3am. I have been going to bed late recently. It is odd to feel my body changing. I need less sleep now then I used to. I feel the same with less. I am thicker than I was a few years ago…something I welcome. I am much more appreciative of slower paced activities. I still love a wild night, but I love the quite ones too. It is a strange thing to look behind and see a different woman.
I clearly remember my flight home after my interview here last year. I sat down in JFK airport next to an older woman. She and I started talking and decided to go get some ice cream together. It turned out that she was Israeli, lived in the Eastern Townships (outside Montreal) and was an artist. She was a very cool lady. She’d gone back to school in her 40s to study studio art at Concordia. She was just back from travels abroad. After telling me about herself, she began to ask questions about me…
I told her that I had just had two interviews over the last week. Her response to my description of my job here is, in retrospect, poignantly correct. She said it sounded like glorified babysitting. Tonight I felt like a babysitter – and not even so glorified. I had to chase missing kids all over campus…but not only that…I didn’t agree with the act of chasing them. They were seniors saying goodbye to each other after 4 years together. I wanted to be supportive of my coworker, I felt torn. I am eagerly awaiting the day I get to bounce out of this place – it gets more and more painful with each day as I know I am closer to leaving my girls and the community I have created here, and I get put in to many situations that for one reason or another make me want to turn in my badge. While the positives far outweigh the negatives here, it is time to move on.
This last week has been a busy one. The fellows had several meetings with big-wigs trying to explain exactly why the year was almost entirely not what it was supposed to be. Wednesday was color war. Thursday was the faculty dinner, which the fellows were invited to even though in the last month it was decided that we in fact aren’t faculty – go figure. It was a nice evening. The seniors spent all day cooking. The food was yummy for a change and there were hilarious presentations by the students and the staff. I won an award – “Most likely to be dwarfed by a guitar.” Haha… :)
Friday we had our second all-community service for the year. I get a kick out of our method of creating a community prayer service with three sections: men and women only sections on the outside and mixed in the middle. Women and men both lead. I guess everyone is a little uncomfortable so everyone wins??? I appreciate the effort. Really. (not being sarcastic here…I swear)
Today was graduation. Three of my girls are seniors and it was an amazing thing to see them receive their diplomas. One in particular felt like a miracle. This girl has some serious issues – she pisses everyone on faculty off for the most part, has a horrible temper, has gone through lengthy periods of not doing her work and several suspensions. She is one of the angriest and manipulative people I have ever met. I am worried about her ability to handle university, to say the least. She is the perfect example of someone who would benefit from taking some time off before continuing. All of that aside though, I cried tears of joy when she took that diploma in her hand. Smart girl. Needs to channel her emotions in a way healthy for her and all those in her path. I am just so happy that she is out of my care as of tomorrow…. You see, it is good for everyone – she gets her freedom and the next stage in her life and I get mine. While it will be difficult to leave these wonderful girls, I will be happy to be decidedly more irresponsible come June 9th!
One little anecdote from my day to give a chuckle…
The Dubins and I were on our way to a graduation party packed like sardines into their van. On our way off campus a student runs up to us and flags us down. He is Mexican, very vocally so. This is the way the conversation between he and Andy:
Andy: What’s up?
Student: We need a ride to the graduation party, can you bring us?
Andy: It is a little crowded in here. I don’t think so.
Student: No, really, this is fine. [in a thick and adorable accent] We are Mexicans, we travel like this all the time over the border.
Political humor. He was only half kidding. But don’t worry, soon we’ll have all our national guard on the Mexican-US border and an A.H.A style fence (seriously, it is so elaborate here it is a little ridiculous) to boot.
[the next day]
I didn’t get around to actually posting, so here you go. Today was a lazy Memorial Day. I was supposed to take some kids out on a trip but no one showed…I spent the day cleaning, knitting, reading, sleeping, chilling with my kids. Good life has me.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Sunday is for sunday school...
Last night i went to a ballet recital for Noa, number 3 of the her tribe. She was wonderful - at one point she sneezed and i was told that the moms backstage said,
"bless her heart, she covered her nose."
I get such a kick from living in the south. they speak so formally and love formality in behavior and speech. When i was in Syracuse I said ma'am to a woman at a store and got an funny look. i don't think that word translates into northern.
Today was the last day I taught Sunday school. We concluded our unit on Israel over the last few weeks by talking about peace. I really like the book that we used, it attempted to show the humanity of both sides and not sugar coat israel. Don't get me wrong, I love Israel, but after reading things like this:
http://zmagsite.zmag.org/May2006/weir0506.html
I feel frustrated and hurt to say the least. Whether or not it these stories are valid, to think that AP could be conducting itself in this way when we rely on it so heavily for our information is sickening.
As we talked I could already feel the insanely pro-zionist dogma pouring out of these kids. It was a little frightening - they are only in fifth grade. Does the instilling a love of israel need to come before learning to be critical and uphold ethical and Jewish standards? I tried my hardest to demonstrate the need for both to them. I think most of them got the following pieces:
Israel is the jewish people's homeland
the Jews didn't have a homeland for 2000 years
loving israel is important, supporting it is important
talking about what israel does and what it expects from its citizens is important
conflict in the middle east is not a simple thing, and there are many points of view which need to be acknowledged and peace pursued through compromise and dialogue
The impressive thing was that they got to most of those ideas by discussing amongst themselves. Every time i wanted to play devil's advocate to get them to see things from a different light one of the students did it themselves. i was so proud of them. I just love, love, love teaching.
There was a ceremony to honor the teachers - we sang, got presents, watched a slide show and ate some yummy brueggers bagels. It was a good morning. I was a bit tired cause i couldn't fall asleep last night till three so I entertained myself reading blogs, watching the ever enlightening sex and the city, and writing emails.
Now I have to stop procrastinating. I have to write a letter explaining how my job has benefited me and how it can be improved. I have a lot to say, but i need to try to keep it civil and polite. I really have loved my time here - but so little of what I have enjoyed and grown from has been what i expected or what was promised to me. This was the first year my job has existed and I have a lot of suggestions...i better get writing.
"bless her heart, she covered her nose."
I get such a kick from living in the south. they speak so formally and love formality in behavior and speech. When i was in Syracuse I said ma'am to a woman at a store and got an funny look. i don't think that word translates into northern.
Today was the last day I taught Sunday school. We concluded our unit on Israel over the last few weeks by talking about peace. I really like the book that we used, it attempted to show the humanity of both sides and not sugar coat israel. Don't get me wrong, I love Israel, but after reading things like this:
http://zmagsite.zmag.org/May2006/weir0506.html
I feel frustrated and hurt to say the least. Whether or not it these stories are valid, to think that AP could be conducting itself in this way when we rely on it so heavily for our information is sickening.
As we talked I could already feel the insanely pro-zionist dogma pouring out of these kids. It was a little frightening - they are only in fifth grade. Does the instilling a love of israel need to come before learning to be critical and uphold ethical and Jewish standards? I tried my hardest to demonstrate the need for both to them. I think most of them got the following pieces:
Israel is the jewish people's homeland
the Jews didn't have a homeland for 2000 years
loving israel is important, supporting it is important
talking about what israel does and what it expects from its citizens is important
conflict in the middle east is not a simple thing, and there are many points of view which need to be acknowledged and peace pursued through compromise and dialogue
The impressive thing was that they got to most of those ideas by discussing amongst themselves. Every time i wanted to play devil's advocate to get them to see things from a different light one of the students did it themselves. i was so proud of them. I just love, love, love teaching.
There was a ceremony to honor the teachers - we sang, got presents, watched a slide show and ate some yummy brueggers bagels. It was a good morning. I was a bit tired cause i couldn't fall asleep last night till three so I entertained myself reading blogs, watching the ever enlightening sex and the city, and writing emails.
Now I have to stop procrastinating. I have to write a letter explaining how my job has benefited me and how it can be improved. I have a lot to say, but i need to try to keep it civil and polite. I really have loved my time here - but so little of what I have enjoyed and grown from has been what i expected or what was promised to me. This was the first year my job has existed and I have a lot of suggestions...i better get writing.
Friday, May 19, 2006
I am trying to be gentle tonight...
When people are born they are gentle and soft.
At death they are hard and stiff.
When plants are alive they are soft and delicate.
When they die, they wither and dry up.
Therefore the hard and stiff are followers of death.
The gentle and soft are the followers of life.
Thus, if you are aggressive and stiff, you won't win.
When a tree is hard enough it is cut. Therefore
The hard and big are lesser,
The gentle and soft are greater.
-Lao Tzu
At death they are hard and stiff.
When plants are alive they are soft and delicate.
When they die, they wither and dry up.
Therefore the hard and stiff are followers of death.
The gentle and soft are the followers of life.
Thus, if you are aggressive and stiff, you won't win.
When a tree is hard enough it is cut. Therefore
The hard and big are lesser,
The gentle and soft are greater.
-Lao Tzu
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
adventures of the last few days...
I spent much of my free time last week helping prepare with the family whose daughter became bat mitzvah this past shabbas. We cooked, baked, set tables, etc. It wasn’t exciting work, but it was very rewarding. Friday morning I went to B’nai Shalom, the day school, and was Ari Dubin’s special friend. He is one of the sweetest little boys I have ever met – love him!
In the evening I went to services at the conservative shul where the bat mitzvah led services and then came home for the night. I spent into the wee hours of the morning talking with Katrin. She is one of our two resident au pairs. She lives with the family in the main apartment – the Dubins. She has been one of my favorite things about this year and I will miss her terribly. Friday was our last night together and it was very bitter sweet. Saying goodbye is always hard, and this was no exception.
I fell asleep far too late, went to services – the bat mitzvah read from the Torah so beautifully. I really enjoy watching bnai mitzah. Most are nervous and stumble through, but then there are some that really own it, are proud of it, and understand its significance.
I went to the airport in the afternoon and after some major weather problems and being re-routed through NYC I ended up back in Syracuse. I got to the exhibition just as it was starting. My best friend Louisa graduated from SU on Sunday after finishing her 5 year program in industrial design. Saturday night was her thesis show. Jeremy, if you read this, you would have loved it! For her project she built a theramin, an electric instrument that you don’t have to touch. The closer you get the higher pitch it emits and the further you get from it (the antenna), the lower pitch it emits. The goal of her project was to explore the use of motion in design. It was well presented, she was amazing at explaining her ideas and it worked – lots of people came and played with it. She told me that one of the other nights a young girl had come up to the instrument and realized that she could just move her head back and forth and change the pitch. Her starting idea was that she wanted to encourage movement, motion. People are quick to say things like, “I can’t dance.” But by making music with the theramin they begin to experience free motion without realizing that they are engaging in what they claim they “could not do”. Expanding physical interaction with products, with design. I think that was the premise. In any case, I was pretty disappointed with the bulk of the projects – after 5 years of work this is all you could come up with?? But there were a few that were both well presented and supported with strong theory and research. I also got to meet Weeza’s best friend from when she lived in downstate and one of her sisters that I hadn’t met yet. We all went out for drinks – there was quite a lot of people, laughing, drinking. I had a wonderful evening. I am so proud of her – I have not met many people that work as hard or care as much about what they do, what they learn and how they treat others as weez. Once again, I know I say this all the time, but how did I get so lucky to have a friend like her???
I spent mothers day with my mom and pops. We went for a drive on back roads to Canandaigua – a small town between Syracuse and Rochester. There is an old mansion there that has several gardens and a few greenhouses. We walked around quite a bit, smelled some flowers, hung out with Buddha (see the pic…), and had some good laughs. We went home and watched movies, the daily show and just chilled. I won’t be with my momma for mothers day again for at least three years, so I was happy to be with her this year.
I called all my favorite mommas on or around the day, but here is a shout out all you wonderful ladies: Bunny Golden, Varda, Fancy Nancy, Mish Pish, Min, weeza’s moms, and to all those I forgot I am sorry I didn’t call you on that wonderfully commercial time of year where we buy you gifts, send you cards and flowers…OR ELSE!
While I was home I got my first lesson on how to drive a stick-shift in the wegman’s parking lot. Lets just say that a number of people gawked and laughed and a snow bird fresh back from florida completely bitched me out:
“What the hell do you think you are doing, learning to drive in a parking lot. You are gonna kill someone.”
“No, really ma’am, my foot is on the break, you can go – I won’t go till you are clear.”
“Are you &^%&^ nuts?”
Oh yeah, THAT’S why I don’t want to live in south Florida…
I got back to A.H.A. yesterday afternoon and was on for the evening. It was good to come home and see my girls. I brought them wegman’s cookies at the behest of one of my girls in my house. We had a short get together before lights out to munch them. At least cause they were packaged (although Nancy DID break into them when she picked me up at the airport to make sure they were “safe” to eat) I didn’t have to convince them that I didn’t bake them. I’m just not a baker, what can I say.
This evening I taught music for the last time at religious school. It has been neat to teach at essentially all of the institutions for Jewish education in Greensboro because I know most of the kids now – and whatever Jewish occasion I frequent I get lots of hugs from cute little people. Sometimes they even tell me cool Jewish stuff they have done or sing me a song I taught them. *she smiles at the thought of singing with children and all the joy they bring her*
Then I dropped in on a group of students I knew went for all you can eat pancakes at Tex and Shirley’s – a local cheapy but delicious diner. Two of the students got into a contest – one of my girls won (albeit by cheating slightly by hiding two pancakes in her shirt and then eating them on the ride home) – 16 to 15 - House 200 takes it!!!! My favorite comments of the night because they were either inappropriate or just plain ridiculous, both from my little champion:
“No, you don’t understand, I can stretch like no other.” In order to scare her opponent.
“If you can fit it in your mouth you can eat it.”
Oy. I work with teenagers who are inappropriate even when they aren’t trying to be.
That’s about it for now. L’hit.
In the evening I went to services at the conservative shul where the bat mitzvah led services and then came home for the night. I spent into the wee hours of the morning talking with Katrin. She is one of our two resident au pairs. She lives with the family in the main apartment – the Dubins. She has been one of my favorite things about this year and I will miss her terribly. Friday was our last night together and it was very bitter sweet. Saying goodbye is always hard, and this was no exception.
I fell asleep far too late, went to services – the bat mitzvah read from the Torah so beautifully. I really enjoy watching bnai mitzah. Most are nervous and stumble through, but then there are some that really own it, are proud of it, and understand its significance.
I went to the airport in the afternoon and after some major weather problems and being re-routed through NYC I ended up back in Syracuse. I got to the exhibition just as it was starting. My best friend Louisa graduated from SU on Sunday after finishing her 5 year program in industrial design. Saturday night was her thesis show. Jeremy, if you read this, you would have loved it! For her project she built a theramin, an electric instrument that you don’t have to touch. The closer you get the higher pitch it emits and the further you get from it (the antenna), the lower pitch it emits. The goal of her project was to explore the use of motion in design. It was well presented, she was amazing at explaining her ideas and it worked – lots of people came and played with it. She told me that one of the other nights a young girl had come up to the instrument and realized that she could just move her head back and forth and change the pitch. Her starting idea was that she wanted to encourage movement, motion. People are quick to say things like, “I can’t dance.” But by making music with the theramin they begin to experience free motion without realizing that they are engaging in what they claim they “could not do”. Expanding physical interaction with products, with design. I think that was the premise. In any case, I was pretty disappointed with the bulk of the projects – after 5 years of work this is all you could come up with?? But there were a few that were both well presented and supported with strong theory and research. I also got to meet Weeza’s best friend from when she lived in downstate and one of her sisters that I hadn’t met yet. We all went out for drinks – there was quite a lot of people, laughing, drinking. I had a wonderful evening. I am so proud of her – I have not met many people that work as hard or care as much about what they do, what they learn and how they treat others as weez. Once again, I know I say this all the time, but how did I get so lucky to have a friend like her???
I spent mothers day with my mom and pops. We went for a drive on back roads to Canandaigua – a small town between Syracuse and Rochester. There is an old mansion there that has several gardens and a few greenhouses. We walked around quite a bit, smelled some flowers, hung out with Buddha (see the pic…), and had some good laughs. We went home and watched movies, the daily show and just chilled. I won’t be with my momma for mothers day again for at least three years, so I was happy to be with her this year.
I called all my favorite mommas on or around the day, but here is a shout out all you wonderful ladies: Bunny Golden, Varda, Fancy Nancy, Mish Pish, Min, weeza’s moms, and to all those I forgot I am sorry I didn’t call you on that wonderfully commercial time of year where we buy you gifts, send you cards and flowers…OR ELSE!
While I was home I got my first lesson on how to drive a stick-shift in the wegman’s parking lot. Lets just say that a number of people gawked and laughed and a snow bird fresh back from florida completely bitched me out:
“What the hell do you think you are doing, learning to drive in a parking lot. You are gonna kill someone.”
“No, really ma’am, my foot is on the break, you can go – I won’t go till you are clear.”
“Are you &^%&^ nuts?”
Oh yeah, THAT’S why I don’t want to live in south Florida…
I got back to A.H.A. yesterday afternoon and was on for the evening. It was good to come home and see my girls. I brought them wegman’s cookies at the behest of one of my girls in my house. We had a short get together before lights out to munch them. At least cause they were packaged (although Nancy DID break into them when she picked me up at the airport to make sure they were “safe” to eat) I didn’t have to convince them that I didn’t bake them. I’m just not a baker, what can I say.
This evening I taught music for the last time at religious school. It has been neat to teach at essentially all of the institutions for Jewish education in Greensboro because I know most of the kids now – and whatever Jewish occasion I frequent I get lots of hugs from cute little people. Sometimes they even tell me cool Jewish stuff they have done or sing me a song I taught them. *she smiles at the thought of singing with children and all the joy they bring her*
Then I dropped in on a group of students I knew went for all you can eat pancakes at Tex and Shirley’s – a local cheapy but delicious diner. Two of the students got into a contest – one of my girls won (albeit by cheating slightly by hiding two pancakes in her shirt and then eating them on the ride home) – 16 to 15 - House 200 takes it!!!! My favorite comments of the night because they were either inappropriate or just plain ridiculous, both from my little champion:
“No, you don’t understand, I can stretch like no other.” In order to scare her opponent.
“If you can fit it in your mouth you can eat it.”
Oy. I work with teenagers who are inappropriate even when they aren’t trying to be.
That’s about it for now. L’hit.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Even cacti can have a sense of humor...
Here is a funny pic from my weekend in cuse - from our mother's day excursion. I had a grand old time - which i will tell more of later. This is a cactus from a greenhouse at a garden/restored mansion between syracuse and rochester.
Hint: look at the name of the plant:)
Hint: look at the name of the plant:)
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Get me outa here...this is just too much
NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls [Title]
USATODAY.com - Thu May 11, 7:21 AM ET
The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY. The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans - most of whom aren't suspected of any crime.
What is freaky is that my mom and pops were right...they are spying on us...my skin is crawling and steam is comin outa my ears...
USATODAY.com - Thu May 11, 7:21 AM ET
The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY. The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans - most of whom aren't suspected of any crime.
What is freaky is that my mom and pops were right...they are spying on us...my skin is crawling and steam is comin outa my ears...
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
beauty is all around.
here is an astounding photo that has won photo of the week on photo.net - check it out. i can't take my eyes off it.
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo.tcl?photo_id=4311648
You may have to copy and paste that into your browser - sorry, I am not so tech savvy:)
Today I went to a 'lunch and learn' at the greensboro jewish federation that was led by Rabbi Lades, the rosh yeshiva (head of the school) at Pardes, where I will be studying in Israel. It was fun. I can't even fathom how much the next few years will enrich my neshama - my soul.
By the way, I leave Gbo in exactly one month - I will be home on June 9th in the evening just before shabbas. Varda, chavera sheli, wanna have some dindin?:)
g'night folks.
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo.tcl?photo_id=4311648
You may have to copy and paste that into your browser - sorry, I am not so tech savvy:)
Today I went to a 'lunch and learn' at the greensboro jewish federation that was led by Rabbi Lades, the rosh yeshiva (head of the school) at Pardes, where I will be studying in Israel. It was fun. I can't even fathom how much the next few years will enrich my neshama - my soul.
By the way, I leave Gbo in exactly one month - I will be home on June 9th in the evening just before shabbas. Varda, chavera sheli, wanna have some dindin?:)
g'night folks.
Monday, May 08, 2006
cool and rainy.
the last few days in greensboro have been damp and cool - I really have enjoyed it. I love weather that makes you cuddle up in a nice big sweater. When it is cool like this you can walk around and the streets are almost all yours - most people shying away from the necessary extra layers. It is also extra sweet to drink a warm cup of tea on days like this.
I had a very nice weekend. On shabbas morning I led my final instalment of nefesh b'tnuah - a soul in motion. I had about a dozen kids and it went well. I led the yoga portion myself this time. I was scared that I would hurt one of the kids. I didn't:). When I asked for feedback at the end the general response was that they had each liked a different part more than the others (meditative chant, torah/text study, breath work, yoga and silent meditation) but that they were grateful to have had an alternative option to traditional services. I would have loved to have had services afterwards. I explained to them that I understand these practices to be valuable not only intrinsically for their own value, but also because they have potential to help focus our prayer in its traditional forms. They got my point, but most were pretty happy to have avoided structured prayer for the morning. I hope that I can get either a yoga or a meditation group or a combination of the two together at Pardes. Or at least in Jerusalem. I am starting to get really nervous about finding community there.
On Saturday night I went out with Katrin. We saw 'Akeelah and the Bee'. It was such a sweet movie. I am just happy that I have found a friend who likes kids movies as much (or maybe even more!) than I do. I thought it was very well done and that the ending wasn't overly cheesy. The audience was really into it too - clapping and spelling some of the words with her. I had a great time. Afterwards we ended up going to the grocery store at 1 AM. I found Bailey's ice cream - I haven't found it since I lived in Montreal. I was ecstatic! I have been nursing it for a few days now and been having a grand old time:)
I go tonight to that tekes, ceremony, I spoke about a few posts ago. I have my story all picked out to tell the bat mitzvah as I tie her tzit tzit. I think it will be incredibly meaningful. The Jewish community in Greensboro is really something. They are so supportive of one another and take such an active role in eachothers lives - it isn't something I have ever really witnessed before and I am really blessed to have been exposed to it this year.
In other news, I admitted to a complete stranger that, no, I didn't break my ex-boyfriend's heart. And, yes, he broke mine. I then proceeded to give him a CD of his music so that he would hopefully get together and produce beats with him back in Montreal. Why do I still do nice things for this person - I think it is a tad masochistic. But...perhaps instead these things I do are healing me - these acts of chesed (loving-kindness). I'm shooting for the second option. Then this guy (a DJ from Montreal and Ottawa) asked me why I didn't marry my ex. I told him I wanted to fall in love a few more times first. I hope that was an honest answer...I want it to be.
Much love, all.
A song for the day:
Rain, by the beatles
If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.
They might as well be dead.
If the rain comes, if the rain comes.
When the sun shines they slip into the shade
And sip their lemonade.
When the sun shines, when the sun shines.
Rain, I don't mind.
Shine, the weather's fine.
I can show you that when it starts to rain,
Everything's the same.
I can show you, I can show you.
Rain, I don't mind.
Shine, the weather's fine.
Can you hear me, that when it rains and shines,
It's just a state of mind?
Can you hear me, can you hear me?
If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.
I had a very nice weekend. On shabbas morning I led my final instalment of nefesh b'tnuah - a soul in motion. I had about a dozen kids and it went well. I led the yoga portion myself this time. I was scared that I would hurt one of the kids. I didn't:). When I asked for feedback at the end the general response was that they had each liked a different part more than the others (meditative chant, torah/text study, breath work, yoga and silent meditation) but that they were grateful to have had an alternative option to traditional services. I would have loved to have had services afterwards. I explained to them that I understand these practices to be valuable not only intrinsically for their own value, but also because they have potential to help focus our prayer in its traditional forms. They got my point, but most were pretty happy to have avoided structured prayer for the morning. I hope that I can get either a yoga or a meditation group or a combination of the two together at Pardes. Or at least in Jerusalem. I am starting to get really nervous about finding community there.
On Saturday night I went out with Katrin. We saw 'Akeelah and the Bee'. It was such a sweet movie. I am just happy that I have found a friend who likes kids movies as much (or maybe even more!) than I do. I thought it was very well done and that the ending wasn't overly cheesy. The audience was really into it too - clapping and spelling some of the words with her. I had a great time. Afterwards we ended up going to the grocery store at 1 AM. I found Bailey's ice cream - I haven't found it since I lived in Montreal. I was ecstatic! I have been nursing it for a few days now and been having a grand old time:)
I go tonight to that tekes, ceremony, I spoke about a few posts ago. I have my story all picked out to tell the bat mitzvah as I tie her tzit tzit. I think it will be incredibly meaningful. The Jewish community in Greensboro is really something. They are so supportive of one another and take such an active role in eachothers lives - it isn't something I have ever really witnessed before and I am really blessed to have been exposed to it this year.
In other news, I admitted to a complete stranger that, no, I didn't break my ex-boyfriend's heart. And, yes, he broke mine. I then proceeded to give him a CD of his music so that he would hopefully get together and produce beats with him back in Montreal. Why do I still do nice things for this person - I think it is a tad masochistic. But...perhaps instead these things I do are healing me - these acts of chesed (loving-kindness). I'm shooting for the second option. Then this guy (a DJ from Montreal and Ottawa) asked me why I didn't marry my ex. I told him I wanted to fall in love a few more times first. I hope that was an honest answer...I want it to be.
Much love, all.
A song for the day:
Rain, by the beatles
If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.
They might as well be dead.
If the rain comes, if the rain comes.
When the sun shines they slip into the shade
And sip their lemonade.
When the sun shines, when the sun shines.
Rain, I don't mind.
Shine, the weather's fine.
I can show you that when it starts to rain,
Everything's the same.
I can show you, I can show you.
Rain, I don't mind.
Shine, the weather's fine.
Can you hear me, that when it rains and shines,
It's just a state of mind?
Can you hear me, can you hear me?
If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
language is cool.
“Each language builds a fence around those who speak it from birth, imprisoning our thought within its vocabulary (and grammar) unless we find a way out. Freedom is achieved by becoming familiar with a second language. This new knowledge enables us to view our first language objectively from without, creating fresh insight while further enhancing the interplay between language and thought.”
-Adeline Yen Mah, Watching the Tree
Something really cool dawned on me today. In Hebrew, verbs fall into something called binyanim, literally ‘buildings’, and the same root will have two different meanings depending on which binyan it falls into. Two of these so called buildings are paal and hitpael. In paal, the three letters כתב mean to write. In hitpael, the same root means to correspond. Not all root patterns fall into all of the buildings, but you get the idea I hope.
It just so happens that the verb pattern hitpael generally contains verbs which denote reciprocal action (this fits the example I gave you before – to correspond essentially means for two or more people to write reciprocally). So, finally, what dawned on me today was that the verb that means to pray, להתפלל, l’hitpalel, falls into this pattern. In Hebrew prayer is an action that is taken between oneself and another entity – God? Does that mean that whenever you engage in this activity there is something on the other end – or is its placement here just expressing a human desire for that to be the case. Well, of course it is a human creation – the Hebrew language is a human creation. But still, pretty neat eh? Of course, hitpael verbs can also be those which are reflexive – so you could also interpret it to mean you are doing the action to oneself. But that isn’t nearly as interesting, although perhaps a lot funnier to the cynics among us. Anyway, I’ll stop pontificating now. I’m sure to most of you reading this you either know that already or aren’t too interested to begin with.
Be well.
-Adeline Yen Mah, Watching the Tree
Something really cool dawned on me today. In Hebrew, verbs fall into something called binyanim, literally ‘buildings’, and the same root will have two different meanings depending on which binyan it falls into. Two of these so called buildings are paal and hitpael. In paal, the three letters כתב mean to write. In hitpael, the same root means to correspond. Not all root patterns fall into all of the buildings, but you get the idea I hope.
It just so happens that the verb pattern hitpael generally contains verbs which denote reciprocal action (this fits the example I gave you before – to correspond essentially means for two or more people to write reciprocally). So, finally, what dawned on me today was that the verb that means to pray, להתפלל, l’hitpalel, falls into this pattern. In Hebrew prayer is an action that is taken between oneself and another entity – God? Does that mean that whenever you engage in this activity there is something on the other end – or is its placement here just expressing a human desire for that to be the case. Well, of course it is a human creation – the Hebrew language is a human creation. But still, pretty neat eh? Of course, hitpael verbs can also be those which are reflexive – so you could also interpret it to mean you are doing the action to oneself. But that isn’t nearly as interesting, although perhaps a lot funnier to the cynics among us. Anyway, I’ll stop pontificating now. I’m sure to most of you reading this you either know that already or aren’t too interested to begin with.
Be well.
Back on my feet again...and it feels good.
I have only a month left with my kids. I can’t in all honesty say that I want to stay here – cause I really can’t wait to start my life in Israel – but they will be sorely missed.
This past shabbas was probably my favorite one so far this year, despite my physical maladies that began last week and continued until yesterday…turns out I was allergic to a drug I was taking…and OF COURSE that drug was legal :^P…this week the feeling on campus during shabbas was actually…content and happy…
So on shabbas I have been taking a group of students on a hike almost every week for several months now. It is a really nice way to spend some time with them. And if I didn’t then I would probably get stuck manning the student union (which entails giving permission to leave campus, getting talked into playing ping pong and pool and being forced to give an explanation as to why I can’t open the school store on shabbas AGAIN AND AGAIN). Needless to say, I love to hike and I love to be outside so I started the tradition back in March. It has seriously caught on. We had 5 kids last week…the campus is turning into a bunch of greenies! Here is one conversation I had with a student as we were leaving for the hike.
Me: When I got back from break and I saw all these flowering bushes I thought the groundskeepers had been real busy…but apparently they have been here all along and I never noticed.
Student: Yeah, they were really magical at first but I got used to em.
Me: Magical?
Student: Yeah I thought I was a fairy princess in a secret garden for a few days.
Me: A fairy princess huh?
Later on in the hike as we read an informational sign about how to maintain a bird-friendly yard:
Student: Yeah, once we had a woodpecker in our yard. One morning my dad got so mad he went outside in his boxers yelling at it. He went back inside when that didn’t work and got out his bb gun.
Another Student (actually, the same as the fairy princess from before): Hmmmm. We had a woodpecker in our yard once too. But, er…it was more like. Oh! A woodpecker! Lets get the binoculars and watch it for three hours!
Student: Yeah…that’s the difference between your family and mine…
So, which was your dad: bonkers with bb gun and boxers or bonkers with binoculars and a membership to the Audubon Society??
On a different note…
I received an invitation this week that totally floored me – I am incredibly honored and I can’t wait to go. One of the local families that is very involved in many of the Jewish organizations in the G-spot has daughter that is going to become bat mitzvah in the next few weeks. They are really lovely and have been a big support to me throughout my year here. I am fond, to put it lightly. Two of the daughters are day students at the school where I work and the third, the youngest, who is also the one becoming BM, goes to the local day school. She is a very sweet young lady who is a real hoot and an intelligent chic. Her mother arranged for a special ceremony to be held in her honor. She told her daughter to invite only 20 people – entirely at her discretion. So the 20 or so of us (all women) are going to come together next Monday and tell stories about the bat mitzvah as we tie the tzit tzit on her tallis (which, by the way, was hand painted by her mother on silk – it is stunning). For all of the whacky traditions that are created left and right to try to breath some life into Jewish ritual, this one I find really intriguing and I can’t wait for Monday. I am floored that I was even invited…it is just so cool!
For the bat mitzvah’s present I was having some problems. You see, I wanted to get her something meaningful…and I wanted to make her present – more personal and more meaningful. After some brainstorming with her mom we decided that I would do a photo shoot with her and her two dogs. I am psyched cause it has been quite a while since I have been commissioned to do a photo shoot for any reason. I am going to have to resort to just using my digital – I already brought my film SLR home to Cuse at pesach…I don’t trust it still…It just feels different to go through the process with the SLR and then in the darkroom. I guess you could say I feel like I build more of a relationship with the image. So it goes…for now…
Laila tov yall.
This past shabbas was probably my favorite one so far this year, despite my physical maladies that began last week and continued until yesterday…turns out I was allergic to a drug I was taking…and OF COURSE that drug was legal :^P…this week the feeling on campus during shabbas was actually…content and happy…
So on shabbas I have been taking a group of students on a hike almost every week for several months now. It is a really nice way to spend some time with them. And if I didn’t then I would probably get stuck manning the student union (which entails giving permission to leave campus, getting talked into playing ping pong and pool and being forced to give an explanation as to why I can’t open the school store on shabbas AGAIN AND AGAIN). Needless to say, I love to hike and I love to be outside so I started the tradition back in March. It has seriously caught on. We had 5 kids last week…the campus is turning into a bunch of greenies! Here is one conversation I had with a student as we were leaving for the hike.
Me: When I got back from break and I saw all these flowering bushes I thought the groundskeepers had been real busy…but apparently they have been here all along and I never noticed.
Student: Yeah, they were really magical at first but I got used to em.
Me: Magical?
Student: Yeah I thought I was a fairy princess in a secret garden for a few days.
Me: A fairy princess huh?
Later on in the hike as we read an informational sign about how to maintain a bird-friendly yard:
Student: Yeah, once we had a woodpecker in our yard. One morning my dad got so mad he went outside in his boxers yelling at it. He went back inside when that didn’t work and got out his bb gun.
Another Student (actually, the same as the fairy princess from before): Hmmmm. We had a woodpecker in our yard once too. But, er…it was more like. Oh! A woodpecker! Lets get the binoculars and watch it for three hours!
Student: Yeah…that’s the difference between your family and mine…
So, which was your dad: bonkers with bb gun and boxers or bonkers with binoculars and a membership to the Audubon Society??
On a different note…
I received an invitation this week that totally floored me – I am incredibly honored and I can’t wait to go. One of the local families that is very involved in many of the Jewish organizations in the G-spot has daughter that is going to become bat mitzvah in the next few weeks. They are really lovely and have been a big support to me throughout my year here. I am fond, to put it lightly. Two of the daughters are day students at the school where I work and the third, the youngest, who is also the one becoming BM, goes to the local day school. She is a very sweet young lady who is a real hoot and an intelligent chic. Her mother arranged for a special ceremony to be held in her honor. She told her daughter to invite only 20 people – entirely at her discretion. So the 20 or so of us (all women) are going to come together next Monday and tell stories about the bat mitzvah as we tie the tzit tzit on her tallis (which, by the way, was hand painted by her mother on silk – it is stunning). For all of the whacky traditions that are created left and right to try to breath some life into Jewish ritual, this one I find really intriguing and I can’t wait for Monday. I am floored that I was even invited…it is just so cool!
For the bat mitzvah’s present I was having some problems. You see, I wanted to get her something meaningful…and I wanted to make her present – more personal and more meaningful. After some brainstorming with her mom we decided that I would do a photo shoot with her and her two dogs. I am psyched cause it has been quite a while since I have been commissioned to do a photo shoot for any reason. I am going to have to resort to just using my digital – I already brought my film SLR home to Cuse at pesach…I don’t trust it still…It just feels different to go through the process with the SLR and then in the darkroom. I guess you could say I feel like I build more of a relationship with the image. So it goes…for now…
Laila tov yall.
Monday, May 01, 2006
A little under the weather...
I am a little sick, folks...not a common occurance. I am aching all over with fever and i want a nice massage...perhaps ill just have to dream about one instead for the time being until I resettle in Israel...
It would be nice to have a little TLC right now though.
I have had conversations with many people recently who have called me to start discussion about what I write on here and I can't tell you how happy that makes me. That is just the reason I am writing this thing...to keep me close to my friends and family and those who somehow defy either of those signifiers.
I will write more when my bones don't ache, standing isn't almost too much and I can decide whether I am hot or cold.
much love,
me
It would be nice to have a little TLC right now though.
I have had conversations with many people recently who have called me to start discussion about what I write on here and I can't tell you how happy that makes me. That is just the reason I am writing this thing...to keep me close to my friends and family and those who somehow defy either of those signifiers.
I will write more when my bones don't ache, standing isn't almost too much and I can decide whether I am hot or cold.
much love,
me
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