As I was waiting for the bus today, I saw the bus coming but I couldn't read the number. I was about to say, "Ma ha mishpat?" when I heard someone say "Eize mispar?" which is what I should have said. Then I realized I would have said, "What is the sentence?" instead of "Which number?"
I try to imagine what that sounds like to an Israeli. If I were to say, "please close the grapes" instead of "please close the drapes," it would be a pretty funny mistake, but nothing serious. Or what if I were to say, "what is the name of this tweet?" People would think I am a foreigner or that I have a speech defect. Or what if I should say "wants a ticket" instead of "I want a ticket," or "he's funny" instead of "she's funny." It might sound a bit childish, but you'd still know what I meant.
Well, live and learn!
June 21, 2010
June 18, 2010
Million Flowers
At Dutch Corner is this block commemorating the donation of one million flowers by the Netherlands to Israel.
Along the street by Dutch corner is a flower bed that spells out "Jerusalem" in pansies. It's hard to get a good angle so you can see all the letters, but you get the idea. They bloomed for several months, but it has been cleared away now. I can't wait to see what they plant next. Like Texas, Israel has a long growing season, so you can have two crops.
Behind the flower bed, under the tree, is a blue and white lion surveying it all cheerfully.
Along the street by Dutch corner is a flower bed that spells out "Jerusalem" in pansies. It's hard to get a good angle so you can see all the letters, but you get the idea. They bloomed for several months, but it has been cleared away now. I can't wait to see what they plant next. Like Texas, Israel has a long growing season, so you can have two crops.
Behind the flower bed, under the tree, is a blue and white lion surveying it all cheerfully.
Clotheslines, Spiders, and Toads
We lived for a year in a little house in Michigan that was unbearably small and ugly. But it had one good point--it had a small backyard with a privacy fence on two sides and the back yard of an empty house on the other, and in the backyard was a clothesline with three lines. One by one the lines broke (they weren't the weatherproof kind) and I replaced them with the good kind. Next to the clothesline was the garage, covered with peeling paint and tiny black and white spiders. In the grass we found lots of little toads about an inch long. One day we caught some toads and put them in an aquarium. We fed them with the little black and white spiders. The toads quickly learned that the miniature babyfood jar I put in their aquarium was the source of their dinner, so they would form a semi-circle around the jar and wait for the spiders to come out. Most of the time they were an easy catch, but occasionally a larger-than-usual spider would meet a smaller-than-usual toad, jump on his back and bite. The poor toad would hop frantically around the aquarium. But in the end, the toads always won. Eventually we turned them all loose.
Clotheslines and Apple Trees
In Jerusalem there are lots of apartments, such as mine, where people hang their clothes out the window, or maybe on the roof. Which reminds me of apple trees. Why? Read on.
About the only fruit I eat much of is apples. But most apples you buy at the store aren't very good. The apples we grew in Indiana were a hundred times more flavorful. One tree produced sweet, red-streaked apples. The other one produced very round, very sweet, light-green apples. The green apples, if you didn't pick them up, would have made a pile at least a foot deep all around the tree, if they all fell at once. I had to go out every day and pick up or throw away as many apples as I could, before they rotted, or they would attract wasps and hornets. We probably used less than a tenth of them.
My green apple tree was also a handy place to tie one end of the clothesline. The other end was attached to the garage. Hanging out clothes was always a pleasant thing to do, although in southern Indiana it was often too humid to get them as dry as I liked, so I would still put them in the dryer for a few minutes. One day I decided that the clothesline needed to be raised a little, for the first time in several years. As soon as I loosened the garage end of the clothesline, alas! the apple tree came crashing down. It had considerable insect damage right in the middle of the trunk that I had never noticed. I hoped it would sprout up again from the roots, and it did, but the sprout got cut down with the lawn mower. So that was the end of the best-tasting apples on earth. The other tree had the second-best-tasting apples on earth, but it didn't bear as well, and there was more problem with blight.
I wasn't interested in spraying it. In some orchards they spray several times a year and the trees get dependent on it. If you suddenly stop spraying, you will get no apples at all. But each year the apple tree will recover its independence from spray and bear again. Without spray you don't have such pretty apples, but for home use that doesn't matter.
About the only fruit I eat much of is apples. But most apples you buy at the store aren't very good. The apples we grew in Indiana were a hundred times more flavorful. One tree produced sweet, red-streaked apples. The other one produced very round, very sweet, light-green apples. The green apples, if you didn't pick them up, would have made a pile at least a foot deep all around the tree, if they all fell at once. I had to go out every day and pick up or throw away as many apples as I could, before they rotted, or they would attract wasps and hornets. We probably used less than a tenth of them.
My green apple tree was also a handy place to tie one end of the clothesline. The other end was attached to the garage. Hanging out clothes was always a pleasant thing to do, although in southern Indiana it was often too humid to get them as dry as I liked, so I would still put them in the dryer for a few minutes. One day I decided that the clothesline needed to be raised a little, for the first time in several years. As soon as I loosened the garage end of the clothesline, alas! the apple tree came crashing down. It had considerable insect damage right in the middle of the trunk that I had never noticed. I hoped it would sprout up again from the roots, and it did, but the sprout got cut down with the lawn mower. So that was the end of the best-tasting apples on earth. The other tree had the second-best-tasting apples on earth, but it didn't bear as well, and there was more problem with blight.
I wasn't interested in spraying it. In some orchards they spray several times a year and the trees get dependent on it. If you suddenly stop spraying, you will get no apples at all. But each year the apple tree will recover its independence from spray and bear again. Without spray you don't have such pretty apples, but for home use that doesn't matter.
June 16, 2010
Rude People?
I made a comment on this blog once about rude people. I have long felt that I should clarify/modify that. It isn't that there are a lot of rude people. It's just that there are a few, and you notice them. And sometimes it isn't that they're ruder, they're just more expressive. Sometimes they're also more warm and friendly, and more expressive of it. You see a lot of people hugging each other on the street, or with their arms on each other's shoulders, and it's really good. You see a young person pushing an old person in a wheelchair, not just to get from here to there, but to spend time with each other.
On the other hand, there seems to be a little lacking in the way of public relations. Like, in the grocery store the stock boys go on about their stocking, as if they don't notice you, but you can tell they do. They'll get out of your way if you make it apparent that you want to go through, but otherwise they just keep on working. In the U.S. they usually are quick to make room for you, or apologize, or even ask, can I get you anything? The clerks here don't always smile and say "have a nice day," which is perhaps all right, since it's apt to get rather routine anyway. On the other hand, it's a good habit, and keeps us from acting like machines.
There was a particularly grouchy clerk in Indiana that was kept on for a while, probably because she was fast and accurate. One day she was fuming mad and muttering under her breath about a bad customer, but I managed to say something pleasant to her, and she calmed down and cheered up immediately. I doubt that she was really a disagreeable person--but she had bouts of prickliness. Not surprisingly though, she didn't keep the job for long.
I remember being in a hospital somewhere once, I think it was to take my father in for some x-rays. I noticed that a lot of people there seemed to like their jobs and also the fact that it involved people, but I met one lady who made you feel that people were her main interest, and the job just happened to be what she did.
I once heard a lady in the south who was from the northeast who commented, "When I go back home for a visit, I'm amazed at how rude we are."
Maybe it's a matter of education. I've always wondered if the clerks at Lowe's are taught how to do it, and the clerks at Home Depot aren't. And some can learn it quickly on the job, while others don't get it if they haven't been taught it all their lives.
I remember being in a fourth grade class and being taught to always let the other person go first. The boys would argue, "then no one will go at all." But actually one concedes to go, so he's the good guy for giving in, and the other one is the good guy for showing respect.
In Texas one time I was at a license branch and a young man greeted an older man coming in with a hug and a kiss on both cheeks. The older man turned out to be his father. Obviously, these were no Americans. I felt like the younger man was proud for everyone to know, "This is my father."
The other night I met a woman down the street who had two little terriers, one that barked at me ferociously and reminded me of a little dog that tried to bite me as soon as I turned my back. But I made friends with the dog, and pretty soon it sat down beside me like I was an old friend. Then I decided to test the dog. I walked away a few steps and then came back again, and sure enough it barked ferociously again, until it sniffed me and decided again that I was ok. I couldn't think of anything much to say to the woman, who spoke Hebrew, until she asked me if I spoke Spanish. Then we got to talking, in Spanish with a few Hebrew words thrown in. I found it quite encouraging to hear myself using a few Hebrew words now and then without thinking about it. It didn't matter if I mixed them up. In fact, I do best if I go ahead and speak, disregarding how sloppy and inaccurate it may be. I have even heard myself roll my r's on occasion. It just happens. Sometimes I stumble over my words and have a terrible accent, but the important thing is to keep going. (Advice to me: Lose your pride...)
I started Hebrew Level B today. It's going to be great fun. There are a few of the same students as before and several different ones. We have one of the same teachers, and one different one. (And today we learned the words for same and different.) I am already very optimistic about this class. It is funny how quickly apparent it is when you know you're going to like someone. The students are all very nice, although some take a little longer to get to know. I can tell that's it's going to be a really good class.
It's warm today, with a nice breeze. The forecast for tomorrow is high 89°F and low 68°F.
On the other hand, there seems to be a little lacking in the way of public relations. Like, in the grocery store the stock boys go on about their stocking, as if they don't notice you, but you can tell they do. They'll get out of your way if you make it apparent that you want to go through, but otherwise they just keep on working. In the U.S. they usually are quick to make room for you, or apologize, or even ask, can I get you anything? The clerks here don't always smile and say "have a nice day," which is perhaps all right, since it's apt to get rather routine anyway. On the other hand, it's a good habit, and keeps us from acting like machines.
There was a particularly grouchy clerk in Indiana that was kept on for a while, probably because she was fast and accurate. One day she was fuming mad and muttering under her breath about a bad customer, but I managed to say something pleasant to her, and she calmed down and cheered up immediately. I doubt that she was really a disagreeable person--but she had bouts of prickliness. Not surprisingly though, she didn't keep the job for long.
I remember being in a hospital somewhere once, I think it was to take my father in for some x-rays. I noticed that a lot of people there seemed to like their jobs and also the fact that it involved people, but I met one lady who made you feel that people were her main interest, and the job just happened to be what she did.
I once heard a lady in the south who was from the northeast who commented, "When I go back home for a visit, I'm amazed at how rude we are."
Maybe it's a matter of education. I've always wondered if the clerks at Lowe's are taught how to do it, and the clerks at Home Depot aren't. And some can learn it quickly on the job, while others don't get it if they haven't been taught it all their lives.
I remember being in a fourth grade class and being taught to always let the other person go first. The boys would argue, "then no one will go at all." But actually one concedes to go, so he's the good guy for giving in, and the other one is the good guy for showing respect.
In Texas one time I was at a license branch and a young man greeted an older man coming in with a hug and a kiss on both cheeks. The older man turned out to be his father. Obviously, these were no Americans. I felt like the younger man was proud for everyone to know, "This is my father."
The other night I met a woman down the street who had two little terriers, one that barked at me ferociously and reminded me of a little dog that tried to bite me as soon as I turned my back. But I made friends with the dog, and pretty soon it sat down beside me like I was an old friend. Then I decided to test the dog. I walked away a few steps and then came back again, and sure enough it barked ferociously again, until it sniffed me and decided again that I was ok. I couldn't think of anything much to say to the woman, who spoke Hebrew, until she asked me if I spoke Spanish. Then we got to talking, in Spanish with a few Hebrew words thrown in. I found it quite encouraging to hear myself using a few Hebrew words now and then without thinking about it. It didn't matter if I mixed them up. In fact, I do best if I go ahead and speak, disregarding how sloppy and inaccurate it may be. I have even heard myself roll my r's on occasion. It just happens. Sometimes I stumble over my words and have a terrible accent, but the important thing is to keep going. (Advice to me: Lose your pride...)
I started Hebrew Level B today. It's going to be great fun. There are a few of the same students as before and several different ones. We have one of the same teachers, and one different one. (And today we learned the words for same and different.) I am already very optimistic about this class. It is funny how quickly apparent it is when you know you're going to like someone. The students are all very nice, although some take a little longer to get to know. I can tell that's it's going to be a really good class.
It's warm today, with a nice breeze. The forecast for tomorrow is high 89°F and low 68°F.
June 14, 2010
east, west, home is best
Home again, home again, jiggety ... seems like I said that before. So I have two homes.
Before I left Texas the first time I tried to think of what I would miss. I couldn't think of much. Now I have a different perspective. I miss (most obviously) friends and family and everything connected with them. My huge luxurious house--it got a lot bigger while I was gone. My huge luxurious bathtub. Soft water for washing dishes. Nice friendly wood floors. My huge refrigerator with a freezer that actually freezes what's in it. My dog. 80° humid nights. 90° humid days. Coreopsis beside the road. Flat dried frogs on the pavement. Cattle, especially newborn calves. Being able to hop into my own car at any time and do a few errands all by myself. Clean grocery stores. Wide roads. Grass!!! Space!!! Crickets and other bug noises. Houses. I have not yet seen a house in Jerusalem, only apartment buildings.
I don't miss: Mosquitoes, chiggers, and fire ants. Well, I sort of miss fire ants. They're rather interesting--until they bite you.
But now I'm in Jerusalem. What is it that I like about this pile of rocks, anyway? Maybe just that it's different. But I liked my home in Texas because it's familiar. And this is more familiar now. So maybe it's the variety of people here. And the warm days and cool nights. Maybe it's the simpler life. Simpler so that I can be more focused. But that is also limited and restricted and confining and sometimes boring. Maybe it's because it's the City of the Great King? But the King is not here. "But ye are come to...the heavenly Jerusalem." "Jerusalem which is above is free, the mother of us all." Maybe it's the history connected with it, and everything it symbolizes. "The Lord has chosen Zion, and desired it for his habitation." "For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel..."
Is it still "the holy city?" I think of the Psalmist saying "Walk about Zion,and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks..." and "...if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." I think that he was thinking not only of the physical appearance and location, but of all God's promises regarding it.
From Psalm 89:
3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,..."
29 "His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail."
From Ezekiel
19 "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."
From Romans
"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid."
"I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid:"
Before I left Texas the first time I tried to think of what I would miss. I couldn't think of much. Now I have a different perspective. I miss (most obviously) friends and family and everything connected with them. My huge luxurious house--it got a lot bigger while I was gone. My huge luxurious bathtub. Soft water for washing dishes. Nice friendly wood floors. My huge refrigerator with a freezer that actually freezes what's in it. My dog. 80° humid nights. 90° humid days. Coreopsis beside the road. Flat dried frogs on the pavement. Cattle, especially newborn calves. Being able to hop into my own car at any time and do a few errands all by myself. Clean grocery stores. Wide roads. Grass!!! Space!!! Crickets and other bug noises. Houses. I have not yet seen a house in Jerusalem, only apartment buildings.
I don't miss: Mosquitoes, chiggers, and fire ants. Well, I sort of miss fire ants. They're rather interesting--until they bite you.
But now I'm in Jerusalem. What is it that I like about this pile of rocks, anyway? Maybe just that it's different. But I liked my home in Texas because it's familiar. And this is more familiar now. So maybe it's the variety of people here. And the warm days and cool nights. Maybe it's the simpler life. Simpler so that I can be more focused. But that is also limited and restricted and confining and sometimes boring. Maybe it's because it's the City of the Great King? But the King is not here. "But ye are come to...the heavenly Jerusalem." "Jerusalem which is above is free, the mother of us all." Maybe it's the history connected with it, and everything it symbolizes. "The Lord has chosen Zion, and desired it for his habitation." "For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel..."
Is it still "the holy city?" I think of the Psalmist saying "Walk about Zion,and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks..." and "...if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." I think that he was thinking not only of the physical appearance and location, but of all God's promises regarding it.
From Psalm 89:
3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,..."
29 "His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail."
From Ezekiel
19 "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."
From Romans
"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid."
"I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid:"
June 1, 2010
TEXAS
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog. Except it's not quite home, since home is Jerusalem. I guess I have two homes. Or zero, depending on how you look at it.
I got a little too hot today. Which felt really good, which means it wasn't really too hot at all. It's been six months since I've been so hot. I've really missed it.
I have over 300 hundred pictures on my camera, which means about 60 good ones, if I ever get around to uploading them.
I got a little too hot today. Which felt really good, which means it wasn't really too hot at all. It's been six months since I've been so hot. I've really missed it.
I have over 300 hundred pictures on my camera, which means about 60 good ones, if I ever get around to uploading them.
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