Rezworldtour

The Proposal (no, this is not a Seinfeld episode)

2011-05-17T00:50:00.009+03:00

Story to follow in the next couple of days.

Sister Liora

The happy arusa(אָרוּסָה)/fiancé

Brother-in-law Yosie dancing to Eyal Golan

Handkerchief courtesy of Grandma Grappel (and for those wondering, outside the US, or at least in Europe and Israel, the engagement ring is worn on the right hand, not the left)

Manicure courtesy of some Russian-Israeli, hand courtesy of Gali, ring courtesy of Keith

Celebratory video shortly after the proposal

The other day I ordered Linguini & Marinara and the waitress brought me Egg Noodles & Ketchup.

2011-04-04T00:10:00.010+03:00

I feel like a nobody, I get to live the rest of my life like an average schnook. So said Ray Liotta's character at the end of Goodfellas, after he had been sent to Bumfuck, Middle of Nowhere in the witness protection program.

And so these thoughts dance in my head as I head back to work for the first time in 3 1/2 years. Next day's thoughts: I really wish I had been able to finish this last night (Sunday), as I am now in a really pissy mood after my first day back in the world of stress. Unlike my typical trading desk days, where a 9 + hour day still meant I got home @ 5:00 or so, tonight I got home @ 7:15, and therefore by the time I ran an errand and hit the gym, it was already almost 9:30 before I started eating dinner. Which typically isn't a big deal, except that I still had a bunch of little things I wanted to do, and in addition to the typical post-dinner/gym activities, there was still the matter of dishes to be done thanks to a nice home-cooked meal by Gali, so next thing I know, it is 11:00 and there is still lots to do.

I am not going to enter this just post just yet, as I was hoping to write a nice piece encapsulating my 3 1/2 year adventure, and I guess tonight will not be the night to finish it.

Day 3 thoughts: I have now spent 3 days back living in the 'real' or at least normal world of everyone else. while the job itself is fine and the people are nice, I haven't gotten home this late from work on a regular basis in over 15 years. No wonder the average human being is stressed out: aside from a lack of money, there is also the matter of lack of time. While I am able to grab a 10 minute snooze on the bus coming home which rejuvenates me for the night, getting home at 7:00 + and refusing to give up the gym is a recipe for the daily minutiae to build up quickly!!

Nonetheless, I suppose it is kind of nice to be back into the grind a bit, and I am seeing it as a bit of a challenge to try and build up an Israeli shekel nest egg and not being forced to transfer my continuously devaluing USD into Israeli shekels.

Helios has awoken and so the dawn of a new day has arrived

2010-05-26T10:14:00.003+03:00

I started writing this Wed morning, but never got around to finishing it.

Tuesday was an event filled day whose components were represented in my dreams later that evening. For starters, the stock markets continued their roller coaster ride, creating fear and panic as they took a tumble to start the day. I suppose given my status of not working for nearly three years yet still remaining financially afloat in the midst of continual tumult in the markets has allowed me to achieve some small status of respectability. Thus, I imparted my thoughts to a friend of mine (we shall call him B.E.) whose financial luck seems to have turned. Later that evening, as my dreams attempted to recall the events of the day, I found that I had purchased for BE, not S&P 500 stock, but raw chicken, both whole and in large chunks of spring chicken, which in Israel is called pragit and which I eat frequently. After discussing it with his wife, he decided I bought too much for him (i.e. bought too much stock at the wrong price) but after calculating the exchange rate, I saw that I could sell what he didn't want for a nominal loss.

Of more substance on the day, I had a date scheduled for Tuesday evening, and this brings us to the reasoning behind the title. As happy as I am to be here and as much as I want to stay, I am still in a bit of a settling in mode. I still have no job, my Hebrew is great for touring purposes but it is still lacking in the comprehension and deep conversational context. As well, I have no family here, and while I love the friends I have made here, bit by bit they are making their exodus. Additionally, 2 1/2 years into the RWT, I still cannot say that I have a new hard skill that will make employers rush to hire me for anything other than stock market trading purposes, or something in a similar vein.

And so, with that as a backdrop, I had extremely randomly (sitting on a bench in the mall) met a nice Israeli girl a few days prior. We spent a few hours together the day after we met, and while it appeared that cultural differences could eventually be an issue, for the time being she appeared to be of quality, we had a nice time together and we made plans for a couple of days later, Tuesday night. I sent her a text in the afternoon on Tuesday just checking in on time, and then called at what would be normal after-work hours. Both times I received no response. Thus, by a certain hour, one realizes they are being stood up and I proceed to take care of my dinner needs as well as finally finish an amazing book about the Pacific theater in WWII.

And so the emotional pendulum swung the other way, putting doubts in my head as to whether I really want to be here among people like this, questioning if I have really achieved anything of substance in my time here and so on. However, when I awoke on Wednesday, Helios popped his head in my window and sure enough, it was a new day fraught with new adventures. Wednesday's chapter on the RWT included going to the DMV in a country that is notorious for its lack of patience on a day that would see the computers at DMV crash.

Boogie (aka Body) Boarding on the Waves of Life*

2010-05-09T17:29:00.006+03:00

It's been well over 2 years since I left the cold of NYC and found myself practically drowning on more than 1 occasion in the Pacific Ocean off Queensland, Australia, on a board very reminiscent to the kick-boards I used to use in camp when I was very young.

I suppose I can retroactively look back and say the board and the situation were a metaphor for what was about to come for me. It wasn't easy, I felt like I could've easily drowned and I had to fight hard to make it back to terra firma. Certainly, my first few months in Israel were similar.

I have been in Israel for 1 1/2 years now and I feel better and better about being here. By no means am I anywhere near fluent or even competent enough to work in Ivrit, but I feel really good about the progress I am making, however small and incremental the gains are. As I gain more confidence in my Ivrit, it reflects upon all aspects of life for me right now, and I'm feeling quite strong and getting more powerful all the time.

There is still the matter of finding avoda (work), an eesha (wife) and appreciating the aspects of Judaism that propelled me to stay (such as real Shabbot dinners), but as the Israelis like to say, liat liat, slowly slowly. Fortunately, I have stayed abreast of all the financial goings on and still have solid enough instincts and abilities to participate somewhat successfully, so for now I am still able to avoid the financial pressures that afflict most.

קָדימָה kadima forward!!!!!

WOW!!! Shortly after I posted this piece, I found the following on the website!

Turn your blog into a book!
Blog2Print from SharedBook turns your blog into a soft cover or hard cover book. You pick the cover, add an optional dedication, then preview and you're done. Prices start at $14.95.

*My preferred title were I to transfer the RWT into book form

Flash Cards

2010-05-09T17:07:00.003+03:00

Back when I was a yeled (little boy), we had flash-card competitions in elementary school, testing us in the various forms of mathematical operations (+/-/x//). Thanks to my rosh gadol (big head) and respectable genetics in regards to comprehending numbers, I tended to do quite well.

Today, in ulpan, our teacher went over fractions, or rather, how to say the various fractions in Hebrew. I couldn't help but laugh when she asked me, in Hebrew, how many tshiyeet תשיעית 1/9 there are in a shlish 1/3 שליש. After sitting there for a few seconds I eventually answered correctly* in Ivrit (Hebrew), but it certainly was a far cry from the instantaneous, Intel chip-like answer I was accustomed to in 1st or 2nd grade. Coincidentally, being that I am in Kita Bet, I am essentially in 2nd grade which means that if I have a yeled of my own sometime soon, I might possibly be able to join him or her in school!

* 3 haha

A little sister's story

2010-04-05T00:08:00.013+03:00

Very few people have had the opportunity to add a post to my brother's blog. I consider myself a very privileged person. I leave Israel tomorrow evening both excited to sleep in my own bed and with a heavy heart as I don't know when I will next be able to give my brother a proper hug and kiss.

We have just spent the better part of 3 weeks visiting Keith in Israel. We being myself, my husband, my daughter, my mom, and my mom's boyfriend. Most people, at Pesach, end their prayers with, "...and next year, in Jerusalem." This year, we did Tel Aviv. And then visited Jerusalem, the Wailing Wall, Masada, the Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, Rosh Pina, Metula, Safed, Jaffa, the Hula Conservancy, a real Shabbat dinner, a 3-year old's birthday in Hayarkon Park, celebrated Pesach, etc., etc.

This was not a trip of museums. It proved logistically impossible to travel with 3 generations and a total of 6 people and see anything more than Independence Hall in Tel Aviv. However, we did hit a whole lot of parks with swings, slides, etc. This was a family adventure. With lots of memories, lots of eating, and not too much fighting and getting on one another's nerves. Plus, a whole lot of bonding time for my brother and his niece. Just today, while he was pushing her on a swing at the local park, she looked at him and said, "I like you, Uncle Kee-Kee." Some moments are just priceless.

It was a gift to immerse myself in another culture and leave my world behind. I discovered how much I love my world and enjoy what I have created in San Diego. I also discovered how disconnected I am (have been) to my Jewish roots. Both insights, priceless.

Mostly what I am left with is how proud I am of my brother. And how in awe I am of his courage to travel the world as he has. I spent one day in Jerusalem with my husband, not speaking the language or being able to read a word of what I saw around me. He has done this for the better part of 2 years. And it is no small feat.

shabbat dinner - 1st night in

view of tel aviv - from Jaffa

little sis / big brother at the Pier in Tel Aviv

Eliana and the tank

Randi @ Masada (eliana takes good pics)

Moses.... joining us for Pesach

Chag Sameach

Uncle Kee-Kee and Yalda

Mom in Rosh Pinna

The gang in Metula (another Eliana pic)

Eliana and Uncle Kee-Kee

Eliana after a hard day's night

And that would be Jordan and the Dead Sea behind us

Eliana after a dip in the Dead Sea

Kee-Kee in the park

Eliana and her birthday cake

Me and the Wall

Dreidel dreidel dreidel, I made you out of clay

2009-12-12T18:43:00.004+02:00

Hanukkah is a pretty big deal here, so it seems. I first unwittingly noticed it when I started seeing what turned out to be Sufganiyot in shop windows everywhere. Rather than eat potato latkes as we Ashkenazim in America do, the Israelis do the eating fried food in honor of the miracle on oil in the form of Sufganiyot, a delicious donut-like pastry. Imagine a cross between a Dunkin Donut chocolate cream filled, with the best frosted Krispy Kreme, except better. They have a variety of toppings here, each one sweeter than the next, and of course a variety of fillings as well, chocolate, creme and a caramel-like substance. All a dentist's best friend.

In ulpan recently, as we learned he story of the victory of Judah Maccabee and his band of merry Maccabeans, we learned about the dreidel and the letters on each side. Being that I don't recall ever really knowing what they meant, I found out there are two versions of the dreidel. There is the non-Israeli version which has the letters נ,ג,ה,ש which stands for Nes (miracle) Gadol (big) Hayah (there was) Sham (there), and the Israeli version, which while obvious, nonetheless seemed pretty fascinating to me from an objective historical perspective, נ,ג,ה,פ, Nes Gadol Hayah Po, Big miracle happened HERE. **

ָחָנוּכָה שָמֵֵֵח

Put on your yarmulkes, it's time to celebrate Hanukkah......

PS: In NY this time of year, it is cold, people wear heavy coats, hats, gloves etc. In Israel this time of year, Israelis wear the same things, except instead of the temperature being 15F it is 15C. I suppose it is all relative, but c'mon people!!!

** Yom Huledet Sameach to 'sa, who already knew this.

All good things must come to an end,

2009-12-02T18:57:00.009+02:00

except for Friday the 13th, Halloween, Rocky and Indiana Jones. Fortunately the RWT has been less bloody than Jason and Mike Myers, but more of an emotional battle than a physical one and certainly a lesson in history.

Tomorrow is the 1.5 year anniversary of the day I got to Marseille, and it sure seems like forever ago. Little did I know at the time how difficult and fun it is to move to a foreign country without a job, friends or command of the language. So much fun in fact that I did it twice!

As of this writing, I believe my command of Hebrew might exceed my peak abilities in French, but I still have a lot more learning to go before I am truly conversational on even a basic level. As anyone who has kept up with my travels has noticed, I haven't posted with any frequency the last few months. When one tries to live a 'normal' life (I'm working on attaining real normalcy), posting on a travel blog doesn't seem to be of critical relevance.

While the RWT will not be shuttered by any means, it's purpose has unofficially come to an end. I do not purport that I know what will transpire from here in my life (although in my ideal job I am in fact claiming that I can indeed foretell the future, as an equity market strategist), but if things go as I want them to, then the RWT has ceased to exist as a going concern. Of course, being that I now live 6,000 miles east of where I started (or 19,000 miles west), at what seems to be the nexus of the universe, I will certainly come across interesting tidbits that I deem worthy of posting, such as the ridiculousness of trance dancing orthodox roaming the streets of TLV. I want to know who their DJ is! Unfortunately, I am not tech-savvy enough to convert the memo-audio into something I can upload here.

היה לי כיף

להתראות

Baseball in Cambodia

2009-11-19T01:35:00.002+02:00

For those who recall my experiences in Cambodia.

A privileged few are blessed with this opportunity

2009-11-07T09:25:00.054+02:00

That is, to post on the RWT blog. Other than myself, Cousin Wendy is the only one to have held the honor, but now dad has been here for 10 days. He leaves tomorrow and we have lots of pictures and other types of housekeeping to catch up with, so I will leave the rest to him.

DAY 1: Arrived in Tel Aviv 1 1/2 hours late. Eliminated the possibility of K and I going up north that evening. My flight was uneventful, but long (10 to 10 1/2 hours). He was going to play hockey in Metulla, just across the street from Lebanon, and we would sleep out, but alas, poor Yorick, it was not to be. Instead, went to his place, settled in and went to dinner in an area called Neve Tsedek, which is the oldest neighborhood in TA. We walked along Rothschild Blvd to get there. Lots of dogs, some of the ugliest I have ever seen. I guess you could relate the area to Soho or something like that. K gave up his bed for his dad and slept on the couch. What a guy.

DAY 2: Heavy rain, lightning, thunder. Had all the wrong clothes for this trip. Needed long sleeves, more long pants. Had b'fast in a local place called Cafe Noir. After the meal, we discovered my hat (Bronx Bombers) was missing but a NY cap was left there. Bummer. Rained most of the day. We went to the Carmel market for shopping for food and the many gifts I needed. Rain killed that, but did get an umbrella. The Artist market was closed (where you would get most of the gifts) b/c of the weather. We got soaked. Bought an Israel cap. Keith made fruit shakes for lunch at his place, very tasty. His friends here call him the fruit shake king. Went to Yafo (Jaffa) for dinner at an authentic Arab restaurant. Wonderful chicken ka-bob, probably the best I ever ate. Yafo has been around for over 2000 years and is the older and somewhat Arab section of Tel Aviv, which itself is only 100 years old this year. Was a long walk to get there so we took a taxi home. Got ripped off by the cabbie, of course. Just like everywhere else when they have a stranger. Went back to the cafe and lo and behold, there was my Bronx Bombers cap and the NY cap was gone.

Shopping in the rain at HaShuk HaCarmel (Carmel Market)

View of Tel Aviv looking northeast from Yafo

Day 3: Keith going to airport to pick up friends at 8am and then we are off to Jerusalem for a few days. Goes out to car and discovered flat tire. Today is Saturday, sabbath and almost everything closes. Friends have to get their own way back from the airport. A neighbor tells him where he could get the flat fixed in Yafo. Of course, we first have to put the donut on in the rain before we could get anywhere. Wet once again. But the people here are thrilled since they have had a major drought. Not great for tourism, but tough nuggies on us tourists. K was shocked that to fix the flat cost only 35 shekels (about $9). Just like Passaic or the Bronx. From there we started out for Jerusalem. On the way, we stopped at Latrun where they have the Armored tank museum. Tanks from all the wars, probably over 100 or more. From all different countries too. It was very interesting. Arrived at the Dan Boutique hotel in J around 4:30. Went to dinner at a fish place (Sea Dolphin) where I had Lavrak (I still don't know what kind of fish it was) and it was okay. K had St. Peter's fish and I felt the same way about it. Not quite cedar plank halibut or tuna steak. After dinner, we took a walk to the old city, looked at the wall, got wet and cold again, and cruised the old city some. K friend Randy joined us after dinner and we went out for drinks at the Colony bar. Still wet and cold. All this walking is beginning to be tuff on the legs, but I persevere.

Wall of Names at Latrun

Old City/Western Wall at night

Day 4: Great b'fast at the Dan hotel. Buffet of about 100 different items. Starting to eat lots of fruit and veggies. Went to a promenade and great views of the city (old), east and west. From there we went to Yad Vashem (Holocaust museum). Very moving and extremely extensive. Everytime I go to one (NY, D.C., Israel), I leave there very angry. Sometimes we live in an awful, rotten world. Took cool pics with some Israeli soldiers and had a good laugh with them. From there we went to the Israel Museum. There they had monuments (white and black) relating to the Dead Sea Scrolls and the sect that wrote them, the Essenes. Saw one piece of them and lots of other interesting artifacts about those days. Had dinner in J at an area called the German Colony (many Americans live there, hence many American tourists go there), don't know why it is called the German Colony. Meal was kind of mediocre. I guess not every meal can be a feast. Caught in the rain again. Tired of being wet and cold, and not getting to see as much as we could.

Looking north at the Old City from the promenade

Hall of Names from Yad Vashem, whereby the names of all the victims are preserved

In front of Yad Vashem

Structure that represents both the lids on the jars in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were found as well as the belief of the Essenes that they were the Sons of Light in the coming end of days.

Black wall representing the Sons of Darkness

Jerusalem circa 2000 years ago, the Second Temple in all it's glory...scale 1:50

Day 5: In the morning we did a tour of the old city (hey, a free one at that). Quite historical of course. That was at 11am. Left the tour at 1:30pm b/c we had another tour scheduled at 2:30pm. We walked up to the Temple Mount and saw some Arab kids hiding rocks in their pocket. As they were leaving, they hid them on a ledge of the Dome building. We went to the police, told them about it and they came got rid of the rocks. Kids were already gone. They had these rocks for only one reason and it was not a nice one. We then walked around the old city, went to the Arab market, did a little shopping, K got ripped off on 2 shakes. Sounds like anywhere, let's nail the tourists, even though K speaks the language. When I say ripped off, I am only talking about a few shekels (current ratio 3.75/USD) here and there, not lots of dollars. It's all principle though. Next we had the Mount of Olives tour, lots of churches, Church of Ascension, etc. The tours are not for Jews only, obviously. Lots of Jesus stuff too. Had wonderful views of the Dome from different vantage points. Saw the largest (I think) Jewish cemetery in the world (almost 100,000) graves.When we were at the wall that evening, I found it quite annoying that the religious Jews there were asking me for money. Is that blasphemy or what? This tour also had more rain. Is there no end? Next we had a 6:30pm tour of the tunnels (underneath the old city, another fascinating experience) but I have a clarity problem in hearing and had a guide that had that heavy Jewish accent. I had to miss 50% of what he said. But still quite a wonder. Took a taxi back to the hotel.

Jaffa Gate

Rooftop cruise of the Old City where Keith slipped shortly after the tour guide warned everyone to be careful as it is slippery up there

Church of the Ascension

The Kotel (The Wall in Hebrew) from the path leading up to the Temple Mount

Sanctuary of the Eleona, where the Our Father prayer was written in every known language at the time, some of which are no longer spoken

View of the Old City from the Mt of Olives. Jews would prefer to see this view with a temple as opposed to a golden dome. As K friend Randy says, Jews are dying to be buried there.

The Wall as seen from the tunnel tour

While doing a Vulcan mind meld at the wall, I felt incredibly moved. My eyes welled up with tears which surprised me since I am so far removed from being a religious person. My son was taken aback at the length of time I stood at the wall, figuring I would touch it and walk away.

Day 6: Still raining and cold in J. We were now heading to the Dead Sea. As soon as we passed Mount of Olives, the weather cleared and it started to get nice. Mazel tov. Of course, my next responsibility was to float in the Dead Sea. Damn, I actually did. I have never been able to float (probably not enuf fat in my body years ago). Before we got there, we pulled off a side road (deserted) by the sea so K could relieve himself. He didn't know I was taking video and at that moment a tour bus decided to pass by. I can't tell you how hard I was laughing and even he was. He waved to them while doing his thing and it was funny. I know he is not going to put that video in the blog or facebook, so if you want to hear me hysterically laughing, you will have to be tight with him. From there we drove to Masada and K asked me if I was able to walk up. I said as long as we make lots of stops, sure. Did it in just under an hour. Stopped about 8 times, kept taking pics of how much higher we were each time.
I used the expression, I conquered Masada on foot (about 1300 feet, whereby the Dead Sea is 1300 feet below sea level). Sun was hot, drank lots of water. Had some beautiful views from up there of the country, Roman garrisons, etc. K was smart, had purchased a cable car ticket for us to down. From there we drove into the Negev desert to get to the Bedouins. We had reservations at an authentic Bedouin tent (including the host family) on the way to Mizpe Ramon. This experience ranked up with flying over a live volcano (Hawaii), flying over the Grand Canyon, landing on a glacier in Alaska. Of course, all of those were in a helicopter. This was as if 2000 years ago. BUT, they had a satellite dish, cell phone, and electricity. Not in our tent though. Each of us had 2 small mats to sleep on, heavy blankets, and a genuine Bedouin tent. Slept in our clothes of course and hoped we would wake up in the morning (not have our throats ripped like in the movies). One of the man's 10 children spoke a little English (he was about 12) and K speaks enuf Hebrew to converse with the man. We had dinner with them in the big tent and the male children (I think about 7), and here cleanliness is not quite next to godliness. As K called it, this was a no frills hotel (ha). After dinner, a Russian tour of 15 CIO's from Moscow came to have dinner also. They had picked out a lamb a few hours earlier and the Bedouin killed it and that was their dinner. A couple of them spoke English and we had a great time. Vodka, wine, laughs, lot of smoke in the big tent, and K negotiated his backgammon board for some of that drink. K played backgammon earlier with 2 of the Bedouin kids and then he beat me 2 out of 3. Of course, I haven't played in 30 years,, so????? Russkies left after dinner and we were on our own. Holy cow. Had to get up in the middle of the nite to go and they had a toilet about 100 yards away with electricity, a lite and a flusher. Of course first I had to put on my sneakers and walk in the dark. Some experience. An incredible mix of third world and first world. The Bedouin man must have gotten a hundred cell phone calls while we were there. Goats, camels, chickens, dogs, etc. Another of those once in a lifetime experiences. They don't do this on a tour. BTW, it was also K first time doing this.

Masada, the snake path

Conquering hero!

The dining room

Abdallah, the 12 y.o. son

Improving international relations

Bedouin camp

Our St. Regis

Luxury accommodations

Day 7: Drove south to Mizpe Ramon. This is the largest natural crater in the world, formed over millions of years. On the way, we needed gas. I offered to pay. Holy cow. Small car, half a tank, cost me $52. duh. Another very impressive site. Had b'fast there, saw a 15 minute movie about how it was formed, and then prepared to leave for TA. Before leaving, we spoke with a woman that works there and she said the family we stayed with, the Kashkhar family, is truly authentic. The father is a wonderful man. A little bit of a hacker's cough in the AM, and PM though. As we planned our route home, Keith asked if I would be willing to drive back going near the Gaza Strip and of course I said you is the tour guide. Also a first for him. He stopped and took a few pictures of Gaza (a few miles away) and we had no issues. He saw the camp where he had volunteered and worked with the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) back in December when he first arrived. Got back to Tel Aviv, my legs felt like they were 100 pounds each (I only weigh 172). Went to dinner at his favorite pizza place called HaPizza/הפיצה in TA and it was quite good. From there we went to a mall, bought my friend Ben an Israeli football/soccer jersey (he wears xxxl, but they didn't have bigger than xxl). Called him from the Adidas store to see of xxl okay, and he said yes. We then met Keith's friend Mike from Vancouver at a local bar and we hung there for a couple hours. Drank a coke, Johnnie Walker black, and then water.

Mizpe Ramon

Gaza City in the distance

Day 8: K went to work (help out) his friend Avi who has a fruit shake store (a small stand) and it is around the corner from where K and his friends had gone to Hebrew immersion school (Ulpan). After the rush of students during the hafseka (break) I had 2 shakes while there, one by the Fruit Shake King and one by Avi. Both were very good. The best one still was the one at K's place. From there we walked to the Mediterranean, and then took a taxi to Yafo again.We tried to go to the place where we had that great chicken but a tour was there and we couldn't wait that long. I was wearing my Stuyvesant polo shirt and 2 on the tour were grads of Stuy. All NY Jews of course. K knew a place in the Arab quarter that he said was terrific. He didn't lie, but he was starting to get some kind of bug. Lots of bathroom trips (I was still okay). The Big Itzik grill (I can't spell Arab name) offered 16 side dishes before the main course. Who needed a main course? We then shopped at the Arab market in Yafo. What an exhausting experience. It's fun, but no matter what you pay, they probably still make 300% profit. At nite Keith had a networking event (through an organization called Ghavim) where Shimon Peres made a speech. There were about 200 or so people (half French Jews) and each person was nicer than the next one. Some NY'ers there too, plus assorted nationalities (all of course Jewish). K drove 2 friends to this event and we got lost twice. Later, going back to TA, we got lost again. Couldn't find a street spot so he parked in a lot across the street (K rented a car for about 2 weeks while I am here). Got home at 11:30pm and passed right out. Hey, I am no spring chicken, you know.

Juice Bar

The Fruit Shake King

Shimon Peres

Day 9: Friday (Sabbath starts at about 4pm, stores and markets close). Still need about 10 gifts, getting real nervous about not having the proper things. Keith still ailing. I take a walk along Rothschild Blvd and get a cappuccino and danish. Sit on the bench, look at some more ugly dogs, watch the people. Get back and K still hurting. Tells me to go to b'fast alone. Go to Cafe Noir and have a nice b'fast. When I get back, he is basically ready to leave. K is having Shabbot dinner at his place so he needs to shop at the market and do some cooking. He has about 12 people in all coming and some will also bring food. K runs some errands (cleaners, butcher, atm) before we hit the market. The weather is beautiful and we get to the artist colony. Spend about one hour shopping and getting what I need. Then we go to the food market next door. Keith is shopping for his fruits, veggies, etc. for dinner. Place is unbelievably crowded. I still need a few gifts. I go the other way and we decide we will meet at the apartment. I finally get what I believe to be all my gifts so that stress is no longer. I get back to the apt 15 seconds after him. Shabbot dinner is lots of fun. K prepared seasoned, baked sweet potato fries and mini lamb-kabobs. A few prayers over the wine and Challah and then eat and party. Terrific group of friends, half of whom are Olim (Jews who have made Aliyah, a paper process that allows them to become citizens of Israel). Now I get the stomach bug. Don't think it is from K cooking. Tough nite sleeping.

Shopping in Carmel Market before Shabbot

That is a Kipa on K head

Miri

non-cousin Susan Wilner

Randy and Mr. çelibean (Alper...I beat him 2 of 3 in Sheshbesh aka Tavla aka Backgammon)

Shabbot table

Turkish friends Iko and Alper

Day 10: K made Adirondack pancakes for b'fast. His buddy Randy came by and we had a nice meal. Watched K clean his place from the nite before and then helped him help me spend 8 + hours doing this blog posting, including one computer crash and too many cumulative trips to the loo to count.

Summarization: There are some major differences between an Israeli and someone from another country. The Israelis yell alot, but it doesn't mean anything here. They just like to yell. They have absolutely no patience. By the time the lite has changed 1/2 second, they are on the horn. Seemingly every Israeli smokes. Amazing, when you consider how everyone knows how harmful cigarettes are. Crazy people, give themselves strokes. They speak incredibly fast. If you don't know the language real well, you will have issues. But K does pretty good, for sure enuf to get by. But the commonality of the Israeli and the Olim is thus: Everyone is on a cell phone all the time. Anywhere, anyplace. Very high tech country, especially in TA. Everyone is incredibly helpful. If you come here alone and you go to Ulpan, there are so many people here to help you, fix you up, just be incredibly nice. Not something we have at home, but of course their history is older than ours and the state of Israel is the size of Jersey. But the Israeli's are the same way. Most of them speak English and I have not seen anyone here turn down requests for any help. A truly warm environment. Not hard to understand why K stayed here. The streets are incredibly narrow. I watch cars get scratched all the time. Obviously, only small cars will do. Every time I was in a taxi, my knees were in my chest. Ugh. What made this trip so wonderful was that I experienced it as an Israeli, not on a tour. But, I know I missed some historical data by being with my son and not a tour guide. If a tour is a 10, then my trip has to be a 15. My kid was great. His friends were wonderful people. Israel is a country of people like my friends Sue and Everett.

Editor's note: It is very odd to know that when my dad leaves tomorrow, barring an unplanned dash or an unknown variable taking me to the US, I won't be seeing him for a little too long. It was a fun, tiring, action-packed trip, and we are both looking forward to a) no longer being sick and b) getting back to our respective lives. At least I do not have a 12 hour flight in the morning. We hope you read this post in great detail and with much enjoyment, b/c it took us ALOT of time and effort.

Like most large, formal gatherings here in Israel, the Gvahim event the other day closed with the Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem. Make sure to watch the video below.

Been a while

2009-10-10T17:20:00.003+02:00

Yarkon River in Park Hayarkon facing west during sunset

Last night I saw Inglorious Basterds in the theater. Seeing a movie with a Holocaust theme in Israel, even a completely fictitious theme such as this, is still interesting. Israel is a country of living history from the perspective that any older person you see roaming the streets could very well have been someone who a) fought in the War of Independence or b) is a Holocaust survivor or had family that perished in it.

The beginning scene in particular calls out the horrors of what Jews (and their protectors, or the Righteous as they are called by Holocaust historians) went through, and it was pretty silent in the theater when it reached its climax. I believe it is because so many people in the theater can directly relate to it through the experiences of family members. I know for myself, I was unsure whether to throw up or cry. I just wish my French, Hebrew and German were better, b/c the subtitles were in Hebrew, thus when they were not speaking English I could only get the jist of what was happening.

Two weeks ago was Yom Kippur, and it really is an amazing thing to see a cosmopolitan, secular city such as Tel Aviv completely shut down for 24 hours. Not only are there no stores open, no one drives thus the roads are COMPLETELY devoid of vehicles, save for Police and Emergency vehicles. People set up chairs and tables on main roads and pass the time in the middle of the street.

Of course there is the religious aspect to the holiday as well, and I am proud to say I made it from 5pm on the eve until nearly 7 PM the following day without a bite of food. A little bit of water perhaps, but nothing solid. I also did something I haven't done in nearly 15 years, voluntarily go to services in a non-Wedding/Bar Mitzvah situation. Sunday nights' services were pretty awful for a variety of reasons, the main one being my friend and I went to the WRONG temple, but we corrected that on Monday, and it was really awesome to be there for the services leading up to the closing bell (when the Shofar is blown, thus essentially ending the fast).

During the services, I was reminded once again as to why it is I keep staying here. I only went to Yeshiva for a couple of years when I was young, before elementary school plus a few years of Jewish Day Camp, but whenever I hear the holiday songs during prayer, it always brings me back to the days of Camp Nachas and Yeshiva Ateras Yisrael. And it chokes me up a bit, I have to say. And so with that, I am moving to Jerusalem shortly to study the Torah and become Orthodox.

Just kidding, but I do want to delve juuuuust a wee bit deeper into the religion and the appropriate prayers, as I still love being a Heebica.

Layla tov!!!

Keeping up the Grappel family tradition

2009-09-01T07:19:00.008+03:00

שוק סיטונאי means shuk sitonai (wholesale market)

At 4:30 this AM, I went with Avi, the proprietor of Mitz(juice)-bar to the wholesale fruit/veggie market, to buy fresh fruit at good prices. It is a 15-20 minute ride to the SE of Tel Aviv, and I felt just like how I imagined my grandparents and great-uncle were, although Avi did all the haggling and buying. We bought some mangoes, bananas, pineapples (ananas), pomegranates (rimonim), grapefruits (eshcholit) and nectarines. Hayah kef (it was fun). הָיָה כֵף! This juice thing is still not set in stone, but at least my Hebrew is improving and I am keeping myself busier than I had been. Meeting some people as well.

On another note, I attempted a second cooking class, but this time it truly was hands-on. Everyone participated in the dishes, and even though I didn't understand most of what the head chef said, I comprehended more than last time, and had fun while making some really good food.

And on yet another side note, today is the one year anniv of leaving Marseilles for a month of driving around England, after living there for 3 months. And it was 70 years ago today that Germany invaded Poland, thereby bringing WWII to Europe.

Prague (click for GPS...I was in a beer garden when I sent this)

2009-08-28T15:58:00.009+03:00

What I found out is in Czech, Rezník means butcher, and since we can't trace the Resnick line beyond 1880's Russia, going forward I am of Czech origin until proven otherwise

Prague looks very similar to Copenhagen....you can see the crowded Charles Bridge

Petrin Tower, built in 1891, 3 years after the world's fair that introduced La tour Eiffel...this is a mini version obv, but still a disturbingly tight walk up to the top for someone w a slight bit of height queasiness

Prague Castle ^ v

In Jewish Quarter....Spanish Synagogue above...the Nazis brought Jewish artifacts in from around the region to create a huge museum in the Jewish quarter...a museum to an extinct race!

John Lennon wall

Wenceslas Square...many large student protests took place here over the years.

Rudolfinum (below)...home to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, I saw a classical concert there. Really, what does a conductor do besides look like he has a twitch?

Uncle Joe at the Museum of Communism...below is a metronome that is now in place of what was the worlds largest statue completed in 1955 of Joe. It was blown up in 1962, many years after Khruschev had denounced Stalin.

Czech Art

Terezín (Theresienstadt in German) (click for GPS)

2009-08-28T12:47:00.005+03:00

"Work sets you free"

Each individual bed held 6-8 people, and the whole rack held up to 120 people. Each bed is about the size of a king-size bed.

Denmark sent 7000 of it's 7400 Jews to Sweden when they found out the Nazis were going to round them up. The 466 who didn't get out came here, and this is the synagogue they prayed in. 'Only' a few dozen Danish Jews didn't survive.

Terezín is a town 1 hour north of Prague that was a fortress built in the 18C, but was eventually used as a prison. When the Germans annexed the Sudetenland, they changed the name to Theresienstadt, and eventually the city became a Jewish Ghetto/transit camp/model camp for the Int'l Red Cross to see, so that they could report that life wasn't so bad for the Jews under the Nazis.

The tour we went on was led by Pavel Stransky, a Jew from Prague who survived not only Terezín, but also Auschwitz and the death march from Auschwitz when the Russians were coming close. When I asked him how he survived, aside from his teaching skills that the Nazis found useful, from an emotional level he said he never lost hope that he would one day see his wife again, who was also interred in Terezín. He reconnected with his wife on July 19, 1945, the happiest day of his life. Fyi, he has written a book.

Being an inmate, he is privy to daily details that you will not find in history books. Two of the stories he passed on from Terezín relate to the Nazi treatment of Jews. No surprise, but he said that sometimes the Commandant of the camp would have Jews try to run from point A-B in the courtyard, and for the SS to use them as target practice. Another gruesome tale would involve the same sadistic Commandant stage gladiator games, except in this case it was Jew v Jew, and whenever possible, father v son or brother v brother. Can't even begin to imagine. And I thought living in Israel was tough.

Little yellow school bus

2009-08-28T01:50:00.002+03:00

Yesterday, after 6 days in Prague and 8-9 days without much Hebrew, I had another private Hebrew lesson.

He wanted to talk about my trip, what I did and what I saw, obviously בעברית. The session lasts for 2 hours, and this session, which including a lot of conversation using vocabulary I am unfamiliar with, in addition to being rusty, was more painful than any dental experience I have every had. I would rather have had a root canal worked on surrounded by 6 cavities, I was so brutal. I felt the continual stammering coming out of my mouth, my brain awash in blackness. It was so bad, after wanting to cry from frustration, that at the end of the session, he said to me, 'maybe you have a learning disability for languages'. At least I think he said languages. Even if he didn't, the words learning and disability were paired up directed to me. I sunk even deeper into despair, and sulked out of the room and into the streets wondering why the F am I putting myself through this??????

The reality is my Hebrew isn't as bad as it came out yesterday. I can actually say things, and maybe b/c I am at a higher level than I had been, more is expected, but G-D DAMN it was still brutal yesterday. So much so it is funny retelling the story.

Keystone cops

2009-08-25T00:09:00.005+03:00

In Letna Park, across the river on the north of Prague, is a beer garden. On my way to the beer garden I saw some woman yelling at a guy in a tractor, then start talking to the policemen as they pulled up behind the tractor in their car. While she was talking to them, the tractor driver loosened the ties that attached it to the rest of the train ?, and sped away. Or at least go as fast as a tractor can go.

After the cop car caught him (the still photo shows them talking with him), apparently they turned away for a moment and he took off, losing them for a little while.

Lidice (click for GPS)

2009-08-24T23:20:00.005+03:00

Memorial building and view of what was the old town.

Looking past the rose bushes and the bucolic green hills of Lidice, a small town 20 km west of Prague, lies a typical story of Nazi brutality and vengeance.

In May 1942, Reinhard Heydrich was one of the very top men in Hitler's Reich. He was in charge of Bohemia and Moravia (Czechoslovakia), and had recently chaired the Wannsee Conference near Berlin, where the Germans laid plans to execute the Final Solution.

At the end of May, 1942, Czech paratroopers trained in Britain bombed his car as he was coming back from his weekend retreat in Germany, and he died soon thereafter. In reprisal for this act, the German high command decided to liquidate two Czech towns from the face of the earth.
The first, and the most well known, is the town of Lidice. Of the 500 inhabitants, 2/3 died directly at the hands of the Nazis. Of those, the nearly 200 adult men of Lidice were executed on the day of reckoning, June 10. The women were sent to camps and the children young enough to be 'Germanised' were sent to foster homes in the Fatherland. Of the 100 or so children, 88 died, and the statue shown represents those children.

When the war ended, the remaining children were allowed to return home, and for those very few who were fortunate enough to find their mothers, some didn't even recognize them as they were so young when they were split apart, and some weren't even able to communicate in Czech, as they had learned German over the prior 3 years.

The Germans actually filmed the razing of the town for propaganda purposes, but to the outside world it was an obviously despicable act. Many towns changed their town names to Lidice, stamps were commemorated, and money was raised for the townsfolk after the war.

What do you get when you combine trading skills and Waldbaum's cashier skills?

2009-08-06T12:09:00.005+03:00

You get a superstar fruit/veggie shake maker!

Yesterday, I went to the shake place to help Avi in the morning, specifically to be there for הָפסָקָה, hafsaka, the morning break the Ulpan takes. It is a 30 minute break which many students use to get a freshly made shake. On this particular morning, the girl who usually comes to help in the AM didn't show, so I got thrown into the fire.

The first time Avi asked me to ring up a sale, I felt like it was 1985 and I was a cashier at Waldbaum's. In order to keep my composure during the craziness that is the fruit shake biz during hafsaka (lol), I just made believe it was the opening bell, when much insanity exists (well, not so much at RH, but in general!). I figured if I could handle orders for a few hundred thousand dollars, I can do this. It actually was kind of fun, especially when people would order בעברית and I would understand what they said! One of my friends from class was there and got some pix of me in action. To be posted as soon as I get them.

And the insult to the American taxpayer continues

2009-08-06T12:06:00.002+03:00

It is amazing to me how little social conscience the people running our companies and govt have.

By LIAM PLEVEN and AARON LUCCHETTI

Wall Street banks and lawyers could collect nearly $1 billion in fees from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and American International Group Inc. to help manage and break apart the insurer, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.

That would represent one of Wall Street's biggest paydays -- four times the fees paid to break up AT&T Corp. in 1996, and nearly double those paid for Visa USA's 2008 initial public offering, the largest U.S. IPO ever.

The federal government's bailout of AIG has left it with a nearly 80% ownership stake. The government has a multiyear plan to recoup the more than $100 billion in taxpayer money it put at risk in the rescue.

The plan requires hiring firms to handle public offerings of some AIG units and outright sales of others, to manage some toxic AIG assets, and for other tasks.

Among the biggest beneficiaries is Morgan Stanley, which has earned about $10 million assisting the Fed, but could collect as much as $250 million from various AIG-related deals, according to some banking experts and documents released by the New York Fed. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Bank of America Corp. and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. have all gotten assignments in recent months to help dismantle AIG.

To calculate the possible fee total, The Wall Street Journal tallied estimated fees for deals already struck and others AIG is planning or considering or may have to pursue in the future. Thomson Reuters and Freeman & Co. provided fee estimates on some deals. Documents from the New York Fed indicate typical fee arrangements for various types of deals under consideration. The Journal used those figures, along with estimates of potential deal sizes, to help calculate the possible total.

The actual fees could run higher or lower than $1 billion, depending on which deals AIG pursues, how those deals are structured, market conditions, and how successful the government is at extracting itself from its ownership stake, among other things. AIG's restructuring could take years, adding another level of uncertainty.

The situation puts the government in the potentially uncomfortable position of employing some of the same firms it regulates. In theory, actions the government takes in connection with those firms, for example, could affect how effective the firms are at handling their AIG assignments.

"I'm confident we can separate the two" issues, said a spokesman for the Treasury.

AIG shares surged 63% to close at $22 on Wednesday in New York Stock Exchange trading, ahead of its second-quarter earnings report on Friday.

AIG is planning two IPOs of multibillion-dollar insurance subsidiaries, is weighing a third, and is steadily selling off small units with the assistance of investment banks. The fee pool for all three IPOs could reach $570 million, documents released by the New York Fed indicate.

AIG and the New York Fed, which helps oversee the government's ownership stake in AIG, are paying BlackRock Inc. to manage more than $35 billion of the insurer's toxic assets.

AIG is preparing to offer investors shares in a major Asian life insurance unit, American International Assurance Co., early next year.

That initial public offering could raise more than $5 billion. Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank have been hired as lead underwriters.

Each bank could pocket nearly $45 million in fees, according to documents released by the New York Fed.

Accounting firm Ernst & Young has a New York Fed contract that could pay $10 million to $60 million, according to documents released by the New York Fed. Law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, which was brought into AIG at the peak of its crisis last September, is charging up to $950 per hour for partners' time. That reflects a 10% discount, which "is not a common practice," says Marshall Huebner, Davis Polk's lead attorney on the matter.

Goldman was part of a group of banks that helped AIG raise $1.14 billion this year by selling a large stake in a reinsurance company. The group of banks shared an estimated $39.7 million in fees, according to Thomson Reuters and Freeman & Co.

Bank of America advised AIG on the recent sales of its car-insurance unit and a Tokyo building. Those deals generated $5.5 million and $1.9 million in fees, respectively, for the bank and others, according Thomson Reuters and Freeman & Co.

Blackstone Group, which has been advising AIG since last fall, has already brought in around $50 million, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Morgan Stanley's work for the government dates back to last summer, when then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson called Morgan Stanley Chief Executive Officer John Mack to ask if Morgan would help the U.S. government's effort to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Soon after those companies were put under government control in September, the New York Fed called Morgan Stanley to start working on the growing problems at AIG.

In October, the New York Fed and Morgan Stanley agreed that the investment bank would get an "advisory fee" of $4 million, and another $2.5 million each quarter, for its AIG work. In addition, Morgan Stanley would collect a separate "transaction fee" -- potentially up to tens of millions of dollars, according to New York Fed documents -- when AIG closed deals to sell units.

In recent months, AIG has begun preparing for possible initial public stock offerings for American International Assurance and another foreign life insurance unit, American Life Insurance Co. In June, the New York Fed and Morgan Stanley revised their pact to help ensure that Morgan Stanley would get some of that work, too. (AIG has also held preliminary talks with rival insurer MetLife Inc. about a possible deal for all or part of American Life Insurance, which would reduce underwriting fees.)

After any IPOs, AIG may need to sell more of the remaining stakes in those units in order to repay the government. Such transactions could generate tens of millions of dollars in additional fees.

Roughly $75 million in fees has been paid for asset sales AIG has already completed, according to estimates by Thomson Reuters and Freeman. Separately, BlackRock's contracts call for it to get a minimum of $50.5 million and a maximum of $142.5 million, if the job managing toxic assets lasts three to five years.

This work isn't always easy for those involved, said a number of bankers. One gripe: Bankers used to flying business class have to sit in coach when on government business.

Here's my card, let's go for a coffee one day

2009-07-21T22:56:00.003+03:00

Being that Israel is somewhat of a modern country, I do have internet and video access here, so it would be great for anyone who reads the blog to set up a Skype account so we can video chat. Skype-Skype is free, and if you have a Gmail account, Gmail now has a feature that allows you to have a video chat as well. I am keithrez on Skype.

(Tiberias) טבריה

2009-07-19T18:58:00.007+03:00

Dani (front left) is shortly heading back to Spain after 9 years in the US and a year here in TA. Before he leaves he has been trying to see and do as much as he can. This past weekend we took a trip to Tiberias. Aside from being hot as Hades, it was pretty fun, even though we ended up doing none of the adventure stuff that we intended such as rafting on the Jordan and biking around the Kinneret. On the way home we stopped off in a pretty little town called Rosh Pina, whose scenery reminded me somewhat of Tuscany.
Most places were closed b/c of Shabbot, so we ended up eating at this expensive but very nice and very tasty restaurant in the village. Sitting outdoors, of course I had my inevitable bee incident, but this time I was able to escape by eating the rest of my food inside (lesson for the future; if sitting outside, don't eat protein. The bees love it.)
For me, the trip was a crash course in Spanish, as all 4 of them are from Spain or Portugal.

בָרוך אָתָה ייָ אֵלוֹוהֵינו מֵלֵך הָעולָם, בורֵא פרי הָעֵץ

2009-07-14T11:55:00.012+03:00

The transliteration of the above prayer is Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei pri ha'etz, or, Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who created the fruit of the tree. This is relevant because I have decided to possibly take on an unexpected, but not totally surprising, career path. One thing I have consistently said on the RWT is that I am not going to get a real job that is completely uninteresting to me, just to get a job. I don't need to from a financial point of view (at the moment), and I know what I like and what it is that interests me.

Last week, I went to a professional networking event for Olim (people who have made Aliyah) that focused on the financial services industry. The key speakers were a head trader from a large London-based hedge fund (who lives here now) and a well-respected economist. Aside from the content of the event, it was pretty much a shmoozefest, I met a few people, but it seemed somewhat uninspiring to me and I questioned whether I really wanted to go back into the industry. I feel it has changed so much for the worse, now it is just strictly a job, a means to an end, and while the concept of capital markets in a pristine or honest state is critical to a functioning economy, I believe the industry is now a complete sham and offers nothing beneficial to society other than allowing a small % of people to make really good money while everyone else toils and sweats and actually creates and then stupidly gets sucked in at peaks thinking they can make quick money as well. Humans are greedy and Wall St offers people the avenue to utilize that character trait. Without trying to burn the cyber-bridge, I will still be invested in the equity markets and use them to my advantage, but I just was having a hard time seeing myself go though all that crap again and continue to not be value-added to society other than being a consumer. Of course, if at some point in the future I need a job, I may have to fall back on the only thing I know how to do and do well.

6 years ago when I went to Vino Vino Jay 's wedding in Italy, his brother-in-law turned me on to the concept of juice-fasting, which means one fasts for x amount of days, and the only caloric intake is through fresh fruits and vegetables mixed in a blender or juicer. I researched it, did it for 3 days, I felt great, and ever since then I have been hooked on fresh fruit juices and the health benefits they offer.

There is a fresh juice stand near the Ulpan that I went to every day, and I became friendly with the guy who runs it. In the last few months I have not-so-seriously said to him and some of my friends that maybe I will open up a juice kiosk. This past Sunday I spoke to him about the idea for real, and if I can feel comfortable with him as a partner, the finances make sense to me and we agree on the details and business plan, we will become partners and I will follow in the footsteps of the Grappel side (mom) of my family and be a purveyor of fruit.

Happy Bastille Day!

These people here have no clue how to keep a secret

2009-07-05T09:34:00.002+03:00

Even if not true, would they really be able to stop the IAF? Does Saudi Arabia even have an AF and a military? If they do, they probably have American F16's being flown by oil jockeys in Keffiyahs.

The wait is over! (click for GPS for new apt location)

2009-07-04T16:08:00.006+03:00

Weber Q200

If I am too busy to go to the gym or ride my bike, then I am one busy boy. I went to the gym today for the first time in 3 weeks, and these pix are part of the reason why.

The last 2 weeks I have been consumed with moving whatever I have into my new apartment, going shopping for furniture as it is a completely unfurnished apt, going to Ulpan (Hebrew class), finishing up the Aliyah process and of course going out. My tasks are not finished, which is why I am using my LR as my fridge (AC on high for my leftovers from last night), I am walking around with no health insurance b/c my Cobra expired on the 30th, and I am sleeping on an air-mattress, but tomorrow the fridge and health insurance should be resolved.

My last post (prior to the Wall St rant), offered up a solemn read on my emotions. It took me a few days to recover from that episode, but I am now back to my prior state of mind. And why not, I have a mirpeset & mangal (terrace & bbq), a great apt for shabbot dinners, a kick-ass bed set on the way, good friends, time and desire to hit the books again, and, I am an American-Israeli. I got lucky and live in a very desired neighborhood, as I am right near West Broadway/Soho-like Sheinkin Street and Sderot Rothschild, a tree-lined boulevard which I would say is a cross between Les Champs-Elysées, Park Ave uptown and Park Ave South.

So, while I still have no job (but who cares for now, thanks to being an overpaid and under-worked Wall St employee for so long as well as skillful money mgt), I have direction here, and I am meeting the people I need to meet. And the weather hasn't been overly oppressive, yet.

Vincent leading us in the Kiddush. Btw, for anyone who seems to be thinking I am on the cusp of becoming a Black Hat, that is not the case. Shabbot dinners are fun, and I have always enjoyed hosting. In reality, a Shabbot dinner is nothing more than a dinner party amongst friends and mishpucha with some religious undertones, how much being the level of religiousness practiced by the group.

This should make the American populace feel better

2009-07-02T13:04:00.004+03:00

At least our taxpayer money saved the poor bankers. This is good.

Business is back on Wall Street. If the good times continue to roll, lofty pay packages may be set for a comeback as well.

Based on analysts' earnings forecasts for 2009, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is on track to pay out as much as $20 billion this year, or about $700,000 per employee. That would be nearly double the firm's $363,000 average last year, and slightly higher than the $661,000 for the average Goldman employee in fiscal 2007, according to analyst estimates reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Morgan Stanley, the only other huge U.S. securities firm left as an independent company, will likely pay out $11 billion to $14 billion in compensation and benefits this year, analysts predict. On a per-employee basis, payouts are expected to exceed last year's average of $262,000. Howard Chen, an analyst at Credit Suisse, projects that the company's average pay will come close to the $340,000 paid out by Morgan Stanley in fiscal 2007.

Some of the most lucrative pay packages are being offered in businesses that are improving, such as junk-bond trading. Jobs and pay remain iffy in areas like asset-backed securities where markets remain frozen.Russ Gerson, who runs an executive-recruiting firm that fills jobs on Wall Street, says it is too soon to tell if the strong results from securities firms in the first and second quarters will translate into huge paychecks at the end of the year. "All this euphoria about bonuses is based on the expectation that the business is returning to normal and that we will be in a robust environment again. If the fourth quarter is significantly down, I would expect bonuses not to recover too much from 2008 levels," he said.

Whether the higher payouts occur will depend on whether Wall Street earnings continue to recover from last year's bruising losses on troubled assets and bad trading bets. If the market's resilience since early March fades or a new crisis erupts, then securities firms would likely set aside far less to pay their employees than they did in this year's first two quarters. Firms can set aside money for compensation and then decide not to pay it later.

Still, the comeback in compensation so far this year shows how hard it is for Wall Street to break its old habits. Repaying last year's capital infusions from the government freed Goldman, Morgan Stanley and other big financial firms from curbs on compensation. Meanwhile, non-U.S. banks that didn't get Troubled Asset Relief Program funds are becoming increasingly aggressive.

Deutsche Bank AG, for example, has discussed a two-year guarantee with prospective fixed-income traders and salespeople in conversations about potential job offers, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Deutsche Bank declined comment.

"I'm seeing deals like it's 2007 again," says Steven Eckhaus, an executive-employment lawyer at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in New York. He's worked on several deals recently that featured eight-figure guaranteed pay packages stretched over one to three years.

The recent increases in compensation reflect efforts by Wall Street executives to keep pay high enough to remain competitive but low enough to avoid the wrath of angry lawmakers. In at least one case, bank executives or their representatives have discussed pay with the Obama administration's pay czar Kenneth Feinberg ahead of time, seeking to head off any public reprimand, according to a person familiar with the meetings.

A Treasury spokesman said Mr. Feinberg "has just begun his process for reviewing compensation at the seven firms receiving exceptional assistance; he has yet to approve any plans."

While Wall Street firms remain loath to cap pay levels, some are changing the mix of salary and bonus, partly in response to the financial crisis and added scrutiny from Washington. Some are boosting salaries and adding more stock, as well as so-called "clawback" provisions aimed at tying employee pay packages more closely to the long-term fortunes of their firms. As a rule, securities firms pay out about 50% of revenue in compensation.

The practice of offering two-year guarantees in compensation to certain new hires isn't widespread so far, with just a handful of firms doling out such packages. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. executives, for example, feel the company's relative strength is enough of a selling point to prospective employees. Citigroup Inc. is steering clear of such guarantees partly because its pay practices already are under tough scrutiny from investors and the government.

Goldman, which has suffered less than most of its rivals since the credit crisis began in 2007, remains committed to using bonuses, increasingly from stock, to reward its top performers. Still, the firm is trying to carefully manage compensation, perks and other expenses that could be criticized.

When the company repaid its $10 billion in TARP last month, Goldman President Gary Cohn left a companywide voicemail message reminding employees to keep their focus and not to change what they were doing. Other Goldman officials warned junior employees not to go out to bars near the office and pay with a corporate credit card, according to a person familiar with the matter.

"We've only accrued one quarter for compensation and benefits" for 2009, a Goldman spokesman said, noting that the 18% increase from a year earlier was "primarily due to higher revenues." He added that "compensation practices at Goldman Sachs remain fundamentally tied to the firm's performance."

In the first quarter, Morgan Stanley set aside $2.08 billion for compensation. That's down from the previous year's first quarter, but represents an unusually high 68% of its revenue. Mr. Chen, the Credit Suisse analyst, expects the firm to set aside roughly 54% of 2009 revenue for compensation and benefits, showing "the need to competitively pay employees," he wrote.Morgan Stanley declined to comment on Mr. Chen's report.

Write to Aaron Lucchetti at aaron.lucchetti@wsj.com

You say you want a revolution.....

2009-06-21T00:41:00.003+03:00

Someone forwarded this to me, and regardless of whether I agree with everything or not, there is much to think about. In the last 10 years in America, we had a 2 asset bubbles (the second of which may very well be representative of all that is said in the video) and Sept 11. I know that people are pissed about all that goes on, yet where are the marches? Where are the protests against govt, a la 1968? Are the college-age kids, the ones who seemed to spearhead all the movements of the 1960s, too busy playing video games, blogging on Facebook and trying to get investment banking jobs on Wall St to care about making a difference in their future? With the internet, it is very easy to gather a few hundred thousand of your closest friends for a protest. It seems to happen somewhere against Israel every day. I do not exclude myself from this, so what happened to Americans? Did we really become too fat and lazy to really care? We say things, but how many really DO things? Did we become so materialistically wealthy as a nation that we stopped wanting to earn the right to be the greatest country on earth?

(Aliyah) עָלייָה

2009-06-19T16:57:00.006+03:00

Yesterday I had my 'interview' with Misrad Hapnim, the Ministry of the Interior, the department that handles Aliyah immigration. There really was nothing to it, as they had all my papers and documents, so other than double-checking the information I had given them, it was effortless. Within a week or so I will have my Teudat Zehut, which I believe is my Israeli ID card. I will officially be a dual-citizen. Yet why am I not stoked up to the rafters? Even my stylist yesterday noticed I wasn't looking happy.

Is it because I have now made a firm commitment to a society that lives last minute and has a hard time committing (to be fair, I have been skewed by Tel-Aviv, as it is well-known to be without the depth of a J-m or a smaller city)? Is it because I just don't feel that I can ever be a true Israeli, and without being truly Zionist, I may have taken this whole process one step too far? When in Roma, I met a perfectly lovely Italian girl, and I can't say that I am married to the idea of Israel and a Jewish woman for the rest of my life. If it be, it be. The only certainty here is the uncertainty. Is it because I know how incredibly difficult this place is, which is why so many people here would love to leave, and question me and others as to why we would willingly come here? But there are also many people here who love it and would never leave, and they love the fact that people make Aliyah. Or do I just have pre-wedding jitters, and when I get my piece of paper it will be הָכוֹל בֵסֵדֵר (all good)? After all, I did just sign a lease for a new apt, and I get the keys any day. I just need to buy furniture now. Anyone want to go furniture shopping w me? Most importantly, I need a good BBQ. 15 years of no-bbq's in Manhattan will be wiped away this summer!

??????????????????????????

Regardless, I am having shabbot dinner at my apt again tonight w some friends. Rome pix coming shortly.

Priorities

2009-06-04T13:39:00.004+03:00

Yesterday, in what appeared to take all citizens by surprise, the warning sirens went off mid-afternoon for a few minutes, but it apparently was part of the exercise drills the government has been running all week.

Later in the evening, after a night of Chinese food and Heineken overload, שָרָה and I stopped at the corner deli for some late night munchies. I saw the Double Chocolate Milanos and headed right for them. By the looks of them they seemed like they could have sitting on the rack for a while, so I asked the guy behind the counter if they were fresh. As I am questioning him on whether the cookies ever sell and thus have been on the rack since BiBi's last assumption of power, שָרָה asks him about the sirens that went off, and the conversation then directs towards me and whether I should be a little more worried about bombs falling than cookies being fresh. שָרָה then proceeds to ask him how we will know if the sirens are for real and whether it really is a war. His answer: "If you see rockets in the sky, you'll know it's war!"

For those in NYC who can't make it to Tel Aviv,

2009-06-01T23:22:00.001+03:00

it is coming to you.

Hiking in the Golan (click for GPS)

2009-05-30T23:25:00.009+03:00

Only in Israel is it common for grown ups to drink chocolate milk out of little plastic baggies

Arab village on way to Golan

There are really some beautiful flowers all over Israel. Stunning purples and pinks.

The waterfall below

Coffee break

Miri & Susan

Don't I look sexy in my form-fitting Adidas futbol jerseys

The valley with the Galilee in the distance

The houses Syria wants back

We went hiking in the Golan Heights today, and, like everything else in this country, was pretty intense.* Almost the whole hike, which took us about 6 hours, was filled with a trail of large rocks, and I am so glad I have hiking boots. In addition, there is one spot in the middle, where if you want to continue the hike you have to climb down a 30 ft crooked ladder into a freezing cold 40 foot long body of water to get to the other side, followed by a small walk/wade through a slippery and rocky floor to get to the large, jagged, dry rocks and continue the hike for another couple of hours. We bought a little inflatable raft to put our knapsacks on to keep them dry. The same couldn't be said for my boots, which were like lead weights on my feet as I tried to swim across the heart-stopping cold pond. If this same extremely popular trail were in America, it would be the type that only Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer would know about, b/c it would certainly not be a condoned trail in a national park. How people don't get seriously injured or die on a daily basis is beyond me. Welcome to Israel. They have bigger things here to worry about.

As can be seen from the Google Maps link, we were deep into the Golan (see how close Damascus is), the same area Syria is demanding back as a pre-condition for peace with Israel. Yeah, good luck with that.

MK, as you can tell, the falls are not yet dried up, despite what it shows on the map.

* ײַI also got to drop the kids off in the hidden wild, for the first time since I can't remember. בָרוך הָשֵם I have a reasonably healthy diet.

Dinner in a Druze village after a long hike in the Golan (click for GPS)

2009-05-30T23:11:00.004+03:00

The scenery was pretty cool, overlooking the Kinneret (Galilee). I ordered my bees (actually my friend says wasps, b/c they were eating meat) medium to gone and unfortunately they just kept coming back, eventually not leaving, thus forcing me to abandon any hopes of finishing my rather tasty meal.

How does Pamela Anderson scare away bees?
Boo-bees.

My friend Dave (in the Nike cap) is doing this for charity

2009-05-29T03:04:00.002+03:00

Looks totally awesome, and it would be a great way to see the parts of the country I didn't drive through. Feel free to donate some shekels.

Just a taste of what Israel has to offer*

2009-05-19T01:29:00.003+03:00

I hope this can entice some visitors.

*courtesy Dr. E.

עברית or Algebra

2009-05-18T23:58:00.001+03:00

I guess I am not where I need to be in Hebrew, because it still looks the same to me rightside up or upside down. When Morah Ester handed this out the other day, with all the dividing lines in there, I thought I was looking at Algebra.

As if to prove what I am saying, as I took the second picture, I didn't even realize it was upside down!

Has the RWT come to an end?

2009-05-14T10:43:00.011+03:00

Judging by the fact that I haven't submitted a post in 2 weeks, one would think so. In fact, this morning I received a letter from Nefesh B'nefesh, the organization that processes Aliyah applications for North Americans and Brits before going to the Ministry of Interior, saying that my application is complete and has been sent on to the Ministry. Now it is just a matter of weeks before I get my Israeli ID card and become a citizen. Pretty damn exciting!

As summer rolls around and everything starts falling into place for me, I've been wondering whether I should really consider work immediately or just keep up with the Hebrew lessons, do volunteer work and do more traveling in the extended region for the balance of 2009. I bought my friends' bike yesterday, so now I will really get to explore the city in much greater depth (and I will stretch before and after each ride, whether it benefits me or not, Erectile Dysfunction ;).

At the end of this month, I will have hit my unofficial USD target for what I was willing to spend on the RWT. However, since the market was kind enough to rally for me, I am close to where I started, but now living in Israel, and there are so many interesting places I haven't been to that are now only a few hours away by plane, or even boat! From what I understand, I can catch ferries to Crete, etc..How cool is that!

I've got a good group of friends here, several of whom have made or are in the process of making Aliyah, and I have also started to do more networking and the like, as this is purely a networking city and country. All anyone here wants to do is make a shidduch, whether for love, a job or an apartment.

Because I didn't know what I was really up against when I first settled into TA, it was an emotional pendulum to say the least. After going home and realizing hat THIS is my home, and with the benefit of experience, I am handling Israel much better and also feel much better about myself. This is not a boring place by any means, and as small as the country is, it doesn't lack for passion, excitement and intensity.

Yesterday, on yet another Jewish holiday, this one something about burning things, we had no school and went to the Independence Museum, the building where on May 14, 1948 David Ben Gurion announced Israel's independence, which was also the house that Mayor Dizengof built and lived in when Tel Aviv was created 100 years ago.

\
Enjoying my champagne coolie at brunch

Further proof that there will never be peace here (see article)

2009-04-30T18:10:00.002+03:00

It is not so much that BMI didn't update the BMED maps, it could be an honest mistake. It is more that the prior airline which catered to the non-Israeli ME doesn't recognize Israel, just like the airline I flew to Egypt. They can say they are at peace, but deep down.......

It's the little things (click header)

2009-04-30T01:08:00.003+03:00

I live here and tomorrow I am going to Jerusalem to drop off my Aliyah paperwork. סָבָבָה!!

#62 I love how when I switch to my phonetic Hebrew keyboard, the parenthesis are backwards, so a sad face becomes a smiley face, and vice versa. Same thing happens when I receive them from Israelis.

http://www.whatwarzone.com/2008/05/what-you-thought-wed-turn-60-and-then.html

Memorial Day Israel vs Memorial Day NYC (click header for article)

2009-04-28T01:59:00.006+03:00

Memorial Day in NYC, at least in the world that I lived the last 15 years, is epitomized by BBQs, the start of summer, a long weekend to a summer house or some other getaway and acknowledgment that there is a parade, but if driving, to avoid the 5th Ave parade somehow. Perhaps it is like that in all big cities in the US, I don't know.

יום הָזיכָרוֹון (Yom HaZikaron/Remembrance Day) is an extremely solemn day here in Israel. In Tel Aviv, there is a big ceremony @ Kikar Rabin, the square where Yitzkhak Rabin was assassinated. As with all other Jewish holidays, it starts @ sundown the prior evening, but this being one of the most solemn days of the year, unbeknownst to me that meant that I was not going to be able to eat dinner, or even get a bottle of water anywhere, as EVERYTHING is closed as of 7pm. As written in an article I read, every place of entertainment is closed for the holiday.

The ceremony itself is as solemn as could be expected, if not more so (keeping in mind I couldn't understand anything). It is a mixture of spoken word and dedicated song, and each pair is interspersed with a story on the giant video screens about a fallen IDF soldier, some as far back as the War of Independence in 1948. For the more current soldiers, a family member would speak about his or her brother/husband/father, etc.).

Given the solemnity of the day, there is no applause after the songs are sung. Mostly everyone is quiet throughout, and there are alot of tears to be found, though for some reason I saw none in the area I was standing. After the HaTikvah was sung to conclude the evening (which seems to be how all holidays are concluded from what I have seen), I saw a girl in her friends' arms, tears streaming down.

The only way I can explain the feeling of solidarity that I feel exists here to people in a huge city like NY and a country as big as the US is what the students of Virginia Tech, or any other university or school would feel when there is a mass murder. Everybody is one, everyone has a common bond, everyone seems to know a person. It is as if you are all one big family, which is one of the things that really awes me about Israel.

Paradoxically, this most solemn day is followed immediately by Independence Day, the day that David Ben Gurion and his big head of white hair announced Israel's independence and creation as a state, regardless of what the drooling at the mouths Arabs who were knocking on the door were going to say. Much like July 4, there are parties galore, and tomorrow on the beach there will be extensive military exercises.

It took a polished scribe to capture in one article everything I have been saying about Israeli culture

2009-04-20T19:17:00.005+03:00

A Loud and Promised Land

Article Tools Sponsored By
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: April 16, 2009

TEL AVIV

On my 12th visit to Israel, I finally had my baptism by traffic accident. I was sitting at a red light, when a bus turning the corner honked at me to back up. When I did, I scraped the fender of the car behind me.

The driver — a young, hip-looking, alt-rocker dude — came running out of the car in a fury. He ran up to the bus driver and got into a ferocious screaming match. Then he came up to me graciously and kindly. We were brothers in the war against bus drivers. Then, as we were filling out our paperwork, another bus happened by and honked. The rocker ran out into the street and got into another ferocious screaming match with this driver. Then he came back to me all smiles and warmth.

Israel is a country held together by argument. Public culture is one long cacophony of criticism. The politicians go at each other with a fury we can’t even fathom in the U.S. At news conferences, Israeli journalists ridicule and abuse their national leaders. Subordinates in companies feel free to correct their superiors. People who move here from Britain or the States talk about going through a period of adjustment as they learn to toughen up and talk back.

Ethan Bronner, The Times’s Jerusalem bureau chief, notes that Israelis don’t observe the distinction between the public and private realms. They treat strangers as if they were their brothers-in-law and feel perfectly comfortable giving them advice on how to live.

One Israeli acquaintance recounts the time he was depositing money into his savings account and everybody else behind him in line got into an argument about whether he should really be putting his money somewhere else. Another friend tells of the time he called directory assistance to get a phone number for a restaurant. The operator responded, “You don’t want to eat there,” and proceeded to give him the numbers of some other restaurants she thought were better.

We can all think of reasons that Israeli culture should have evolved into a reticence-free zone, and that the average behavior should be different here. This is a tough, scrappy country, perpetually fighting for survival. The most emotionally intense experiences are national ones, so the public-private distinction was bound to erode. Moreover, the status system doesn’t really revolve around money. It consists of trying to prove you are savvier than everybody else, that above all you are nobody’s patsy.

As an American Jew, I was taught to go all gooey-eyed at the thought of Israel, but I have to confess, I find the place by turns exhausting, admirable, annoying, impressive and foreign. Israel’s enemies claim the country is an outpost of Western colonialism. That’s not true. Israel is, in large measure, a Middle Eastern country, and the Israeli-Arab dispute is in part an intra-Mideast conflict.

This culture of disputatiousness does yield some essential fruits. First, it gives the country a special vividness. There is no bar on earth quite so vibrant as a bar filled with Israelis.

Second, it explains the genuine national unity. Israel is the most diverse small country imaginable. Nonetheless, I may be interviewing a left-wing artist in Tel Aviv or a right-wing settler in Hebron, and I can be highly confident that they will have a few things in common: an intense sense of national mission, a hunger for emotionally significant moments, an inability to read social signals when I try to suggest that I really don’t want them to harangue me about moving here and adopting their lifestyle.

Most important, this argumentative culture nurtures a sense of responsibility. The other countries in this region are more gracious, but often there is a communal unwillingness to accept responsibility for national problems. The Israelis, on the other hand, blame themselves for everything and work hard to get the most out of each person. From that wail of criticism things really do change. I come here nearly annually, and while the peace process is always the same, there is always something unrecognizable about the national scene — whether it is the structure of the political parties, the absorption of immigrants or the new engines of economic growth.

Today, Israel is stuck in a period of frustrating stasis. Iran poses an existential threat that is too big for Israel to deal with alone. Hamas and Hezbollah will frustrate peace plans, even if the Israelis magically do everything right.

This conflict will go on for a generation or more. Israelis will keep up their insufferable and necessary barrage of self-assertion. And yet we still dream of peace and the day when I am standing in line at an Israeli cash register and an Israeli shopper sees a chance to butt in front of me, and — miracle of miracles — she will not try to take it.

And just to underscore all I have said about dating in Israel

2009-04-15T05:04:00.000+03:00

It appears the RWT might be finished as a going concern...I might now have to resort to the hit and run vacations of average folk

2009-04-14T08:19:00.007+03:00

Six months ago, the first time I returned to NY after embarking on the RWT, I felt compelled to wear suits and professional attire as frequently as poss. After 5 months in the Middle East and laid back TA, I am now content to be exclusively jeans casual. I still think I look great in suits, and I love the look of a nice suit with a freshly pressed shirt and a power tie, and I will forever think Hedge Fund Fridays attire on a daily basis is incredibly unprofessional, but I am in TA mode now.

Yesterday I had lunch with MAK, the undercurrent being that at this point in time my plan probably does not include a return trip to the US this calendar year. When it was time to say goodbye, I found it very difficult to say goodbye to KK without tearing up. Modern technology is great for so many things, and video chat, email and Skype is awesome to keep up with other adults, but it just doesn't cut it when dealing with יֵלָדים little children. 1 year in the life of a 40 year old is 2.5%. I year in the life of a 4 year old is 25%. I have no idea how I am going to say goodbye to Eliana next week after 6 days with her and then CMT after pizza w Keef the night before I leave.

I vividly remember sitting in Peter's on the UWS 6 years ago, 'sa and 'dy stopping by to cheer me up as I sat there, death warmed over, after Dana* and I broke up. I stopped in there tonight for a pop after dinner w a friend, and it was very quiet. I sat there cruising through my photos on my iPhone (word of caution to anyone looking to buy one...it SUCKS as a phone....g-d awful sound quality, but as a toy it is awesome....get the iTouch instead and use Skype when necessary), and realized that I have TRAVELED THE WORLD. Not that I just realized it, but it struck me in a different manner this time, as I now have a concrete direction in my life, and I felt really happy and contented. Unlike the beginning of this paragraph, I was sitting in Peters with a happy tear in my eye, knowing that I am really psyched to begin the next step in my life and that I have just completed an amazing year +. I got to travel the world, fulfill some lifelong dreams (for myself and others!), do and see some amazing things, grow as a person, and find what I believe to be the home I had hoped to find all along. All in all not so bad. As MK said today, if I still feel good about going to Israel after having difficulty saying goodbye, then it is probably the right decision.

* courtesy 'sa

IDF soldiers speak

2009-04-14T03:26:00.000+03:00

How do you know when something/someone/someplace is right? **

2009-04-03T02:22:00.001+03:00

The best answer I have right now is how you feel upon no longer having it.

The last week or so, I've been a bit up and down emotionally and a bit frustrated with certain aspects of life in Israel, or at least in TA. I joked with my friends about whether Izzy is for me and 'if' I would come back from the US הָאָרצוֹת הָברית

Last night I was happy to be hanging with most of my friends here, but not because I didn't think I was coming back but because I felt like I might actually miss them, even though I knew I was going to come back, if even for a short period. In Tel Aviv airport this morning and also on the plane (which is where I am writing this post) I was sad that I was leaving Israel, because I now feel and know for sure that I really want to make this happen. I feel that my time here is not finished and that this is where I am supposed to be for however long.

I had planned on submitting my Aliyah application this week, so that the process would be in motion while I was back home*, but reneged on that decision because there was no harm in waiting until the May 1 appy date. However, based on my feelings right now and barring some unforeseen event prompting me to stay in the states, אָני הוֹלֵך לָאָשוֹת אָלייָה כָשאָני חוֹזֵר לישרָאֵל(I am going to make Aliyah when I return to Israel).

I am not saying this is 100% forever, but there is nothing about Izzy that scares me. In fact, much like when I felt that by going upstate to see Dana after 9/11 I was leaving my city when it needed me, I feel like if something were to happen in Izzy while I was there, I couldn't leave. But, I am very much looking forward to seeing my 'old' friends and משפָחָה שֵלי my family. Too bad I will rarely get anyone to visit me in Israel as long as I am there.

* They say home is where the heart is. Probably true, but for me, home is where my stereo is. Until I take the Bose out of my dad's basement and drill the speakers into the wall of my new home, in my mind, I am not fully permanent.

** Written over the Atlantic but posted in NYC baby!

An excerpt from an article regarding a British Airways poll about its travelers, including Israelis

2009-03-29T19:49:00.003+03:00

This is a "clear cultural difference," said Katan, who contended that in Israel "the attitude is to leave everything to the last minute, not just packing. There is less planning ahead here than in other countries. Everything is so fragile economically, politically, Israelis are accustomed to thinking on their feet."

This is why a date or any other type of plans isn't true until the 2 parties actually are together.

Not that I have sympathy for them, but clearly Israel is the one that uses disproportionate force

2009-03-28T21:20:00.002+03:00

Saudi Arabia beheads 2 men for killing Chinese man

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saudi authorities beheaded on Saturday two Saudi men convicted of killing a Chinese man in Riyadh.

An Interior Ministry statement said that Faisal bin Fahd and Bandar bin Abdullah first stole the Chinese man's laptop bag while he was walking. When the man tried to catch up with them, he fell and died after hitting his head on the pavement.

The statement said that the beheadings were Friday.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed - usually with a sword.

Yet the US govt etc is happy to have these people as our 'allies' in the region.

Never sell your stocks when things are looking bad

2009-03-24T01:51:00.007+02:00

This is just an analogy, but I am writing this post as I question whether this country is for me.

The reason I felt the draw to stay here was the pride I felt in my Judaism and the feeling of belonging I got upon arrival. However, I do not like the beach, do not like oppressive heat and do not like the concept of making crap-ass money in my job (although hopefully my savings will offset that). It seems a Herculean task to find a reasonably cute girl who doesn't smoke, and many of the bars are overwhelming with the amount of smoke in the air. I have already accepted, and laugh at, the rudeness here, and I am probably too nice and too passive for this country, thus far. And I didn't even mention the possibility of getting blown up. There is nothing physical that keeps me here.

What has really prompted this post are my interactions with the women here. I am not feeling down or blue or lonely, but my god can these women be difficult. I would love to come home in 2 weeks and regale people with my stories of shagging heaps of hot bitches here, but all I have to show for my last 2 months in Tel Aviv are mostly stories of getting blown off at the last minute and the like. The sad thing is, my stories have been corroborated by other guys here. It is so pathetic it is funny. I was warned by an attractive girl I went out with a couple of times that the women in TA would be difficult, and since she too eventually bailed out 2x, she was pretty accurate. I guess the best way to describe it is Tel-Avivim are looking for the BBD. That stands for the bigger, better deal, which is a term from a 1980's movie based in SoCal where some old guys (not much older than me now I guess), employed a young guy named Scotty to teach them how to pick up hot women. He explained that they needed to offer the girls a BBD, which is what seems to be the case here. You might have a date, but if something or someone better comes along before that date starts.......

I know there are nice people here, and one would think that blind dates would seem to be the best course of action, but they too pose a threat to the liberal use of my time, as my experiences have shown. Yet more peculiarities, and sadly, I just added to the lore on my end, though completely accidentally (written ex-post facto). Perhaps I will become a monk, so I no longer have to talk to people.

What I would like to eventually figure out is, why am I here? What force of nature, what path of fate drew me in and caused me to stay? I will continue on this path at this point, keep learning Hebrew and continue to believe I decided to stay for the right reasons, and even apply to make Aliyah next month. I will start branching out and doing new things such as cooking classes, wine classes, etc..and even look for a real job....but at some point I will need a sign from HaShem to point me in my proper path.

And so with that, I have to get some sleep. I have class tomorrow and a date late at night that I was under the impression was going to be during the day. Stay tuned........

להתראות

A rather important news item I couldn't find on the BBC, WSJ, NYT and IHT webpages

2009-03-23T01:18:00.002+02:00

But, on the NYT webpage, there were several articles condemning or bashing Israel. I guess since no Israelis died, nothing happened that was worth reporting.

Rupert Murdoch

2009-03-19T10:44:00.000+02:00

The writer is much more extreme than I am, but there is much in here that resonates w me

2009-03-10T12:01:00.003+02:00

Confessions of an Introverted Traveler

Speaker's Corner: Sophia Dembling has a different style of traveling, and she's tired of hiding it

I was talking to a friend who is who intelligent, well-informed, worldly and well-traveled. He and his wife have visited every continent and have a robust interest in world politics and culture.

Still, he sounded a little sheepish.

“You know how people say that the reason to travel is to meet people?” he said. “Do you ... ? I ... I don’t really ...”

He was reluctant to finish the sentence, but his filthy secret was out: He doesn’t buy into that style of travel.

“I don’t either,” I assured him. I felt liberated.

We introverts have a different style of travel, and I’m tired of hiding it.

Oh, I’m always happy enough when interesting people stumble into my path. It’s a lagniappe, and I’m capable of connecting with people when the opportunity arises. And when the chemistry is right, I enjoy it.

But I don’t seek people out, I am terrible at striking up conversations with strangers and I am happy exploring a strange city alone. I don’t seek out political discourse with opinionated cab drivers or boozy bonding with locals over beers into the wee hours. By the time the hours get wee, I’m usually in bed in my hotel room, appreciating local color TV. (So sue me, but I contend that television is a valid reflection of a society.)

This is not something I confess easily. I have long been shamed out of owning my introversion by the extroverts who dominate American culture. Extroversion has long been considered healthier than introversion, and introverts often try to push against our natural tendencies in order to fit in, to seem “normal” so people will stop scolding us. Extroverts are unintentional bullies, demanding that everyone join their party or be considered queer, sad or stunted.

Introversion and extroversion are inborn traits, and the difference between them is not that one is gregarious and at ease in the world and the other shy and awkward. Rather, extroverts are outwardly motivated and gain energy from interaction with the outside world while introverts are more inwardly directed and drained by interaction with others. Introverts’ thinking tends to be deep and slow, we require copious time alone, we prefer probing conversation to shallow chitchat, and our social lives are geared more towards intimate one-on-one interactions than “more the merrier” free-for-alls. (This is very true, and one should not confuse introversion with shyness. Shyness, I believe, is a direct result of a lack of confidence.)

I’m friends with a couple who take annual yachting vacations to exotic destinations such as the British Virgin Islands, Turkey and Croatia with groups of as many as 12 people. This couple long ago stopped inviting me and my introverted husband, Tom, on these trips, though I can sense their puzzled disappointment over our persistent refusals. But the thought of 10 days in a small space with that many people gives me hives. Tom and I have tried to explain, but I’m not sure our friends get it. Telling me how nice everyone is misses the point. I’m sure each and every person is delightful, but there are just too darn many of them at once. Period.

We’re also not bed-and-breakfast people, if breakfast with other guests is mandatory. (“Where y’all from?” we joke to each other. The mating call of the B&B guest.) I once read about a B&B where the owner collected antique hats that guests were encouraged to wear to breakfast. Really? That sounds fun to people?

At the only B&B Tom and I have ever liked, in the Texas Hill Country, we never even saw the owners. Breakfast was left each morning in a basket on our porch. Perfect.

Extroversion is a powerful force in America and one that few other cultures share. When traveling alone in Finland a few years ago, with the scolding voices of extroverts in my brain, I tried to present an open, approachable demeanor. One night in a restaurant (dining alone is always a little stressful, even for loners like myself) I bravely plastered a cheery American grin on my face for the waitress, trying not to look as peculiar as I felt—a lone middle-aged American woman touring Finland as the cold, dark winter set in.

But Finns are not the indiscriminate smilers Americans are—one might even call them dour—and my waitress seemed a little discomfited by my insistent smile. Finally she gave me her best effort at returning it, and a more pinched and strained approximation of a smile I have never seen. I was touched but also embarrassed for us both. I wiped the silly grin off my own face and got down to the business of eating dinner and quietly observing my fellow diners.

Though I don’t need to talk to a lot of people, I love watching them. Many of my favorite travel memories involve sitting and watching. I spent hours under the midnight sun in the Vigeland Sculpture Garden in Oslo, watching people wander among the statues. In Venice, Tom and I returned several times to a café with tables under a huge tree where we passed some time over snacks and cold drinks, watching Venetians go about their business. In Rome my niece and I ended every day with gelato at a favorite spot outside the Pantheon. Sitting, eating, watching. Conversation optional.

I can think of only one time when my introversion was challenged by a trip and that was a two-week solo excursion through the Alpine regions of Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland—reserved cultures (except for the Italians), unlikely to engage strangers in conversation.

Halfway through this trip, when I reached Linz, Austria, I was getting lonely. So I settled into a lively outdoor café one afternoon and tried to look approachable. I gave encouraging glances to a couple with a small child sitting nearby, seeking the slightest sign that conversation would be welcome. Nothing. Even my waiter refused to engage in any chitchat. The night following that afternoon remains among the loneliest of my decades of travels. The hotel room in which I holed up was above a lively bar (I particularly dislike going to bars alone). I sat in my room listening to the party below and felt sorry for myself.

Near the end of the trip, on the train to Zermatt, a group of Americans entered my car, and I threw myself at them, begging them to talk to me. They warmly obliged and even extended an invitation to dine with them that night, which I gladly accepted.

So I ended up interacting with my own culture, which isn’t really the point, is it? (Which is what happens to most people anyway, mostly due to that language barrier I brought up earlier. A perfect microcosm being the mid-day break in the courtyard at my school.)

Nonetheless, for some of us, meeting people is not the sole purpose of travel. I travel for the travel. And I will be forever grateful to my friend for his confession. It’s good to know that I might be a loner, but I’m not alone.

*Now all you extroverts stop bullying us, ok!!! lol

The 12-24 hour travel time, $1500 dilemma

2009-03-10T11:30:00.004+02:00

One of my friends here from NYC got 'The Call' yesterday and had to go back to NY for 2-3 days, but she was forced to confront the logistical and financial hurdles of making it happen.

One of the downsides to living so far from everyone I know is that going home at a moments notice isn't always seamless. I suppose it is because of where Israel is located and where the bulk of its flights arrive from and depart to, but they have some pretty crazy flight schedules here, with planes constantly arriving and taking off in the wee hours of the morning, even for connections through Europe.

Unfortunately, I also just got 'The Call', but given the variables involved I am not heading back to the states, however, she gets my love, thoughts and xox.

I believe my friend paid $2000 for her ticket. I need to call George Costanza and find out the details of a bereavement fare and whether one really does need a copy of the death certificate.

Do I look Jewish?

2009-03-10T03:43:00.000+02:00

An old travelers joke

2009-03-09T13:36:00.003+02:00

Q: What do you call someone who speaks 3 languages?
A: Tri-lingual

Q: What do you call someone who speaks 2 languages?
A: Bi-lingual

Q: What do you call someone who speaks 1 language?
A: American

Sadly, this is so incredibly true, and I am really noticing it here in Israel. Almost every person I know here speaks at LEAST 2 languages, the vast majority of the exceptions being the Americans (although there is 1 American guy here I am friends w who now speaks 4, Hebrew included. He also looks like Ted Danson, but w hair). I think our government and education system has really failed the American public in regards to how we, in general, feel or care about the rest of the world.

A good leader or boss (in any industry or capacity) leads by example, not by telling others what or how to do things without being able to do it themselves. America is THE leader in this world of blurred economic boundaries, and by not mandating our students to learn another language until they are much older we make ourselves look weak and callous and can put us at a disadvantage on a micro-level. English has of course become the universal business language, but anyone who has done any work or lived in another country knows the feeling of helplessness when communication is muddled because of the language barrier.

Daddy Cool (+ old school video attached)

2009-03-09T12:06:00.003+02:00

(Purim) פורים

2009-03-05T12:45:00.012+02:00

Near as I recall, the last time Purim meant anything at all to me was when I was maybe 5 years old and going to Yeshiva. It is a pretty big deal here, at least in Tel Aviv, and אולפָן (school) is closed for 3 days starting on Yom Shaney (Monday), even though I think Purim is only a one day holiday.

The other day in class, we went over the story of Purim and how Haman/הָמָן tried to kill the Jews in Persia but my people were saved by Queen Ester/עֵסתֵר. There are a couple of noticeable differences in Purim traditional between Israel and the US, based on my very basic knowledge.

In Israel, Haman (הָמָן), the villain in the story, has big ears, which is why the traditional Purim cookies here are called אוזנֵי הָמָן, or Haman ears. In the US, and apparently also in England, the cookies are supposed to represent the shape of his hat. The second difference refers to the actual name of the cookies. I presume because Hebrew didn't become a widely spoken language among the Jewish masses until well after European immigration started to the US, the Jewish population of the US originally spoke Yiddish, not Hebrew. Thus, Haman Ears in the US are known as Hamantashen, which is a Yiddish word.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

I recently realized that the 3 cities or countries that I have spent the most consecutive amount of time in in my life (not counting school in Albany), NYC, France (Marseille) and Israel (Tel Aviv), also happen to be 3 places where people are considered the rudest, most aggressive, pushiest and or unfriendliest in the world. I personally do not think NYers are unfriendly, but ask people from outside NYC and many will say that. Nonetheless, NY can be a very cold city even on the hottest day. France of course is well known for being unfriendly, and while I do not want to canvass an entire population, I will say that I did have a difficulty time meeting people in my 3 months there.

And then there is Israel. What kept me here and has convinced me to go through the Aliyah process is the warmth and friendliness of so many people here. It is like an extended family for someone who has no family here. So many people are willing to take you into their homes, invite you over for Shabbos dinner, and introduce you to other single people. The guys here are immensely friendly and helpful. Not just from my own experiences, but from things I have seen and other non-Israeli guys I have spoken to. And then there are the women. The stories I have endured and currently endure have been corroborated by others here. Why can Israeli women be so difficult at times? I have even had a Tel Avivim woman state this to me flatly, 'You are going to find the women of Tel Aviv to be difficult'. But why??? Is it because the Israeli guys treat them like crap, aggressively hitting on them and not taking no for an answer and then blowing them off after a short period, so the women then need to take their frustrations out on others? Why so difficult? I've had across the board experiences, from one night stands to the same woman blowing me off on blind dates on consecutive nights. And then people telling me this is normal?????? For Israel maybe. Ruuuuuuuuuuude!!!

Then this is something I find interesting (though totally logical), and I am led to believe it is primarily an Israeli trait. While at home, I generally avoided blind dates, but here I am totally open to them (doesn't hurt that there are no unattractive women here, so the chances of a clunker are pretty damn miniscule!). I recall that back home, if someone was being set up, they could do some sleuthing on Jdate, as so many people in NY are on it, and find the person. I know of one person who claims to be an expert sleuther (I believe DC). Here, when a blind date is being arranged, the girl often initiates FB contact, so both parties know what each other looks like. I guess this is part of the Israeli directness. It might be the case back in NY also, as FB has exploded in popularity amongst the over 30 set since last summer, and I haven't lived there in over 1 year.

Another tidbit I find interesting, but enjoyable, are the amount of places one can hear the Beatles. Not so much in bars or clubs, but in cafes and stores.

The last 2 days here were REALLY hot. 85-90 degrees. Here, the sun is strong, even on days when it is 70 degrees. It might be cool in the shade, but as soon as you step into the sun, it feels deliciously warm. Unfortunately, I can't say the sun is deliciously warm when it is 85 + outside. It is oppresively hot. So hot I know 2 people who got physically beaten down by it today. To me, it is almost unbearable, which is why I have some decisions to make for when my classes and lease end after June. I don't think I will be able to bear the heat, nor do I want to. I will be applying for Aliyah on the May 1 date, so I REALLY hope the process is completed before classes end, and I can be free to leave for the summer.

PS: I think I am making progress with my Hebrew because I am having dreams with Hebrew in them. I took that as a good sign in France as well.

Belly dancing in נָנועיקָה (Nanuchka), a ridiculous Georgian resto/bar. Place is off the wall dancing. I will say this, these people don't let a fun time slip by. They DANCE!!

Coincidence, I don't think so

2009-03-03T20:13:00.004+02:00

The masculine, singular conjugation of the Hebrew verb 'to die' is מֵת. Phonetically speaking, that spells Met.

Joke

2009-03-03T16:38:00.000+02:00

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls President Obama and tells him,
"Barack, I had a wonderful dream last night. I could see America, the whole beautiful country, and on each house I saw a banner." "What did it say on the banners?" Obama asks. Mahmoud replies, "UNITED STATES OF IRAN."

Obama says, "You know, Mahmoud, I am really happy you called, because believe it or not, last night I had a similar dream. I could see all of Tehran, and it was more beautiful than ever, and on each house flew an enormous banner." "What did it say on the banners?" Mahmoud asks. Obama replies, "I don't know. I can't read Hebrew."

We WILL annex Poland by the spring, and our stock will rise HIGH!!!!

2009-03-01T08:32:00.002+02:00

3+ weeks into אולפָן, where am I?

2009-02-22T19:26:00.005+02:00

With the hindsight I gained from Marseille, I am better armed to tackle Hebrew. Problem is, this is a completely different alphabet. So, while I do not expect to be conversational anytime in the near future (unlike in France, where I thought 3 weeks of class would be enough for me!), or even far future, I am still finding myself to occasionally be overcome w frustration. At one point today, I was tempted to slam my hand on the desk in class and let out a yell. This was in large part becuase Morah Ester threw a ton of verbs and other words at us today, and after a weekend where I made some progress, this threw me far behind again, so I felt.

After my blind date cancelled for a second straight night (honestly, who does that, especially if you are an intelligent women over 30, possibly near 40, and I am the prize? lol), I was given the chance to do some extra studying. After some work here, I decided to go to my nearby brick-oven pizza joint (which is ta'im me'od, very tasty), and sat at the food bar with my notebook while drinking Chianti and eating 'za.

From an educational point of view, הָפיעָה (HaPizza) has been very good to me, as I have proactively inquired for help at times, mostly, actually, always women, even getting a blind date out of it last week. Tonight, after asking the guy next to me a question, he offered to help me with Ivrit (Hebrew), and was really really helpful. I actually kind of understand the stuff we went over today, although remembering 25 new Hebrew words in one day just ain't gonna happen!

So where am I. If the class keeps progressing at this rate, VERY LOST unless I spend a lot of time each day going over it. I really can't believe how fast Kita Aleph (which is the intro class) is going, and I may have to say something if my extra studying this week doesn't get me up to speed. It can be quite frustrating because I want to keep up, but at the same time, I have only been doing this for 3 weeks and she is flying. How do they justify teaching How are you and What is your name at the beginning of the 4th week, but have already taught us 2-3 dozen verbs (including to die, to marry and to divorce? Who FN cares, I need to know how to order a beer!) and the multiple conjugations as well as possessives, numbers, time and the days of the week before that. Private lessons will be coming soon on top of this class, for sure.

Aliyah

2009-02-19T09:08:00.001+02:00

I better get in before the rush starts.

Follow your destiny, wherever it leads you

2009-02-15T23:04:00.005+02:00

Walk your path one step at a time- with courage, faith and determination. Keep your head up and cast your dreams to the stars. Soon your steps will become firm and your footing will be solid again. A path that you never imagined will become the most comfortable direction you could have ever hoped to follow. Keep your belief in yourself and walk into your new journey. You will find it magnificent, spectacular, and beyond your wildest imagination.

-Vicki Silvers

Randi gave me a little Blue Mtn Arts wallet card w this inscription on it when I left one year ago, and I keep it in my pocket at all times, reading it every now and then. I read it today for the first time since I am here, and it is amazing how prescient the words are. I feel so good about this decision, one that I never imagined, so confident and comfortable with it, it is almost as if this card was written for me. Not that I hadn't been, but every day I feel stronger and more confident, as if I am a batter hitting a ball on the Louisville Slugger stamp. I feel like everything I want is here, waiting for me.

xox

How I spend my days after class

2009-02-13T17:21:00.003+02:00

Herbie the Lovebug in Jaffa, south Tel Aviv

Learning Capoeira, a form of Brazilian martial arts

LOL How old am I?

Three minute תֵל אביב (Tel Aviv) sunset

2009-02-13T17:13:00.002+02:00

The Jerusalem Post is a right-wing paper from what I can tell, (click for link)

2009-02-11T22:02:00.002+02:00

but if Europeans are clearly as ignorant as Arabs, WTF?????? Let Europe become Eurabia as I hear it called.

M&M's, milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hands. Israel is not a bag of M&M's.

2009-02-07T23:58:00.003+02:00

It was hard for me to believe it at first, but the more time I have spent here, the more I realize this is a 3rd world country. I am not referring to the world-class medical care, highly skilled army and hi-tech companies that abound, I am referring to the Israeli mentality.

Given all the intellectual attributes this country has, my comment seems completely absurd, but thing of it is, especially after having spent time in the 3rd world, it isn't crazy. My thoughts have been corroborated by several people that live here, including Israelis. For those who have been here only on UJA and other tourist-only tours, you might think otherwise, but you just don't know. As I have experienced and noted from my past travels, doing touristy stuff doesn't give one an insight into the culture, it just means one went to a place.

The only way to explain this is by giving examples:
- There is a LAW that says there is no smoking in bars. I have been to countries that have the same law, and it is adhered to. This is essentially a lawless country. EVERY time I go to a bar, ESPECIALLY a local bar, the first thing I have to do when I get home is hang my clothing on my terrace to let it air out.
-Driving. It is basically every person for themselves on the road. I can't tell you how many times I have seen cars stop in the middle of the road to ask someone a question or stop to say hello to someone they know. Need to make a K or U -turn? Anywhere is fine. And if you need to park the car, any sidewalk space will do (same goes for France, but at least they mostly adhere to the no-smoking rule).
- Rudeness. Israelis are infamous for it, and it is deserved. There is a word here for excuse me, Slicha, but I highly doubt anyone other than tourists and people like myself in Ulpan know it. I have seen with my eyes and have been told by several Israelis how when they come back to Israel from the US, they need to reset their mentality. The US and UK are so passive and nice relative to the people here, especially the man v man comparison. People here can't believe how passive and what some deem as shallow the US is ("Hey darlin, how are you today? Y'all come back now, y'hear.) To some I have spoken to, we are 'not real'.
-Shopping. There is no such thing as a fixed price. In the mall the other day (the MALL, not a flea market!), I went to buy a pair of sneakers. I look at a couple of pairs I am interested in and ask how much, as none of the sneaks have prices on them. The guy tells me 380 NIS (New Israeli Shekels). At 4 NIS/USD, that is more than I want to spend, and he says don't worry, he will give me a discount. After a bit more time, I ask him what he has that is cheaper, so he proceeds to tell me this pair is 300 NIS. As is every pair on the wall. Choose what you want, they are all 300, I don't care (not said in a rude or condescending manner). I LOL, the girl sitting across from me smiles also, recognizing the insanity of it all, and I exclaim "I love this country"!

This is not to say I haven't met some very nice, non-rude people. I have met some really nice and wonderful people, and I KNOW there are nice girls here (not in the sense of rounding the bases but just not rude). I have met both kinds, but there is definitely a disproportionate amount of what I/we might call uncivilized behavior in this tiny country. I believe it stems from the fact that to Israelis, and quite honestly, to an objective eye, it is Israel v the world, a sort of survivalist mentality. The enemy is always at the gates, and if Darwin is right, these people will survive.

For myself, while I can't say I find the overall rudeness endearing, it is so funny to experience this stuff, so long as you do not have a short fuse and understand what is going on. I know there are nice people here, and I have met some of them. I know that despite some of the rudeness I have seen, even on dates, there are some high quality people here. But it still makes me laugh.

To all the A-rod lovers, Rezhaters who questioned my hatred for him. I won't name names, but u know who u are CP, RO, RJ, DC, PR, EM, GP & JM.

2009-02-07T18:37:00.003+02:00

HA and HA!

Report: A-Rod tested positive in 2003

Comment Email Print

ESPN.com news services

According to a report by Sports Illustrated, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003, when he was with the Texas Rangers and won the AL home run title and MVP award.

According to the report, which was posted Saturday morning on SI.com, sources told the publication that Rodriguez was on a list of 104 players who tested positive that year, when Major League Baseball conducted tests to see if mandatory random drug testing was needed.

In 2003, there were no penalties for a positive result.

Rodriguez, reached at a Miami gym for comment by Sports Illustrated, said, "You'll have to talk to the union."

Asked if there were an explanation for the positive test result, Rodriguez told SI: "I'm not saying anything."

Sports Illustrated also reported that it left phone messages for players' union executive director Donald Fehr, which were not returned.

Major League Baseball, in an agreement with the MLBPA, wanted to see if random drug testing should be implemented starting in 2004.

More than 5 percent of players in the majors tested positive in the '03 survey, and mandatory testing was implemented -- including provisions for penalties -- in 2004.

Scott Boras, Rodriguez's agent, did not immediately return calls from ESPN.com seeking comment.

Michael Weiner, general counsel for the players' union, declined to comment, and said he did not know if the union would have any comment Saturday.

Mmmmmmmmmmm bacon (click header)*

2009-02-06T11:05:00.001+02:00

*Courtesy Shecky

Pablo Francisco

2009-02-06T00:50:00.002+02:00

This guy is a riot.

Who wants to participate in planning a side trip on the RWT?

2009-02-02T21:02:00.002+02:00

While TA may be 'home' right now, I have off from March 4/5-March 13/14. I am thinking Poland, Prague, Budapest, Spain, Portugal and Crete as options, but COLD weather is not an option. Looking to not spend more than $1000 or so if poss, including airfare. I will be staying in hostels, so hotel expenses are not a worry.
I am a bit overloaded with trying to learn a new language, so if anyone has an idea and the time to research it, sababa.

For 40 years the Jews wandered the desert

2009-02-01T18:15:00.002+02:00

And for 40 years I knew the work week to start on Monday. So today, after my first day of class, I am on the laptop looking to see who might be on IM and I am looking @ my WSJ homepage to see what the markets might be doing. And then it dawns on me, not only is it Sunday, but it is Super Bowl Sunday.

So now, for the first time in my 4o years, I will not be watching the Super Bowl. Kickoff is at 1:30 am here, and if I truly want to learn this language, I CANNOT fall behind early by missing class. Besides, without a party and boxes, who really cares.

And speaking of Turkey, I just came across this link from the Jerusalem Post

2009-02-01T15:51:00.004+02:00

First day of class

2009-02-01T15:16:00.008+02:00

It started off great. The principal of the school introduced herself and the teacher, telling us what we needed to know, etc., in English. That was the easy part.

The class itself is full-on Hebrew immersion. The teacher (Morah, which immediately took me back to Hebrew pre-school) started out with the niceties, how are you, what's your name, etc.....and even though I have been in and around it for nearly 3 months, I was completely lost from the get go. Not that she spoke too fast, just I haven't tried to actually put actual sentences together, even though I know a few words. I was completely befuddled for the first hour.

After the break, she spoke a little more, still way over my head, but then she handed out worksheets with the Aleph-Bet. Finally, I understood something and learned a little. Towards the end of the class, she went over all we spoke about, in Hebrew of course, and I tried to grasp the little things. Hebrew has both a feminine and masculine form, so I am just trying to grasp the different forms of singular and plural, M or F for the little words like He, They, She, Who, What. I know that, like French, there seems to be a root verb, and the conjugations will be such that a singular masculine verb will usually get x ending, whereas the plural ending is y.

Being in class itself for 4 hours wasn't so bad as we had both a 30 and 10 minute break. It is only 4 days a week, so 16 hours of class a week plus at least 1 hour per day studying has me 'working' 20ish hours per week, a part-time job +.

One would think after being hammered in Alliance Francaise last summer I would have learned my lesson about immersion classes. If I find it is too difficult for me, I will look into privé lessons, but I don't expect that to be a necessity, so long as I actually study. The class ends just before 1pm, so I have all day and evening to study, go to the beach, go to the gym, and so on.

PS I just saw that a few rockets were launched again today from Gaza, and I recalled a small conversation I had with a Turkish girl sitting next to me. Her husband is working here now, and I told her I had been in Turkey during the war. She said the problem is with the Turkish PM. He is very religious, and b/c of him the media outlets are all slanted to what the results are in Gaza, but nothing about the incessant rockets for all these years, thus the citizens of Turkey are unaware of what has transpired.

Murphy's Law

2009-02-01T08:31:00.002+02:00

I have spent the last 2 weeks making sure I have dotted every i and crossed every t in my apt and other aspects of my life (including my flight home in April), so that when my Hebrew classes (ulpan) started today, I didn't have anything extraneous to concern myself with.

I have been getting Sync error messages for many weeks on my laptop whenever I would connect my iPod or iPhone. Yesterday I went about trying to solve the problem, going on Mac forums and even going as far as to sign up for MobileMe. Net result: the Contacts and Bookmarks on my iPhone have been wiped out, the problem still exists, and now, just as I need to devote much time to learning a new language, I have to make the time to call Apple. I hope they have good cust svce.

Coincidentally, in Parade Magazine this weekend (click link)

2009-02-01T08:11:00.002+02:00

Of course, this implies that a drunk driver actually gets caught before they kill or injure.

And this is the upate I just got from MADD:
MADD Legislative Efforts Off To A Roaring Start (Cont.)

Legislators across the country have already started introducing ignition interlock bills in an effort to eliminate drunk driving in their states. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving is growing stronger by the day.

Just a few weeks into the new year, state legislatures across the country are considering life-saving ignition interlock bills. In many cases the bills would strengthen an existing law that does not mandate interlocks for all convicted drunk driving offenders.

In California, Assemblyman Mike Feuer introduced AB 91 that would allow four counties to require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. While the four counties have not yet been named, this bill would go a long way toward showing Californians they can do something to reduce the number of drunk driving fatalities in their state. In 2007, 1155 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in California, and countless others were injured.

In Indiana, Representative Crouch introduced HB 1065 that would require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Indiana saw a drop in the number of drunk driving fatalities in 2007, but they still lack a strong, comprehensive interlock law.

A 3073/S 1926 or Ricci’s Law, a bill requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers in New Jersey, is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on January 26, 2009. MADD will testify and the hearing is open to the public.

New York Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and 28 co-sponsors have introduced Assembly Bill 774 to the New York Legislature. The bill is a comprehensive bill that would mandate interlocks for all convicted drunk driving offenders.

Texas has two bills under consideration this session, each covering different but equally important issues. SB 170, introduced by Senator Ellis, would require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers and HB 169, introduced by Rep. Smith, would allow for sobriety checkpoints. Texas is one of ten states that currently prohibits sobriety checkpoints.

Kansas is moving closer to introducing a comprehensive ignition interlock bill. Currently, Kansas already mandates interlocks for high-BAC offender, but this new legislation would bring the threshold down to .08 BAC upon first-offense.

In Virginia, Delegate Iaquinto introduced HB 2041 requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Virginia’s current interlock law does not cover all convicted offenders.

Consistently ranked as one of the worst states, Wisconsin seems to be moving toward the introduction of legislation that would strengthen their very weak drunk driving laws.

SF 88 and HB 141 were introduced in Wyoming. Both seek to strengthen the current DUI law by mandating interlocks for all first-time, high-BAC convictions and repeat offenders.

Click here to learn more about MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, and click here to support ignition interlock initiatives in your state.

World Economic Forum in Davos....Shimon Peres speaks (39th minute)

2009-01-31T18:36:00.004+02:00

The PM of Turkey speaks before him, and you can see the moment when we walks out afterwards. Having been in Turkey during the war, I saw firsthand the anti-Israel sentiment there.

Pittsburgh Steeler Terrible Towels

2009-01-31T16:59:00.000+02:00

Some skeptics would call the Super Bowl a gargantuan marketing exercise that happens to feature a football game. How nice to discover, then, that the rights to Pittsburgh’s famous Terrible Towels belong not to a billion-dollar company, but rather a school for the developmentally disabled.

John Branch of the New York Times tells the story of how deceased Steelers announcer Myron Cope, who floated the idea for the hallowed (and profitable) towels, handed off their rights to the Allegheny Valley School. Danny Cope, Myron’s adult son, counts among the beneficiaries of the gift, which had earned the school over $2.5 million before this season, and is likely to earn it much more in the near future because of the Steelers’ strong play, according to school CEO Regis Champ.

“Champ said that Myron Cope wanted the money to go not for construction projects, but for individual assistance for residents,” Branch writes. “Recent purchases include high-end specialized wheelchairs and sensory programs that allow severely disabled residents, including quadriplegics, to perform tasks such as turning on lights or music with a movement of their eyes. The money has also been spent on adaptive communication devices, computers that give voice to those who cannot speak. Danny Cope has one.”

Travbuddy (click for link)

2009-01-30T18:14:00.004+02:00

While in Istanbul I met the owner of this website and told him I would help get the word out. It is a social networking site for travelers. Essentially, there are about 1.5 million people in the network, and when you know you are going to be in x city at x time, you can see who else on the network will be there. Think Facebook meets Couchsurfing.

This was forwarded to me in an email

2009-01-29T16:11:00.002+02:00

I know how prevalent DnD is esp among people who don't live in Manhattan, and it is one of the things I feel VERY strongly about (to me, it is murder), even though tnk g-d I have never lost anyone due to someone else's negligence.

Subject: I went to a party mom

I went to a party,
And remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom,
so I had a sprite instead.

I felt proud of myself,
The way you said I would,
that I didn't drink and drive,
though some friends said I should.

I made a healthy choice,
And your advice to me was right.
The party finally ended,
and the kids drove out of sight.

I got into my car,
Sure to get home in one piece.
I never knew what was coming, Mom,
something I expected least.

Now I'm lying on the pavement,
And I hear the policeman say,
the kid that caused this wreck was drunk,
Mom, his voice seems far away.

My own blood's all around me,
As I try hard not to cry.
I can hear the paramedic say,
this girl is going to die...

I'm sure the guy had no idea,
While he was flying high.
Because he chose to drink and drive,
now I would have to die.

So why do people do it, Mom
Knowing that it ruins lives?
And now the pain is cutting me,
like a hundred stabbing knives.

Tell sister not to be afraid, Mom
Tell daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven,
put ' Mommy's Girl' on my grave.

Someone should have taught him,
That it's wrong to drink and drive..
Maybe if his parents had,
I'd still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter,
Mom I'm getting really scared
These are my final moments,
and I'm so unprepared.

I wish that you could hold me Mom,
As I lie here and die.
I wish that I could say, 'I love you, Mom!'
So I love you and good-bye.

Video about Sderot

2009-01-29T14:56:00.003+02:00

While this video is obviously biased to the Israeli side, I am putting it on b/c it is the truth. Just this morning Kassam rockets landed in Sderot with no injuries. The story was in the Jerusalem Post online, but neither the WSJ, NYT nor BBC.

Sar-el, cont.

2009-01-29T14:21:00.005+02:00

The following note was written by an Israeli women that was on my first tour of duty back in December, just before the war broke out. This is for everyone who reads this that talks about how much they love and back Israel, to recognize there are things (no matter how little they are, no matter how old you are) that can be done.

Having first come to Israel on an organized tour, there is absolutely no comparison to being here in Sar-el. On an organized tour, you are on a bus running about from tourist place to tourist place, barely getting to meet and interact with Israelis, whereas in Sar-el one gets to truly experience what life is like here, especially for the soldiers. There are ample opportunites to get to talk to them and see how they feel about everything, and while we may not go out boozing every night and eating quality breakfasts and dinners (lunch is pretty good), it is a great builder of cameraderie and many friends can be made. Additionally, Sar-el provides an amalgam of people from around the world, and surprisingly, not all of them are Jewish.

"I am finally sitting down here after getting used to the shock of this freezing weather in Philadelphia and adjusting back to my boring unexciting life right now :) The two weeks that we spent in Sar el was the highlight of my trip and of course sharing about the experience with my family and my children made it even more special. The most amazing time was when I realized that all the hard work that we all did with such enthusiasm was used by Israeli army to have one of the best battles against Hamas that Israel has known. As an Israeli I wanted to thank you all because I heard interviews and the enthusiasm of the reservists, and we had a great share in the preparation for "Operation Cast Lead" without knowing it. For me it was the natural thing to hear a lot more than what you heard because of the language and listening to Israeli news and commentaries, and so I had to tell you that our work and the enthusiasm that we put into it was greatly appreciated by all. And I wanted to thank you on behalf of my country! Just knowing that we did all this work not knowing that it would be used so soon after, and doing it with such enthusiasm made me very proud of you all. Rochelle and I spent a lot of time with my family in Israel and heard from them directly about hearing interviews on the radio and on tv - in our case, Fransisco Helen and I who did the backpacks for the fighters, just wanted you to know we got all the kudos! On the radio I heard soldiers report specifically how perfect the backpacks were, and also heard about the tanks. I know we were just a little group who did a little bit but I am one of the people who knows that we definitely contributed a lot and wish I could thank you all in person."

Pix from my recent tour o duty:

2 newbies in the IDF who are training to be medics

My Madrichot, Hadas and Gal

Packing field packs for medics....fortunately, return packs seemed to be unused

Earning it

2009-01-24T23:53:00.002+02:00

Tel Aviv is like NY in that it is removed from the reality of the rest of the country. While bombs are flying and people are dying 50 or so miles away, people in TA are out boozing like it is Utopia, which it kind of is actually.

But for myself, while I have every intention of doing the same, I want to feel like I have earned the right to enjoy myself while the world is kvetching about Israel's overzealous military. So tomorrow I will be doing Sar-el for one last week before my Hebrew classes start. It may not amount to much, but at least I will feel like I have done my part.

From what I understand, I will be going to the second base I was on last time, a medical supply base not so far from TA. They moved all the volunteers away from the south after the war started. Something about bad PR were they to have volunteers get killed by rockets.

Lehitraot

Really? I can create alot of spontaneous combustion myself, but I would love to see this

2009-01-24T23:34:00.000+02:00

This is live, not memorex

2009-01-24T04:07:00.002+02:00

I finally joined a gym this week, and in one of my playlists on my iPod I have More Than A Feeling by Boston. Aside from being a great song, even if it does sound like every other song on Boston's eponymous album, whenever I hear it I always think of The Lampost. For some reason, there are a handful of classic rock songs that I always equate w The 'Post, Freebird being another.

Point being, it is 4am here and as I reminisce 20 years back to my days in Albany while lying in my bed in Tel Aviv, I am recognizing this is the real deal. At this stitch in time, I have less than zero interest in living and working in NYC (and thus by default the rest of the US, b/c with few exceptions, almost nowhere else in the states is even remotely as interesting, dynamic and fun), and I have not encountered any reason as yet to want to leave TA. As interesting as NYC is, living in Israel is emotions on high, never a dull moment and the center of the religious and ideological clash between the forces of good and evil, ideally we being the good.

The sad part of living here for me (though it isn't a pervasive cloud) is that because it is so far away and also has the omnipresent danger, combined with the fact that most people I know have kids, other than my parents and hopefully my sister somehow (and my aunt and uncle who are coming here on vacation in March) I will only get to see the people I know and love on the rare visits I will make to NY.

Homeward bound

2009-01-23T22:04:00.002+02:00

Just got my tix for April. Woopeeee. Be home for 3 weeks, including x days in San Diego. I only miss 1 week of class, which isn't preferable, but I have no plans to come to NY after this trip for who knows how long. Assuming I am initiating the Aliyah process, this is my farewell take back as many things as I can trip.

Peck peck peck

2009-01-23T02:02:00.006+02:00

Tel Aviv is NYC. Israel is the 51st state. Being here, talking to people, reading all I have read, these are facts. TA is NYC in May. The weather is 70s, 80s and the girls are out in full force, only difference here is it is almost year round.

So where does this leave me, the lonely American? I ended up chatting w a couple of Israeli guys so I could learn more about my enemy and my competition, to get a feel for what the situation here is. Thus far, I have mostly found people to be at the minimum helpful, if not friendly, though it is usually guys that tend to be the friendliest. However, the guys I was chatting with tonight, they were my peers if not contemporaries, and what I learned is all I really need to do is to drag these Sabra girls home by their long, flowing, curly dark hairs, but say excuse me in English as I accidentally drag them over the ridiculous amount of chien ca ca (dog shit) that is all over the sidewalk.

The talent level here is beyond anything I have seen in my worldwide travels AND there appears to be an abundance of single women here, so if I am still single by the time I get back to NY in April, I give everyone permission to throw me in front of an oncoming subway train. L train is preferable, Canarsie line.

PS: was talking to a female bartender tonight, and I asked her if there were in fact more women than men here in TA. She says it is 4-1 women/men, so I repeat, if I haven't found anyone by the time I get back to NY, I not only give permission, I request to be thrown in front of a Canarsie-bound L train.

A day of my life in coach (also the original title of my future book, but MK has nixed it and I am in agreement)

2009-01-22T01:02:00.003+02:00

Jerry: "Have you ever sat in first class before?"
Elaine: "No."
Jerry: "Well, I have, and I can't go back there. I can't, I WON'T!"

I am in the process of booking a ticket home in April, and the flights are 11-12 hours, depending on direction. Combined, that is a whole day of my life. The prospect of spending that much time cramped in an 18" width seat with piddling pitch makes me cringe, but I am no longer a trader on Wall St, so I might have to suffer unless I can somehow use miles to upgrade on Contie, EL Al or Delta. Woe is me.

Regardless of whether I fly in the pleasurable confines of Biz or cramped in Cattle, I will be back in NY from approx April 1 - April 20 +, less a few days in San Diego to see Eliana (baby niece). Oh yeah, and to see my mom and sister as well. xox

Istanbul (click for GPS)

2009-01-21T17:35:00.002+02:00

The topography of first 2 pix below can be better appreciated after looking at the Google map.

This is what one hears 5x a day in a Muslim-dominated country (click on header)

2009-01-21T03:07:00.007+02:00

As the abundance of minarets (tall, thin towers from which the Imams call the people to prayer) show, there are mosques everywhere in this city, so when the time arises one hears Islamic prayers all around. Back in the day, the Imams would have to climb up inside the tower, but nowadays they have speakers around the towers.

Looking south from Galata Tower...notice all the mosques...Galata Bridge is in foreground, Sultanhamet on the other side of the bridge on the left

Looking north from Galata Tower...Bosphorus Bridge and Asia are in the background

Aya Sofya...built by Justinian in the 6C, it was a gigantic church until the Ottoman conquest in 1453, upon which it was converted into a mosque. Today it is a museum, but all the Christian artistry and drawings remain

Blue Mosque....built in the early 1600's to rival Aya Sofya, it is still an active mosque

Inside Blue Mosque

Sar-el, IDF volunteer program

2009-01-21T00:59:00.004+02:00

At least for now the war is over, but it is obviously tenuous at best, and I understand there was a small exchange of fire today. Nonetheless, I am planning on doing Sar-el next week, before my Hebrew classes start on Feb 1.

Living in Tel Aviv is like being in NYC. It is encapsulated in its own bubble, oblivious to the troubles of the external world. One would never suspect that there was a war going on 50 miles to the south, which is part of the reason I am doing Sar-el again. Even though all of the volunteers were moved to bases up north, away from the fighting (the first week people were down south, and it was pretty intense from what I understand, but it would be bad PR for Sar-el to have volunteers get bombed), I kind of feel like if I am going to make this my home and I am going to be decadent, I need to earn that right, so I will do the IDF for one more week, even though it is peacetime again.

If there is anyone who feels the program is worthwhile and doesn't have the time, desire or commitment to volunteer, you can make a donation. Get itw Pam Lazarus @ pamela@sar-el.org

Lehitraot

GPS coordinates to my apt in Tel Aviv

2009-01-17T15:50:00.002+02:00

Mi casa es su casa.

Anti-semitism doesn't take a vacation, even in a secular city like Istanbul

2009-01-16T20:55:00.004+02:00

We saw this poster on a tram stop in Sultanhamet, a very touristy area. On the flip side is the Palestinian flag. Being the proud Zionists that we are, or at least being reckless former IDF volunteers, we felt obligated to remove the poster to stop the hate. The stop was crowded, and quite honestly had the wrong person seen us remove the poster, we might have had a problem. However, because of the teamwork and Krav Maga skills we learned in the IDF, we successfully surreptitiously removed the poster, no harm, no foul.

My travels and experiences have taught me that it is always the civilian that gets screwed when those in power are neglectful or belligerent

2009-01-13T22:04:00.003+02:00

Yet regarding the civilians of Gaza, I don't seem to have the sympathy that I do for the Cambodians, Vietnamese, etc...

I am quite sure it is not a Jewish thing as much as it based upon what I have seen since I landed in I-land. It is not even because I was in the IDF and it now has my sympathy (though it does bother me when İ hear about any of them dying), but I believe it is due to the fact that nowhere in this region, or even much of the world, does it get mentioned that Hamas has been launching rockets and morters towards J civilians for many, many months. Even before the war started, I do not believe anyone other than the most well-read knowledgeable Zionist knew with how much frequency the rockets were being launched. I know I only heard about them when they would hurt or kill, never if they only landed on a couple of houses or cars. But still the rockets came, and it was only when İ was here on a daily basis did I realize the frequency with which they were being launched.

Being here in Turkey, as secular as the Euro side of I-bul is, and even though this is I think the number 1 vaca destination for Israelis, Israel has no friends here. We have seen and heard nothing about the rockets that Hamas has launched ad-infinitum pre-attack, whether on Al-Jazeera or the English language newspapers, but the word massacre and holocaust has come up frequently, including our educated Turkish tour-guide today. I think killing 1/4 to 1/3 Gaza civilians is a MUCH better ratio than had Hamas' rockets landed where they wanted them to.

I know that sounds awful, and like to think of myself as open-minded, but when Hamas consistently uses human shields and continues to declare the destruction of I as their goal, and the whole world seems to consistently be antı-Israel, I am finding it hard to get myself to be sympathetic, as awful as that is. Perhaps if EVERYONE would be willing to renounce all religions we will live in a more peaceful world.

The lightswitch in my head flipped on

2009-01-10T14:15:00.003+02:00

When İ left NY almost exactly 1 year ago, İ had no idea where İ would land or ın what capacity İ would be receiving future paychex. After meeting many people of various ages, interests and skillsets and also recognizing what articles in the local newspapers İ am most interested in, it is clear to me İ need to move back to NYC and work in finance.

İ hope no one believes that, cuz İ ain't moving back to NYC. However, İ still love reading about the markets, the economy and how inter-connected this whole globe is. I enjoy reading the economic and business articles in the local papers, and compared to most people İ have met, İ know my financial shit. Compared to the people I've met that have serious skillsets, whether they are musically or scientifically inclined or just speak several languages, being a finance guy seems so useless and boring to me. But İ enjoy it, I find it interesting and it is a knowledge that can be used in every country in some capacıty. The origination of my interest in Wall St goes back to an economıcs class İ took in Albany, ECO350 Money & Banking. İ didn't know anything about trading, but İ knew the whole concept of the Federal Reserve and so on blew me away.

İ used French the other day to get directions from a Turk who didnt speak English, so after İ do the 'brew, İ will be pretty stoked to have knowledge of 3 languages. While in TA, İ will look into finding a job at the Bank of İsrael or some other banking entity (unless Hamas gets to them first), and even though the world economy has fallen off the cliff, İ will use this time to enhance my resume and improve my skills so that when the time comes, every employer will want a tri-lingual former NYC trader.

Princes Island, Istanbul (click for GPS)

2009-01-10T13:24:00.005+02:00

About 1 hour by ferry SE from the heart of The 'bul lay a group of islands that İstanbulians ? go to to get away from ıt all. Like most other cities, İ'bul is negatively affected by inclement weather, in thıs case daily rain, so we waited until we had a clear day before we ventured out to the Princes.

Being off-season and a weekday, even on a beautiful day the islands were pretty slow, so we spent the bulk of our time on Büyükada, the largest of the group. One of the more popular, if not THE, things to do on the island is to rent a bike and scoot around. İ think a full circumnavigation of the island is about 10 miles, but time did not allow for us to do a full loop, so we did the short loop.

What is so amazing about the island to me are the various places it recalled. İt seemed tropical in many ways, thus at times the landscape reminded me of Hawaii, yet the architecture in places spanned Colonıal America, Panama City and what İ would imagine Havana to look lıke.

From what İ have read in my guidebook, specific ethnic groups go to specific islands. We certainly couldnt ascertain anything, though we did come across an İsraeli woman while having lunch. Sadly, bc of all that is going on, we had to keep our conversation to a whisper at times, as no one among us wants to yell out in a 99%Muslim country, 'Hey, I am Jewısh and served in the Israeli military'.

However, what is so interesting to me is that at times, despite the abundance of Mosques, I forget that I am in a Muslim country. At night especially, and certainly on the European side (if u move the map around, you will see a gap between the Europe and Asıa side, which is the Bosphorus River. Istanbul lıterally is a bridge between Europe and Asia), it is so secular and the people so stylishly dressed, that İ feel like I am back in NY. However, in a conversation İ had last night with an intelligent, open minded Turskish girl who teaches English, I found out that many Turks feel the Jews have alot of control and have the big, nice houses on these islands. Yay Jews!! haha

PS Still have lots to write and pix to upload, but the pix will have to wait until İ get back to İsrael

There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide

2009-01-04T20:50:00.004+02:00

Other than by lying, I have a 4 handle in my age!!! LOL To me it is no big deal, as people still don't think I look my age and I sure don't feel it (mostly), but since we will mostly be staying in hostels here in Turkey, I am probably officially the old creepy guy!!

Istanbul, 40 and Gaza....A Day in the Life of Rez

2009-01-03T21:31:00.004+02:00

Sicky, snory and gassy arrived in Istanbul last night, though not without a bit of pause because of the slightly dubious nature of the seemingly reputable 'information' office we booked our hotel through in Ataturk airport after we landed (for those who know me best, take a guess as to which of the dwarfs I am).

After settling into the hotel, we ventured to check out the Istanbul nightlife. My intention when I originally planned on going somewhere for 2-3 weeks in January was to go somewhere warrrrrrrrrm, as J-m and TA had become somewhat chilly for my now really wussy-like bones, since I haven't seen winter since I left NYC almost exactly 1 year ago. However, if given the chance to roll w friends to an exotic and mysterious place like Istanbul, Turkey, I guess weather has to take a back seat.

The temperature for the 2 weeks we will be running in Turkey will be 35-45F, with several days of precipitation included, today being the first. Before leaving TA I picked up a new winter jacket, meaning that between here and NY, I have somewhere in the vicinity of 30 jackets. Or at least 6. Last night, while walking around Taksim Sq, I had to pick up a scarf, and today I followed that up with a pair of gloves and a hat in the Grand Bazaar. It is FN cold here, but that wont stop us from hopefully making it to Bursa for an overnight so Snory can go snowboarding and sicky the Aussie can see snow for the first time.

So far, based on my experiences, Istanbul has been a cross between Amsterdam and Cairo. Turkey is I think 99% Muslim, and there are mosques EVERYWHERE, thus we were entertained by the every few hour ritual of the Imams chanting over the bullhorns letting the observant know it was time to pray (audio/video to follow in the future, as I didn't bring my laptop with me, tnx to the presence of my iPhone). Taksim Square is very reminiscent of A'dam, or really any other European capital, with low buildings, a long pedestrian walkway and a tram. In fact, and only MK would recall this, it reminds me very much of my first time in A'dam, Dec '97, when it was cold and wet, of course without the 20 Guilder red-light pros, The Bulldog and passing-out flight attendants.

From our experiences over the last 24 hours, I have found that Istanbul in many ways is just like SE Asia, in that they are giving us the hard sell EVERYWHERE we go, be it in the Bazaars (which are really cool btw, especially the Spice Bazaar, IMHO), the restaurants or the bars. To be honest, I am back to being suspicious of EVERYONE in EVERY situation something I didn't have to worry about for the most part in France and England. Additionally, while not outrageously expensive, and also because we don't speak Turkish, it is not as cheap as I thought it would be.

As I write this, at 10PM on Jan 3, I see on the news that Israel has sent troops into Gaza. This could potentially create a problem for us getting back to TA, depending on how much it escalates and what the reciprocal reactions are between Israel and the other Muslim countries. I saw that 30,000 Jordanians protested in Amman demanding the annulment of the peace treaty with Israel. Don't tell my mom, but apparently there were protests here in Istanbul as well, with Israeli flags being burned.

We heard from a couple of the guys still doing Sar-el, and as interesting as it was to volunteer when we did, WOW would it have been an experience now, and I might do it again for a week or two when we return before my classes start. One guy told us they have had rocket warning drills, and the other, who is in a base down south, said it really is like boot camp. Running. Pushups. Crawling on the ground with bloody elbows. He said there was some 40 year old guy that didn't look like he would make it, which is the perfect segue to close.

In less than 2 hours I will be 40, though not a 40 y.o. virgin. As we walked around last night and today, I really didn't think much about it (probably b/c I was too fn cold). I am hoping we can find some non-pretentious places, b/c all we saw last night were touts and scam-type clubs and bars or bouncers saying if we weren't with women we weren't getting in (oddly, there were a nominal amount of single (not solo) girls meandering Taksim, but tonight we have done some research and think we are going to the proper areas where we can find locals. I still haven't obsessed on it, but I would really like to get out of the hotel already and get to a bar/restaurant so I can at least turn 40 w a drink in my hand!

My last Gregorian calendar post for 2008

2008-12-31T20:18:00.002+02:00

Being in the promised land means that to many people here, NYE is Rosh HaShanah, not Jan 1. Be that as it may, TA should be reasonably hoppin tonight, despite the chilly rain, one of my friends realizing he left his camera on the bus from Eilat and the other feeling quite off.

Nonetheless, I guess it has been quite the good year for me. I plan on making 2009 even better, and I have the experience of one year of traveling and the learning of new languages, so I can avoid the mistakes I've made in the past.

This is such a vast and diverse world, and I am not sure how I am supposed to go back to working instead of seeing all the world has to offer, but I don't like to think about it. For now, my only goal is to learn Hebrew well enough so I can more than get by in Israel. At the same time, I seem to consistently encounter French people here, so I hope to improve my French as well. I had an hour conversation today on the bus. By the end of 2009, I hope to be conversational in both French and Hebrew, if that is at all realistic.

I am actually writing this from the apt I rented in TA. It is a 1.5 bedrooom apt in a sweet location, and a 5 minute walk to the beach as well. I have ample room for up to 3 people beyond myself, so mi casa es su casa.

Lehitra'ot
Bonne annee
Happy New Year

Keith wants to know how the hell the USD conversion goes from 3.85 to 3.75 shekelim in 1 day

2008-12-31T03:04:00.003+02:00

That is $2.50 for every $100 I take out! Don't the currency traders realize I don't want to work anymore??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Rezworldtour part deux picks back up, sort of

2008-12-30T04:25:00.002+02:00

I am in Eilat w two of my 'army' buddies, and we are all pretty much open for at least the first half of January. So in what would be a ridiculous conversation to most others, we spent the last hour debating where in the world, or at least within a 3000 mile radius, we should go.

Given the variables we had to work with, we had to eliminate India from the list. Next off the list because it is too cold was Madrid and Lisbon. I had to nix Morocco b/c it is a Muslim country and who knows what will happen these days. Cairo as well. That left the one place that actually intrigued all of us and was also very reasonable $wise.

Tomorrow morning I expect we will be buying a ticket to Istanbul for at least 1 week. I might end up staying longer so as to max out the country as best as possible, because if I come home too soon then I will have no choice but to go to India for 2 weeks.

Turkey is a MAJOR destination spot for Israelis, so it is the one Muslim country I am not worried about going to and having a problem back at Israeli customs. I have learned my lessons. I am only here traveling through and volunteering for the IDF, nothing about Ulpan, Aliyah, etc....

Why Tel Aviv hasn't given the IDF action a second thought (click link)

2008-12-29T00:52:00.004+02:00

It is much scarier for people that are NOT here. As the map in the story shows, TA is not in reach, at least by Hamas. Today has been like yesterday, life happening while others worry. I was hoping to watch the Jets-Dolphins game tonight in a bar, but there were no Jet fans and only Dolphin fans around me, so I left after the first quarter. Mehatzben (annoying). And don't even get me started on the loser Eagle fans.

PS Jets suck, Favre must go. What a waste of a season. Islanders are a joke as usual. At least I can think of the 162-0 season the Yankees are going to put up.

Sar-el

2008-12-28T15:49:00.006+02:00

Gavi and Hadas, our Madrichot

Our room...amazingly, this was taken in the dark, the flash is THAT bright

"Pops" Rich

Ken showcasing Shock chocolate milk, the breakfast and dinner drink of choice

The proper way to drink it...first tear off a small corner of the bag w ur teeth, then squeeze

Batel LOVED Aussie Jon

Hadas and Gavi giving us an abridged history of Israel

Building and breaking down shelves, courtesy Costya and Dima

Happy Birthday Costya

Tank condoms...they used XL Magnums

Cleaning the dirt and shmutz in the ziploc tank baggies

The Mancunian (Manchester) ladies had a party (without alcohol) in their room the last night...never has such fun been had by adults sans alcohol!!!

How to talk like a Mancunian

In the medical supply base the 3rd week.....sadly the bags we packed might be used soon

The Moadon week 3

Happy 40th to me