Home for the holidays

Again, please forgive the time lapse. It is february and I am posting this stuff now, so I am going to indulge in some time travel...won't you join me?

Adam and I boarded the same plane early in the am on December 22 to travel to Vermont to spend some time with our families. We never get to travel together, so this was a real treat for us. We tarried longer than desired due to "weather" in NYC, which was mostly ok with us as it allowed for several rounds of tacos and burittos. We arrived in Vermont, where it was raining! In December! No snow to be seen anywhere....strange.

The next day my sister and mother arrived, and so there we were, the first offical gathering of both of our families. We spend a few fun filled, action packed days together planning, planning, and planning some more for the upcoming summer wedding. It went mostly very well, and I only cried once, which I hear is pretty good as far as wedding planning goes. Really though, Adam and I are thrilled that our families enjoy one another so much. And amazed at their generosity in throwing this party for us. Hope you can all make it, its going to be something!



The ladies of both families, plus Adam, then traveled to Boston where Connie, Sera's mom, flew back to Austin, and the rest of us met my Rabbi, Lev Baesh, for my formal conversion on december 26th. What an incredible experience, from beginning to...I'd say end, but I feel it was just another beginning. I've been working with Lev for well over a year now on my conversion. He agreed to lead me through this experience via email, as he lives in New Hampshire, and I wasn't having any luck finding a Rabbi in Communist Vietnam (taste the sarcasm??). The process was rich, and full of adventure for both Adam and I as we led a Passover Seder in Hanoi, honored Shabbat with all kinds of different folks around, and did our best to honor the holidays in the midst of that crazy Communist coutry, lacking much of anything in the way of God. So, Lev arranged for my mikveh to take place at this phenonmenal place in Newton, MA, called Mayyim Hayyim. A mikveh designed with water, women, and the sacred in mind, to be sure. The ceremony was truly a milestone in my life I will never forget, and always remeber with a deep appreciation for the moments that Adam, Judaism, and Lev came into my life. Blessed, on all counts. So, now I am formally a member of the tribe, and am looking forward to walking my path as a Jew with a hightened sense of compassion, community, and history, than before.

We then headed back to Vermont, Adam went skiing, I read books, made soup, and we all relaxed. Adam and I drove up to Monreal for New Year's where we enjoyed a night with friends, sushi, and were in bed at 12:07. Here we are, all dressed up, at the tasty sushi place toating the new year!



Then it was back to Vermont, wrapped up the remaing wedding stuff, and back to Be'er Sheba. On seperate planes, of course!

Hanukah

A bit belated, as its February and I am just posting this now, but....we had a Chanukah party and it was great! We lit candles, had a smashing of a success of a white elephant party, and ate lots of latkas...wish you all could've been there with us. Here are some pics of us and the party...

Happy Hannukah, and may there always be miracles!!!!

Valentine's Day weekend

We are constantly pinching ourselves, Adam and I, that is...I don't know if Jed does this, to be mindful of how lucky we are. Well, the last weekend was just another luxurious example of this. We were treated to a heavenly weekend of feasting and fun in Jerusalem by our parents, thank you parents! It was wonderful in every way, and I am feeling a bit "hung-over" about it as I sit here in our office at home posting this now....sigh.

As weekends start here on Thursday, Adam met me after his courses ended on Thursday night. I went up early in the AM on Thursday as I had a meeting in East Jerusalem where I hope to be spending much more time working with Palestinian and Israeli midwives. We went out for a glorious and indulgent dinner of sushi (what a treat!), and while we were at the cafe we ran into some friends of the Rosenbbooms, Yael and Ron, and their kids. Adam's mom worked with Yael at the Israeli Consul General in Houston, and they were celebrating their daughter's 18th birthday. Made us feel like we really live here, now that we are bumping into people we know.



We spent the night in a lovely hostel right in the center of things off of Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, and got up early to go wedding ring shopping with an old friend of Adam's, Tamar, who lives in Jerusalem. We think we've probably found what we are looking for, but won't ruin the surprise! We then mozied on over to the swanky Inbal Hotel where we were hosted by the Houston Jewish Federation for the weekend. WOWOWOWOW, wined and dined like we were somebody special! Felt grrrrrrrrrrrrreat! We had Shabbat dinner in a formal dinning room where all the students had to go around the room and introduce themselves to the 260-thick Houstonian delegation. Adam intoduced me as his fiancee, and we got a big round of applause and "mozel tov". It makes me smile just thinking about it. Jonas, Adam's brother who lives in Jerusalem, joined us there for the weekend, as well. Its great to see them together, they enjoy one another so much.



Saturday we rose somewhat early, ate a tasty breakfast, and strolled out into the brilliant sunshine to enjoy a day at the Israel Museum. Full of all things old and Jewish. Also a few exhibitions of random modern and classic art thrown in for good measure. The dead sea scrolls are on display in this strange building that is designed to feel like a clay jar. I felt like I was in "I Dream of Jeanie". A great day, to be sure. Then we headed back, checked out, got on the bus, and headed back to Be'er Sheba.



One more treat was in store for us, though: we passed Condi's motorcade as she was arriving from the airport. Straight from Iraq. Times like this make me breathe deeply in appreciation for this place we are calling home these days. Lucky, lucky, lucky.

More to come, stay tuned....

Why we are here and what we think about it

Well, we've been here now for what somedays feels like a very long while and on others a quick breath. In truth, it adds up to about 6 months. Some might ask why it is that we decided to come live here for the next three years while Adam persues his dream of becoming a doctor. Well, to start with, we just aren't ready to move back to the US, and the program here is fabulous as it allows him to keep learning in an international context to best serve in Kartoum or Kabul or wherever we go from here. Additionally, living here allows me, Sera, to keep working on an international scope and to live close enough to a conflict zone to be able to commute. Not too many other parts of the world where I'd be able to do that. So, here we are: Be'er Sheba.



Israel is an incredibly interesting place to be, and the real thing is way better than any book I've read! I had no idea of the diversity in population: on our street alone we have a family from Tunisia, a "spy" and his extended family relocated from Gaza, an extended Bedouin family, a handyman who grew up on a kibbutz, and some other med students. The demographics, geopgraphy, and politics will keep us learning for at least the four years we are here. We are loving it more and more, day by day, and are feeling really blessed to call this part of the world home for a little while.

What we love about Be'er sheba: our friends, our house, the weather, the cheap produce, and the lively atmosphere ensured by our current geographical location of 18 miles east of Gaza. What we could love more about Be'er Sheba: a bookstore, a taco bar, a yoga studio, and a clean dog park.