Still Settling In

I forgot something very important about Shavuot in Kaserin. On Shavuot I got an Aliyah to the Torah. They made a mishebayrach for us and sang "V;shavu Banim" (a song traditionally song for new olim), and even took the opportunity to pelt me with candies (not so healthy for the kids, but much cleaner for the target than fruit). It took 5 months, but we got a very nice welcome here. And it was unexpected. I guess it helps that they like to sing in this shul.

Also, one of our neighbors pointed out that we moved here the week of Parshat Naso, where we read about the chanukat ha'mizbeach, the dedication of the mishkan (tabernacle) and the altar. He said it was fitting that we are moving into our home on this week. I realized that we arrived in Israel on Chanuka, a festival celebrating the re-dedication on the mikdash. So too, we arrived on Chanuka to an absorption center, and made a more proper dedication in our home the week of Parshat Naso. Very cool.

We have been talking to Personal Logistic, Strand's people here about taking delivery of our crate. They wanted me to come to Ashdod. This is a full day, at least, even with a car. Ayelet has been having contractions and is taking it very easy. I do not want to be so far away. With a car (a fortune in rental and gas) I am 2-3 hours away. By mass transit I am a day away depending on schedule. After a day of talking we discover that I can scan and email documents and then mail copies. Why couldn't thins have been offerred two days ago? There is also the issue of extra fees. I knew there would be port fees. I would like to discuss them, because i think they are quite high. There is also storage. they want over 3000 shekel for storage for 3 months. I think that's excessive. There is also a 2000 shekel fee for delivering out of there normal delivery range. there delivery range is the center of the county. My contract says door to door with no mention of a distance limit. Apparently, this is built into the original quote. Since we didn't know where we were going he didn't factor this in. But the fine print does not mention this at all. It does mention extra fees for delivering over the Green Line. The guy in New York basically said tough. So after paying several thousand dollars we need to pay an equivalent amount in shekels to get our stuff. Nothing is ever easy in this country. Eveything requires a discussion, a plea, and and extra fee. Well, not everything. But many things.

I did rent a car Monday to go to Ashdod. I didn't go, but the car did get us to Tiveria for Ayelet's ultrasound. the doctor was very nice and helpful (not something to take for granted here). After signing off on the car I realized that they gave me a stick shift. When I asked about this he said, "I'll try to find you an automatic. In the meantime try to drive this one." He didn't seem to care about undue wear and tear on the transmission. Ayelet's midwife talked me through it and I managed to drive it around a bit. They did find me an automatic. I was not prepared to drive on the highways or in the hills of Tiveria with a stick shift. I do plan to learn stick, and maybe that is what we will buy (B"EH in a few weeks).

I had a job interview yesterday at a software shop in the Qazrin Industrial Park. I got the impression he wanted to help me, but he didn't seem to have anything for me. He looked at my resume and asked me what I like to do. I told him. He basically said, "I don't need you for that. What do you like to do?" I told him again. He said, "It will take you too long to learn how to do that in my company. What do you like to do?" In the end he said he'll call me back. So the jobhunt continues. I plan to go back to the industrial park tomorrow and go around introducing myself. Maybe I can work at the Golan Heights Winery.

Ayelet is working on a new program in conjuction with www.BinahBaby.com. It is a Post Pardom Doula training program; training women to help mothers after the birth. Information is coming soon to www.wholebodybirth.com. I will be posting it later, when Ayelet gives me the content.

Ok, that's it for now. There's other stuff to do. Enjoy, comment, and keep in touch,
Yoram