Category Archive
The following is a list of all entries from the Easily Amused category.
Take Out the Trash
The trash cans are overflowing and the stench, overwhelming. The streets are littered with remnants of dinner from last week, stacked ten feet high, and there is no waste worker in sight to clean up this mess. While this could very well be the scene of another trash workers’ strike in Israel it’s actually the case for Naples, Italy.
You thought we had it bad when the waste workers go on strike; try living in Naples right now where the trash has piled to over 1,500 tons. This is no strike but rather the results of a dispute over a ten year old trashy problem. About eleven years ago the city closed down a waste dump but now the government wants to reopen it. The citizens are furious and have taken to the streets, protesting and refusing the dump to be resurrected. Continue reading this entry »
How I Faked It: Breaking Into The Media
I faked it. While the Americans brought their top security guys from America and Israel posted police on every street corner- I managed to sneak into the Press hotel and pretend to be one of them. It amazes me just how lax security was- so much so that I even had a taste of the White House Press-ONLY Buffet.
Besides being an awesome experience, sneaking in made me realize why the Press don’t report the truth. Indeed they are much too busy making friends and networking in the hotel lobby. Add to that complimentary food and drink and you’ve got a group of people that are never going to do their job well.
How did I do it- you ask? How could I have made it past security and not get caught once? It was simple- I faked it. My backup plan was saying I needed to go the bathroom but I never even needed to talk to anyone. Continue reading this entry »
Israeli view on spaghetti, meatballs, and the New Hampshire race
As I watched the sign-language translation in the corner of the six o’clock news, hoping to get a peek at how they really translate Olmert into Hebrew sign language, I perked up as the news anchor called their New Hampshire correspondent, Moshe… in an Italian restaurant. As I watched the 2 minute clip rerun of people entering this restaurant, I listened to Moshe, the owner, talk about how hungry the candidates were, piling into his restaurant as soon as they could and staying there till the late hours.
Now this is my kind of news – I couldn’t tell you a thing about the primaries or how they worked – but I could tell you that Giuliani stuffed his face with pizza in New Hampshire. Israeli Journalism at its best. Apparently, if he speaks Hebrew and he’s in America, that’s good enough for us.
Basically, Israel’s Channel 2 News seems to be ok with getting the news from this guy:
Best and Worst of 2007: the big felafel style
| BEST | WORST |
| Olmert getting rid of that nasty nasty comb over | Olmert still in Office |
| Free television online at alluc.org | Television tax that only some people receive even if you don’t own a tv. |
| The Facebook Song | Annapolis |
| The dollar losing value | The dollar losing value |
| Discovering the show Israelim | Discovering they cancelled Israelim but you can still watch it online |
| 50 shekel boots | Raising the prices of milk,flour and the shuk salatim |
| Marzipan’s Ice cafe for NIS 5 stays the same price and stays the whole year- no more waiting for summer! | Getting my first crown through health insurance |
| Finding out about Brooklyn Bakery where they serve real muffins and donuts | Conda-poo-poo coming here almost every two weeks |
| Seinfeld coming to Israel | Teachers Protest and University Professors Protest |
| Getting rid of CNN | Getting rid of CNN and keeping FOX |
| Realizing I can take a Sherut instead of a bus | The lines wherever you go |
| Pomegrantes in the Fall | Having my bicylce stolen |
| Learning that you do your grocery shopping online | the gyms in Jerusalem (I’m from LA- there is no comparing) |
| Pesach Rap video | The continous Jerusalem construction of new homes no one here can afford |
| Hannukah Parody video | Shmita |
We want to hear what you thought was the best and worst too. Feel free to write us and we will think about adding your best or worst!
Did anybody else notice this wacky bus story?
Although I don’t usually focus on news stories, this one particularly caught my eye. (See full article below or at Jpost)
It appears that a man was neglected by Egged at a Kiryat Ye’arim station. Awww… Next thing you know, that guy is getting 18,000 shekels from Egged! Still feel sorry for him?
Is Israel turning into America? Will people be suing Cafe Hillel over too-hot coffee that accidentally spilled in their lap? I find this story unbelievable for so many reasons. Let’s try to break down why. Continue reading this entry »
Tel Aviv and the Party Factor
It’s true that Tel Aviv is only a 45 minute bus ride away, but lets face it I never go there. But that doesn’t mean I won’t go to Tel Aviv it just means I need a good reason. And the Free Birthright Alumni party was all the incentive this girl needed to get out of Jerusalem for a Saturday night.Yes indeed, Tel Aviv is party central and not just compared to Jerusalem, but a friend recently told me that Tel Aviv has more bars per area then any other city in the world. And while I didn’t check out every bar or club in Tel Aviv I still managed to find where the party was at! Continue reading this entry »
And you thought Italian was a pretty language
The most beautiful word in the Hebrew language is mos’ definitely Chaki, accent on the first syllable, rhymes with cocky, with that extra special chhhh sound that lets me clear my throat guilt-free. This is not to be confused with a similar word meaning to wait. No, this is the word for what in English is known as the color khaki. The not so pretty color apparently has its own not so pretty version in Hebrew.
Lately I’ve been experiencing major writers block. I knew I couldn’t write until I felt passionately about something. Thankfully, hearing this word Chaki over and over in my graphic design class made me realize just how beautiful this Hebrew language truly is. In 3 years of living in Israel, and only now am I treated to some of the more rare and beautiful words. Try it for yourself. Say it as your walk down the street, pick out your outfit for the day, as you’re about to eat- this delectable word is bound to drum up an appetite. I’ll take 2 Chakis, please. Hold the loogie.
Hanukah is about Oil and Oil is about Fat
Americans like to think that Thanksgiving is a holiday filled with lots of food. Forget counting calories, it is more about counting serving after serving. It is a holiday where you know to wear pants that give a little or at least ones that you can unbutton after you stuffed yourself to the maximum potential of stuffing (with stuffing- good one).But as part of the transition to life in Israel, you give up Thanksgiving just not the fat part. Hanukah is a time of cheer, candling lighting fun and fat fatty fat. Yes, it appears that since the candles were lit with oil, we Jews have figured out a way to take the oil from the candles and literally spread it on our food for eight days. Continue reading this entry »
Improv in Jerusalem, Laugh it up
I need a good laugh. In fact, the last time I think I had one was at an improv night over a year ago. Actually, this video makes me laugh quite a bit – well, more the version that Molly does of it.
Thank G-d for Chanukah, Wednesday nights, the Merkaz, and funny people. Put it all together and you’ve figured out this cryptic note.
Improv night
Wednesday night, December 5, Merkaz Hamagshimim
7a Dor Vdorshav, German Colony | 8:30pm | 35 shekels, unlimited drinks
Here are some videos of the improv group:
I’d like to think maybe I had a tiny hand in producing my own entertainment, by putting some members in touch with each other and telling them they should really do it! What I don’t get is how these people are so hysterical on the spot.. do they have super fast brains? I’m really in awe, in case you can’t tell. See you there!
A Subtle difference: Ties
Many new immigrants from North America have big-time cultural shock when they move to Israel. There are new standards for everything from bank hours to shorter weekends- but the subtle changes take you longer to notice.I knew I was no longer in America after I stood in line at the post office for a package that took two months to get here- did I mention it was shipped overnight express? Things like post offices, doctors and customer service are evident changes in our daily lives in the holy land, but it took me three years to realize that work attire is totally backwards here.
After working in several offices I now know that jeans are acceptable office casual and even formal with the right boots. After a tour of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem I learned that Judges are wearing t-shirts under their robes.
And of course I know that people do not wear ties at weddings, but what I didn’t know was that the ties are being worn by bus drives all over Israel. What a funny little society we are- I mean bus drivers with ties but Knesset members in jeans?
So while the cultural shock is almost all but lifted, I continue to notice the subtle changes in my new world: Every elevator in Israel has a mirror and parking on the sidewalk is completely normal.
The Big Felafel 