Back from Turkey!
I think I am on some kind of Israeli government watch list. This is the 3rd time I have entered the country, and the third time I have been pulled aside at the border for additional questioning. This time I took the stamp (the last 2 times I had them stamp on a separate piece of paper, so I could go back to Syria and maybe go to Lebanon), but it didn't make a difference. Luckily I was with my mom so the army lady was kinda sympathetic and didn't press me too hard asking me details of the ulpan I was studying at. I am not supposed to say that I am volunteering with an Israeli Palestinian organization that would just make things more complicated, so I said that I was here to study Hebrew at an ulpan in Jerusalem, which this time is true (although it is just 1 day a week). My current tourist visa runs out Feb 13, so if I want to do the Arava thing I need to leave and return 2 more times or get my visa extended. I think this is going to be a big pain in the ass...
When my mom and I returned from Turkey some old family friends invited us over for a chanukkah party, because all their kids would be there. They are basically my Israeli family, and I was best friends with their son (Ziv) when I lived here in first grade. He has been married for almost 2 years and has a kid. His wife didn't make it to the party, but I have started to get more used to the idea. So much for marrying a nice Sephardic boy...he's already taken. Ziv gave me a ride home, and I sat in the back seat with his son and gave him his bottle. Our lives are two completely different worlds. He is still in the army, working for a 'demolitions unit'. I don't completely understand what he does because he isn't really at liberty to talk about his work. I think his wife is in school studying interior design.
The cab we took over to their house was the best part of the night. In Hebrew I told the driver where to go, and mentioned the name of the Arab Village that it is near (I thought of this trick some time ago - as a way of opening up lines of communication with Arab drivers). He mentioned that he was from that village, and I said "really?!" in Arabic. We then proceeded to have a very animated conversation in Arabic and Hebrew. Every once in a while I would translate for my mom in the back seat. Although the guy lived right near where we needed to go and new the area VERY well, he took a very circuitous route. Luckily we had agreed upon a price in advance, because he got so distracted by our conversation that he forgot where he was going. It was a little overwhelming because I hadn't used Hebrew or Arabic in over a week, but it felt really good to be understood.

Tomorrow my mom and I are going to visited my 2nd family in Hebron. I haven't met with my Arabic tutor in over a week, so we'll see how it goes. I promised the father I would consider marrying their 21 year old son. Hopefully he won't push me too hard for an answer.

In other news - I am leaving fastmail after a few months of semi-unhappy service, I have decided to join the google world. So, you can hit me up: tovascherr@gmail.com

Conference stuff is almost out of the way, although the evil boss is still around.
Off to meet mother.