Today was a sunny Sunday full of sports events:
The Gaelic Football Semi Final- a giants match between Dublin and Kerry.
And as Grace keep saying: Kerry is The Best! They are. Dubs knocked out by Kerry. On September 16th Kerry will play the final against its greatest rival- Cork!
The Tour of Ireland.
On my way back from lunch with Dan, we saw that it was the time the competitor arrived the part of Dublin we were at. It was lame in a way. It didn't look like Tour De France with loads of people cheering the riders. There were approximately 40 people along 200 meters. Half of them were kids or even babies. Disappointing.
Grand Canal Walk
Well, this I didn't witness. It's just that on my way back home at around 18:00, There was a singer singing on an improvised stage. I must try to describe it- it was looked like an open container. When I'll have the pic I took on my mobile, I'll upload it, hopefully it is clear enough to see what I'm talking about. Besides the singer and the 2 years old girl wondering around him and his 2-people band, there were tens of people sitting at tables (or not) and drinking beer. The kids wore with their parents' Grand Canal Walk large size t-shirts.
What about me?
I had my own Cycling Tour at the gym
I had my own (Jogging) Marathon at the gym
And I had my own Grand Canal Walk on my way to and from the office.
Sorry, no Gaelic Football activity. I didn't even get the chance to discuss the rules with Grace yet.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
My First Time
Or: First Month Summary
1. Got my first ever Free Massage for the first time in my life
2. Played Foosball for the first time in my life
3. Played Nintendo Wii for the first time in my life
4. Worked extra hours on my third week in a new job for the first time in my life
5. And must think how I want to spend my 11 Vacation days by the end of the year! And some other 25 days by the end of next one, not including public holidays - another 9 days per year. I wish this was my only problem. But when I come to think of it, I don't have that many problems these days for the first time in my life
6. Having an umbrella in my bag on a regular basis for the first time in my life
7. Walked in the rain wearing shorts for the first time in my life
8. Not working on Sundays for the first time in my life
9. Go to the Gym (for the first time in 6 years)
10. And don't have to pay for it for the first time in my life
11. Went to a Jews' singles party (organized by Rabbi Zalman), and enjoyed every minute (not everybody were Jews neither single) for the first time in my life
12. Drank alcohol every weekend for the first time in my life
13. Being broke for the first time in my life. Had more money when I was 16 (Don't want to spend the money I have in Israel)
14. But I'm also doing good by thinking how shall I spend the little money I do have.
15. Don't spend money on food during weekdays for the first time in my life
16. I'll have a very impressive this month for the first time in my life. This month only, though...
17. And of course living abroad, (18.) working abroad, (19.) to be precise- working at Google, (20.) partying and having fun and (21.) trying to count how many people in Israel are thinking of me and wanting to strangle me out of jealousy. Or just strangle me without any reasonable reason (I can think of one person right now! haha ha ha hahaha ha... I wish she could read that!) all of the above- for the first time in my life
There are many other first times I just can't remember. So many new good things and adventures. Besides, I must leave something for my next post.
I also have to go to a party soon, so no time as well.
1. Got my first ever Free Massage for the first time in my life
2. Played Foosball for the first time in my life
3. Played Nintendo Wii for the first time in my life
4. Worked extra hours on my third week in a new job for the first time in my life
5. And must think how I want to spend my 11 Vacation days by the end of the year! And some other 25 days by the end of next one, not including public holidays - another 9 days per year. I wish this was my only problem. But when I come to think of it, I don't have that many problems these days for the first time in my life
6. Having an umbrella in my bag on a regular basis for the first time in my life
7. Walked in the rain wearing shorts for the first time in my life
8. Not working on Sundays for the first time in my life
9. Go to the Gym (for the first time in 6 years)
10. And don't have to pay for it for the first time in my life
11. Went to a Jews' singles party (organized by Rabbi Zalman), and enjoyed every minute (not everybody were Jews neither single) for the first time in my life
12. Drank alcohol every weekend for the first time in my life
13. Being broke for the first time in my life. Had more money when I was 16 (Don't want to spend the money I have in Israel)
14. But I'm also doing good by thinking how shall I spend the little money I do have.
15. Don't spend money on food during weekdays for the first time in my life
16. I'll have a very impressive this month for the first time in my life. This month only, though...
17. And of course living abroad, (18.) working abroad, (19.) to be precise- working at Google, (20.) partying and having fun and (21.) trying to count how many people in Israel are thinking of me and wanting to strangle me out of jealousy. Or just strangle me without any reasonable reason (I can think of one person right now! haha ha ha hahaha ha... I wish she could read that!) all of the above- for the first time in my life
There are many other first times I just can't remember. So many new good things and adventures. Besides, I must leave something for my next post.
I also have to go to a party soon, so no time as well.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
You Should be More Careful!
That's what the nice Irish policeman said to someone I know, after crossing the street. Why did he say that? Because a car driver saw a pedestrian crossing the street, and that was a good-enough reason to speed up. Why not making the poor pedestrian sweat a bit and feel like this could be his/her last moment in life?
That's how it is here in Dublin. The streets of Dublin (or any other place in Ireland) are not a safe place! The unwritten law is that cars and drivers have the priority to drive (and maybe run over people as well???...), the pedestrians must be more careful and more responsible, and wish they had a car. That way we'll feel much safer.
After being here for almost a month, I can understand where it comes from. The streets of Dublin are very narrow and crowded. There are more traffic lights for cars than pedestrians. We have to cross the street whenever it seems safe enough. But there's always a car with a mad driver behind the wheel, just around the corner. Pedestrians always have to press a button if they want to cross the street, even at the city busiest junction. Otherwise the light will never change to green on most pedestrians' traffic lights.
The police' approach is to reproach and preach. At least they don't give pedestrians reports for crossing the street on red light and/or carelessness . Like in Israel. But at least in Israel pedestrians are more taken care of. the police do a lot in those cases, and give away many reports to rogue drivers. I read and saw on the news!
I know some might disagree. I know it sounds absurd, but wait till you are here, and then understand what I'm talking about. Yes, I do mean that Israeli drivers are more careful than Irish. Despite the fact that they can stab you when you argue with them. Well, I'm exaggerating, as almost always, but it does happen, sometimes. That, too, was written and on the news. From time to time.
I have one last tip. If you're in Dublin, try not to accidentally hit the mirror of the car next to you with our elbow, or the driver will start beeping like crazy and shout at you like crazy. Based on a true story. Not mine. Yet.
That's how it is here in Dublin. The streets of Dublin (or any other place in Ireland) are not a safe place! The unwritten law is that cars and drivers have the priority to drive (and maybe run over people as well???...), the pedestrians must be more careful and more responsible, and wish they had a car. That way we'll feel much safer.
After being here for almost a month, I can understand where it comes from. The streets of Dublin are very narrow and crowded. There are more traffic lights for cars than pedestrians. We have to cross the street whenever it seems safe enough. But there's always a car with a mad driver behind the wheel, just around the corner. Pedestrians always have to press a button if they want to cross the street, even at the city busiest junction. Otherwise the light will never change to green on most pedestrians' traffic lights.
The police' approach is to reproach and preach. At least they don't give pedestrians reports for crossing the street on red light and/or carelessness . Like in Israel. But at least in Israel pedestrians are more taken care of. the police do a lot in those cases, and give away many reports to rogue drivers. I read and saw on the news!
I know some might disagree. I know it sounds absurd, but wait till you are here, and then understand what I'm talking about. Yes, I do mean that Israeli drivers are more careful than Irish. Despite the fact that they can stab you when you argue with them. Well, I'm exaggerating, as almost always, but it does happen, sometimes. That, too, was written and on the news. From time to time.
I have one last tip. If you're in Dublin, try not to accidentally hit the mirror of the car next to you with our elbow, or the driver will start beeping like crazy and shout at you like crazy. Based on a true story. Not mine. Yet.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Week 1 Summary
Here are the implications of my first week at Google:
My shoulders hurt and my back is almost broken from carrying my new laptop to and from work.
I have some blisters that refuse to heal from walking to and from work, 30 minutes every direction.
My arms are full with bruises as I bump into so many people on rush hours in the crowded city of Dublin.
My ass hurts from sitting for 3 hours at the Immigration police waiting to get a Certificate of Registration card that looks exactly like an ID card, but says at the back: This is not an Identity Card. And they got my details wrong: they changed my name and made me 2 years older. what the hell will happen if a policeman will check my certificate and see I'm supposed to be 30 according to it? He might think it's a fake one!
Ohhh, and almost an hour at the social security offices.
I have a cold from walking in the rain. With umbrella. No jacket.
Lack of sleep. It just feels that way. Now that I'm working again, I feel like I need to sleep more than I used to when I was unemployed. Besides, I don't feel like my back is healing as well, because of the lousy mattress we have in our apartment. In Israel I had my own wonder mattress. Now we have the cheapest mattress the owner could find. which probably wasn't that cheap. After all he paid in Euros.
And of course, I'm broke.
But somehow there's always money a pint or 2 everytime we are going to the pub.
Some of my last month expenses:
British Airways' (expensive) ticket to Dublin (which will be reimbursed);
New shoes for work, paid 100 (!!) Euros for the above-mentioned certificate (which will be reimbursed);
A new mobile. I know I cannot allow myself luxuries, but I'm an Israeli, I cannot function without a mobile. In spite of the fact that I don't really use it, I must grant people the opportunity to reach me all day. Doesn't matter if I'm broke;
New pants. In order to justify this purchase I will state that it was for work as well.
I'll get my first paycheck and the reimbursements on the 25th of August! I'll have to use the Israeli bank account for everything, and the money in it is about to evaporate by the 2nd of August.
Or maybe just ask Dan for some money... Haven't asked someone for money for over 10 years...
Isn't life wonderful as a poor girl?
So as you probably already figured out, Israelis like to complain. A lot.
But I, contrary to other Israelis, can also distinguish some positive aspects of the situation:
I start working on Mondays. I always thought that working on Sundays is useless. And at last someone actually agrees. (And for the moment, lets drop the fact I also work Fridays, OK?)
It is so nice to see the smiling face of the man who hands out the morning papers at the same street corner, and greets me every morning and wishes me a wonderful day.
I met so many interesting people, from at least 15 different nationalities!
I become even more eco-friendly than before.
There are hundreds (if not thousands) of free beer in the canteen (Where we have breakfast and lunch everyday) on each Friday's TGIF. And after drinking some, we go to the pub to drink some more.
Playing X-BOX, Foosball (Still learning), Pool (trying to, anyway), and the possibility to choose any other game, such as SP2 (t, Table-Tennis, and more (the rumor says there is or are PS3 somewhere).
If I don't feel like playing I can always sit on cushion seat (pouffe). Or on the massage sofa.
And....
I do have a google.com account, which is priceless!
My shoulders hurt and my back is almost broken from carrying my new laptop to and from work.
I have some blisters that refuse to heal from walking to and from work, 30 minutes every direction.
My arms are full with bruises as I bump into so many people on rush hours in the crowded city of Dublin.
My ass hurts from sitting for 3 hours at the Immigration police waiting to get a Certificate of Registration card that looks exactly like an ID card, but says at the back: This is not an Identity Card. And they got my details wrong: they changed my name and made me 2 years older. what the hell will happen if a policeman will check my certificate and see I'm supposed to be 30 according to it? He might think it's a fake one!
Ohhh, and almost an hour at the social security offices.
I have a cold from walking in the rain. With umbrella. No jacket.
Lack of sleep. It just feels that way. Now that I'm working again, I feel like I need to sleep more than I used to when I was unemployed. Besides, I don't feel like my back is healing as well, because of the lousy mattress we have in our apartment. In Israel I had my own wonder mattress. Now we have the cheapest mattress the owner could find. which probably wasn't that cheap. After all he paid in Euros.
And of course, I'm broke.
But somehow there's always money a pint or 2 everytime we are going to the pub.
Some of my last month expenses:
British Airways' (expensive) ticket to Dublin (which will be reimbursed);
New shoes for work, paid 100 (!!) Euros for the above-mentioned certificate (which will be reimbursed);
A new mobile. I know I cannot allow myself luxuries, but I'm an Israeli, I cannot function without a mobile. In spite of the fact that I don't really use it, I must grant people the opportunity to reach me all day. Doesn't matter if I'm broke;
New pants. In order to justify this purchase I will state that it was for work as well.
I'll get my first paycheck and the reimbursements on the 25th of August! I'll have to use the Israeli bank account for everything, and the money in it is about to evaporate by the 2nd of August.
Or maybe just ask Dan for some money... Haven't asked someone for money for over 10 years...
Isn't life wonderful as a poor girl?
So as you probably already figured out, Israelis like to complain. A lot.
But I, contrary to other Israelis, can also distinguish some positive aspects of the situation:
I start working on Mondays. I always thought that working on Sundays is useless. And at last someone actually agrees. (And for the moment, lets drop the fact I also work Fridays, OK?)
It is so nice to see the smiling face of the man who hands out the morning papers at the same street corner, and greets me every morning and wishes me a wonderful day.
I met so many interesting people, from at least 15 different nationalities!
I become even more eco-friendly than before.
There are hundreds (if not thousands) of free beer in the canteen (Where we have breakfast and lunch everyday) on each Friday's TGIF. And after drinking some, we go to the pub to drink some more.
Playing X-BOX, Foosball (Still learning), Pool (trying to, anyway), and the possibility to choose any other game, such as SP2 (t, Table-Tennis, and more (the rumor says there is or are PS3 somewhere).
If I don't feel like playing I can always sit on cushion seat (pouffe). Or on the massage sofa.
And....
I do have a google.com account, which is priceless!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
What is Home?
Is it the place where I grew up?
Is it the apartment where I live?
Is it the apartment I rent or the one my parents paid mortgage for?
And what happens if I feel like a guest at my parent's place, and my place feels like home, but not quite yet?
And what about a situation where my childhood home is sold and I haven't been at my parents' new place yet? Should I consider it home? It doesn't feel that way.
Either way, how can home be called home when I practically packed it all into 2 not-so-big suitcases??... And close the door behind me the same way as I used to when I went to work or just out, knowing I'll be back within few hours?
And is it normal to just enter a new place and all of a sudden feel like that's the home I was searching for over the last few years?
Because it feels like I found home, at last.
Is it the apartment where I live?
Is it the apartment I rent or the one my parents paid mortgage for?
And what happens if I feel like a guest at my parent's place, and my place feels like home, but not quite yet?
And what about a situation where my childhood home is sold and I haven't been at my parents' new place yet? Should I consider it home? It doesn't feel that way.
Either way, how can home be called home when I practically packed it all into 2 not-so-big suitcases??... And close the door behind me the same way as I used to when I went to work or just out, knowing I'll be back within few hours?
And is it normal to just enter a new place and all of a sudden feel like that's the home I was searching for over the last few years?
Because it feels like I found home, at last.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
News Flash
Yes, I submitted my resignation letter a month ago, and I'm not working there since last Thursday. It feels wonderful to be unemployed! Even though I wake up at around 7:30 every morning for a different doctor, meeting at the bank or breakfast with friends.
Yeah, I'm busy! If you want to meet me (in addition to all the 20 doctors I met), you must schedule. But I'm afraid it's too late, my time here is almost up... Well, by HERE I mean Israel.
I'm leaving in 6 days, for as long as possible!
On Monday I'll be heading to Dublin, Ireland. I'll be working and living there, and of course I'll be joining Dan, at last!
Right now my apartment is one big mess. Suitcases, bags and cloths that need to be washed are thrown on the floor, along with some dust and a bit more dust... And few pairs of shoes. I have so many papers on every table, and every time I need to look for my mobile phone, I must call it from my land line...
So of course I'm all excitements and stressed at the same time (WIll I be able to pack everything in the 2 suitcases? Will I be able to meet everybody by monday? etc...), and can't wait till monday comes!
Yeah, I'm busy! If you want to meet me (in addition to all the 20 doctors I met), you must schedule. But I'm afraid it's too late, my time here is almost up... Well, by HERE I mean Israel.
I'm leaving in 6 days, for as long as possible!
On Monday I'll be heading to Dublin, Ireland. I'll be working and living there, and of course I'll be joining Dan, at last!
Right now my apartment is one big mess. Suitcases, bags and cloths that need to be washed are thrown on the floor, along with some dust and a bit more dust... And few pairs of shoes. I have so many papers on every table, and every time I need to look for my mobile phone, I must call it from my land line...
So of course I'm all excitements and stressed at the same time (WIll I be able to pack everything in the 2 suitcases? Will I be able to meet everybody by monday? etc...), and can't wait till monday comes!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
How to Make Yourself Feel Good (By Helping Others)
Today's tip is totally non-selfish one. Satisfaction is guarantied!
My mom was moving to another apartment few weeks ago and all the junk I stored at her place found its way to mine...
Unfortunately I don't have such a big apartment, so I had to do something with all that stuff. So I took all my NatGeo and traveller Magazines to work and asked people to take as many as they want. It was all gone within less than an hour!
Now for the big stuff, all my books. Since I don't want to store too many of them and not able to take too many of them to Ireland (Read more about Ireland in my next post), I decided to donate to the Library where I used to spend hours since I was at 3rd grade. So I went there with 2 bags full with books, some are completely new and I never read them, and even those I read looks quite new.
The women in the library were so thrilled and excited that they called the manager so she can meet the nice girl that decided to donate so many nice books to the library.
I always used to think people donate old, non-wanted books to libraries. Apparently it doesn't happen a lot.
when I was on the way home, I decided to go over the books I decided to keep and donate some more to the library.
Whoever reads this: please do not throw away books! forward it to others or libraries.
What a way to end up the consultation month.
Hope it was useful!
My mom was moving to another apartment few weeks ago and all the junk I stored at her place found its way to mine...
Unfortunately I don't have such a big apartment, so I had to do something with all that stuff. So I took all my NatGeo and traveller Magazines to work and asked people to take as many as they want. It was all gone within less than an hour!
Now for the big stuff, all my books. Since I don't want to store too many of them and not able to take too many of them to Ireland (Read more about Ireland in my next post), I decided to donate to the Library where I used to spend hours since I was at 3rd grade. So I went there with 2 bags full with books, some are completely new and I never read them, and even those I read looks quite new.
The women in the library were so thrilled and excited that they called the manager so she can meet the nice girl that decided to donate so many nice books to the library.
I always used to think people donate old, non-wanted books to libraries. Apparently it doesn't happen a lot.
when I was on the way home, I decided to go over the books I decided to keep and donate some more to the library.
Whoever reads this: please do not throw away books! forward it to others or libraries.
What a way to end up the consultation month.
Hope it was useful!
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