1 Week In

I got here on Sunday. Now it's Saturday night. I have been in Israel 1 week. On the one hand it feels like I just arrived, at the same time its as though I've been here forever. I won't to go to Jordan soon - I want to visit with people, but an argila, eat dajaj mahshi at al quds, hummos at hashem and falafel at alquds cafeteria. But when I came in on Sunday I was detained for a while by the Shabaq - no explanation. Not many questions. But just the fact that I had to go to the waiting area puts me off international travel for a while. At least until I have this whole work/visa thing sorted. Hopefully I won't have any trouble getting in and out of Ramallah tomorrow.

---

Today I am in my home away from home away from home where I spent much of last summer - the library at Hebrew University. When I first arrived in April/May the students were striking a potential raise of fees, so the library was very quiet. Now the professors are striking because their salaries are so low, so the library is very quiet. I don't mind. Why are there cats wandering around the cafes? And why do people keep leaving the doors to outside open. Its COLD. And people keep asking me for directions. I guess its good that I blend.

---

Hanukkah in the city. There are times when I question this place and they way they do things, but I really like the holiday atmosphere here. No, not Christmas. Our festival of lights. And potatoes fried in oil. And donuts. Growing up in the states we always lit a hanukiah inside and put it in the window. Here people take the rules more seriously and put them outside in glass boxes. Its amazing to ride the bus around religious neighborhoods and see dozens of candelabras sitting outside. I need to wander around my neighborhood and take pictures tonight.


---

This weekend was a mix of great and not so great. I chose not to do shabbat,but to network instead. Strange combinations of people - from summer camp and from Jerusalem in 2004 and from Amman and from grad school - all together in the same East Jerusalem bar. Dancing and drinking away the pressure of life here. I've always wanted overlap. This is going to take some time to get used to. Saturday I stayed home and read the paper and slept, not leaving the house until after 7. Coffee at 9om is not a good idea. I kind of wish I hadn't left the house at all.

--

Tomorrow I sign a lease until August. I have never signed anything for more than 6 months. Things have not been going according to plan, but I am not so scared to sign tomorrow. I am here. This is happening. I will make new friends. I will find a job. This is just the beginning of something new. It's not out of nowhere - I have been working towards this for some time now. I just need to open myself and be ready.