Aliyah Diary Episode #188: Four Years

By Susan Leibtag
Posted on 01/08/16

This week we celebrated our fourth year as Israelis.

These are things that I've gotten used to saying over the past four years:

This:

I do not understand a word of what you just said
Oh, please pull in front of me without signalling, and while you're at it, honk at me. Several times. For no reason.
I love how you parked on the sidewalk, it's so cool.
Hi - the grocery has no eggs. Or potatoes.
Oh, it is going to be yellow outside today.
Keep the trisim down, it is April. We will open them again in November.
It is colder inside this apartment than it is outside.
No, I do not want the bargain you are offering at the checkout.
No, really I don't need after-shave. Even two bottles.
All clothing here is at least twice as expensive as in the US. Whatever.
No, I don't know why more Americans don't move to Israel, yes it is their home too
Yes, I do understand why you cannot make aliyah at this time in your life
I still don't understand a word of what you just said
So I have to take this strep stick, go to the lab, wait in line, give it to them, then wait for the results to show up. Huh. OK.

But also this:

Wherever I go, my entire health portfolio is available on my phone
I can make appointments, change them, see test results and get perscriptions online
This country is strikingly, dramatically, beautiful beyond words.

And this: