I love Israel. I have been waiting a long time to be back and I am so happy to be here and have this amazing opportunity to be here for an extended period of time. Still, there are times when Israel tests that love (and I am not getting political here). It is the rental car company that insists that the car we are renting from them does not exist (what?!); it is the car that zooms by us on the left when their lane is ending but honks as if we are in the wrong; it is the person honking rudely in the parking lot wanting our space but we are not leaving…. yes there is a vehicle theme here. And yet, what we have noticed is that for every day that is full of frustration, the next one is completely the opposite. I have to remind myself that it is crazy to think that moving to a new city will not have its challenges.
So on the plus side, Millie is really loving her new day camp, at the Haifa zoo, which is a 10 -15 minute walk from out apartment. (I love being able to walk to almost everything, even despite the hills!) She gets to care for the animals each morning, has an adopted hamster to care for (which she named Parsley – Melanie D., that one is for you!), and has a special activity each day. We have never seen her so excited about camp before.
And we have so far been happy with our “nanny” for Aviva. She is kind and responsible, and comes ready with games that she brings from home. Our current challenge is finding a good gan (daycare/preschool) for Aviva. We visited one on Friday and just want to visit another one for a comparison (that’s Aviva in the pink. below).
Bev is settling in with a work routine at the Technion and will be starting ulpan (language immersion) for 3.5 hours per day next week.
I do miss Jerusalem. I miss my relatives, the non-humidity (it is crazy-humid here), Tachana Rishona (First Station), passing by the view of the Old City every day, the falafel shop in my aunt and uncle’s neighborhood. But I like Haifa and look forward to getting to know it better each week.
Keeping It Israel 