Things lately on my mind

Things lately on my mind:

I’ve been recently interviewed for a local Israeli newspaper, the article’s topic being immigrant’s stories.
The interviewer: “why didn't you choose to live up north, where all the Israelis live?”
Hadas: “I didn’t come all this way to live in an Israeli ghetto. I wish to mix in my surroundings; I love the fact that Toronto is so multicultural. I wish to take advantage of that. I was once invited to a barbeque in Thornhill (a Toronto suburb mostly populated by Jewish/Israelis) and felt very sad: all the guests were Israelis, the food was Israeli (I’ve heard that shopping in a Thornhill supermarket is similar to shopping in Tel Aviv: a lot of the food is imported from Israel. Even cottage cheese), the talk was Israeli. Yet the landscape was very much North American suburbia. These people seemed transplanted in this environment, It seemed unnatural, like the Henri rousseau’s painting of a Zebra in a forest, do you know that painting? In the painting the Zebra is detached from her natural surrounding – the African desert, and transplanted in a European landscape. It always makes me feel so sad when I look at it.”
The interviewer: “But YOU are the Zebra!”
Hadas sadly, after a long pause: “You are right.”

“Next week is not going to work for a play date... just too much "programming". A mother of Daniel's friend's response for my attempt to set up what is called here in Toronto “play date” – meaning two kids meeting together to play. In my vocabulary, kids play should be spontaneous, free of “programming”, scheduling, planners, calendars and appointment books. In my vocabulary children play includes running freely in the streets, parks or beach. Laughing deeply from the tummy. Rolling in the sand, enjoying friendship and silliness with your own kind.
Hey, but what do I know: I’m a Zebra.

A friend’s friend at the park: “I heard you were going back to Israel.”
Hadas: “Yes, we are. We don’t know though if it’s going to be this October or the next”.
The friend’s friend: “why did you move to Toronto?”
Hadas: “Well, we lived in New York and had to go back and....it’s a long story...let me put it this way: life in Israel can be tough. We thought that the grass is greener, and found out we were wrong.”

The friend’s friend nods her head in understanding.

Comments

[jaime]

I agree with everything you wrote above. When I lived in Israel, I felt the same way. I tried to surround myself with Israeli friends instead of Americans. I understand the need to find comfort when you are a stranger in a strange, new land, but you have to ask yourself why you are there? I am also totally with you on the whole "play date" thing. It's ridiculous. But unfortunately, in these days of both parents working, children over-programmed with activities and neighbors not knowing or trusting each other, it's not like it use to be.

We are lucky, we live in a very close knit townhouse community, where the children do feel free to play outside and join up with other kids who also enjoy that. It's only when we need to drive to other people's homes that we need to "make an appointment"!

[hadas]

Hay Jaime, thanks for understanding. Why did I leave? It's a long story and a big mistake. Somebody wrote someplace that Israelis don't have a plastic wrap on them. I tend to agree. That's what I miss the most; no plastic wraps.

[jaime]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to direct that towards you, personally. I met that for those who immigrate but don't want to assimilate into the new society(thought total assimilation isn't a good thing either.) I love your writings and your outlook on life.

And btw, that is really a great line about Israelies, though sadly I saw in Israel, as the income grew, the pretentiousness and conformity to American lifestyle and look increased too.