Excuse me, I'm going to make mint tea from the fresh nana plant outside my window.

... and what else is this week? Israel going back into Gaza after the kidnapping and/or murder of various Israeli soldiers and youth. I knew actually before this week, since my roommate's brother is one of the soldiers who is being sent in. But holy shit, if you'll pardon my language. What is going to happen, what will it look like, etc? I don't think anyone knows.

First week at the new job: completed.
How do I feel: like I got hit by a bus.

This has been one of the craziest weeks I have experienced while living in this country. I started working this week, with the understanding that I would just be there in the afternoons, to finish up this last week in Ulpan. Well. The executive board was in town this week, from all over the world, having all kinds of meetings. Important meetings. And who else had to be there? Oh yes, me. From like 9am to midnight or later, I ate, drank, breathed, watched football with these people. It was fun, but also intense and crazy and there was all kinds of balagan. Drama like you wouldn't believe, and now it is continuing in the aftermath of the meetings, which finished Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. And while it is intimidating to come into an organization when it is going through such tumultuous times, I also really get the sense of how much these people care about it, which is heartening. I'm still excited to be a part of something that people can devote themselves to and sacrifice themselves for. However I think I need to just sleep for the whole weekend, hah.

whew. Let the good times roll!

It's been a while since I updated, but I promise it's because there was nothing exciting happening - just the usual killing myself trying to fit in a normal life around intensive ulpan and working full time.

BUT NOW, things are changing. I got a job that I am SUPERexcited about, with a nonprofit that works with university students all over the world. So a) I'll be working with people ages 18-30, b) I'll be working with a nonprofit, c) I'll be part of an international community, d) I'll actually be putting my degree to use, and e) most of what goes on in the office happens in Hebrew. I won't be the richest girl in the world, but who cares, when I have all these other benefits? I am SO STOKED!!! Oh ya, and the office is a 5-minute walk from my house. No more hour-long bus rides through the most religious neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!