One of the many "joys" when you live in close quarters with 45 people from 18 countries speaking eight different languages are the many fascinating cultural lessons you get each and every day.
For instance Russians don't shower daily, British people still hold a disdain for Americans, and the Spanish spoke in Argentina is quite different from the Spanish spoken in Venezuela and Cuba.
But maybe least importantly people from South Africa find these videos fascinating....and so do I. btei'avon!
Life is Life by Laibach
The South African Vanilla Ice
תיהנו!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
A Day in Tel-Aviv
With a few days of freedom on my hands before work and class get rolling into full gear, it was time for an adventure to explore this wonderful country. But where to go....where to go...how about a day exploring the New York City of Israel, off to experience the city of Tel-Aviv!
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| McDonald's: The official hangover breakfast wherever in the world you are. |
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| Tel-Aviv skyscrapers |
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| A memorial statue of some sort...only if I read Hebrew. |
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| The tree from the Lion King I believe. |
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| Eggplant graffiti. |
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| Politicians? Local TV news crew? Who knows, but they were sure damn loud. |
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| Ironic |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Popular |
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| The graffiti here is just so damn mind boggling |
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| Get that three headed monster boys! |
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| Climb up and touch it...I dare you |
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| So a crow and an elephant have sex.... |
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| The famous Sheinkin street, home of the Sheinkin market. No market pictures available I was too busy blowing my money |
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| A game of find the cat in the trash |
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| So the sunsets on Tel-Aviv |
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| and the moon comes out! |
To My East Coastians:
I was very excited to sit down and brag away about the gorgeous weather we are having over here in Kiriat Ata, Israel....the bright sunny days, the gorgeous nights you can walk around in a t-shirt and be comfortable, the anti-East Coast weather if you will...but then I checked weather.com and had those bragging rights stripped away from me.
An Israeli winter consists of temperatures in high 60's and an occasional rain storm -- paradise compared to Northern, Virginia-- but now I see you all are having 70 degree sunny days! WTF is that?
You are supposed to be ankle deep in snow, shielding your faces from the brutal wind, and avoiding the rain; not rocking shorts and getting your tan on.
BUT OH WELL...
The first nine days adjusting to life in Israel have been quite an adventure. Becoming accustomed to life in a foreign country is an on-going process; one that requires patience, an itch to learn, and a ability to not just step, but leap out of your comfort zone...and sometimes fall flat on your face, but get up and go at it again.
Using shekels instead of dollars, eating fruit AND vegetables in the same day, reverting back to a dorm lifestyle, hitchhiking, and being 'OK' with soccer being referred to as football are just a few of the daily learning curves -- but I wouldn't trade this time of my life for anything.
Why would I?
For the first time in my life I'm that good looking foreign kid with an accent, not the one wondering what the hell the girls are thinking. All those British kids who move to the USA for a "college education" are way smarter than we ever give them credit for.
But I digress.
Tomorrow is the first day of Hebrew classes, and as you can imagine I'm in the beginners class, "Alef All-Stars." Soon I will be able to count from 1-10, write my name, and even recite the alphabet in Hebrew....not shortly after I'll be reading books, writing thesis papers, and giving speeches in Hebrew, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. SO, Let the frustration begin but more importantly let the learning continue!
I hope everything is fantastic with each and every one of you all back in the good old US of A or wherever in this big wide world you just may be; but it's a school night, so some beauty rest is needed...as we say in Israel, Laila Tov!
Sean
An Israeli winter consists of temperatures in high 60's and an occasional rain storm -- paradise compared to Northern, Virginia-- but now I see you all are having 70 degree sunny days! WTF is that?
You are supposed to be ankle deep in snow, shielding your faces from the brutal wind, and avoiding the rain; not rocking shorts and getting your tan on.
BUT OH WELL...
The first nine days adjusting to life in Israel have been quite an adventure. Becoming accustomed to life in a foreign country is an on-going process; one that requires patience, an itch to learn, and a ability to not just step, but leap out of your comfort zone...and sometimes fall flat on your face, but get up and go at it again.
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| Not everything in Israel is foreign |
Why would I?
For the first time in my life I'm that good looking foreign kid with an accent, not the one wondering what the hell the girls are thinking. All those British kids who move to the USA for a "college education" are way smarter than we ever give them credit for.
But I digress.
Tomorrow is the first day of Hebrew classes, and as you can imagine I'm in the beginners class, "Alef All-Stars." Soon I will be able to count from 1-10, write my name, and even recite the alphabet in Hebrew....not shortly after I'll be reading books, writing thesis papers, and giving speeches in Hebrew, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. SO, Let the frustration begin but more importantly let the learning continue!
I hope everything is fantastic with each and every one of you all back in the good old US of A or wherever in this big wide world you just may be; but it's a school night, so some beauty rest is needed...as we say in Israel, Laila Tov!
Sean
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| Hannah, the queen of all the Kibbutz dogs |
Sunday, February 13, 2011
First Round of Pictures
| Whether you're an award winning photographer or a teenage girl looking to have the coolest Facebook in town, there may be no better place in the world to collect amazing photographs than Israel. Not saying the following pictures are anything astonishing, but when you can just aim your camera, snap and come away with a breathtaking photo -- that's what's up! Here's the first round of photos, just a few shots of life on Kibbutz Romat Yohanan.  |
| Ewan McGregor in Germany ladies and gentlemen |
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| Entrance to our very own bomb shelter! Don't fret, we haven't had to use it in a few hours. |
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| The citrus fruit fields at Romat Yohanan |
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| Farm land out here is gorgeous I would say. |
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| Yup! Kibbutz life is THIS self efficient. Our very own gas station. |
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| Got Milk? |
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| American pride in the Holy Land |
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| No bomb shelter is complete without a ping-pong table. |
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| One of our many Israeli dogs -- Hannah |
Google Translation Приведение миров
You think trying to order a McDonald's cheeseburger from a Spanish worker is hard? Try having a conversation with a Russian..or three Russians...now that defines difficult.
For the the first two days of Kibbutz life our group of fifteen people was split into two groups: Russian speakers and everyone else.
The Argentinians could speak broken English, and we could talk to them in broken Spanish. The New Yorkers we could understand despite many of us being confused what a drawaer and caf-fee meant. The Brits have a dialect many of us learned from Austin Powers or Flight of the Concords, despite the fact it's hard not to laugh every time they talk.
But the Russians, there's no understanding Russian.
Our three Russian friends, Yura, Misha, and Alexander didn't (and still don't) speak a lick of English -- but after days of of complete and utter confusion we turned to Google Translate, and from there on out our worlds finally made sense.
You may have heard Special Education or Pre-School teachers talk about how their jobs are so rewarding because they can make a difficult life easier -- and that's exactly how this felt.
With the courtesy of Google Translate and six hours of translating we taught our Ruski friends (who are not communist) Poker, Texas Hold 'Em, a few American swears, and basic conversation. We all find ourselves a world away from comfort -- but now with the help of Google -- we are all becoming more comfortable here in Israel.
Now if you'll excuse me, some Kibbutz Ulpanists from Japan are arriving....back to the translator!
For the the first two days of Kibbutz life our group of fifteen people was split into two groups: Russian speakers and everyone else.
The Argentinians could speak broken English, and we could talk to them in broken Spanish. The New Yorkers we could understand despite many of us being confused what a drawaer and caf-fee meant. The Brits have a dialect many of us learned from Austin Powers or Flight of the Concords, despite the fact it's hard not to laugh every time they talk.
But the Russians, there's no understanding Russian.
Our three Russian friends, Yura, Misha, and Alexander didn't (and still don't) speak a lick of English -- but after days of of complete and utter confusion we turned to Google Translate, and from there on out our worlds finally made sense.
You may have heard Special Education or Pre-School teachers talk about how their jobs are so rewarding because they can make a difficult life easier -- and that's exactly how this felt.
With the courtesy of Google Translate and six hours of translating we taught our Ruski friends (who are not communist) Poker, Texas Hold 'Em, a few American swears, and basic conversation. We all find ourselves a world away from comfort -- but now with the help of Google -- we are all becoming more comfortable here in Israel.
Now if you'll excuse me, some Kibbutz Ulpanists from Japan are arriving....back to the translator!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Videos for your Viewing Pleasure
View from my airplane window, sunrise over Frankfurt.
Tour of the Frankfurt airport and the MASSIVE construction they are doing on the place.
Six Thousand Miles Later...
Safe and sound in Israel! Mom you can stop worrying now.
After 6,000 miles, 19 hours, two flights, a lot of obnoxious German people, a two hour train ride, three bus trips, getting lost alone at night in the rain in Kiriat Ata, and one Taxi ride I made it to the beautiful Kibbutz Romat Yohanan.
You can say I took the scenic route to get here -- but if it wasn't for a fruit vendor named Eli I may have not made it at all! Or I might have slept on the streets.
It's not every day an exhausted and sweat drenched American dragging three bags stops by a Jewish fruit vendor. Eli was a God send, giving me the most delicious orange I ever had and giving me the gift of sanity as he called his Taxi driving friend and sent me peacefully to the Kibbutz.
Here I am, 6,000 miles from home living with a guy from Kentucky and one from New York, rooming next to three Russians, two doors down from three Brits, two hombres from Argentina, a Venezuelan, a Cuban, and a South African. Across the muddy walk way lives more Russians, a hoard of Americans from Florida, Maryland, California, and Colorado.
Three cheers for diversity!
Stay in touch, and stay beautiful!
Sean
After 6,000 miles, 19 hours, two flights, a lot of obnoxious German people, a two hour train ride, three bus trips, getting lost alone at night in the rain in Kiriat Ata, and one Taxi ride I made it to the beautiful Kibbutz Romat Yohanan.
You can say I took the scenic route to get here -- but if it wasn't for a fruit vendor named Eli I may have not made it at all! Or I might have slept on the streets.
It's not every day an exhausted and sweat drenched American dragging three bags stops by a Jewish fruit vendor. Eli was a God send, giving me the most delicious orange I ever had and giving me the gift of sanity as he called his Taxi driving friend and sent me peacefully to the Kibbutz.
Here I am, 6,000 miles from home living with a guy from Kentucky and one from New York, rooming next to three Russians, two doors down from three Brits, two hombres from Argentina, a Venezuelan, a Cuban, and a South African. Across the muddy walk way lives more Russians, a hoard of Americans from Florida, Maryland, California, and Colorado.
Three cheers for diversity!
Stay in touch, and stay beautiful!
Sean
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A New World Emerges
Holy Peter Pan, today is the day!
The day when seven months of loose planning, day dreaming and my one-way ticket become a reality.
Today, I move to Israel. Mazel Tov!
It's 3 a.m. and finally after two hours of 'slightly' inebriated packing I'm ready to get on my feet and get this journey going.
Off to the state where Christianity, Judaism, and Islam were born; where Jesus walked and Jacob donned an amazing technicolor dream coat.
To a land the world media spits on, where bacon cheese burgers are a dream, ranch dressing is non existent and soccer rules king in the sports world.
From the friendly confines of Centreville, Virgina where I've spent my time since graduating James Madison University last May substitute teaching, coaching 6th grade basketball, and building championship Madden franchises to the Holy Land.
I'll be travelling over 6,000 miles to Northern Israel to my new landing pad Kibbutz Romat Yochanan. Here daily life will include Hebrew classes, work life on a farm, pulling my share of chores on the kibbutz, and of course daily adventures. Just call me a Jewish Huck Finn if you will...or not.
So for now it's out with the old and in with the new. As the Jewish poet Tuli Kupferberg once wrote, when patterns are broken - new worlds emerge.
On a side note, . I will have internet so if you have the time, be a good chum and keep me informed on baseball and the NFL lockout, and whatever else you may please at SAYoungberg@gmail.com or SKYPE me at SeanYoungberg.
The day when seven months of loose planning, day dreaming and my one-way ticket become a reality.
Today, I move to Israel. Mazel Tov!
It's 3 a.m. and finally after two hours of 'slightly' inebriated packing I'm ready to get on my feet and get this journey going.
Off to the state where Christianity, Judaism, and Islam were born; where Jesus walked and Jacob donned an amazing technicolor dream coat.
To a land the world media spits on, where bacon cheese burgers are a dream, ranch dressing is non existent and soccer rules king in the sports world.
From the friendly confines of Centreville, Virgina where I've spent my time since graduating James Madison University last May substitute teaching, coaching 6th grade basketball, and building championship Madden franchises to the Holy Land.
I'll be travelling over 6,000 miles to Northern Israel to my new landing pad Kibbutz Romat Yochanan. Here daily life will include Hebrew classes, work life on a farm, pulling my share of chores on the kibbutz, and of course daily adventures. Just call me a Jewish Huck Finn if you will...or not.
So for now it's out with the old and in with the new. As the Jewish poet Tuli Kupferberg once wrote, when patterns are broken - new worlds emerge.
On a side note, . I will have internet so if you have the time, be a good chum and keep me informed on baseball and the NFL lockout, and whatever else you may please at SAYoungberg@gmail.com or SKYPE me at SeanYoungberg.
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