August 10 - 05

Hey Everyone,
I woke up this morning with a killer headache; I really need to keep drinking more water. I languished through the morning drinking water by the gallon. But humous for lunch fixed my malfunctions; I went to "the place" with Talia and Sri (who came in from Jerusalem for a visit).
I realised this morning that the film footage I edited down was not a total loss, even if the software is useless. I was able to figure out how to render it and change the file-type, then burn it (the raw footage, too) onto a CDR. I can just load it into the new program, when I get it tomorrow. We are getting the new Adobe software; I'm excited.
This afternoon, Talia and I walked over to the place where Eitan B. and I had ordered table legs to be made. They cost $200.00 CDN, so that just goes to show how expensive things are here in Tel Aviv. [Talia was telling me today that Tel Aviv is not just mildly more expensive than Jerusalem, it is way more expensive. I've noticed it's similar to living in, say, Vancouver, in terms of how much things cost.] So, when we got back to the office, I put the legs on the table top and it looks good. I enjoy little project-type things, especially at this point because I need things to do; I am still adjusting to what my role will be and I have to try to fit in. Zochrot is a fairly fluid organisation, not big on hierarchy, so even though Eitan B. is telling me what to do, sometimes, mostly I kind of just try to figure out what I can do. Or what I want to do, as they have told me (people kind of take projects on and giver). Obviously, it's going to take a few months for me to even understand what is going on, in order for me to fit in nicely and know what I want to do and what I can do. I am not stressed about it, though, which is good. It is what it is... or in the voice of Borad, Eet Eez Niiiiice.
Things are going to change for me, soon, anyways. On Septeber 4th, I start Hebrew language study at the Gordon Ulpan ( the only one in Tel Aviv - an ulpan is a language school). The program runs for five months, and goes from 8am to 1pm, Sunday through Thursday. My involvement at Zochrot will obviously be cut way down; I will attend events and sign-posting tours, when able, and will probably work on Fri mornings. At least that what we've talked about so far. I have to get a bicycle in order to get to school and back, so that gives me about three weeks to find a cheap bike. I'd prefer one with no gears, just a big huge banana seat like back in the eighties...the eighties. Maybe with streamers and colourful tickertape...I can only dream. Seriously, though, if I could I would, then I would wear a huge helmet and tell everyone it was my birthday.
Tonight, after supper, my goal was to try out a church (the Internet said they had services on Wed. at 7). Called Friendship House, I thought it would be interesting, to say the least, but I wanted to try it, since the address is within walking distance of my place. I put Welkin's No Ordinary Elephant CD in my ears as I was leaving my place. As I set out down the street, again the pungent odor of urine filled my nostrils. People and animals pee all over the place here. You'd think they could find something organic to pee on, but no; right on the concrete...it's really gross. And because it only rains one month a year in Tel Aviv (and that is not this month, nor the five months previous) the smell doesn't get washed away.
When I walk to the office, which is where I had to walk past to get to this church, I walk past a big lot where vegetables and fruit come in on their trucks for sorting and distribution. It is full of flies and smells like rotten organic waste. There is a big seven-foot retaining wall so I don't have to look at the rotten fruit / veggie strewn yard. Going past various gates or entrances, however, you can get a good look. I walked past this dumpster with a briefcase sitting on top. I stopped to look at it because I'm always in the market for a new bag or something - free is the best way to shop. But the handle was all frayed, so I decided to forget it. Also, it being half in a dumpster kind of upsets my germophobia.
I got to the address of the church in about half an hour or so, only to find out that it is closed, no longer in operation. Zero for one. I noticed that I was the shoe district: every store all along the one street, Solomon, were all shoe shops. They all carried different types, so i suppose in that sense they aren't competing for business. I also noticed that I was in an Asian part of town. There were what looked to me like Filipinos everywhere. Really cool streets and, of course, tonnes of cats. [I always think that Jeff and Carla would love all the cats here - they'd be constantly meowing.] I was listening to the song, Photograph, and I was really moved by the dirty streets and all the people checking out the chubby whitey walking alone, even the cats all looked at me.
I started for home and when I got on the street where that produce distribution plant is (mind the pun), I noticed that the cars were all at a standstill and there was a police van and some police cars blocking the divided street on both sides and cops everywhere. Obviously something was up, so I wanted to see. I came as far forward as the one copper would let me and I could see a bomb-squad officer, with his full body-armour (except bare arms...weird, I thought) on and he had a contraption with three spools of cable/rope/wire. I couldn't tell what they were, different colours, though. I watched as he pulled two different strands out of the contraption, walked fifty metres to a light pole, passed one cable around it, then headed, with noted caution, to the briefcase that I had been looking at forty-five minutes earlier.
I mentioned to the lady beside me that it was a briefcase and that I had looked at it earlier. Then I realised that these words could be misunderstood, so I quickly shut up and continued watching. The officer gingerly attached the first and second cables (the second one just direct from the spool) to the handle of the briefcase and backed away slowly. Then, when he had made it to his contraption (three spools on a portable metal deal) he pulled the cable that was passed around the light post. The briefcase came tumbling out of the garbage bin. He kept pulling until it was right to the light post in the median. Then he grabbed the other cable and tugged it a few times, really hard, making the briefcase fly off the ground and shake around. I was astounded. Was the intention to make whatever it was inside the briefcase detonate? Crazy! Since nothing happened, our man went back over to the case and picked it up and opened all the pockets. When he had concluded that it was empty and the threat was benign, he pulled in his ropes and spoke in his walkie-talkie, which signalled the other cops to release pedestrians and then traffic. I was out of there right away, amazed at what I had just seen, so didn't stick around to watch him wind up his cables again.
Just as I walked in the door of my apartment the CD I was listening to ended. That was a 68 minute and 17 second walk. I smelled the city, struck out on a church, and witnessed my first act of emergency. Apparently tomorrow should be really busy in Tel Aviv. There is a huge protest being planned to protest the disengagement from Gaza. Should be a lot of orange around tomorrow. Orange is the colour of settler-solidarity: anti-disengagement. Blue is the colour of support for the disengagment. People have their preference of ribbon tied to bags, side-view mirrors, etc.
Last night when I was walking around, there were piles of people handing out the orange strips. I have heard that they are from Settlements and come into Tel Aviv to propigate their cause. I saw these two girls, dressed like total hippies, all earthy and everything, handing out orange cloth strips to anyone who would take one. I felt really disturbed by the blatant contradiction of their image and what was in their hands. The whole free-love-for-all that hippies identify with, I suppose, is simply a fashion style for these girls. I wished I knew Hebrew so I could talk with them and ask what they thought of univseral human rights; but I'm an illiterate immigrant, so I just kept on walking.
Speaking of hippies, today Talia and I got into an interesting discussion. Remember the militant activist at Zochrot's staff meeting that I mentioned in my last e-mail? Yeah, well, I was mentioning to Talia that she's a crazy hippie and she corrected me by saying there are no hippies in Israel. I laughed and she asserted that she was telling the truth. Well, I asked, what makes a hippie? She said that hippies are people who want nothing to do with the political system, they don't want to know about current and global issues and they are certainly not activists. Semantics, maybe; but it gave me a great opportunity to say, oh, then, she's a pippie. A pippie, Talia said, her eyes brightening at the thought of a new fun word. Yes, I said, a political hippie! She replied, that's exactly it! I told her about how I named pippies pippies a few years ago because of all the "p" words I associated with them as punk-listening, pamphlet-giving, propaganda-spewing hippies...pippies. Talia told me that she's going to use that word and I told her that I really want to see it in a dictionary someday. Maybe someday. We can only dream of such lofty things, eh? "I like to dream my troubles all away, on a bed of California Stars... - Woody Guthrie" "I like to dream my troubles all away by singing psalms..." - Burro D Block.
I have been so busy contextualising myself to the Middle East, through various books and newsletters and stuff, that I am totally ignorant of what is happening here now. When Sri came today, telling me about the protest for tomorrow and how the victims of the Israeli AWOL army gunman, up north, were all Christians, I realised that I need to be informed about day-to-day events. I am going to try to read Haaretz; the English version, that is. It is Israel's biggest newspaper, I think. I have a hard time getting through a whole newspaper, but maybe I can just breeze through it on-line. I know it's available there.
Alright, folks. Take it Eassse. Shaun and Amy, blessings on you as you tie the knot and Jeff P. don't bugger the reception! I trust you will do just fine! This weekend, isn't it?
Burro D Block OUTI got to the address of the church in about half an hour or so, only to find out that it is closed, no longer in operation. Zero for one. I noticed that I was the shoe district: every store all along the one street, Solomon, were all shoe shops. They all carried different types, so i suppose in that sense they weren't competing for business. I also noticed that I was in an Asian part of town. There were what looked to me like Filipinos everywhere. Really cool streets and, of course, tonnes of cats. [I think Jeff and Carla would love all the cats here - they'd be constantly meowing.] I was listening to the song, Photograph, and I was really moved by the dirty streets and all the people checking out the chubby whitey walking alone, even the cats all looked at me.
I started for home and when I got on the street where that produce distribution plant is (mind the pun), I noticed that the cars were all at a standstill and there was a police van and some police cars blocking the divided street on both sides and cops everywhere. Obviously something was up, so I wanted to see. I came as far forward as the one copper would let me and I could see a bomb-squad officer, with his full body-armour (except bare arms...weird, I thought) on and he had a huge spool of cable/rope/wire. I couldn't tell what it was. I watched as he pulled two different strands out of the contraption, walked fifty metres to a light pole, passed one cable around it, then headed, with noted caution, to the briefcase that I had been looking at forty-five minutes earlier.
I mentioned to the lady beside me that it was a briefcase and that I had looked at it earlier. Then I realised that these words could be misunderstood, so I quickly shut up and continued watching. The officer gingerly attached the first and second cables (direct from the spool) to the handle of the briefcase and backed away slowly. Then, when he had made it to his contraption (three spools on a portable metal deal) he pulled the cable that was passed around the light post. The briefcase came tumbling out of the garbage bin. He kept pulling until it was right to the light post in the median. Then he grabbed the other cable and tugged it a few times, really hard, making the briefcase fly off the ground and shake around. I was astounded. Was the intention to make whatever it was inside the briefcase detonate? Crazy! Since nothing happened, our man went back over to the case and picked it up and opened all the pockets. When he had concluded that it was empty and the threat was benign, he pulled in his ropes and spoke in his walkie-talkie, which signalled the other cops to release pedestrians and then traffic. I was out of there right away, amazed at what I had just seen, so didn't stick around to watch him wind up his cables again.
Just as I walked in the door of my apartment the CD I was listening to ended. That was a 68 minute and 17 second walk. I smelled the city, struck out on a church, and witnessed my first act of emergency. Apparently tomorrow should be really busy in Tel Aviv. There is a huge protest being planned to protest the disengagement from Gaza. Should be a lot of orange around tomorrow. Orange is the colour of settler-solidarity - anti-disengagement. Blue is the colour of support for the disengagment. People have their preference of ribbon tied to bags, side-view mirrors, etc.
Last night when I was walking around, there were piles of people handing out the orange strips. I have heard that they are from Settlements and come into Tel Aviv to propigate their cause. I saw these two girls, dressed like total hippies, all earthy and everything, handing out orange cloth strips to anyone who would take one. I felt really disturbed by the blatant contradiction of their image and what was in their hands. The whole free-love-for-all that hippies identify with, I suppose, is simply a fashion style for these girls. I wished I knew Hebrew so I could talk with them and ask what they thought of human rights; but I'm an illiterate immigrant, so I just kept on walking.
Speaking of hippies, today Talia and I got into an interesting discussion. Remember the militant activist at Zochrot's staff meeting that I mentioned in my last e-mail? Yeah, well, I was mentioning to Talia that she's a crazy hippie and she corrected me by saying there are no hippies in Israel. I laughed and she asserted that she was telling the truth. Well, I asked, what makes a hippie? She said that hippies are people who want nothing to do with the political system, they don't want to know about current and global issues and they are certainly not activists. Semantics, maybe; but it gave me a great opportunity to say, oh, then, she's a pippie. A pippie, Talia said, her eyes brightening at the thought of a new fun word. Yes, I said, a political hippie! She replied, that's exactly it! I told her about how I named pippies pippies a few years ago because of all the "p" words I associated with them as punk-listening, pamphlet-giving, propaganda-spewing hippies...pippies. Talia told me that she's going to use that word and I told her that I really want to see it in a dictionary someday. Maybe someday. We can only dream of such lofty things, eh? "I like to dream my troubles all away, on a bed of California Stars... - Woody Guthrie" I like to dream my troubles all away with singing psalms.
I have been so busy contextualising myself to the Middle East, through various books and newsletters and stuff, that I am totally ignorant of what is happening now. When Sri came today, telling me about the protest for tomorrow and how the victims of the Israeli AWOL army gunman, up north, were all Christians, I realised that I need to be informed about day-to-day events. I am going to try to read Haaretz, the English version, that is. It is Israel's biggest newspaper, I think. I have a hard time getting through a whole newspaper, but maybe I can just breeze through it on-line. I know it's available there.
Alright, folks. Take it Eassse. Shaun and Amy, blessings on you as you tie the knot and Jeff P. don't bugger the reception! I trust you will do just fine! This weekend, isn't it?
Burro D Block OUT