I have been doing so many neat things this week and I haven't had a chance to write! I have a lot to talk about so I am about to have a post party. Get ready, get set, get excited!
To summarize, these past two weeks have been extraordinary.
YANN:
Last week I had my first visitor in Israel -Yann! For those who don't know Yann, he was our Brazilian foreign exchange student in high school. We fostered a true friendship and he has been part of my family ever since...for almost 10 years.
Unfortunately, this visit was the result of a lot of sadness for Yann. His father, who had been sick for quite a while and was living in here in Israel, passed away last week. Yann got the news and flew over to Israel almost immediately. He was here for the funeral and to sit shiva. He was staying with his cousin in Ashdod (20 miles south of Tel Aviv). His visit to Ashdod correlated almost exactly with the start of Hamas' rocket attacks on the city. Yann saw a missile fly overhead while he was driving down the road.
He was due to leave on Wednesday so on Tuesday night he came to the kibbutz. We had dinner, skyped Mom, Shea, and Mitzvah and then we drank a few beers with my friends. We went to bed early and awoke on Wednesday at 5:30am so Yann could make it to the train on time. It was a fast visit but it warmed my heart and I think it helped Yann relax after a very intense week. I love him.
THE WELSHMEN - Robin and Matthew.
Alex and I had our customary jasmine tea last Wednesday afternoon. She got a new teapot and matching teacups from the כלבו. They are very pretty and the cups help keep my hands warm because they don't have handles. Before I left, she mentioned that her friends from Wales were going to be visiting the kibbutz the next day. Of course, we had to meet. We share blood.
I met them at the pub on Thursday night. Immediately, I sensed something so familiar about them. Robin is tall and thin, witty, and super hip. He looks like someone straight out of a River Island catalogue. His face reminds me very very much of my cousin, Matt. His sense of humor reminds me of that of my Irish friend Jason Byrne. Matthew, on the other hand, is a little more working class, but in such a charming way. He didn't wear flannel or turtle shell glasses (in fact, he was the only one of the four of us not wearing turtle-shell glasses) but he is an extraordinary conversationalist. His face reminds me a lot of my cousin, Andy. We decided to go on a grand adventure the next day...
HAMAT GADER:
Friday morning the four of us piled into a rental car. Our destination: Hamat Gader. Hamat Gader is a spa village in the Golan Heights. We were headed there to spend the whole day lounging in the hot springs.
This trip was the first time that I had seen the Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee). It was gorgeous. So blue and calm. The Kinneret is extremely important to Israelis because it is the sole source of "sweet water" (fresh drinking water) for the whole country. They pipe the water out and send it north and south. For almost a decade, the Kinneret has been low and it is a big concern for the country. On the news each day they will announce the level of the lake. We talk about it in class too. If the Kinneret runs out, there is no water to drink.
We arrived at Hamat Gader and first visited thier alligator farm/petting zoo. The petting zoo was FULL of Baboons. Baboons are ugly. I would be okay never seeing another baboon. They can stay in the trees. I will stay away from those trees. They have the weirdest bottoms.
After watching the the Baboons for too long, we played with baby bunnies, chicks, and turtles. Then we went to see the alligators. They were huge and awesome. We were watching them from a floating bridge in the middle of the pool. Then it started to move. I looked in the water and saw that an enormous alligator was stuck beneath the bridge. Watching his body wriggle back and forth just below the surface of the water was eerie. The tail alone was as thick as my body. All the sudden I had a huge appreciation for the power of the alligator.
Then we submerged ourselves in the hot springs. Mmmmmmmm. They were full of Russians and we people watched for hours. We drove home around the north end of the Kinneret and up into the Golan Heights. We saw a rainbow and beautiful lush rolling hills. As is common in Israel, the beauty of the land was juxtaposed against the reminents of a difficult past...ruined homes, landmine warnings, and abandoned army towers.
We came home. Adi broke his nose while he was surfing. Alex took him to the hospital. His nose was gross and awesome. He drank Arak and felt better. Then we went dancing. The next morning we all went for a walk on the beach and then had a picnic outside Alex and Adi's house. Matthew and Robin left at 2pm. Alex and I, both cold, got into sleeping bags and talked for a long time. She is important.MY ADOPTED FAMILY:
I have been adopted! Here is the story, Morning Glory...
So...
From the first time I went to the post office, I knew it was meant to be. The name of the lady at the post office is Leann (לאן). I felt an immediate connection with her. She is funky with crazy hair. She always has a colorful scarf wrapped around her head and she has a raspy smoky voice. When she laughs, you can tell she really means it. She is interesting and she is wise. I always look forward to going to the post office because I love talking with her. It became my goal to woo her into adopting me.
So...part two of the story...
Canadian Dan and I were running on the beach when he told me that he had finally been adopted. Of course, I asked him who had adopted him. He said "Leann Portugali from the post office". My heart fell. Dan got very lucky. By now, many ulpanists had already been adopted and I was starting to feel like it wasn't going to happen for me. I was a little orphan without a home.
So, I went to the cafe on Friday night and Leann was sitting with Dan and her sister, Sharon. She invited me to sit with them. I did and we talked and talked and it started to rain and we didn't care, we just kept talking. It was time for Sharon to go home and before she left she asked "Mikey, would you like to become part of our family?"
Uhmmmmmmm....duh. It's all I have ever wanted....and now I am happy. I walked home with Dan that night. Actually, he walked and I skipped. Now, he is my adopted brother.
Sharon has two kids who she raises alone. Yurinai (8) and Noor (5). On Thursday night, I helped Leann set up for a modern opera that she is putting on tonight. Then Noor and I went for a walk to the park and I helped Yurinai with his homework (which is too advanced for me). Last night, was the one year anniversary of the death of the mom of Leann and Sharon. I went to Sharon's house and met the whole family. Leann, Sharon, their sister, Dana, and I sat on the porch all night. They smoked cigarettes and showed me old family photos. I absorbed it all. I am so lucky. I will write more about the Portugali family in an upcoming post.
CRUSH:
My friend and coworker, Gaston, found a little turtle in the koi pond yesterday. He brought Crush home. Crush is now living in a Tupperware container with rocks and more lettuce than he could eat in a lifetime. He is a very handsome little turtle. Gaston and I were going to take fish from work to keep as pets. Now, Gaston only wants Crush. I want a hyrax (the Israeli version of a squirrel).
We also found a giant sea turtle on the beach. He was not alive. He must have washed up on shore. It was sad to see. He is the talk of the kibbutz this week. Today, Adi told me that once a cow washed up on the beach and sat alone in the sand for weeks before someone removed him.
Alright...
Many words. Much time. הרבה מילים והרבה זמן!
More soon. I still have to write about my trip to the desert!
With undying love for giraffes in high heels, Elvis in Jerusalem, Walkie-talkies, יופי תופי, popcorn fish, and BANANAS!
I respectfully remain,
J. Michael Hess Webber
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