#whisked

Armed IDF soldiers are stationed throughout the old city, the first responders if anything were to happen. They cluster in groups of 7, idling by. The call to prayer slices through the air, reminding us that this city is shared. It seems to work; people stick to where they are comfortable, and everything seems very content. In yet another way, this old city is an anomaly: sharing elsewhere is not as simple. 

Visiting the Western Wall hits ya in the heart. If not for the sight itself, the Jewish people praying at it. 2,000 years of history flash by in a second and suddenly everything makes sense. 

There was a group of Jewish people, singing and dancing in a circle. Then, an older Orthodox Jew went up to them and demanded quiet; their noise was interfering with the Shabbat prayer. Only in Jerusalem.

My culture shock is happening only in the absence of ammenities I can no longer get by not being in America. Walmarts have ceased to exist. The $1.20 McDouble has been replaced by a burger much more expensive. Labels no longer make sense, being replaced by a language that I barely understand. 

Practicing Hebrew with Israelis is only possible with the ones that do not know English. If I initiate a conversation in Hebrew, their response will likely fly over my head. Then what? I ask them to repeat themselves, but slower? Or I meekly admit that I speak "little Hebrew" and don't understand -- this culture is not known for its patience. So, learning Hebrew will have to occur in a more closed setting. I still enjoy listening to it, but usage will only arise via practice.

I have discovered a book store with a lounge on the second floor. The owner has roots in Chicago and knows about Skokie, further emphasizing the Six Degrees of Seperation theory. I think that the "secret lounge" concept can be applied to make libraries more hip to the next demographic that is growing up swiping iPads and getting smart phones for their 7th birthday. 

Canine might appeal to K-9

So I attended a speaker in that lounge, under the impression that it would be held in English, and a guy proceeded to talk for an hour and a half in Hebrew. I only understood about 6 words. But I was determined to stay until the end, and chat up the locals who had decided to start their weekend (it's Thursday nights-Saturdays here) listening to a dude ramble about ... well, I never learned what the subject was, but "king" was one of the words. But then, two guys appeared, my age, and whisked me out of the group. The owner had told them about me, that I was new, and thus, they were commissioned to show me around. 

This was my first "falling in the rabbit hole" moment. It's a spectacular feeling, and one only available through travel. We went out to a restaurant and I made my first two Israeli friends. They learned their English through television and reading, both having claimed to read multiple works in Shakespeare. I believe 'em. The only word I could introduce was "chagrin"

Describing my group is easy: all I need is two words. "Spectacularly average." Independence is rewarded with interesting conversations and activities, and it's clear that I will need to pursue social situations outside the group. Not that I can say this was unexpected, and our group has been reduced from an average of 17 people to 13 (because of the conflict that proceeded the program dates), but I wish that I had more people that I could chat with. I have made a few friends, and they say that 1 friend is all you need, so apparently I am exceeding expectations.