As I do not personally trust technology for the important stuff, I went down to the Jerusalem Municipality this morning to register Raphaela for Gan next year in person, rather than the suggested Internet site.
While the office itself opened at 8:30 am, many parents including myself chose to arrive much earlier in order to get a number and be one of the first to receive assistance. I arrived at 7:45 and there were already 15 people ahead of me...handing out an old fashioned piece of paper and a pencil. You see, Israel with all its technological prowess, did not think to test the system before the onslaught of the first day of processing, and so the number machine (which runs on Windows) was not functioning, and there was no one person there who actually knew how to repair it.
After close to a half hour of random attempts, the number computer was up and running, and by that time there were close to 50 parents clamoring at the door.
Once we got inside, it became clear that the computers for the registration process itself had also not been tested and prepped before hand, and miraculously, the only stations that were working were those that helped the Chareidi (Ultra-Orthodox) community. That's right, all the computers attached to the same network and the same Internet cables; and while the "regular" (ie taxpaying, army-serving, non contentious) Israelis had to wait almost an hour to register their children, the Chareidim were zipping in and out without a care, because they know the Big Secret: G-d really does like them better.
Needless to say, it didn't take long before all of us sitting and waiting began grumbling the same chorus, "Those damn Chareidim, they take full advantage of the system and couldn't care less if the heretical Jewish State crumbles, and they get better service than the rest of us, every time." I would not have been comfortable as a Chareidi at that moment, I half expected parents to start a riot and demand that we get equal time on the few functional computers in the room
Thankfully, I had received lucky number 13 and had a relatively short wait, and blessed be, walked home from the center of town in the sun and warmth that we in Jerusalem had not experienced since last week before the start of the deluge of rain and the snow. It was so hot that I even took off my coat.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The New York-Israel Snow Divide
Clearly, my daughter is a sabra, born in Jerusalem and Israeli to the core. I shall explain: When I was a child growing up on the East Coast, my brother and I would eagerly await a snow day, and not just because it meant no school. We would wake up as early as possible in the morning, put on our toasty outfits in order to be the first to make angels in the "Virgin Snow." (Yes, we called it Virgin Snow because that is what my mother named it, and no, we had no idea regarding the actual connotation of the word.)
It took much bribery after several hours of snow play to get us back in the house, we barely noticed the temperature.
This morning, a beautiful white soft blanket covered Jerusalem, and Raphaela and I woke up at our usual early hours, before six am. We snuggled in bed for a bit, and Raphaela made plans for major snow family action, "First we will build a SnowMommy, then a SnowDaddy and then a SnowBaby!" Chock full of enthusiasm, we got dressed and went outside to experience Jerusalem's virgin snow; indeed, we were the first footprints of the day. I, the grown up in the story, jumped in the snow with delight, picked up the perfect the snowball material and started to form our Snow Beings.
We assiduously avoided areas with large tree cover, as I could hear and see large heavy branches cracking and breaking because of the weight of the snow. Contrary to my usual Type A personally trait, I was barely phased by the fact that my car seemed to be buried by the great exploding willow tree in the back of the building. After all, how could I accurately asses any damage until the snow stopped and started to melt around my automobile?
And who cares if my patients and my facial treatment cannot happen today, there is snow, real true fluffy East Coast snow in Jerusalem!
My daughter, after approximately five minutes in the snow, started begging to go back inside. The snow family plans were canceled, and now that we know for certain that she does not have Gan today, she has adamantly refused to even consider leaving the house, ever, until the snow stops for good.
It took much bribery after several hours of snow play to get us back in the house, we barely noticed the temperature.
This morning, a beautiful white soft blanket covered Jerusalem, and Raphaela and I woke up at our usual early hours, before six am. We snuggled in bed for a bit, and Raphaela made plans for major snow family action, "First we will build a SnowMommy, then a SnowDaddy and then a SnowBaby!" Chock full of enthusiasm, we got dressed and went outside to experience Jerusalem's virgin snow; indeed, we were the first footprints of the day. I, the grown up in the story, jumped in the snow with delight, picked up the perfect the snowball material and started to form our Snow Beings.
We assiduously avoided areas with large tree cover, as I could hear and see large heavy branches cracking and breaking because of the weight of the snow. Contrary to my usual Type A personally trait, I was barely phased by the fact that my car seemed to be buried by the great exploding willow tree in the back of the building. After all, how could I accurately asses any damage until the snow stopped and started to melt around my automobile?
And who cares if my patients and my facial treatment cannot happen today, there is snow, real true fluffy East Coast snow in Jerusalem!
My daughter, after approximately five minutes in the snow, started begging to go back inside. The snow family plans were canceled, and now that we know for certain that she does not have Gan today, she has adamantly refused to even consider leaving the house, ever, until the snow stops for good.
Non Snow Day
So school ended early today, and what a waste; as of 6 pm Israel Standard Time, there is no snow to be seen, only sharp winds accompanied by rain and intermittent hail stones. A friend of mine cleverly called it "The Emporer's New Snow."
No matter, Raphaela and I spent a quality afternoon together.
While playing a game of pretend with a pair of Sloth Monkeys (Diego and Dora, don't ask...) I overheard the conversation she had with her imaginary friends:
Sloth Monkeys: We like to eat leaves.
Raphaela: Look, my Mommy made me tea because it is raining outside. (Pause, as if the Sloth Monkeys are responding) Yeah, my Mom is really cool!
No matter, Raphaela and I spent a quality afternoon together.
While playing a game of pretend with a pair of Sloth Monkeys (Diego and Dora, don't ask...) I overheard the conversation she had with her imaginary friends:
Sloth Monkeys: We like to eat leaves.
Raphaela: Look, my Mommy made me tea because it is raining outside. (Pause, as if the Sloth Monkeys are responding) Yeah, my Mom is really cool!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
It's Raining, It's Pouring
Growing up in the States, I took water for granted; my parents house in Boston has a small forest, a lake and waterfall practically in their back yard. Living in Israel these past 16 years, my attitude and awareness has shifted, because each citizen acutely feels the lack of water and regular rain fall, except for certain periods in the Winter.
This past week has already broken all sorts of rainfall records, and the Kinneret Lake which has suffered with various "Red Lines" in the last ten years stands at an all-time high. My Chiropractic conference in Tel Aviv was canceled today, because of the flooding of the major Ayalon highway and the threat of country-wide snow.
On the way to Gan this morning, Raphaela and I sat in the car for ten minutes, waiting for a break in the hail stones; all educational institutions in Jerusalem will close today at noon, so everyone can get home and get tucked into a nice warm house. My daughter can't wait to play in the snow with her new pink boots that we bought last week, just in time for the storm.
Even funnier, and somehow the game has become comforting to me, the Israeli radio stations have attuned their programs to the weather outside, and so most songs this morning contained the words "rain," "storm," and "snow."
The Israeli experience is by no means easy, but it is home, a wet and cold and happy one at the moment. Come join us and jump in the abundant puddles.
This past week has already broken all sorts of rainfall records, and the Kinneret Lake which has suffered with various "Red Lines" in the last ten years stands at an all-time high. My Chiropractic conference in Tel Aviv was canceled today, because of the flooding of the major Ayalon highway and the threat of country-wide snow.
On the way to Gan this morning, Raphaela and I sat in the car for ten minutes, waiting for a break in the hail stones; all educational institutions in Jerusalem will close today at noon, so everyone can get home and get tucked into a nice warm house. My daughter can't wait to play in the snow with her new pink boots that we bought last week, just in time for the storm.
Even funnier, and somehow the game has become comforting to me, the Israeli radio stations have attuned their programs to the weather outside, and so most songs this morning contained the words "rain," "storm," and "snow."
The Israeli experience is by no means easy, but it is home, a wet and cold and happy one at the moment. Come join us and jump in the abundant puddles.
Monday, January 7, 2013
And the Universe Answers
Just in case you wondered, very often you ask a question and if you listen carefully, the Universe answers you, quite directly in fact.
For the past few weeks, I have been contemplating a request by the Israel Chiropractic Society (ICS), to become the new Vice President on the Executive Board. Normally, when I cannot immediately answer "Yes" or "No," it means "No" and I am simply not ready to commit out loud; that has been the case here, and with the semi-annual meeting of the ICS in only two days, I must let the elections board know my final decision.
I carried these thoughts with me this evening, when I attended a gathering of the Israel Barnard College alumnae, in a beautiful hall overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. The featured speaker happened to be one of my former Political Science professors, Flora Davidson, who spoke about the (slowly) rising role of women in US politics, on all levels of legislation. Davidson quoted research which discussed the "ambition factor" ie that men tend to posses more of the self-starter characteristics, whereas women wait to be invited into the system. And if that woman happens to be unmarried, or past her sexual prime, her entry into elected office will be much smoother than a woman at the height of her profession, a relatively younger woman juggling family responsibilities and career.
After the lecture itself, I was able to speak privately to Professor Davidson and Dean Dorothy Denburg, also in attendance; I joked that this intellectual input came at the perfect time, as I was engineering my own political insteps within the Israeli Chiropractic community. I laid out my issues and concerns to my former teachers, and without fuss they agreed that as a single parent of a toddler and as a working mother, "this is not the time" to spread myself even thinner, by taking on the responsibility of growing my profession in the Middle East.
In fact, I was pleased to hear it, because the message of Barnard College that I received as a student was that women can achieve anything they wish, and that family or personal life will not suffer if a woman chooses to pursue her success in the outside world. I say it now, it's not true, no one can get everything they want without some element of their life falling short, and it's high time that we debunk this aspect of the feminist agenda.
Ambition or confidence is most definitely not the issue here, I know for a fact that I am the best candidate for VP and that I would contribute in a substantial way; when I commit to a cause, I commit 1000%. Realistically speaking, however, I don't know that I would be able to properly fulfill my duties and attend meetings regularly, as I would want to and as my colleagues deserve; I barely left the house tonight because of a baby sitter snafu, and last I checked, the day contains only 24 hours.
My time will come, and meanwhile I have pledged to take on ICS "Special Projects," without the official title as a member of the Board.
Until four years ago, my Chiropractic career and clinical practice sat at the center of the focus of my life. The moment after her birth I held Raphaela for the first time, and I thought to myself, "Right now, nothing else matters." Even though being a first-time Mom made me feel frustrated and stupid and happy and tired all at the same time, I am content to wait a while to conquer the world, and watch my child grow.
For the past few weeks, I have been contemplating a request by the Israel Chiropractic Society (ICS), to become the new Vice President on the Executive Board. Normally, when I cannot immediately answer "Yes" or "No," it means "No" and I am simply not ready to commit out loud; that has been the case here, and with the semi-annual meeting of the ICS in only two days, I must let the elections board know my final decision.
I carried these thoughts with me this evening, when I attended a gathering of the Israel Barnard College alumnae, in a beautiful hall overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. The featured speaker happened to be one of my former Political Science professors, Flora Davidson, who spoke about the (slowly) rising role of women in US politics, on all levels of legislation. Davidson quoted research which discussed the "ambition factor" ie that men tend to posses more of the self-starter characteristics, whereas women wait to be invited into the system. And if that woman happens to be unmarried, or past her sexual prime, her entry into elected office will be much smoother than a woman at the height of her profession, a relatively younger woman juggling family responsibilities and career.
After the lecture itself, I was able to speak privately to Professor Davidson and Dean Dorothy Denburg, also in attendance; I joked that this intellectual input came at the perfect time, as I was engineering my own political insteps within the Israeli Chiropractic community. I laid out my issues and concerns to my former teachers, and without fuss they agreed that as a single parent of a toddler and as a working mother, "this is not the time" to spread myself even thinner, by taking on the responsibility of growing my profession in the Middle East.
In fact, I was pleased to hear it, because the message of Barnard College that I received as a student was that women can achieve anything they wish, and that family or personal life will not suffer if a woman chooses to pursue her success in the outside world. I say it now, it's not true, no one can get everything they want without some element of their life falling short, and it's high time that we debunk this aspect of the feminist agenda.
Ambition or confidence is most definitely not the issue here, I know for a fact that I am the best candidate for VP and that I would contribute in a substantial way; when I commit to a cause, I commit 1000%. Realistically speaking, however, I don't know that I would be able to properly fulfill my duties and attend meetings regularly, as I would want to and as my colleagues deserve; I barely left the house tonight because of a baby sitter snafu, and last I checked, the day contains only 24 hours.
My time will come, and meanwhile I have pledged to take on ICS "Special Projects," without the official title as a member of the Board.
Until four years ago, my Chiropractic career and clinical practice sat at the center of the focus of my life. The moment after her birth I held Raphaela for the first time, and I thought to myself, "Right now, nothing else matters." Even though being a first-time Mom made me feel frustrated and stupid and happy and tired all at the same time, I am content to wait a while to conquer the world, and watch my child grow.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
The Nice American
I dislike confrontation and try not to hurt other people's feelings; what my Israeli friends mockingly call "American politeness." Even after 16 years of living in this country, I will yell if necessary in order to accomplish a specific goal, but will then feel physically ill from the stress it causes inside me.
Most parents of toddlers will tell you, children this age have a magical moment, a second in time where they switch from "Happy" and "Well Behaved" to "Irrational" and "Bad Listeners." If you as a parent learn the signs, you can head off disaster at the pass; miss that window and you will need a stiff drink by the end of the evening.
At the beginning of this week, Raphaela was enjoying a play date with a friend from Gan when that time arrived, and in my most polite and American way possible, I suggested that we leave. The hostess, whose company I was also enjoying, begged us to stay a bit longer, that she would prepare a light dinner for the girls so we could have more time to hang out, and I reluctantly agreed. (That whole not hurting feelings thing, especially with a new connection...)
Raphaela more or less made it through the play date, but once we got home it was a parenting nightmare. I resolved not to be so "nice" the next time.
Last night, at the house of another playmate, it was not I but rather the other mother who abruptly cut short our visit a bit before six pm, explaining that her daughter had not napped and that she could see the signs of impending collapse. I appreciated her honesty and her sensibility, thanked her for their hospitality, and took Raphaela home.
Most parents of toddlers will tell you, children this age have a magical moment, a second in time where they switch from "Happy" and "Well Behaved" to "Irrational" and "Bad Listeners." If you as a parent learn the signs, you can head off disaster at the pass; miss that window and you will need a stiff drink by the end of the evening.
At the beginning of this week, Raphaela was enjoying a play date with a friend from Gan when that time arrived, and in my most polite and American way possible, I suggested that we leave. The hostess, whose company I was also enjoying, begged us to stay a bit longer, that she would prepare a light dinner for the girls so we could have more time to hang out, and I reluctantly agreed. (That whole not hurting feelings thing, especially with a new connection...)
Raphaela more or less made it through the play date, but once we got home it was a parenting nightmare. I resolved not to be so "nice" the next time.
Last night, at the house of another playmate, it was not I but rather the other mother who abruptly cut short our visit a bit before six pm, explaining that her daughter had not napped and that she could see the signs of impending collapse. I appreciated her honesty and her sensibility, thanked her for their hospitality, and took Raphaela home.
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