Psalm 19:2-3 “The heavens declare the glory of G-d, and the firmament tells of His handiwork. Day following day utters speech, and night following night declares knowledge.”
I have a photo of a white rose with rain drops on it that I took just outside the machson (the laundry complex where I work). I was sharing some of my photos with a fellow ulpanist who works in the washing and drying of laundry. When we came across the rose photo I commented where I took the picture and he mentioned that he never noticed things like that.
I read a while back an article expressing how the technological advances of society, while good, more often than not have drawn our attention, and our soul, away from the heavens (heavens meaning HaShem). In the Western World (as well as other societies that unfortunately want to mimic it) individuals are inundated with media and the constant movement and noise of technology. Unfortunately, one result of this is loss of sight – sight to see the beauty of the world around that declares to those who will listen of the beauty of their Creator.
While technology has the capacity to reduce the stress of living through washing machines, microwaves, telecommunications, etc. so that we do not have to strive so much to live, it seems that it has advanced so rapidly that we don’t know, or didn’t take the time, to incorporate them into our lives – but rather incorporated our lives into the technology. We need to stop and ask ourselves if we have allowed these wonderful inventions truly to enrich our lives or merely take ahold of our lives. Do we know how to stop and enjoy the simple act of being? Can we be mindful of our Creator and the bigger picture of our lives in every act we perform?
How long has it been since you’ve truly taken time to stop what you’re doing and look around you to see the beauty waiting to be seen, to contemplate the wonders behind the creation and the Wonder of the Creator? Get out of the city to a quiet place away from distractions and notice the world around. If you can’t leave the city, go to a park or your backyard or even in the middle of your walk from one building to the next, pause and look at the sky or literally stop and smell the roses. I challenge you to take time in the middle of your routine to stop and get out of it, even for a moment, to look around and to listen to the declarations of the heavens, night and day.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Life Abroad
Newsbulletin: Jan. 11, 2008
Cross-cultural experiences encourage adjustment and resourcefulness:
Situation: Wanting to order something behind a counter but your vocabulary is limited to both inquire and request the choices before you. Solution: You select items based on your limited vocabulary, not necessarily because of your preference or even knowledge of what you are ordering, but merely because that is what you can get out. For example, I ordered ‘te’ (tea) with the green lid only because those were the words I knew, not because I actually knew what flavor I was getting. (It turned out to be mango, which wasn’t bad!).
Situation: Climate control is limited to one space heater in a concrete room with high ceilings and otherwise poor insulation. Solution: I sleep with my hairdryer by my bed as a modern day equivalent to the warming pans they used in earlier times to heat the blankets. (It works quite nicely, I might add. J)
Situation: Food is not served in the dining hall on Saturday evenings which requires ulpanists to either take a ‘to-go’ box at lunch or order out after the Shabbat has ended. If you opt for the ‘to-go’ box and choose food that tastes better warm, unless you have friends with a hot-pan, you better think twice. Solution: Choose cold salads (we do, at least, have a small fridge) or set your food in front of the one space heater and wait a long time (it does work, however!).
Situation: Israelis have little concept of personal space – a small distance between you and the person in front of you in a line indicates you are obviously just standing aimlessly around and another will come along and insert their self into said distance. Solution: Lose the Texas mentality of “wide-open spaces” and learn to get ‘up close and personal’ for buses, food lines, etc.
This particular entry is a work in progress – as I observe more cultural differences I’ll try to add them. Please check back from time to time – but not too often! Personally, I’m not complaining – I rather enjoy the challenges and adjustments that intercultural interaction provokes and enjoy laughing at my own culture and its peculiarities in a foreign setting – and I really am enjoying my time here in Israel and encourage everyone to make the effort to visit!
Cross-cultural experiences encourage adjustment and resourcefulness:
Situation: Wanting to order something behind a counter but your vocabulary is limited to both inquire and request the choices before you. Solution: You select items based on your limited vocabulary, not necessarily because of your preference or even knowledge of what you are ordering, but merely because that is what you can get out. For example, I ordered ‘te’ (tea) with the green lid only because those were the words I knew, not because I actually knew what flavor I was getting. (It turned out to be mango, which wasn’t bad!).
Situation: Climate control is limited to one space heater in a concrete room with high ceilings and otherwise poor insulation. Solution: I sleep with my hairdryer by my bed as a modern day equivalent to the warming pans they used in earlier times to heat the blankets. (It works quite nicely, I might add. J)
Situation: Food is not served in the dining hall on Saturday evenings which requires ulpanists to either take a ‘to-go’ box at lunch or order out after the Shabbat has ended. If you opt for the ‘to-go’ box and choose food that tastes better warm, unless you have friends with a hot-pan, you better think twice. Solution: Choose cold salads (we do, at least, have a small fridge) or set your food in front of the one space heater and wait a long time (it does work, however!).
Situation: Israelis have little concept of personal space – a small distance between you and the person in front of you in a line indicates you are obviously just standing aimlessly around and another will come along and insert their self into said distance. Solution: Lose the Texas mentality of “wide-open spaces” and learn to get ‘up close and personal’ for buses, food lines, etc.
This particular entry is a work in progress – as I observe more cultural differences I’ll try to add them. Please check back from time to time – but not too often! Personally, I’m not complaining – I rather enjoy the challenges and adjustments that intercultural interaction provokes and enjoy laughing at my own culture and its peculiarities in a foreign setting – and I really am enjoying my time here in Israel and encourage everyone to make the effort to visit!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Shalom!
Shalom All!
What can I say? Things have more or less settled into a routine. However, about a week or so ago I definitely had a unique experience while helping Israel keep on top of their security. Earlier in the Ulpan some of the students were selected to participate in security check exercises at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Yours truly volunteered to participate! I got to meet some of the security administrators and go into those restricted areas you don't usually get to enter. On top of that I got to intentionally lie to the security at the airport! Don't worry, family. All was under survellience and I was perfectly safe, and just so you know Israel's security is really good!
We did two trips - one to Tel Aviv & Jaffo and the other to Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv/Jaffo we went to the home of the first mayor of Tel Aviv which is where the leaders declared the state of Israel in May of 1948. We went through the old city of Jaffo and saw the port. Jaffo was the main port/entrance into the land of Israel for ages - thus it was the port from where Jonah tried to flee and probably where King Solomon had the wood from Lebanon sent in order to make overland transportation shorter - the wood of course being for the construction of the first Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple).
In Jerusalem we visited the Yad Vashem Museum which a Holocaust Museum and research center. By the way it is also where President Bush will be visiting on his 3 day stay here. It is an overwhelming musuem and definitely worth more than one visit. Anything I say will be an understatement but it was terrible to see the capacity to which man can degrade to.
I must say it's been interesting being in Jerusalem during Bush's visit. We're pretty certain that we heard/saw the heliocopters carrying him and/or his personnel en route to Jerusalem as Tzuba is on the way. Also, several streets were closed in Jerusalem but as I travelled there I didn't notice anything different except that there was much more security personnel all around. Thanks for y'alls savlanut (patience) and I'll try to get something else on. I'm enjoying my time here and thank you all for your support and encouragement and prayers. I am still amazed that I am here!
What can I say? Things have more or less settled into a routine. However, about a week or so ago I definitely had a unique experience while helping Israel keep on top of their security. Earlier in the Ulpan some of the students were selected to participate in security check exercises at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Yours truly volunteered to participate! I got to meet some of the security administrators and go into those restricted areas you don't usually get to enter. On top of that I got to intentionally lie to the security at the airport! Don't worry, family. All was under survellience and I was perfectly safe, and just so you know Israel's security is really good!
We did two trips - one to Tel Aviv & Jaffo and the other to Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv/Jaffo we went to the home of the first mayor of Tel Aviv which is where the leaders declared the state of Israel in May of 1948. We went through the old city of Jaffo and saw the port. Jaffo was the main port/entrance into the land of Israel for ages - thus it was the port from where Jonah tried to flee and probably where King Solomon had the wood from Lebanon sent in order to make overland transportation shorter - the wood of course being for the construction of the first Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple).
In Jerusalem we visited the Yad Vashem Museum which a Holocaust Museum and research center. By the way it is also where President Bush will be visiting on his 3 day stay here. It is an overwhelming musuem and definitely worth more than one visit. Anything I say will be an understatement but it was terrible to see the capacity to which man can degrade to.
I must say it's been interesting being in Jerusalem during Bush's visit. We're pretty certain that we heard/saw the heliocopters carrying him and/or his personnel en route to Jerusalem as Tzuba is on the way. Also, several streets were closed in Jerusalem but as I travelled there I didn't notice anything different except that there was much more security personnel all around. Thanks for y'alls savlanut (patience) and I'll try to get something else on. I'm enjoying my time here and thank you all for your support and encouragement and prayers. I am still amazed that I am here!
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