Back in September/October when I went on a trip, the age group of the people on the bus was around 28. During the two hour ride to and from mostly everybody slept. And those who didn't whispered in the back. Last week, I went to a conference in Tel Aviv for work. We had to be at the bus earlier than the usual work day. However, the average age of the people on the bus was 32 and most of the adults have kids. So, during the 45 minute drive, while me and and a few other people tried to sleep, everyone else talked.
It was interesting to realize this dynamic. I have never really thought about it before because when I go on trips, I'm usually with people my own age. Even the dynamic of the conference was like this. We got there late so my branch sat towards the back, but the teachers and the prinicpal were the first row of our branch. Behind them, the therapists and behind them, the staff and Bat-Sherut girls (the ones that do the national service). The first two rows were listening and attentive and some people were taking notes. The last row talked and doodled. While I hate to admit that I was part of the group, I will say that I think I would have paid more attention if I understood what the people were saying. Though, when someone talks in a monotonous voice, they are boring no matter what language.
The rest of the week at school was Hanukkah vacation so while the kids didn't have to come in, we were still there. But as luck would have it every kid came into Gan, except one. But it's rare that we always have all seven kids.
This is the first year that I have truly experienced Hannukah in Israel. My semester in Haifa there was a party with sufguniot (doughnuts) and last year I barely had time to light the menorah. But this year was different. I saw and felt Hannukah, though without the snow. The first night of Hanukkah, I went to the Old city to see all the chanukiot (menorahs) placed in the windows and by the Kotel. A big blue menorah by Yafo Gate welcomes the visitors, as well as the one in Kikiar Tzion. It was gorgeous seeing the two candles flicker against the Jerusalem stone. Because the streets in the Old City are so narrow, the light from the chanukiot lit up the alleyways. In addition, there was a Hannukah party at school and the siblings of the kids came to celebrate. The third night of Hannukah, as I was walking down the street, I was offered free sufguniot from different vendors and given gifts. On the last night of Hanukkah, I went to a pub where there were free dreidels (with a pey instead of a shin) and gelt.
Every night when I walked home to and from work, I would see the greetings on the busses wishing me a happy Hannukkah. At sunset, I would see families lighting candles and singing the blessing so that by the time I got home, there were chanukiot in almost every window in my apartment building. Most nights as I entered my buildings, I could smell latkes in the hallway wafting towards my nose
pictures of Hanukkah and other adventures
