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| independence day here is interesting, especially after the past few years and all the changes i've undergone...now independence day is bittersweet. on one hand, i can't help the swell of pride and happiness when i see fighter planes flying in formation for the country's entertainment...it makes me feel proud and safe. i'm not one to succumb to feelings of existential threat, but seeing these planes makes me feel safe. or maybe it's just the adrenaline rush to hear the loud sound of an airplane engine that takes part of me back to those days where i was standing in the open door of an airplane... no, but it's more than that. definitely more than that. independence day which means so much to us here, gives us the feeling that we finally have a national home, our own government, surrounded by our own once far-dispersed people, allowed to decide our own destiny in our own land...and then yesterday evening while driving with friends from their home in one of the largest settlement blocks in the country to tel aviv for a late night independence day barbecue we crossed a check point and had to wait in line as some police escorted some arabs past us, handcuffed, for questioning... it dulled the giddy vodka and hype inspired evening with friends, although not too much...but i couldn't help but wonder as we finally pulled past the check point if the impending questioning and whatever was to follow was really necessary...how can one day which means so much to one people be the day that marks national catastrophe and the reminder of 60 years of shattered dreams and hopes to another? tel aviv was unexpectedly a lot of fun -- and the policemen who dotted every corner of every block reassured me. we've fulfilled our national dreams...and have the masses of security and military personnel to show for it... i feel in the middle of constantly polarized worlds...i spent yesterday afternoon arguing with a friend who said that Israel should include Gaza and the West Bank...and the Palestinians should either join us or go and make their state somewhere else...something I vehemently disagree with... I'm disgusted at the occupation... but I'm torn because some aspects of the occupation ensure my security while at the very same time trampling on the rights of others... so we celebrate our national holiday (and put aside thoughts of guilt and pondering at the situation of our neighbors), we celebrate the fulfillment of our dreams, our greatness, our existence and safety ... with security on high alert, cross points shut down, freedom of movement for us only, and police on every corner... i can't help but be proud of my country, but it's not without self-criticism and sadness...
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| well, friends, this year has come to a close. this is my final post from israel (for this year). i'm coming home tomorrow...the past few days have been spent packing, saying goodbyes, and being lazy...with a surprise throw in of the gay pride parade yesterday in jerusalem and religious picketting...it was quite a site.
well i don't really know what more to write...it's been a good year and i recommend that everyone come and visit israel at some point. it's a place full of problems and craziness, but it's amazing just the same.
take care and see most of you soon. | | |
| well, less than a week left to go...last week priscilla came and visited me and so we went around doing the tourist thing...seeing sites, getting all muddy in dead sea mud and floating in the dead sea, shopping, shopping, shopping and eating...and now i'm packing packing packing...
i don't know if anyone actually still reads this site, and i don't have a whole lot to tell right now, but i'll be home soon...back to muggy humid houston...but to houston's credit, it has a lot of good restaurants i hope to stop by...yum yum.... | | |
| i know i haven't updated for awhile...so here's a quick update...last week i went through my first round of exams and next week i have my second round, so i've been pretty busy studying lately...
yesterday was interesting b/c i went on a field trip with my arabic class to a small arabic village...everybody in the town knew my arabic teacher b/c 25 years ago or so he was the principal of the, then, only school in the village...so we saw and got to speak to a lot of people and go around to the elementary, middle and high schools and talk to people and practice our arabic. for the kids there it was crazy...for them we were like celebrities or something...most awkward moment was when a little girl asked me who i like better...yasser arafat, ariel sharon, abu mazen, or george bush...i evaded answering that one and turned the question back to the group of girls surround me...one girl said she likes george bush (because she got to meet laura bush a few weeks ago), and another said she only loves God...we went around the village for awhile, saw a beautiful monastery left from the time of the crusades, and then we went and had some wonderful wonderful arabic food...quite impressive.
yesterday afternoon, as soon as i got back from the trip, i caught a bus to petah tikva to go and visit my hebrew teacher from high school, which was a bunch of fun...anyway, gotta run along now and study...
hope ya'll are doing well!
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| the past 2 days have been sooo hot. i just want to pass out. ichs.
p.s. i am trying to drink lots of water! | | |
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