Good things come to those who wait!

Shalom Lovelies…

 

Hmmm. Ummm. Awareness here that we are not the most reliable bloggers… we have been building up our blogging energy to explode in an ultimate blog… of brilliant descriptive quality. So here goes:

 

Since last Monday, Filly has been hard at work at Ulpan, getting to grips with the Hebrew language. He is finding it enjoyable, challenging & upsetting to discover that the beautiful Russian lady who had been motivating him to learn Ivrit in fact has a Russian boyfriend who speaks Russian & thus has one up on our lovely Filo. Chaval…

 

He also set out on an adventurous quest to find us an apartment & in partnership with Rere (what a pair) they discovered a brilliant base in Ramat Gan in Tel Aviv, a 3 bedroom beauty at the moment… soon to be 5 once we build a wall or two. We have the keys & shall begin the big move in the next week or so! He is also psyching himself up for the arrival of the whole Filson clan for Mike’s wedding, to take place in Haifa next week.

 

Furthermore (he’s been a busy boy), he headed down to TA to get down with the lads (Israeli style) for some hard core Rugby Training. Commenting on the experience, ‘Ummm it was strange, we didn’t touch a ball once & everyone seemed nice until I was made to run for 3 hours & jump… a lot. Apparently to the Georgian Coach, this is Rugby.’ Filly spent most of yesterday walking funny with numerous aches and pains from the training.

 

In the last two weeks I have been fully immersed in the land of Shnat 08/09 and oh what a glorious place to be! From the moment they arrived, a giant love beam filled with laughter, bunny bunny, a variety of situational hats, numerous impromptu sing alongs, wedding crashers, immense theatrical ivrit performances, shnat hugs & oh so so much more, has shone its light on Israel.

 

I am mamash greatful & excited to be guiding them through such a meaningful & challenging period in their lives. Am learning so much every day and with every question we pose to the Shnatties, I am asking myself…

 

My co- madrich is Ben, from Hanoar Ha’oved Vehalomed (Habonim Dror’s Sister Youth Movement). He is wonderful… understanding, loving, fun & am very happy we are madrichim together! We are part of a tsevet of 6 madrichim (Liron & Ofer from Israel and Jakki & Sager from America) & 2 rakazim (Leon & Noga, both of whom live in Kvutzot in Hadera). Tis a very inspiring environment to be in.

 

Och I have a lot to say. I think perhaps the best way is to say what I love about being here…

 

I love… that this afternoon I sat on a beach with Yaniv Cohen of Manchester fame & connected to the sea; the old men sat on the streets playing shesh besh & arguing over cards; the nuts in all the convenience stores; the brightly coloured shmatties being sold on every street corner; Rere & Fabs (who are now a part of the Kvutzah); waking up to blue skies, beautiful trees & bright beaming sunshine; the buses, the buildings, the language, the food; that the old women at Kibbutz Ein Dor meet every night outside the Cheder Ochel to play board games; the bonding between the Shnatties & the Work Shoppers; meeting people on the buses, in shops, on the streets; getting to know people living in Israel in Habo Kvutzot & feeling hopeful and excited about what we are going to create together J. I love that I love Netanya despite my cynicism in earlier days. I love love love…

 

I LOVE it here. Genuinely. I feel exactly where I am supposed to be & that, I feel, has got to be a good thing.

 

Hugs, Love, Kisses on your Keppeli (forehead in Yiddish) & Sunset Sunshine,

 

Please write back & share how you are…

 

Filly & Tash

 

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Day 5 - Shabbat

There's something different about today.

Today is Shabbat.

How wonderful it was that yesterday (friday) afternoon after buying a bottle of water, the shop keeper wished me Shabbat Shalom. A sense of happiness and fulfillment washes over me everytime I hear these words. It is like the first time I've ever heard them. Bliss!

Tashy spent a relaxing day on the beach with Re, Db, Jo and Charlotte.

I chilled at home, played guitar, got beaten at rummikub by Fabs and his friends. I read some Kafka and reflected on life. I found a poem that I wrote last year in Israel about Israel....I tink im going to add to it maybe?? Here what i've got so far.....

lost in time
but not in faith

free to be
but with constraints

twisted views
of one place

meanings lost
with such haste


Shabbat Shalom/Hope your having a good weekend

Love

Filly and Tashy xxxxxx

DAYS 3 & 4

Once upon a time...

In a land flowing with (soya) milk and honey, something remarkable happened.

Two special yet distinctly normal human beings arrived to lap up the milk & get sticky with the honey. Days One and Two have already been told, so now let the rest of their magical story unfold...

Day Three was a day of learning. Complex learning. Tash learnt that Et is pen and Dan that Kaf is spoon in Hebrew. Then they shared and their knowledge expanded (the joys of socialism :) ). Whilst Filo (pet name for Mr Filson from Rehovians of 2008) shopped in preparation for Friday night & conversed with Anton (lover of 80s cheese) , Tash embarked on an arduous (juicy word!) journey to Jerusalem to visit her brother (Arron), sister in law (Miriam) and nephew (Moshe). Moshe really is divine, a joyful bundle of light.

Having spent a full day apart Filo and Tash conversed and understood that the ways of the universe were urging them to head to Tel Aviv and meet on the sea front where they were guided to head down to the pier on the beach with several wonderful friends (inc. Laura Jane Jackson & Stacey Gower of North London fame) 2 sit fervently and gaze softly at the sea. Such contradictions. Such madness. Such a delightful evening.

Then came Day Four. Rays of sunshine beamed invitingly in through the windows of their friends apartment in Tel Aviv forcing the inhabitants out of bed and out onto the streets of Yaffo (South Tel Aviv). Yaffo is a bustling, colourful neighbourhood famous for its flea market & for being a place where Israeli Jews and Arabs mix well together.

Following this, Filly ve (and) Tashy headed back to Netanya to prepare Friday night dinner with Rere, Fabs & Fabs' two friends from Uruguay (Diego ve Ruben). Dinner was DELICIOUS. They were joined by three members of Kvutzah Aseef (American Kvutzah living in Tel Aviv), Ilan, Ruth & Jacki (who made aliyah today!! mazels :) ). Filo baked challot, Rere made chicken, Tash made potatoes, Fabs made music (djjjjjjjj)... DB, Jo & Charlotte rocked up from TA, Joshy, Vered & Tomer from Kvutzah Ogen came to play. The night was dynamic, special & the perfect way to welcome in our first Shabbat in Israel.

Shabbat Shalom from Netanya. We hope your day is lighter than the average... more meaningful, reflective & unique.

Love Filly & Tash

xxxxx

The End (for now)

Day 2 - Settle in to our new Crib

Day 2

After waking up late, we carried on the bureaucratic highway and organised our health insurance....(this was pretty easy actually!)

Next was shwarama and falfel for lunch with Fabs, ReRe and a new friend Yoci (not sure if thats how to spell it...i'll blame my lexdisia!)

Tashy then went to the beach whilst I unpacked and settled into our new flat.

We then had friends from another Kvutsah come over. We chillaxed and had dinner.

Watch our cribs episode and be introduced to our friends and our apartment.

Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated keep them all coming!

See y'all tomorrow

Tashy and Filly xxxxxxx

Day 1 - What a feeling!

The sun is setting on our first day as Israelis. 

So... We thought we'd share our experience thus far...

THE DAY 

We arrived at Ben Gurion Airport about 5am. We stood in the olim (immigrants) queue to get our passports checked and welcomed into The Holy Land. The woman at passport control did not look too happy until Filo arrived and charmed her with his brilliant wit and loving smile! We were then shipped over to the old terminal where we had delicious sandwiches, drinks & were given our first installment of our sal klita- money we receive to help us on our aliyah journey. We also received a teuda oleh each giving us our official olim (immigrants) rights.

Following that we chillaxed for a bit in the baggage department, taking lots of ridiculous videos on the topics of luggage, name changing & us (our fave topic of today :) ) before we headed out to be greeted by a beautiful sight of blue shirts, red strings & smiling Habonim Dror Tnuat Bogrim. Wonderful! We hugged, exclaimed, posed for photos and hugged some more.

We then jumped on board the Tone- mobile and headed to Rere and Fab's brilliant apartment in Netanya. They are from Habo Brazil & Uruguay and have been mamash (really) hospitable! We are staying with them for the next 6 weeks whilst we share our experiences with one another, understand where our partnerships are in the future & find someplace marvellous to settle. 

We spent today sunning, sleeping, eating AMAZING humus and musing over how chilled and normal everything feels. Tonight we are heading into Tel Aviv to listen to some jaaaaaaaaaaaazz. YES!

In the morning, we shall excitedly meet with Rere and Fabs who are currently finishing being Madrichim on MBI (American tour) and plan our next steps. Most important for tomorrow is to get our health insurance. I already trapped my finger in the door today... no need to panic, it's just a little bruised :), it's all the excitement that did it!

We feel good. We hope you do too. Any questions on anything- words, people, Tnuat Bogrim, Habo in Israel, Jaaaaaaaaaaaaazz please post below and we will reply. Please post with musings also, we love musings. We hope this is the beginning of a beautiful exchange.

For now... Shalom... Have a delightful evening.

Love and Sunshine (like proper proper hot, beaming, brilliant sunshine!!)

Tash and Filly

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