I have already shared with you that I think driving in Israel is a cross between Nascar and the game of Chicken. But I need to add another dimension: Obstacle Course.
I find that Israelis drive WAAAAAY too fast for the road conditions. And they tailgate. And honking is their second, if not first, language.
Take for instance the street on which I live. It is a one way street, 100% residential. I believe the speeds, if not posted, are as follows---40 kph in residential areas, 50 kph in commercial areas, 60+ kph on the wider highways and 100+kph on the Freeways.
My one way street has parking on ONLY the right hand side. But never mind. The neighbors ALSO park half up on the sidewalk on the left hand side of the street, which is already very narrow to begin with. Now it's made even narrower with the cars ILLEGALLY parked half on the sidewalk. OK. Common sense would tell you (at least it does me) that one should not drive fast in these conditions. 40 kph is TOO fast for my street. Yet drivers are constantly going 50-60 kph on it!! In a NEIGHBORHOOD!! Filled with children and mothers with strollers and car doors opening suddenly from the right AND the left!! With cars backing out of driveways where the drivers cannot see the traffic because of all the cars that are parked like sardines!!
When I drive in the city, some motorcycles are actually riding in the opposite direction, BUT IN MY LANE!! Or they will pass me on my left and drive in the oncoming traffic lane! It's like they have a death wish! I thought the motorcyclists in the USA were risk takers! It's nothing compared to these guys!! And when they are actually riding with the traffic, I watch as they
B-A-R-E-L-Y sneak between two cars with nary a half inch on either side. All it takes is one driver to realize, "Ooops!! I am supposed to be in the left turn lane!" and without a blinker or a hand signal, turn his steering wheel to the left and BAM! Down goes the motorcyclist.
The signal lights in Israel are interesting. There is NO TURN ON RED. PERIOD. Just remember that "Green is King" (Thank you Uri!!). If you have a green light, you have a protected left turn. (Make sure that you are at an intersection where left turns are permissible!).
So straight or left on green. The green light flashes 3-4 times when it is going to change to yellow. Depending on your speed and proximity to the intersection, you have a couple of seconds to decide to stop or proceed. If it's yellow before the crosswalk, STOP!!
Then again, when the red light is going to change to green, it will hold a red and yellow for a second or two. Note to yourselves: Start rolling forward on the red/yellow unless you want to hear a barrage of horns honking at you!! The Israelis are soooooo impatient!! Even at times when the traffic comes to a halt for some unknown reason, they all start honking. Why? I can't see why the cars ahead of me aren't moving, but there has to be a logical reason. The driver behind me can't see why I may be stopped (crosswalk, animal, road obstruction, etc). But even if there is no reason, there is the law of physics at work: I cannot drive forward until the car in front of me moves! Why do I feel like I am the only one here who gets that?!??!?!
I don't drive a car like I'm at Daytona. No jackrabbit starts or slamming on the breaks. Steady and gentle, that's how I like to drive. Conserving gas and my nerves. Why "race" to the next red light? Seems so silly. But if an Israeli can gain even half a car length from one signal to the next, oh my, he is elated.
Oh, and I have never seen a 4 way stop here....they are all "kikkars". Which I believe means square, but it's actually a circle. The traffic circle. Roundabout. Cars IN the circle have the right of way, and you are to enter when it's safe to do so. Well, that's the idea. However, here in Israel, as long as you don't make eye contact with the driver of the car in the kikkar who has the right of way, then apparently that gives you the "right" to enter. (Is my sarcasm coming through loud and clear?) :)
It's usually an E ticket, White Knuckler ride every time I get behind the wheel. If I had one shekel for every near miss I have personally witnessed, I'd already be a wealthy woman.
Ali
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
A Day In The Life...Of An Olah Chadasha: The Autobus.
Almost anywhere you need to go in Israel, the bus system can get you there. It may not always be quick or easy, it may take more than one bus, but it is fairly priced and runs like clockwork.
From the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv, the bus to Jerusalem takes about 45-55 minutes, if I remember correctly. (Traffic cooperating). Seems there is one departing every 20 minutes or so.
Some schedules are more in demand than others....you may have a route that operates from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem from 05:30 to midnight, while the bus to Eilat might only be twice a day. You need to check and see which bus compan-y (-ies) serve your destination. I am familiar with three companies, Kavim, Egged, and Dan.
Currently, the bus fare is running me 6.60 shekels (currently $1.80 ish) each way on Kavim. Their lines are the most direct for my transportation needs at the moment.
You enter the bus with either cash or a bus card. I do not have a card (yet), but I have watched the process. Your card is loaded with a certain value. Every time you enter the bus, you put your card on a reader near the bus driver. It takes about 1.5 seconds until you hear the "beep" that it is accepted. Then you go on to your seat. If your account is getting close to zero, a receipt will print out showing you your balance and that you need to reload the card. I've been told to do it at the Central Bus Station, but I am not sure if that is the only place it can be done.
If you are using cash, the Bus Drivers are great. They never complain about large bills. They ALWAYS have had change (unlike some supermarkets in Israel!!). You will get a receipt and you are supposed to keep it with you during your travel. Occasionally, and I believe it has only happened to me twice, officials will board the bus to make sure that everyone on board is a PAYING customer.
The bus ride. Most bus drivers are very good drivers. But in Israel, ALL driving is a challenge. I applaud these drivers for their safety and courtesy for the most part. It must be a stressful job. Sometimes there are no available seats, and the passengers need to stand and hold onto the straps or poles. Sometimes the driver starts to drive before all of the passengers have paid. This used to scare me, but somehow, it's never caused on accident. Then it's a little tricky walking to find a seat while the bus is moving. But again, this is normal for Israel. You just get used to it.
When you read, see, or hear your stop coming, you just push the button that alerts the driver. Exit thru the doors in the middle of the bus. Best to have gathered your things a minute or two prior so that you can get right off....they waste no time, and if you're not quick, you will miss your stop. I like to gather my things at the stop before mine, and then move closer to the exit doors so I can get out quickly. I know this sounds like common sense, but people visiting Israel for the first time might think they have more time. You don't. :)
So all in all, I have no complaints about the bus system here.
Nesia Tova!
= (Bon Voyage; Good Journey)
Ali
From the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv, the bus to Jerusalem takes about 45-55 minutes, if I remember correctly. (Traffic cooperating). Seems there is one departing every 20 minutes or so.
Some schedules are more in demand than others....you may have a route that operates from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem from 05:30 to midnight, while the bus to Eilat might only be twice a day. You need to check and see which bus compan-y (-ies) serve your destination. I am familiar with three companies, Kavim, Egged, and Dan.
Currently, the bus fare is running me 6.60 shekels (currently $1.80 ish) each way on Kavim. Their lines are the most direct for my transportation needs at the moment.
You enter the bus with either cash or a bus card. I do not have a card (yet), but I have watched the process. Your card is loaded with a certain value. Every time you enter the bus, you put your card on a reader near the bus driver. It takes about 1.5 seconds until you hear the "beep" that it is accepted. Then you go on to your seat. If your account is getting close to zero, a receipt will print out showing you your balance and that you need to reload the card. I've been told to do it at the Central Bus Station, but I am not sure if that is the only place it can be done.
If you are using cash, the Bus Drivers are great. They never complain about large bills. They ALWAYS have had change (unlike some supermarkets in Israel!!). You will get a receipt and you are supposed to keep it with you during your travel. Occasionally, and I believe it has only happened to me twice, officials will board the bus to make sure that everyone on board is a PAYING customer.
The bus ride. Most bus drivers are very good drivers. But in Israel, ALL driving is a challenge. I applaud these drivers for their safety and courtesy for the most part. It must be a stressful job. Sometimes there are no available seats, and the passengers need to stand and hold onto the straps or poles. Sometimes the driver starts to drive before all of the passengers have paid. This used to scare me, but somehow, it's never caused on accident. Then it's a little tricky walking to find a seat while the bus is moving. But again, this is normal for Israel. You just get used to it.
When you read, see, or hear your stop coming, you just push the button that alerts the driver. Exit thru the doors in the middle of the bus. Best to have gathered your things a minute or two prior so that you can get right off....they waste no time, and if you're not quick, you will miss your stop. I like to gather my things at the stop before mine, and then move closer to the exit doors so I can get out quickly. I know this sounds like common sense, but people visiting Israel for the first time might think they have more time. You don't. :)
So all in all, I have no complaints about the bus system here.
Nesia Tova!
= (Bon Voyage; Good Journey)
Ali
Monday, September 30, 2013
A Day In The Life.....Of An Olah Chadasha: ULPAN
It's been about 10 weeks since my arrival to Israel. I have SO MANY things I want to write about---and I faithfully keep adding to my iPod list almost on a daily basis.
How about I start with today?!
Up at 05:45 to get ready for Ulpan. Ulpan is available to every new immigrant at no cost. The sessions start at various times throughout the calendar year, depending on where the Ulpan is located and the number of people that have signed up to take it. It is the 5-5-5 plan: lasts for 5 months, 5 days a week, 5 hours a day. My class doesn't start until 08:20, but I must take the bus, so I get up early. It's about a 30-45 minute ride depending on traffic. (Note: The post about the bus system is still to come!).
I am in Kita Aleph, which is the Beginner's Hebrew class. But let me tell you!! Don't let that Aleph fool you! This is the most intensive workout my brain has been through in quite a while. From Day 1, our teacher (morah) only speaks to us in Hebrew (Ivrit). Of course, almost no one in the class of 25 students knew what she was saying. Didn't matter. She continued on, our heads spinning, and our hearts beating fast, fearing that we will never learn this difficult language. It was all Greek....well, Hebrew to us!!
Slowly, through her patience and repetition, small glimmers of hope broke through the dark language barrier. And it was only Day 2! By the end of week 1, she had us READING and WRITING simple words. By Day 10, we were writing sentences and practicing dialogues.
I now know that the key to learning a foreign language successfully is by total immersion. If you are allowed to revert to what is comfortable, i.e. your native language in the classroom, the learning is delayed. I have taken 3 language classes in the past---and although I did understand things eventually, it was at a much slower rate than what I am experiencing now. It's so exciting to see a billboard (really?!?) and be able to decipher what I am reading. :) Ok, granted, that may grow old...but I feel like a kid again!
Tomorrow is Day 13. I can't wait to start the day with all of my "fellow 6 year olds"...however old we may be!! At least in the classroom, we are all on the same level, with the same goal: To learn Hebrew and become an integrated member of Israeli society.
Nice to be Home!
Have a great week, (Shavua Tov)
Aliana
How about I start with today?!
Up at 05:45 to get ready for Ulpan. Ulpan is available to every new immigrant at no cost. The sessions start at various times throughout the calendar year, depending on where the Ulpan is located and the number of people that have signed up to take it. It is the 5-5-5 plan: lasts for 5 months, 5 days a week, 5 hours a day. My class doesn't start until 08:20, but I must take the bus, so I get up early. It's about a 30-45 minute ride depending on traffic. (Note: The post about the bus system is still to come!).
I am in Kita Aleph, which is the Beginner's Hebrew class. But let me tell you!! Don't let that Aleph fool you! This is the most intensive workout my brain has been through in quite a while. From Day 1, our teacher (morah) only speaks to us in Hebrew (Ivrit). Of course, almost no one in the class of 25 students knew what she was saying. Didn't matter. She continued on, our heads spinning, and our hearts beating fast, fearing that we will never learn this difficult language. It was all Greek....well, Hebrew to us!!
Slowly, through her patience and repetition, small glimmers of hope broke through the dark language barrier. And it was only Day 2! By the end of week 1, she had us READING and WRITING simple words. By Day 10, we were writing sentences and practicing dialogues.
I now know that the key to learning a foreign language successfully is by total immersion. If you are allowed to revert to what is comfortable, i.e. your native language in the classroom, the learning is delayed. I have taken 3 language classes in the past---and although I did understand things eventually, it was at a much slower rate than what I am experiencing now. It's so exciting to see a billboard (really?!?) and be able to decipher what I am reading. :) Ok, granted, that may grow old...but I feel like a kid again!
Tomorrow is Day 13. I can't wait to start the day with all of my "fellow 6 year olds"...however old we may be!! At least in the classroom, we are all on the same level, with the same goal: To learn Hebrew and become an integrated member of Israeli society.
Nice to be Home!
Have a great week, (Shavua Tov)
Aliana
Friday, August 16, 2013
Living Life Backwards, Seinfeld Style!
Hi Everyone!
As you might have guessed by my sudden absence, I have already made Aliyah to Israel! Now I have the joyful obligation to share with you my whirlwind of experiences in the last 3+ weeks. I might have to do it like the Seinfeld episode with the friend's wedding in India: Starting from the end and working backwards. We will see.
However, I am helping my friend with her children while they are out of the Gan for about a week and a half. So my time will be limited as well as my energy! hahaha
All in all, it's been a great experience and I can't wait to write more in depth about it. I keep daily notes in my iPod so as not to forget what I want to mention.
I don't have Internet on a regular schedule yet either. But that should all change the first week of September when I move into my apartment!! YAY!
Till then....
Aliana
PS: COME to Israel!! You won't regret it!
As you might have guessed by my sudden absence, I have already made Aliyah to Israel! Now I have the joyful obligation to share with you my whirlwind of experiences in the last 3+ weeks. I might have to do it like the Seinfeld episode with the friend's wedding in India: Starting from the end and working backwards. We will see.
However, I am helping my friend with her children while they are out of the Gan for about a week and a half. So my time will be limited as well as my energy! hahaha
All in all, it's been a great experience and I can't wait to write more in depth about it. I keep daily notes in my iPod so as not to forget what I want to mention.
I don't have Internet on a regular schedule yet either. But that should all change the first week of September when I move into my apartment!! YAY!
Till then....
Aliana
PS: COME to Israel!! You won't regret it!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
OMG(oodness)!!! The Shipping Container Fiasco!
I wish SHIPPING CONTAINER LOADING DAY stress on NO ONE!! It happened 3 days ago and this is the first I feel 'ok' enough to write about it!! Physically, emotionally, or mentally!
Like I said previously, most everything was already out of the house and placed in the garage awaiting departure day. I would say more than 92% of my belongings were already packed and ready to go. All that was left to do on that final day was: Empty out the refrigerator, pack up the kitchen remnants, break down my twin bed, bring out one coffee table and one chair, and have someone carry the 12 heavy boxes from the living room to the garage. Easy enough?
Apparently not.
My dear friend Natalie arrived with her teen aged son Josh to help in that final breakdown of the kitchen. They arrived at noon, and the truck was scheduled for 2pm, when the manly muscled men would be there to do the heavy lifting. We were forewarned that the shipping container sat 4 feet off the ground on the flat bed truck, and did not come with ramps or a dolly. Jim was bringing both of those. We had a crew of 10, so I felt confident that all would be well.
Sometimes that's what we get for thinking!
2 of the 10 got called away on business trips the day before. Ok, so we have 8. Then my nephew-in-law had a work meeting that he had to deal with, and would be late if he could make it at all. Now there is 7. Still doable, right? Deep breath....inhale......exhale.......
I had thought ahead and bought heavy plastic sheeting covers for the 2 couches and the 4 mattress parts. I had a ton of blankets to use on the other furniture items. I even bought the shrink wrap material to help wrap and protect random things. I had tagged each of the moving boxes with 4"x6" green paper that listed Box number and contents. I also bought the colored tape that designated Bedroom, Kitchen, Living Room, or Bathroom. I felt good. I felt ready. Surely I would have time to put a smack of colored tape on each box as it was being loaded, right?
I am in the house when I hear the air brakes go off. I look at the clock: 12:50pm and the truck is here!! I ran outside in a panic just as the driver was jumping down from his bird's eye seat. "I was told you wouldn't be here until 2:00pm!! We are not ready!! All hands are not on deck!" He smiled and said, "Don't worry, little lady! I just wanted to find my way here...and to see if you WERE ready, you could start loading now. But instead, tell me where there is a good place to have lunch, and I will be back right at the scheduled time!"
Big sigh of relief~! I sent him down the road aways to a great little café. But now the adrenalin was pumping. I had about an hour to oversee the biggest decision of my natural life. And suddenly, I felt woefully unprepared.
My sister arrived at 1:30pm. 15 minutes later Dale arrived, the lead guy, who had packed 14 shipping containers for his global moves in the Navy. Now we were just waiting on Jim and Kathy.
I surveyed the scene: The house was in a state of organized disarray: moving boxes here, bubble wrap there, piles of dish paper, a donation station, a trash area, items set aside to go in the checked luggage and NOT on the lift, and things that were staying for the people who are going to be renting the house. I knew what everything meant, but no one else did. I can tell you now, this is where the breakdown occurred. Not only in communication, but as in NERVOUS BREAKDOWN! hahaha
Truck arrives back at 1:55pm. Jim and Kathy have called and are on their way, but are not there yet with the dolly and the ramps. Dale has been there for only 10 minutes and already seems very agitated. He is stressing about the height of the truck (understandably!) but since he had done this 14 times in the past, why is he surprised?
Jim and Kathy arrive. Jim sets up the ramp, which is like walking up a staircase. but without the steps. It was insanely steep. DANGEROUSLY steep. No way would I have even THOUGHT about walking up or down it, let alone actually attempting to do it! The truck driver suggests that he move the container up by 4 feet to give us a flat platform before stepping into the container. This dropped the ramp angle a little, but it was still very steep and very dangerous.
I'm kinda freaking out inside, because I have a stove and a refrigerator that need to go on the lift. And my wooden furniture is pretty heavy. How in the world will it be able to be pushed and or pulled up this death trap of a ramp? We only have 2 men!! None of us women have the strength needed to accomplish this! Dale and Jim start the impossible with the kitchen appliances, and then will start loading the furniture.
Because I am the only one that knows what is going on in my head, I keep jumping from zone to zone. At each place, I see something that still needs to be done and jump right into it until I am asked a question and then go to another station and start doing something there, and on and on it goes. I walk outside about 15 minutes after the load started, and I see my WHITE antique couch standing on one end in the container. Not covered in the plastic wrap. NOT on a blanket. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHH!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Dale!! What are you doing!?!!??!?" "Well, we can get more room if I can stand it on its end". "Granted, but where is the plastic wrap? Why isn't it sitting on a blanket!?!?!?". "Where was the plastic wrap?" "It was on the couch in a clear bag...you guys had to move the bag to pick up the couch!" Yes, I admit my tone of voice was not very kind or loving. :(
I found the wrap tossed on the floor of the garage. Dale lowered the couch down onto the legs. The left side of my WHITE couch is now black with dust and dirt. I wanted to cry. "This is why I had the plastic cover for it! And the blankets!! This is what I wanted to avoid!" "Well, if you had only TOLD me, this wouldn't have happened!".
Is common sense that rare? Really?
I know, I know. It's JUST a couch. But c'mon people! I can't run down to Wal-Mart in Israel and rent a Rug Doctor with the Upholstery cleaning attachment! I'm not sure I will even be able to find a cleaner that will get that YUCK out of the WHITE fabric. Ani atzuva!! (I am sad). Get over it, Ali!!
Moving right along. No pun intended. The rest of the furniture items go in, with boxes all around, underneath, and the lighter ones on top. The garage is clearing out, slowly but surely. My bedding and linens were in clear plastic 45 gallon bags, and they made great "stuffers" for the irregular shaped open areas. I have great difficulty in getting up and down---artificial joints at a young age-----but I can do some physical work if I can stay either up OR down. Dale and I worked as a team from inside the container.....I would call out what needed to be loaded, the crew would bring it, I would slide it down, and then Dale would position it. Sometimes my crew would just be standing around talking, which kind of annoyed me. The clock was ticking, I only had 2 hours to get it loaded, it was hot, we were thirsty, and yes, we were tired. But the work had to go on!! (I did have snacks and cold beverages for everyone, but I wasn't anticipating chat breaks).
The crew said that everything was out of the house. I walked in the house and stumble over about a dozen boxes that are still sitting in the living room. I bring them out, one by one, while everyone watches. "Where were those?!?!" they ask. "In the LIVING ROOM!" Grrrrrr.
I make one last sweep of the house. I am trying to look beyond what I am seeing. You know, the clock on the wall that you mean to take, but it's part of the scenery, so you don't see the forest for the trees. Or would that be trees for the forest? Things along those lines. I checked and checked, and triple checked. Ok, I thought, whatever didn't make it inside the lift will have to be lived without or bought again over there. (One 6' aluminum ladder, 2 mid sized plastic waste baskets, 2 terra cotta empty plant containers, one shelf to the oak entertainment unit, and 3 empty but re-usable long plastic file boxes with lids).
I did have about 4 items set aside that I wanted to take, but was waiting to see if they would fit. Even though everyone initially told me that I had more stuff than the container will hold, I managed to have a little extra room for those last few items. I do have to thank Dale for his great use of space that allowed that to happen. Even if the couch DID get dirty! (Did I tell you it was white?!?!? :)
My tips for your shipping container day:
What I have learned, is that however organized you think you are, there is more to do. However much help you have to load your container, you will wish you had more. No matter how you try to prepare for this day, it has a mind of its own.
Remember to NUMBER and LABEL all of your boxes. Your master shipping list requires all boxes to be numbered, such as # 23 of 108, with the contents listed. Add up the number of boxes, bags, pieces of furniture, and any loose items going into the container for your TOTAL shipping count. Make 2 copies of this list, as you will need to give one to the driver and/or the shipping company, and keep one for yourself. Note: This is next to impossible to have done accurately before hand. Just sayin'.
Start packing your items long before the lift arrives. Start with your seasonal items and go from there, getting your house down to a bare bones, minimalistic existence. Makes the final packing party a breeze. (Ok, a Tropical Depression!)
Have a "team" meeting explaining your objectives, so everyone knows the method to your madness. Not everyone is a Type A personality with Franklin Planners and check lists.
If at all possible, rent one of those motorized vehicles from Home Depot or Lowe's that has the basket lift on it----so you can load the basket part on the ground, and then raise it up to the level of the lift. This alone would've enabled us to load the container within the 2 hour allotted time frame.
ALREADY have your couch and mattresses covered before the loading process starts. :)
Keep your beverages and snacks outside for quick access. Water is so important in the heat to prevent dehydration and cramping.
If using Banker's boxes for items, make sure they are taped shut. My lids were not, and the lids and contents were flying off and out at every turn. (They were fine while in the garage, or in the storage container, but while waiting their turn on the driveway, it was wind 87 and boxes 0.
Use the colored labels to make the Israeli delivery process go more smoothly. Even if they movers don't speak/read English, they speak/read "color". HOWEVER. Don't do what I did and think you will have time during the loading process to do this. You won't. Take the rolls of tape with you in your luggage OR put it in at the very end of the load so you can grab it first and quickly mark your rooms in Israel with the proper color of tape.
Take pictures and or videos of this momentous milestone.
Thank your friends and family profusely for their hard work.
And for those of you helping load the container as a mitzvah, please remember:
Treat belongings with care. Don't be banging up walls, doors, door frames or other furniture in the process of getting items out of the house. Please be gentle.
Arrive earlier than you are supposed to. The person making Aliyah is under stress and pressure that you cannot begin to imagine. This is a BIG deal. Do not take anything they say or do out of frustration personally. Try to put yourself in their shoes. Pray for them. It's not easy to be peaceful in the midst of mayhem.
Levity helps. Josh was our funny man. He would get us to laugh when things got tense.
Take pictures or videos for your friend while you are taking a water break. He/she will be thankful for it afterwards.
Take turns taking breaks. Not everyone all at the same time. Keep things moving.
Final note: It took 3 hours and 45 minutes to load the container, and I thought I was prepared. I was not. The night before the lift came, I only had 3.5 hours of sleep due to sorting and packing. Not a wise idea. By the time the lift left, I could hardly move. It was a very intense event. I took my Motrin 800, a hot bath, and slept like a rock. Wasn't too sore the next day, surprisingly, but the 3rd day it really kicked in!
Wow! It's really happening! I am making Aliyah!
8x8x20 container from Oakland to Ashdod: $3650. Extra charge for exceeding the 2 hour loading limit: $110. Watching the container drive off into the sunset: PRICELESS!!
THIS year, in Jerusalem!! YAY!!
Like I said previously, most everything was already out of the house and placed in the garage awaiting departure day. I would say more than 92% of my belongings were already packed and ready to go. All that was left to do on that final day was: Empty out the refrigerator, pack up the kitchen remnants, break down my twin bed, bring out one coffee table and one chair, and have someone carry the 12 heavy boxes from the living room to the garage. Easy enough?
Apparently not.
My dear friend Natalie arrived with her teen aged son Josh to help in that final breakdown of the kitchen. They arrived at noon, and the truck was scheduled for 2pm, when the manly muscled men would be there to do the heavy lifting. We were forewarned that the shipping container sat 4 feet off the ground on the flat bed truck, and did not come with ramps or a dolly. Jim was bringing both of those. We had a crew of 10, so I felt confident that all would be well.
Sometimes that's what we get for thinking!
2 of the 10 got called away on business trips the day before. Ok, so we have 8. Then my nephew-in-law had a work meeting that he had to deal with, and would be late if he could make it at all. Now there is 7. Still doable, right? Deep breath....inhale......exhale.......
I had thought ahead and bought heavy plastic sheeting covers for the 2 couches and the 4 mattress parts. I had a ton of blankets to use on the other furniture items. I even bought the shrink wrap material to help wrap and protect random things. I had tagged each of the moving boxes with 4"x6" green paper that listed Box number and contents. I also bought the colored tape that designated Bedroom, Kitchen, Living Room, or Bathroom. I felt good. I felt ready. Surely I would have time to put a smack of colored tape on each box as it was being loaded, right?
I am in the house when I hear the air brakes go off. I look at the clock: 12:50pm and the truck is here!! I ran outside in a panic just as the driver was jumping down from his bird's eye seat. "I was told you wouldn't be here until 2:00pm!! We are not ready!! All hands are not on deck!" He smiled and said, "Don't worry, little lady! I just wanted to find my way here...and to see if you WERE ready, you could start loading now. But instead, tell me where there is a good place to have lunch, and I will be back right at the scheduled time!"
Big sigh of relief~! I sent him down the road aways to a great little café. But now the adrenalin was pumping. I had about an hour to oversee the biggest decision of my natural life. And suddenly, I felt woefully unprepared.
My sister arrived at 1:30pm. 15 minutes later Dale arrived, the lead guy, who had packed 14 shipping containers for his global moves in the Navy. Now we were just waiting on Jim and Kathy.
I surveyed the scene: The house was in a state of organized disarray: moving boxes here, bubble wrap there, piles of dish paper, a donation station, a trash area, items set aside to go in the checked luggage and NOT on the lift, and things that were staying for the people who are going to be renting the house. I knew what everything meant, but no one else did. I can tell you now, this is where the breakdown occurred. Not only in communication, but as in NERVOUS BREAKDOWN! hahaha
Truck arrives back at 1:55pm. Jim and Kathy have called and are on their way, but are not there yet with the dolly and the ramps. Dale has been there for only 10 minutes and already seems very agitated. He is stressing about the height of the truck (understandably!) but since he had done this 14 times in the past, why is he surprised?
Jim and Kathy arrive. Jim sets up the ramp, which is like walking up a staircase. but without the steps. It was insanely steep. DANGEROUSLY steep. No way would I have even THOUGHT about walking up or down it, let alone actually attempting to do it! The truck driver suggests that he move the container up by 4 feet to give us a flat platform before stepping into the container. This dropped the ramp angle a little, but it was still very steep and very dangerous.
I'm kinda freaking out inside, because I have a stove and a refrigerator that need to go on the lift. And my wooden furniture is pretty heavy. How in the world will it be able to be pushed and or pulled up this death trap of a ramp? We only have 2 men!! None of us women have the strength needed to accomplish this! Dale and Jim start the impossible with the kitchen appliances, and then will start loading the furniture.
Because I am the only one that knows what is going on in my head, I keep jumping from zone to zone. At each place, I see something that still needs to be done and jump right into it until I am asked a question and then go to another station and start doing something there, and on and on it goes. I walk outside about 15 minutes after the load started, and I see my WHITE antique couch standing on one end in the container. Not covered in the plastic wrap. NOT on a blanket. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHH!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Dale!! What are you doing!?!!??!?" "Well, we can get more room if I can stand it on its end". "Granted, but where is the plastic wrap? Why isn't it sitting on a blanket!?!?!?". "Where was the plastic wrap?" "It was on the couch in a clear bag...you guys had to move the bag to pick up the couch!" Yes, I admit my tone of voice was not very kind or loving. :(
I found the wrap tossed on the floor of the garage. Dale lowered the couch down onto the legs. The left side of my WHITE couch is now black with dust and dirt. I wanted to cry. "This is why I had the plastic cover for it! And the blankets!! This is what I wanted to avoid!" "Well, if you had only TOLD me, this wouldn't have happened!".
Is common sense that rare? Really?
I know, I know. It's JUST a couch. But c'mon people! I can't run down to Wal-Mart in Israel and rent a Rug Doctor with the Upholstery cleaning attachment! I'm not sure I will even be able to find a cleaner that will get that YUCK out of the WHITE fabric. Ani atzuva!! (I am sad). Get over it, Ali!!
Moving right along. No pun intended. The rest of the furniture items go in, with boxes all around, underneath, and the lighter ones on top. The garage is clearing out, slowly but surely. My bedding and linens were in clear plastic 45 gallon bags, and they made great "stuffers" for the irregular shaped open areas. I have great difficulty in getting up and down---artificial joints at a young age-----but I can do some physical work if I can stay either up OR down. Dale and I worked as a team from inside the container.....I would call out what needed to be loaded, the crew would bring it, I would slide it down, and then Dale would position it. Sometimes my crew would just be standing around talking, which kind of annoyed me. The clock was ticking, I only had 2 hours to get it loaded, it was hot, we were thirsty, and yes, we were tired. But the work had to go on!! (I did have snacks and cold beverages for everyone, but I wasn't anticipating chat breaks).
The crew said that everything was out of the house. I walked in the house and stumble over about a dozen boxes that are still sitting in the living room. I bring them out, one by one, while everyone watches. "Where were those?!?!" they ask. "In the LIVING ROOM!" Grrrrrr.
I make one last sweep of the house. I am trying to look beyond what I am seeing. You know, the clock on the wall that you mean to take, but it's part of the scenery, so you don't see the forest for the trees. Or would that be trees for the forest? Things along those lines. I checked and checked, and triple checked. Ok, I thought, whatever didn't make it inside the lift will have to be lived without or bought again over there. (One 6' aluminum ladder, 2 mid sized plastic waste baskets, 2 terra cotta empty plant containers, one shelf to the oak entertainment unit, and 3 empty but re-usable long plastic file boxes with lids).
I did have about 4 items set aside that I wanted to take, but was waiting to see if they would fit. Even though everyone initially told me that I had more stuff than the container will hold, I managed to have a little extra room for those last few items. I do have to thank Dale for his great use of space that allowed that to happen. Even if the couch DID get dirty! (Did I tell you it was white?!?!? :)
My tips for your shipping container day:
What I have learned, is that however organized you think you are, there is more to do. However much help you have to load your container, you will wish you had more. No matter how you try to prepare for this day, it has a mind of its own.
Remember to NUMBER and LABEL all of your boxes. Your master shipping list requires all boxes to be numbered, such as # 23 of 108, with the contents listed. Add up the number of boxes, bags, pieces of furniture, and any loose items going into the container for your TOTAL shipping count. Make 2 copies of this list, as you will need to give one to the driver and/or the shipping company, and keep one for yourself. Note: This is next to impossible to have done accurately before hand. Just sayin'.
Start packing your items long before the lift arrives. Start with your seasonal items and go from there, getting your house down to a bare bones, minimalistic existence. Makes the final packing party a breeze. (Ok, a Tropical Depression!)
Have a "team" meeting explaining your objectives, so everyone knows the method to your madness. Not everyone is a Type A personality with Franklin Planners and check lists.
If at all possible, rent one of those motorized vehicles from Home Depot or Lowe's that has the basket lift on it----so you can load the basket part on the ground, and then raise it up to the level of the lift. This alone would've enabled us to load the container within the 2 hour allotted time frame.
ALREADY have your couch and mattresses covered before the loading process starts. :)
Keep your beverages and snacks outside for quick access. Water is so important in the heat to prevent dehydration and cramping.
If using Banker's boxes for items, make sure they are taped shut. My lids were not, and the lids and contents were flying off and out at every turn. (They were fine while in the garage, or in the storage container, but while waiting their turn on the driveway, it was wind 87 and boxes 0.
Use the colored labels to make the Israeli delivery process go more smoothly. Even if they movers don't speak/read English, they speak/read "color". HOWEVER. Don't do what I did and think you will have time during the loading process to do this. You won't. Take the rolls of tape with you in your luggage OR put it in at the very end of the load so you can grab it first and quickly mark your rooms in Israel with the proper color of tape.
Take pictures and or videos of this momentous milestone.
Thank your friends and family profusely for their hard work.
And for those of you helping load the container as a mitzvah, please remember:
Treat belongings with care. Don't be banging up walls, doors, door frames or other furniture in the process of getting items out of the house. Please be gentle.
Arrive earlier than you are supposed to. The person making Aliyah is under stress and pressure that you cannot begin to imagine. This is a BIG deal. Do not take anything they say or do out of frustration personally. Try to put yourself in their shoes. Pray for them. It's not easy to be peaceful in the midst of mayhem.
Levity helps. Josh was our funny man. He would get us to laugh when things got tense.
Take pictures or videos for your friend while you are taking a water break. He/she will be thankful for it afterwards.
Take turns taking breaks. Not everyone all at the same time. Keep things moving.
Final note: It took 3 hours and 45 minutes to load the container, and I thought I was prepared. I was not. The night before the lift came, I only had 3.5 hours of sleep due to sorting and packing. Not a wise idea. By the time the lift left, I could hardly move. It was a very intense event. I took my Motrin 800, a hot bath, and slept like a rock. Wasn't too sore the next day, surprisingly, but the 3rd day it really kicked in!
Wow! It's really happening! I am making Aliyah!
8x8x20 container from Oakland to Ashdod: $3650. Extra charge for exceeding the 2 hour loading limit: $110. Watching the container drive off into the sunset: PRICELESS!!
THIS year, in Jerusalem!! YAY!!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
The Shipping Container. AKA: "Lift".
Still no resolution as of yet to the strike by the Foreign Ministry = no Aliyah travel visas. A lot of prospective Olim are in the same situation: stuck in between their "old" life in the USA/Canada/UK and their scheduled life in Israel. Many had sold or rented out their homes and now must wait indefinitely to travel. Some had jobs/housing/ulpan already arranged. Some have their shipping containers arriving in Haifa or Ashdod.....but they are not even in the country to receive them.
I have decided to take a leap of faith and send my belongings anyway. The trip takes 6-7 weeks from my side of the world. I am hoping that the strike will have ended by the time my shipment arrives and that I will be there to greet it.
I have found that shipping prices are, well, pricey, and that the quotes are all over the spectrum! A friend of mine had sent a 20 foot container (also known as a "lift") to Mainland China when she was working there for 2 years. She told me that the quote was around $3500. Her husband negotiated it down to $2500.
I called said company. My quote was $3650. I guess my negotiating skills are abysmal, because it never moved south of the original quote. A few years in Israel and I'm sure I will have that skill honed to perfection!
So the shipping agent and I were discussing drop off dates for the container. I told him I would call him the next day with my credit card info.
"Um......we don't take credit cards".
"WHAT!??!?!?!?!? How in the world is one supposed to finance this? It's a huge expense, and you DON'T take credit cards!!??!?! (I said kindly, but in exasperation!)
"We take cashier's checks. Or postal money orders. Or you could borrow the money from a family member or a friend!"
Silence on my end.
"Are you there?"
"Yes. I guess there's no sense then in asking you my next question!"
"Go ahead".
"I was going to ask you if you took those convenience checks from the credit card company so that I could get 0% interest on the transaction for 12 months and......."
"OH!! But we DO accept those checks!!!"
(What?!?!?)
I know as a business owner that accepting credit cards costs you money. BUT when your volume of business doubles or triples with that feature, it's well worth it. Maybe there is a method to their madness----as their quote was 50% less than the other shippers who took the cards. At least they will take my credit card check, and I hope to whittle down the $3650 expenditure at 0% in the coming year. My goal is to have it paid off before the interest kicks in.
So! The container arrives on Wednesday. It's a "live" load, which means it must be packed in 2 hours. It's an 8x8x20. I will have everything out of the house and "staged" in the garage in that basic configuration so that we can just load it as quickly as possible. I am going from about 1800 square feet here to 500 sq. feet in Israel!! AGH!! Everyday I find more to donate or give to family.
Oh and the inevitable question: Why take anything? Why not just buy it new/used there?
I like older wood furniture. I have spent years buying pieces that I love from various sources, usually 2nd hand. It's quality furniture, albeit mismatched. I don't want to hassle with finding something I like in the Galilee and having to figure out (and pay!) for the expense of getting it to where I will be living. If I'm going to pay through the nose to start my life in Israel, I would rather do it all at one time than by piece meal. AND I think I will find comfort in being surrounded by what I love and by what is familiar to me. It's not just furniture, it's memories. I can "see" my kids at the dining room table....the guests on the couch laughing and sharing good times. I know that those memories will comfort me when I am having a tough day as an Israeli.
I don't have a ton of furniture, just the basics for a party of one. But as a wanna be artist, I have many supplies that need to come with me. It's been sorted and reduced a few times over. Here's hoping that I got it right. More about the adventure next week!
Ali
I have decided to take a leap of faith and send my belongings anyway. The trip takes 6-7 weeks from my side of the world. I am hoping that the strike will have ended by the time my shipment arrives and that I will be there to greet it.
I have found that shipping prices are, well, pricey, and that the quotes are all over the spectrum! A friend of mine had sent a 20 foot container (also known as a "lift") to Mainland China when she was working there for 2 years. She told me that the quote was around $3500. Her husband negotiated it down to $2500.
I called said company. My quote was $3650. I guess my negotiating skills are abysmal, because it never moved south of the original quote. A few years in Israel and I'm sure I will have that skill honed to perfection!
So the shipping agent and I were discussing drop off dates for the container. I told him I would call him the next day with my credit card info.
"Um......we don't take credit cards".
"WHAT!??!?!?!?!? How in the world is one supposed to finance this? It's a huge expense, and you DON'T take credit cards!!??!?! (I said kindly, but in exasperation!)
"We take cashier's checks. Or postal money orders. Or you could borrow the money from a family member or a friend!"
Silence on my end.
"Are you there?"
"Yes. I guess there's no sense then in asking you my next question!"
"Go ahead".
"I was going to ask you if you took those convenience checks from the credit card company so that I could get 0% interest on the transaction for 12 months and......."
"OH!! But we DO accept those checks!!!"
(What?!?!?)
I know as a business owner that accepting credit cards costs you money. BUT when your volume of business doubles or triples with that feature, it's well worth it. Maybe there is a method to their madness----as their quote was 50% less than the other shippers who took the cards. At least they will take my credit card check, and I hope to whittle down the $3650 expenditure at 0% in the coming year. My goal is to have it paid off before the interest kicks in.
So! The container arrives on Wednesday. It's a "live" load, which means it must be packed in 2 hours. It's an 8x8x20. I will have everything out of the house and "staged" in the garage in that basic configuration so that we can just load it as quickly as possible. I am going from about 1800 square feet here to 500 sq. feet in Israel!! AGH!! Everyday I find more to donate or give to family.
Oh and the inevitable question: Why take anything? Why not just buy it new/used there?
I like older wood furniture. I have spent years buying pieces that I love from various sources, usually 2nd hand. It's quality furniture, albeit mismatched. I don't want to hassle with finding something I like in the Galilee and having to figure out (and pay!) for the expense of getting it to where I will be living. If I'm going to pay through the nose to start my life in Israel, I would rather do it all at one time than by piece meal. AND I think I will find comfort in being surrounded by what I love and by what is familiar to me. It's not just furniture, it's memories. I can "see" my kids at the dining room table....the guests on the couch laughing and sharing good times. I know that those memories will comfort me when I am having a tough day as an Israeli.
I don't have a ton of furniture, just the basics for a party of one. But as a wanna be artist, I have many supplies that need to come with me. It's been sorted and reduced a few times over. Here's hoping that I got it right. More about the adventure next week!
Ali
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
But Wait!! There's More!!
Yes, I have been approved to make Aliyah through Nefesh B'Nefesh and The Jewish Agency. What could possibly be bad about that? Well, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has gone on strike. It started in Israel and then spread to the USA where all of the Consulate/Embassy employees were told to cease their normal operations. How does that affect me? Normal operations include processing passports and ALIYAH visas! No travel documents will be processed until the strike is over. However long that may be. Oy Vey!
All I can do is shake my head and laugh. I was trying to make the group flight next Tuesday. So were a lot of other people. I wonder how many of us are now without our travel visas to be able to board the flight. Hopefully, it will be enough to warrant NBN to offer another group flight after the strike is over. I was told that most likely WON'T happen, leaving us to book our own individual flights thru NBN.
The difference? On a group or charter flight, there are government employees along who process all of our paperwork during the flight, so that we land with everything we need to begin our new life in Israel. On an individual flight, while NBN still sponsers the one way ticket to Israel, no officials accompany the flight to help with the paper trail. After you land, (if at a 'normal' hour) you can go to the Misrad HaKlita and Misrad Hapnim offices at the airport to process your paperwork. If you arrive at an unconventional hour, you need to go to these offices within 3 days of arriving. Find the offices that serve the area in which you will be living.
I am still going through the motions as if I were leaving on Tuesday. I have been told that usually their strikes don't carry on indefinitely. It may be a few days. Or a week. Or two. :(
I'll be back to update when I know more!
Ali
All I can do is shake my head and laugh. I was trying to make the group flight next Tuesday. So were a lot of other people. I wonder how many of us are now without our travel visas to be able to board the flight. Hopefully, it will be enough to warrant NBN to offer another group flight after the strike is over. I was told that most likely WON'T happen, leaving us to book our own individual flights thru NBN.
The difference? On a group or charter flight, there are government employees along who process all of our paperwork during the flight, so that we land with everything we need to begin our new life in Israel. On an individual flight, while NBN still sponsers the one way ticket to Israel, no officials accompany the flight to help with the paper trail. After you land, (if at a 'normal' hour) you can go to the Misrad HaKlita and Misrad Hapnim offices at the airport to process your paperwork. If you arrive at an unconventional hour, you need to go to these offices within 3 days of arriving. Find the offices that serve the area in which you will be living.
I am still going through the motions as if I were leaving on Tuesday. I have been told that usually their strikes don't carry on indefinitely. It may be a few days. Or a week. Or two. :(
I'll be back to update when I know more!
Ali
Monday, June 24, 2013
So There I Was.....In Home Depot......
And my cell phone rings. I look down and see that the display reads: NBN Flights. I answer the phone.
"Hello, this is Lior from NBN Flights.....confirming that you will be placed on the July 2nd group flight".
"Ah...what? You mean, I have been approved?"
"Um, well....um....uh......"
"Well, the reason I am asking, is because I have not heard this information from my Shaliach yet!"
"Well, then you need to call him first thing tomorrow....because my computer screen shows that you have been approved by the Jewish Agency to make Aliyah, and we have been directed to get you on this flight!"
Wow, oh Wow, oh Wow! Suddenly butterflies were swarming in my stomach. I was elated and terrified at the same time. It is really happening!! I am MOVING to Israel!! Oh My Goodness! Will I be able to get everything done before my flight? I thought I had planned well for this, but now I feel quite inadequate about completing it all in a timely fashion.
My head is still spinning. I have moments of elation and then out of nowhere, a moment of sheer terror! Not of living in Israel, but regarding the sheer magnitude of all the last minute details!
Yay!! In spite of the mountain I will need to climb to be ready on time, I am one happy girl!!
Mazal Tov to me!!
Ali :) (I am Beaming!)
"Hello, this is Lior from NBN Flights.....confirming that you will be placed on the July 2nd group flight".
"Ah...what? You mean, I have been approved?"
"Um, well....um....uh......"
"Well, the reason I am asking, is because I have not heard this information from my Shaliach yet!"
"Well, then you need to call him first thing tomorrow....because my computer screen shows that you have been approved by the Jewish Agency to make Aliyah, and we have been directed to get you on this flight!"
Wow, oh Wow, oh Wow! Suddenly butterflies were swarming in my stomach. I was elated and terrified at the same time. It is really happening!! I am MOVING to Israel!! Oh My Goodness! Will I be able to get everything done before my flight? I thought I had planned well for this, but now I feel quite inadequate about completing it all in a timely fashion.
My head is still spinning. I have moments of elation and then out of nowhere, a moment of sheer terror! Not of living in Israel, but regarding the sheer magnitude of all the last minute details!
Yay!! In spite of the mountain I will need to climb to be ready on time, I am one happy girl!!
Mazal Tov to me!!
Ali :) (I am Beaming!)
Sunday, June 16, 2013
The "Missing" Document........
So about 4 weeks into my wait after meeting with the Shaliach, I get a call from NBN Flight team wanting to know what flight I would like to join. I asked him if he knew something I didn't?!??! Because I still did not have my final approval from the Jewish Agency! (I was told last fall not to even select a flight preference until you have approval). He apologized and said that I did need that to proceed, so just wait a little longer.
Easier said than done!
The next night, my NBN Advisor called me to see how things were moving along (or weren't, as the case may be!). I told him that I hadn't had any contact from the Jewish Agency. He told me to be in touch with them. I explained that I had----emails and voice mails----and nothing was being returned. Isn't that odd? I mean, is that normal? I didn't know if I should be irritated or concerned!! Maybe something had happened to my Shaliach and I'm fretting over something that he has no control over! But you'd think I'd get an "out of the office" auto reply.....not stone cold silence!
So my NBN advisor said he would check into it on his end and let me know what he found out. The next morning, I awake to an email from him saying that the Jewish Agency needed one more document. (When did they know this? Why didn't my Shaliach tell me!?!??!). Seems I had started the process so long ago that they needed an updated letter from my Rabbi. No problem! I had it scanned and emailed into them that night!
That was a week ago. So perhaps my "2-3 week answer" started once they received the "final" document.
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.........as the days pass, my window of opportunity narrows down on what needs to be accomplished in an ever shorter time frame. I want to be on the Group flight that leaves on 2 July. Pet travel and health certificate CERTIFIED by the USDA, selling my car, renting or selling my house, shutting down utility accounts, etc. I can't even order the shipping container until I know I can be on that flight, and the shipping company wanted 6 weeks' notice! HA! (That's not gonna be happenin'!)
Can she do it? Can she make her target flight date? I still move forward a little bit every day in order to reach my goal. Sorting, packing, donating. If the approval comes this week, I know I will be ready. Nothing like the pressure of a deadline to get all the loose ends tied up! :) If it comes NEXT week, I'll be in the history books!!
Patience. Savlanut. It's just my training ground for life in Israel.
Deep breath.........exhale...........repeat. :)
Keeping my chin up,
Aliana
Easier said than done!
The next night, my NBN Advisor called me to see how things were moving along (or weren't, as the case may be!). I told him that I hadn't had any contact from the Jewish Agency. He told me to be in touch with them. I explained that I had----emails and voice mails----and nothing was being returned. Isn't that odd? I mean, is that normal? I didn't know if I should be irritated or concerned!! Maybe something had happened to my Shaliach and I'm fretting over something that he has no control over! But you'd think I'd get an "out of the office" auto reply.....not stone cold silence!
So my NBN advisor said he would check into it on his end and let me know what he found out. The next morning, I awake to an email from him saying that the Jewish Agency needed one more document. (When did they know this? Why didn't my Shaliach tell me!?!??!). Seems I had started the process so long ago that they needed an updated letter from my Rabbi. No problem! I had it scanned and emailed into them that night!
That was a week ago. So perhaps my "2-3 week answer" started once they received the "final" document.
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.........as the days pass, my window of opportunity narrows down on what needs to be accomplished in an ever shorter time frame. I want to be on the Group flight that leaves on 2 July. Pet travel and health certificate CERTIFIED by the USDA, selling my car, renting or selling my house, shutting down utility accounts, etc. I can't even order the shipping container until I know I can be on that flight, and the shipping company wanted 6 weeks' notice! HA! (That's not gonna be happenin'!)
Can she do it? Can she make her target flight date? I still move forward a little bit every day in order to reach my goal. Sorting, packing, donating. If the approval comes this week, I know I will be ready. Nothing like the pressure of a deadline to get all the loose ends tied up! :) If it comes NEXT week, I'll be in the history books!!
Patience. Savlanut. It's just my training ground for life in Israel.
Deep breath.........exhale...........repeat. :)
Keeping my chin up,
Aliana
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Still Waiting......
Hi Everyone.....
Just an update to let you know that I have nothing yet to update. :(
Hopefully I will get my approval confirmation this week. It's been 3.5 weeks so far. Maybe that time frame is normal, I have no idea. It's such a helpless feeling to be in limbo, ya know? Someone I am in contact with had to wait 6 months for her answer!! But she had special circumstances in her case, as she was a returning resident. I'm hoping I won't have to wait that long.
Every day that passes is one day closer to the end of one process and the beginning of another, no matter what they decide.
Sending out positive energy in the form of prayers..... :)
I'll be in touch!
All the best,
Ali
Just an update to let you know that I have nothing yet to update. :(
Hopefully I will get my approval confirmation this week. It's been 3.5 weeks so far. Maybe that time frame is normal, I have no idea. It's such a helpless feeling to be in limbo, ya know? Someone I am in contact with had to wait 6 months for her answer!! But she had special circumstances in her case, as she was a returning resident. I'm hoping I won't have to wait that long.
Every day that passes is one day closer to the end of one process and the beginning of another, no matter what they decide.
Sending out positive energy in the form of prayers..... :)
I'll be in touch!
All the best,
Ali
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Interview With My Shaliach
Here are the details of my experience. Your mileage may vary! :)
Well, I survived! I can happily say that navigating the streets of San Francisco was more intimidating than the interview!
Parking was the hardest issue of the appointment. *IF* you can find a spot on the street, it runs $5 an hour. Or you can squeeze into a sardine like underground parking garage where the attendant must be a whiz at Tetris. Crazy. Proximity comes with a price, though. $28 for 2 hours. Not to mention toll bridge charges there and back.
All in all, it was a positive experience. After being buzzed in to the building and walking through the metal detectors, I went up to my Shaliach's office. He met me in the hallway with a warm smile and a handshake. I sat across from his desk, where had all of my information on his computer screen. First question came out of the blue: Do I have a criminal record? It was such an unexpected question and it kinda startled me. In retrospect, I guess that's the point. I said, "No, just a speeding ticket from about 20 years ago!" to which he replied, "Join the crowd!"
From there, it began with questions about my childhood-where I was born, where I grew up, and then employment history. Jewish background, level of observance, medical questions, marriage/divorce/child custody questions, and then it led into travel to Israel, what are my plans after making Aliyah (housing/job opportunities/schooling) and the last question, WHY do you want to make Aliyah?
He took notes in Hebrew, recording my answers to forward on to their office in Jerusalem. Then one by one, he asked for the hard copies of the documents that I had uploaded online. I watched as he held my birth certificate, passport, letter from my Rabbi, etc., against what he was seeing on his screen.
The only thing he asked for me to provide additionally, are statements from my doctors explaining what my medications are, how they work/what they are used for, and that they are aware that I am moving out of the country.
He said the "investigation" (background check? Wire taps? E-files? :) should take 2-3 weeks and that he would call me personally with a "Mazal Tov" if I get the A-OK. Then I will be able to book my NBN flight immediately. I will have an additional meeting with him before my flight for the processing of my Israeli Visa/Israeli ID card. THAT'S when they want your passport photos, not at the initial interview. I have the option of having it mailed to me (a 3 week wait) or making my appointment on a Wednesday, and then walking over to the Israeli Consulate, where they will process it right then and there. I think I will choose Door #2.
That was it! The whole meeting lasted about 35 minutes.
I will post again after I receive his phone call. Think positive, right? ;)
Aliana
Well, I survived! I can happily say that navigating the streets of San Francisco was more intimidating than the interview!
Parking was the hardest issue of the appointment. *IF* you can find a spot on the street, it runs $5 an hour. Or you can squeeze into a sardine like underground parking garage where the attendant must be a whiz at Tetris. Crazy. Proximity comes with a price, though. $28 for 2 hours. Not to mention toll bridge charges there and back.
All in all, it was a positive experience. After being buzzed in to the building and walking through the metal detectors, I went up to my Shaliach's office. He met me in the hallway with a warm smile and a handshake. I sat across from his desk, where had all of my information on his computer screen. First question came out of the blue: Do I have a criminal record? It was such an unexpected question and it kinda startled me. In retrospect, I guess that's the point. I said, "No, just a speeding ticket from about 20 years ago!" to which he replied, "Join the crowd!"
From there, it began with questions about my childhood-where I was born, where I grew up, and then employment history. Jewish background, level of observance, medical questions, marriage/divorce/child custody questions, and then it led into travel to Israel, what are my plans after making Aliyah (housing/job opportunities/schooling) and the last question, WHY do you want to make Aliyah?
He took notes in Hebrew, recording my answers to forward on to their office in Jerusalem. Then one by one, he asked for the hard copies of the documents that I had uploaded online. I watched as he held my birth certificate, passport, letter from my Rabbi, etc., against what he was seeing on his screen.
The only thing he asked for me to provide additionally, are statements from my doctors explaining what my medications are, how they work/what they are used for, and that they are aware that I am moving out of the country.
He said the "investigation" (background check? Wire taps? E-files? :) should take 2-3 weeks and that he would call me personally with a "Mazal Tov" if I get the A-OK. Then I will be able to book my NBN flight immediately. I will have an additional meeting with him before my flight for the processing of my Israeli Visa/Israeli ID card. THAT'S when they want your passport photos, not at the initial interview. I have the option of having it mailed to me (a 3 week wait) or making my appointment on a Wednesday, and then walking over to the Israeli Consulate, where they will process it right then and there. I think I will choose Door #2.
That was it! The whole meeting lasted about 35 minutes.
I will post again after I receive his phone call. Think positive, right? ;)
Aliana
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Interview Day!
Tomorrow (Thursday) will be my interview with the Jewish Agency. It's the last step in my process to make Aliyah. The buck stops with them. I have no idea what to expect. NBN has been most helpful with all of the required paperwork that has been submitted thus far....almost all of which has been scanned and emailed to them. Now I need to take the originals to the appointment with my Shaliach to look over and verify. I have heard that you get the "yes" or "no" answer in the mail within a few weeks of the interview.
I am sure they will ask WHY I want to make Aliyah. It's the most common question I get. But I wonder if they will ask me to recite the V'ahavta or Kaddish or sing something in Hebrew. :)
As I type this, I am not nervous. But earlier today, I did have visions of Ben Gurion Airport Security Personnel and their interrogation techniques. I hope it's not that kind of an environment. : / That's enough to rattle anyone's nerves!
I will have an update in a few days.
Aliana
I am sure they will ask WHY I want to make Aliyah. It's the most common question I get. But I wonder if they will ask me to recite the V'ahavta or Kaddish or sing something in Hebrew. :)
As I type this, I am not nervous. But earlier today, I did have visions of Ben Gurion Airport Security Personnel and their interrogation techniques. I hope it's not that kind of an environment. : / That's enough to rattle anyone's nerves!
I will have an update in a few days.
Aliana
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Hurry Up And Wait!
I took Owen and Jasmine in for their Rabies Titre (FAVN) testing on March 27th. So I should be getting those results in the next 7 days.
I also got all of my required documents submitted to the NBN site for my Aliyah file. Today I received a call back from the Jewish Agency for my face to face Interview. It's the final step in the approval process. My interview will be May 2nd. I hear that the "yes" or "no" from the Jewish Agency can take about 3 weeks after the meeting. Once you have it, my Aliyah Advisor said that I could schedule a flight out the very next day if there was room on an El Al flight! But in reality, within a couple of weeks of the "yes", you could find yourself arriving at Ben-Gurion!
NBN just added a Group flight from LAX, (Los Angeles, CA), but it doesn't leave until July 2nd. My original "plan" (G-d is laughing) was to arrive in March or April. Part of that reason, was to work up to the intensely humid summers in Israel. Been to Florida? It's hotter and more humid than the Sunshine State. I am from an area in the USA where we are known to say: "But it's a DRY heat!" hahaha There IS a difference!! I guess I won't have time for a gradual acclimation regardless of when I fly, May, June, or July!! (Ok, who is playing the violin?!?!?!?)
My Advisor also said that the biggest advantage in going to the Interview is to have a very clear POST ALIYAH plan. If you already have your living arrangements and/or employment secured, you're 'more likely' to be approved for the process. I am fortunate to have both, but I can't walk in thinking I've got this in the bag. I need to prepare myself for "no". Now, a 'no' doesn't mean that I cannot make Aliyah. It simply means that I could not make it with and through the help of NBN and the Jewish Agency. I would have to go to Israel and do it from within. It would take a lot longer and be incredibly frustrating. But I would still do it.
I am also getting estimates from different shipping companies for the cost of sending my personal effects over to Israel. I think I can get by with a 20 foot container. A lot of posts on the NBN Yahoo Group site say just sell everything and buy new or used in Israel. Well, my tastes don't go with the ultra modern, European/IKEA type styles that are readily available there. I prefer my antique furniture. It's an eclectic mix, but each piece is made with such craftsmanship that to me they are individual works of art. And I think being surrounded by what is loved and familiar to me will help ease the transitional stress. When I look at my sofa or dining room table and can "see" my family sitting there, well, call me crazy, but I think it will go a long way in bringing me comfort at being so far away from my biological loved ones.
The prices range from $3500 to $6500 so far for the 20' container. I have contacted 6 companies, and not all of the quotes are in yet. And I am finding that they would prefer a bare minimum of 6 weeks' notice of your intended move, and would rather have a few months' notice. A friend told me that the shipping companies are all extremely competitive, so don't be afraid to negotiate the price. She got $1,000 off of her original quote. When I have all of the information, I may enlist her help in being my Negotiator! hahaha
Well, there you have it. That is what I have been up to since my last post. I was surprised at how many views my site got in my absence!! That was pretty cool! Seems like a lot of folks are planning to travel with pets, as that has been the most viewed page. I hope that documenting my journey is helping someone! It sure helps relieve my fears and apprehensions (such as they are) to be able to write about the process and "get it out of my head" !! :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Aliana
I also got all of my required documents submitted to the NBN site for my Aliyah file. Today I received a call back from the Jewish Agency for my face to face Interview. It's the final step in the approval process. My interview will be May 2nd. I hear that the "yes" or "no" from the Jewish Agency can take about 3 weeks after the meeting. Once you have it, my Aliyah Advisor said that I could schedule a flight out the very next day if there was room on an El Al flight! But in reality, within a couple of weeks of the "yes", you could find yourself arriving at Ben-Gurion!
NBN just added a Group flight from LAX, (Los Angeles, CA), but it doesn't leave until July 2nd. My original "plan" (G-d is laughing) was to arrive in March or April. Part of that reason, was to work up to the intensely humid summers in Israel. Been to Florida? It's hotter and more humid than the Sunshine State. I am from an area in the USA where we are known to say: "But it's a DRY heat!" hahaha There IS a difference!! I guess I won't have time for a gradual acclimation regardless of when I fly, May, June, or July!! (Ok, who is playing the violin?!?!?!?)
My Advisor also said that the biggest advantage in going to the Interview is to have a very clear POST ALIYAH plan. If you already have your living arrangements and/or employment secured, you're 'more likely' to be approved for the process. I am fortunate to have both, but I can't walk in thinking I've got this in the bag. I need to prepare myself for "no". Now, a 'no' doesn't mean that I cannot make Aliyah. It simply means that I could not make it with and through the help of NBN and the Jewish Agency. I would have to go to Israel and do it from within. It would take a lot longer and be incredibly frustrating. But I would still do it.
I am also getting estimates from different shipping companies for the cost of sending my personal effects over to Israel. I think I can get by with a 20 foot container. A lot of posts on the NBN Yahoo Group site say just sell everything and buy new or used in Israel. Well, my tastes don't go with the ultra modern, European/IKEA type styles that are readily available there. I prefer my antique furniture. It's an eclectic mix, but each piece is made with such craftsmanship that to me they are individual works of art. And I think being surrounded by what is loved and familiar to me will help ease the transitional stress. When I look at my sofa or dining room table and can "see" my family sitting there, well, call me crazy, but I think it will go a long way in bringing me comfort at being so far away from my biological loved ones.
The prices range from $3500 to $6500 so far for the 20' container. I have contacted 6 companies, and not all of the quotes are in yet. And I am finding that they would prefer a bare minimum of 6 weeks' notice of your intended move, and would rather have a few months' notice. A friend told me that the shipping companies are all extremely competitive, so don't be afraid to negotiate the price. She got $1,000 off of her original quote. When I have all of the information, I may enlist her help in being my Negotiator! hahaha
Well, there you have it. That is what I have been up to since my last post. I was surprised at how many views my site got in my absence!! That was pretty cool! Seems like a lot of folks are planning to travel with pets, as that has been the most viewed page. I hope that documenting my journey is helping someone! It sure helps relieve my fears and apprehensions (such as they are) to be able to write about the process and "get it out of my head" !! :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Aliana
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Making Aliyah With Pets--Plan Ahead!
This part of the Aliyah process creates more than a little stress! On one hand, you worry about getting your own paperwork submitted and approved, and now you have another rabbit trail to follow to get everything necessary for your animals to travel with you as well!
I have two cats. My furry friends are brother and sister, almost 10 years old. One was abandoned by her mother (a feral cat) in the crawl space under my Craftsman house in 2003. When I located the source of the insistent "meows", I found a little black kitten with her eyes still closed. They opened up later that day, so I figured she was about 10 days old.
I fed her pet milk from a doll bottle. I can't explain the attachment you get to something that is so helpless. I saw the other 5 kittens in and around the yard. She was clearly the runt of the litter and appeared to have some issue with her hip or her hind leg. Obviously her bio mom left her to die. But she was such a little fighter!!
After about 10 days, I went out into the yard to find a sibling for her. 4 of them were calico kittens. They each hissed at me when I tried to reach down to pick them up. Then I saw him. The fluffy, gray kitten. He was off in a corner alone. I reached down for him and he just stared back at me with those kitten steel blue-grey eyes. No hissing, no scratching, no fear. I pulled him up to my neck and said, "Do you want me to love you?" and he just started purring.
Owen and Jasmine have been a huge part of my life since then. My kids say I love the cats more than them, ha ha! I don't love them MORE, but it's clearly a love that is just as strong, but in a slightly different way.
OK, that was the back story. Feral kittens that are now domesticated. They have had regular check ups and vaccinations. They have even flown with me to Israel a few times. So I was already used to THAT required paperwork. But now, it's much more intensive and the steps must be done in the proper order. And it's not cheap. Let me share with you what my cats need done, and what has been accomplished so far.
First off, you won't be able to go to Israel on a US Airways flight, as they don't allow pets. I was on a webinar last week and double checked if that policy was restricted to in-cabin pets, and was told "they don't do pets, in the cabin or in the cargo hold." All righty then! So that means you must be on an El-Al flight if making Aliyah with pets. I've never flown either airline yet, so I'm learning their policies as I go along.
I called my Vet with all of the requirements that Israel needed for import. I got an estimate back: $700 PER CAT--and that was a discount on their usual fee schedule. Yikes!
Here is the breakdown PER cat:
1. Routine Exam $40
2. Rabies Vaccine (1yr) $23.60
3. FVRCP Annual Vaccination $10.00
4. ISO MIcrochip $52.00
5. Office Visit-Doctor 4 weeks after implantation $25.00
6. Rabies Titre-FAVN $356.00 (takes 3-4 weeks to get results)
7. Routine Exam no sooner than 10 days before travel $40.05
8. International Health Certificate $126.18 no sooner than 10 days before travel
Oh but wait! There's more!! After that's all said and done, and within the 10 days of your flight, your paperwork must be certified by the USDA. Go to www.aphis.usda.gov to find the location nearest where you live. Note that you may have to travel out of state, like I do. What I did find out today, is that they just need to certify the paperwork, they do NOT need to see your animals!! :) Make sure your Vet has the NVAP accreditation! Everything you do may be for naught without this certification on your paperwork!
Needless to say, that's quite a chunk of change. I decided I must cut corners wherever I could. I found that the SPCA was doing a vaccination clinic last month. I took Jasmine and Owen, and they received 3 year rabies shots for just $15 per animal. Cha-Ching! Saved $310.80 there averaged over 3 years. Then, amazingly, my county was offering FREE MICROCHIPPING for a limited time. I called to ask what frequency of chip they were implanting, and was told they only use the ISO standard...which is the frequency that Israel requires. Cha-Ching!! Saved $154 thanks to County Animal Control Services!!
I still need to have the Rabies Titre done for both cats. I haven't been able to find a break on that test. Another Vet in town that I called charged $500 each to do it! All of the samples from the USA go to Kansas State University. From there, the results can take up to a month. NOTE: The Titre test cannot be done sooner than 30 days after the last Rabies vaccination, AND the ISO Microchip must already be implanted before the blood sample is drawn.
Next week I can take them for their Rabies Titre test. I wish the test was not so costly, but I must do it if they are to come with me. Then ten days before I leave, I will take them for their travel exam and have the Vet fill out the International Health Certificate which you can print off of the website I listed above. Even though my region's USDA office is in another state, it's just a 3 hour drive from where I live, so I can get it done all in one day. I have no idea what THEIR fee will be to certify it, but when I find out, I will update this page.
I have two cats. My furry friends are brother and sister, almost 10 years old. One was abandoned by her mother (a feral cat) in the crawl space under my Craftsman house in 2003. When I located the source of the insistent "meows", I found a little black kitten with her eyes still closed. They opened up later that day, so I figured she was about 10 days old.
I fed her pet milk from a doll bottle. I can't explain the attachment you get to something that is so helpless. I saw the other 5 kittens in and around the yard. She was clearly the runt of the litter and appeared to have some issue with her hip or her hind leg. Obviously her bio mom left her to die. But she was such a little fighter!!
After about 10 days, I went out into the yard to find a sibling for her. 4 of them were calico kittens. They each hissed at me when I tried to reach down to pick them up. Then I saw him. The fluffy, gray kitten. He was off in a corner alone. I reached down for him and he just stared back at me with those kitten steel blue-grey eyes. No hissing, no scratching, no fear. I pulled him up to my neck and said, "Do you want me to love you?" and he just started purring.
Owen and Jasmine have been a huge part of my life since then. My kids say I love the cats more than them, ha ha! I don't love them MORE, but it's clearly a love that is just as strong, but in a slightly different way.
OK, that was the back story. Feral kittens that are now domesticated. They have had regular check ups and vaccinations. They have even flown with me to Israel a few times. So I was already used to THAT required paperwork. But now, it's much more intensive and the steps must be done in the proper order. And it's not cheap. Let me share with you what my cats need done, and what has been accomplished so far.
First off, you won't be able to go to Israel on a US Airways flight, as they don't allow pets. I was on a webinar last week and double checked if that policy was restricted to in-cabin pets, and was told "they don't do pets, in the cabin or in the cargo hold." All righty then! So that means you must be on an El-Al flight if making Aliyah with pets. I've never flown either airline yet, so I'm learning their policies as I go along.
I called my Vet with all of the requirements that Israel needed for import. I got an estimate back: $700 PER CAT--and that was a discount on their usual fee schedule. Yikes!
Here is the breakdown PER cat:
1. Routine Exam $40
2. Rabies Vaccine (1yr) $23.60
3. FVRCP Annual Vaccination $10.00
4. ISO MIcrochip $52.00
5. Office Visit-Doctor 4 weeks after implantation $25.00
6. Rabies Titre-FAVN $356.00 (takes 3-4 weeks to get results)
7. Routine Exam no sooner than 10 days before travel $40.05
8. International Health Certificate $126.18 no sooner than 10 days before travel
Oh but wait! There's more!! After that's all said and done, and within the 10 days of your flight, your paperwork must be certified by the USDA. Go to www.aphis.usda.gov to find the location nearest where you live. Note that you may have to travel out of state, like I do. What I did find out today, is that they just need to certify the paperwork, they do NOT need to see your animals!! :) Make sure your Vet has the NVAP accreditation! Everything you do may be for naught without this certification on your paperwork!
Needless to say, that's quite a chunk of change. I decided I must cut corners wherever I could. I found that the SPCA was doing a vaccination clinic last month. I took Jasmine and Owen, and they received 3 year rabies shots for just $15 per animal. Cha-Ching! Saved $310.80 there averaged over 3 years. Then, amazingly, my county was offering FREE MICROCHIPPING for a limited time. I called to ask what frequency of chip they were implanting, and was told they only use the ISO standard...which is the frequency that Israel requires. Cha-Ching!! Saved $154 thanks to County Animal Control Services!!
I still need to have the Rabies Titre done for both cats. I haven't been able to find a break on that test. Another Vet in town that I called charged $500 each to do it! All of the samples from the USA go to Kansas State University. From there, the results can take up to a month. NOTE: The Titre test cannot be done sooner than 30 days after the last Rabies vaccination, AND the ISO Microchip must already be implanted before the blood sample is drawn.
Next week I can take them for their Rabies Titre test. I wish the test was not so costly, but I must do it if they are to come with me. Then ten days before I leave, I will take them for their travel exam and have the Vet fill out the International Health Certificate which you can print off of the website I listed above. Even though my region's USDA office is in another state, it's just a 3 hour drive from where I live, so I can get it done all in one day. I have no idea what THEIR fee will be to certify it, but when I find out, I will update this page.
The Cycle of Life.....Includes Death
My dear friend Hannah died on Friday, March 1st. She had been fighting breast cancer since 1999. She had a 5 year remission at one point, but it came back. And then it was one recurrence after another.
I would go with her to her chemo treatments. The drugs that targeted the cancer really took a toll on her. She was on a 3 week interval for one of her infusions, and out of the 21 days, she only felt "good" for 2 of them. When that treatment cycle ended, the cancer came roaring back. They put her on a different drug that was adminstered weekly. But she still felt miserable.
After 14 years of battling her disease, she decided to end treatment. She said she was "sick and tired of being sick and tired".
After a brief hospital stay for a kidney issue, she went home to be on Hospice.
Hannah seemed weak, but still herself, while she was in the hospital for those 5 days. I had gone to visit her again on Monday the 25th but arrived to an empty room. The nurse said she had just been discharged to go home. I texted her to make sure she went straight home and was up for company. My last text from her read: You can come. Sorry we missed you. I will be good for not much else than sleeping. Look forward to seeing you. Hugs! H.
But when I got there, she was already not her usual self. She was exhausted like nothing I had seen before. The next day, Tuesday, she was very combative with her husband. She did not want to take her medications or have anyone be near her. I had never seen that behavior from her. Hannah kept taking off her oxygen cannula, and the nurse said to honor her wishes, if she didn't want to use it, don't force her to. Her sister called me that night and said she would be there on Friday. I told her that I think she should come sooner rather than later. Hannah's sister and daughter drove from California the next day. I'm so glad they came.
Thursday, Hannah started receiving the liquid morphine. For some strange reason, it "brought her back" to us, even if it was just for little spurts of lucidity. She looked at my royal blue shirt and said, "Pretty!" as she was rubbing the sleeve with her fingers....then she asked me "where?" I got it. "At Goodwill, our favorite clothing store, of course!" I said with a smile.
We tried to play music for her, but she always got very agitated and would utter, "No! No! No!". One would think that music would be soothing....but Hannah did not want it at all.
She asked her daughter, "I'm dying, aren't I?" At first, her daughter told her 'yes', as we were told to only deal in the truth with the patient. Hannah didn't like that answer at all! "Oh yeah? Who says I'm dying? Who says???" Her daughter quickly turned it around to "Mom, what I mean is that we're ALL dying....everyone is going to die someday!". That calmed Hannah down a bit. But from there on out, she didn't want to take the liquid morphine....until her daughter convinced her that it was vitamins full of antioxidants that were gonna make her better. She hated lying to her, but it was the only way to keep her comfortable as the disease raged uncontrolled throughout her body.
Later that night, she wanted to know what was going on. "Why is everyone in my room?!? Something is going on!" Her sister told her that we were just having a little family reunion, that's all.
Friday, March 1st. Her breathing was quite deliberate now. She didn't seem to be so restless as she had been before. She was no longer plumping pillows or changing postions on the bed...it was all she could do to just breathe.
We spent Friday afternoon all around her in her bedroom. We took turns getting into bed and lying next to her. Stroking her head and her "crew cut" hairdo...it had grown out a little since she shaved it a few months prior. (For some reason the chemo hadn't caused it to fall out.) We hugged her, talked to her, and stroked her back and rubbed her arms. We'd reach down and hold her hand. Although she appeared to be asleep, certain words/names seemed to evoke something inside of her that would cause her breathing to change. Especially names. She was so concerned about her husband and how he would deal with her death. Every time I said his name, her chest would rise and her breathing would quicken. I reassured her that we were all going to look after him and that she need not worry. Then she would relax and the breathing would slow down again.
The Hospice nurse arrived at 3:45pm. She took Hannah's vitals. She suggested that we change her clothes, as she had been wearing the same nightgown for 4 days. (Hannah would not let us change her clothes earlier in the week....but now she was too weak to argue with the nurse.) We found a pretty purple tie-dyed sundress to put her in.....purple was her favorite color. Her sister and daughter assisted the nurse.
We all came back into the room. It was about 4:10pm or so. She looked so pretty. We all seemed to realize that we were in the presence of her last moments on earth. She looked around the room and then would close her eyes. This went on for a few minutes. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, but she had a slightly frightened look on her face. She looked right at me. I told her, "Hannah, we are all here because we love you. You have been a faithful wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend. We don't want you to be in any more pain. Don't stay here for us---we want you to be out of your misery. We will all take care of Tim, so don't worry. You can go now. We love you so much!"
And with that, she left us. It was 4:18pm.
I'm glad that she is no longer suffering. But the world seems a little darker since her departure. Goodbye Hannah, the 'big sister' I only had for a short while. I still can't believe that you are gone, and I miss you, my friend.
I would go with her to her chemo treatments. The drugs that targeted the cancer really took a toll on her. She was on a 3 week interval for one of her infusions, and out of the 21 days, she only felt "good" for 2 of them. When that treatment cycle ended, the cancer came roaring back. They put her on a different drug that was adminstered weekly. But she still felt miserable.
After 14 years of battling her disease, she decided to end treatment. She said she was "sick and tired of being sick and tired".
After a brief hospital stay for a kidney issue, she went home to be on Hospice.
Hannah seemed weak, but still herself, while she was in the hospital for those 5 days. I had gone to visit her again on Monday the 25th but arrived to an empty room. The nurse said she had just been discharged to go home. I texted her to make sure she went straight home and was up for company. My last text from her read: You can come. Sorry we missed you. I will be good for not much else than sleeping. Look forward to seeing you. Hugs! H.
But when I got there, she was already not her usual self. She was exhausted like nothing I had seen before. The next day, Tuesday, she was very combative with her husband. She did not want to take her medications or have anyone be near her. I had never seen that behavior from her. Hannah kept taking off her oxygen cannula, and the nurse said to honor her wishes, if she didn't want to use it, don't force her to. Her sister called me that night and said she would be there on Friday. I told her that I think she should come sooner rather than later. Hannah's sister and daughter drove from California the next day. I'm so glad they came.
Thursday, Hannah started receiving the liquid morphine. For some strange reason, it "brought her back" to us, even if it was just for little spurts of lucidity. She looked at my royal blue shirt and said, "Pretty!" as she was rubbing the sleeve with her fingers....then she asked me "where?" I got it. "At Goodwill, our favorite clothing store, of course!" I said with a smile.
We tried to play music for her, but she always got very agitated and would utter, "No! No! No!". One would think that music would be soothing....but Hannah did not want it at all.
She asked her daughter, "I'm dying, aren't I?" At first, her daughter told her 'yes', as we were told to only deal in the truth with the patient. Hannah didn't like that answer at all! "Oh yeah? Who says I'm dying? Who says???" Her daughter quickly turned it around to "Mom, what I mean is that we're ALL dying....everyone is going to die someday!". That calmed Hannah down a bit. But from there on out, she didn't want to take the liquid morphine....until her daughter convinced her that it was vitamins full of antioxidants that were gonna make her better. She hated lying to her, but it was the only way to keep her comfortable as the disease raged uncontrolled throughout her body.
Later that night, she wanted to know what was going on. "Why is everyone in my room?!? Something is going on!" Her sister told her that we were just having a little family reunion, that's all.
Friday, March 1st. Her breathing was quite deliberate now. She didn't seem to be so restless as she had been before. She was no longer plumping pillows or changing postions on the bed...it was all she could do to just breathe.
We spent Friday afternoon all around her in her bedroom. We took turns getting into bed and lying next to her. Stroking her head and her "crew cut" hairdo...it had grown out a little since she shaved it a few months prior. (For some reason the chemo hadn't caused it to fall out.) We hugged her, talked to her, and stroked her back and rubbed her arms. We'd reach down and hold her hand. Although she appeared to be asleep, certain words/names seemed to evoke something inside of her that would cause her breathing to change. Especially names. She was so concerned about her husband and how he would deal with her death. Every time I said his name, her chest would rise and her breathing would quicken. I reassured her that we were all going to look after him and that she need not worry. Then she would relax and the breathing would slow down again.
The Hospice nurse arrived at 3:45pm. She took Hannah's vitals. She suggested that we change her clothes, as she had been wearing the same nightgown for 4 days. (Hannah would not let us change her clothes earlier in the week....but now she was too weak to argue with the nurse.) We found a pretty purple tie-dyed sundress to put her in.....purple was her favorite color. Her sister and daughter assisted the nurse.
We all came back into the room. It was about 4:10pm or so. She looked so pretty. We all seemed to realize that we were in the presence of her last moments on earth. She looked around the room and then would close her eyes. This went on for a few minutes. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, but she had a slightly frightened look on her face. She looked right at me. I told her, "Hannah, we are all here because we love you. You have been a faithful wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend. We don't want you to be in any more pain. Don't stay here for us---we want you to be out of your misery. We will all take care of Tim, so don't worry. You can go now. We love you so much!"
And with that, she left us. It was 4:18pm.
I'm glad that she is no longer suffering. But the world seems a little darker since her departure. Goodbye Hannah, the 'big sister' I only had for a short while. I still can't believe that you are gone, and I miss you, my friend.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Life Is What Happens....
.....When you are busy making Aliyah and blogging plans!
I do apologize for such a long absence. Not a day went by that I didn't think, "Oh my, I need to write a post!" That later turned into, "Oh my! I need to explain why I dropped off the face of the earth!"
Ok, Long Story Short: My mother came to town. Need I say more?!?!? :)
But I will say a bit more. She has not been in good health for the last few years. It was a miracle, really, for here to even be here at all.
So there was the pre-mom preparation that most grown children can relate to...as well as the visit itself....and then the post departure details. We spent hours alone together (is that an oxymoron?!!?) as well as visiting with extended family. A great time was had by all.
It was exhausting, however. Probably more so emotionally than physically. Lots of talking and reminiscing. Poring over 70+ years of family photographs that she brought with her. (Priceless!). I know in the future I will treasure this visit with my mom even more than I do right now.
Although each day started with promise, by the end of the day I was totally spent. I felt I had nothing left to give, and my blog went by the wayside. Sorry little blog!
So thanks for hanging in there! I will be back in the 'writing' saddle soon enough.
All the best,
Aliana
I do apologize for such a long absence. Not a day went by that I didn't think, "Oh my, I need to write a post!" That later turned into, "Oh my! I need to explain why I dropped off the face of the earth!"
Ok, Long Story Short: My mother came to town. Need I say more?!?!? :)
But I will say a bit more. She has not been in good health for the last few years. It was a miracle, really, for here to even be here at all.
So there was the pre-mom preparation that most grown children can relate to...as well as the visit itself....and then the post departure details. We spent hours alone together (is that an oxymoron?!!?) as well as visiting with extended family. A great time was had by all.
It was exhausting, however. Probably more so emotionally than physically. Lots of talking and reminiscing. Poring over 70+ years of family photographs that she brought with her. (Priceless!). I know in the future I will treasure this visit with my mom even more than I do right now.
Although each day started with promise, by the end of the day I was totally spent. I felt I had nothing left to give, and my blog went by the wayside. Sorry little blog!
So thanks for hanging in there! I will be back in the 'writing' saddle soon enough.
All the best,
Aliana
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Some Thoughts On Food....Part 1
Middle Eastern food is good. It's a Mediterranean diet for the most part. More emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables which are in ample supply. But there are spices used that aren't common in the American culture. The one I do not care for at all, is Za'atar. It was in so many dishes. Perhaps in moderation it would be tolerable, but it always seemed to overpower whatever food it was used in. Or, maybe I just don't like it!
Shwarma. When it's good, it's very good. When it's bad, it's horrid. The best I have had so far was in a little cafe in Acco. I would definitely go back to that establishment for more if I was in the area. My worst experience was near Tel Aviv, where the shwarma tasted sweet instead of savory. Almost as if there were a little cinnamon and sugar in the spice mixture. What were they thinking?
Falafel is yummy too. Ratzon makes a great one.
Coffee? Everywhere you go there are coffee houses. Espresso, Americano, Mocha, Latte, Cappuchino, etc. I laughed when I heard that Starbucks came to Israel and didn't make it. I guess the Israelis are smarter than your average bear, Boo-boo! Never could I understand how burned yuck at the bottom of a pot that tasted 3 days old and smoke infused could ever become an American staple. Aroma is the name of a popular chain of coffee houses in Israel. Tasty food and good coffee. There's also Cup O' Joe, and Cafe Cafe, among others. If you drink it black like me, don't be surprised by the odd looks. Most Israelis drink their milk with a splash of coffee. :)
Pita in the US cannot be compared to what you will enjoy in Israel. Here, it's dry and thin and flavorless. Over there it is moist and chewy, often being bagged up while it is still warm from the oven. I would take a pack home, cut them in half, and then put them in the freezer. A half an Israeli pita is quite filling. My favorite breakfast was a pita with "yellow" cheese (that is actually white---never did understand why they call it yellow!) and green olives and red bell peppers. Yes, BREAKFAST. Eggs are used more at dinner time, for some reason. And they do taste somewhat different than the eggs I am used to. Still can't determine what it is exactly....but there is a difference.
Meat. I am used to walking into the supermarket and deciding what meat I want by looking over the various packages of pre-portioned selections. Beef Roast, Chicken, Ground Beef, etc. In Israel, there was a meat counter in the market. Although, there were no pre-portioned FRESH meat selections...but you could find them frozen. I found out later that all one has to do is ask the butcher for what you want, and they will cut it or grind it for you right there. Since I didn't speak the language even somewhat fluently, that would've been a hilarious scene. So I stuck to buying frozen. My frozen package of ground beef for a pot of chili I was making was around 1/2 pound. Cost? About $7.00. I also recall frozen salmon (not sure if it was wild or farm raised) and it was the equivalent of $26-28! Ouch!
Did I tell you about the yogurt? The ice cream? The cottage cheese and sour cream? It's incredible! All of the dairy products are out of this world. I can't think of the name of my favorite yogurt---Mueller's? Not sure. It had a layer of pureed fruit on top. (Or you could buy it pre-mixed). Lemon, Strawberry Banana, Orange and so on. If you don't like yogurt, I dare you to try it! It tastes nothing like the yogurt you don't like!
I eat ice cream about 3 times a year. Well, that was before visiting Israel. My first experience with ice cream over there was in Tiberias in 2007. I needed a chocolate fix, and it was a warm day. So...I see this little ice cream stand. I peered into the freezer and see the darkest chocolate ever. I have to have it! 8 shekels later (about $2) I was falling in love with the smoothest, densest ice cream I had ever tasted. And in a waffle cone to boot! I was hooked. It became a treat often, especially in the summer months.
I thought of a few more interesting items, so I will continue this topic in my next post.
Aliana
Shwarma. When it's good, it's very good. When it's bad, it's horrid. The best I have had so far was in a little cafe in Acco. I would definitely go back to that establishment for more if I was in the area. My worst experience was near Tel Aviv, where the shwarma tasted sweet instead of savory. Almost as if there were a little cinnamon and sugar in the spice mixture. What were they thinking?
Falafel is yummy too. Ratzon makes a great one.
Coffee? Everywhere you go there are coffee houses. Espresso, Americano, Mocha, Latte, Cappuchino, etc. I laughed when I heard that Starbucks came to Israel and didn't make it. I guess the Israelis are smarter than your average bear, Boo-boo! Never could I understand how burned yuck at the bottom of a pot that tasted 3 days old and smoke infused could ever become an American staple. Aroma is the name of a popular chain of coffee houses in Israel. Tasty food and good coffee. There's also Cup O' Joe, and Cafe Cafe, among others. If you drink it black like me, don't be surprised by the odd looks. Most Israelis drink their milk with a splash of coffee. :)
Pita in the US cannot be compared to what you will enjoy in Israel. Here, it's dry and thin and flavorless. Over there it is moist and chewy, often being bagged up while it is still warm from the oven. I would take a pack home, cut them in half, and then put them in the freezer. A half an Israeli pita is quite filling. My favorite breakfast was a pita with "yellow" cheese (that is actually white---never did understand why they call it yellow!) and green olives and red bell peppers. Yes, BREAKFAST. Eggs are used more at dinner time, for some reason. And they do taste somewhat different than the eggs I am used to. Still can't determine what it is exactly....but there is a difference.
Meat. I am used to walking into the supermarket and deciding what meat I want by looking over the various packages of pre-portioned selections. Beef Roast, Chicken, Ground Beef, etc. In Israel, there was a meat counter in the market. Although, there were no pre-portioned FRESH meat selections...but you could find them frozen. I found out later that all one has to do is ask the butcher for what you want, and they will cut it or grind it for you right there. Since I didn't speak the language even somewhat fluently, that would've been a hilarious scene. So I stuck to buying frozen. My frozen package of ground beef for a pot of chili I was making was around 1/2 pound. Cost? About $7.00. I also recall frozen salmon (not sure if it was wild or farm raised) and it was the equivalent of $26-28! Ouch!
Did I tell you about the yogurt? The ice cream? The cottage cheese and sour cream? It's incredible! All of the dairy products are out of this world. I can't think of the name of my favorite yogurt---Mueller's? Not sure. It had a layer of pureed fruit on top. (Or you could buy it pre-mixed). Lemon, Strawberry Banana, Orange and so on. If you don't like yogurt, I dare you to try it! It tastes nothing like the yogurt you don't like!
I eat ice cream about 3 times a year. Well, that was before visiting Israel. My first experience with ice cream over there was in Tiberias in 2007. I needed a chocolate fix, and it was a warm day. So...I see this little ice cream stand. I peered into the freezer and see the darkest chocolate ever. I have to have it! 8 shekels later (about $2) I was falling in love with the smoothest, densest ice cream I had ever tasted. And in a waffle cone to boot! I was hooked. It became a treat often, especially in the summer months.
I thought of a few more interesting items, so I will continue this topic in my next post.
Aliana
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The Odd Phone Call
I got a phone call the other night from a friend in Illinois. He tends to see the glass flat out EMPTY, if you know what I mean. He was born in the USA, but his parents moved to Israel when he was a small boy. As a young adult, he moved back to Illinois. He travels to Israel a few times a year to visit friends and family.
So my phone rings, and for two and a half hours, he went on and on about why I am making the biggest mistake of my life. The mistake, in his eyes, is becoming a citizen of Israel.
"Why can't you just go and visit? Why do you have to move there? You are going to regret it. You know how difficult life can be in Israel, why in the world would you go put yourself in the middle of it?"
I have spent the last 3 and a half years of my life thinking about making Aliyah. It has not been a rash decision. It's not something that I take lightly. I realize the ramifications of the move. You leave family behind that you won't get to physically see as often. You go to live in a Land where everything is different. Even when "things" are the same, they are still different than what you are used to. More about that in a future post.
It's no use trying to convince someone of the convictions that live in your heart. No one else lives YOUR life. Maybe living in Israel is not a good choice for him. I accept that. But why send negative energy my way because HE wouldn't make the same decision?
I was a little down after the phone call. The mood lasted for a couple of days. Why had it knocked the wind out of my sails? I DO know what I am getting into! I DO know that I will cry at some point, as I always do when I miss my family. I DO know that I will have struggles learning the language and dealing with the bureaucracy. I DO know that I need thicker skin. ALL OF THIS I KNOW. Even so, my heart and soul still long to be there, regardless.
So what did I learn from this phone call experience?
I learned that I would rather have a friend who feels there is nothing that they could not say to me. There is comfort in the fact that in our individuality, we often won't see things eye to eye on any number of things. And that's OK! But it's a two way street. The key is listening and respecting each other's thoughts and opinions and still being friends, despite our differences.
Good Lesson.
.
So my phone rings, and for two and a half hours, he went on and on about why I am making the biggest mistake of my life. The mistake, in his eyes, is becoming a citizen of Israel.
"Why can't you just go and visit? Why do you have to move there? You are going to regret it. You know how difficult life can be in Israel, why in the world would you go put yourself in the middle of it?"
I have spent the last 3 and a half years of my life thinking about making Aliyah. It has not been a rash decision. It's not something that I take lightly. I realize the ramifications of the move. You leave family behind that you won't get to physically see as often. You go to live in a Land where everything is different. Even when "things" are the same, they are still different than what you are used to. More about that in a future post.
It's no use trying to convince someone of the convictions that live in your heart. No one else lives YOUR life. Maybe living in Israel is not a good choice for him. I accept that. But why send negative energy my way because HE wouldn't make the same decision?
I was a little down after the phone call. The mood lasted for a couple of days. Why had it knocked the wind out of my sails? I DO know what I am getting into! I DO know that I will cry at some point, as I always do when I miss my family. I DO know that I will have struggles learning the language and dealing with the bureaucracy. I DO know that I need thicker skin. ALL OF THIS I KNOW. Even so, my heart and soul still long to be there, regardless.
So what did I learn from this phone call experience?
I learned that I would rather have a friend who feels there is nothing that they could not say to me. There is comfort in the fact that in our individuality, we often won't see things eye to eye on any number of things. And that's OK! But it's a two way street. The key is listening and respecting each other's thoughts and opinions and still being friends, despite our differences.
Good Lesson.
.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Documents Needed For Aliyah--Part 2
Alrighty then! This part covers the forms from the NBN website that you will be downloading, filling out, scanning and emailing or snail mailing back to them. Please always remember and never forget: If you mail anything to NBN (other than the photos), YOU keep the original, and THEY get the copy!
Here's the list I have:
Financial Affidavit--a summary of your net worth.
Grant Contract (If you are awarded financial assistance to make Aliyah).
Waiver of Confidentiality--to allow sharing of info between NBN and the Jewish Agency and/or other Israeli government entities.
Entry/ Exit Form--a form to document all of your entries and exits to/from Israel for the past 7 years prior to your anticipated Aliyah date. The amount of time you have cumulatively spent in Israel affects your benefits as a new immigrant. There are 3 different categories, if I recall correctly.
Proof of Living Outside of Israel---Support for the Entry/Exit form--because I had many visits over a short period of time, I have been asked to send copies of my US Tax Returns as proof of residence outside of Israel to support the dates on my form. If you previously lived in Israel under any number of circumstances, there are specific things you need to submit. Please see the NBN website for more detailed information.
Health Declaration form--simple health questionnaire.
Declaration of Family Obligation--This is a document that must be filled out if you are divorced, separated, or are going thru a divorce and you have children born during the marriage. My children are all grown and married, and my former spouse has been re-married for almost 20 years, and I still have to fill one out! It also must be notarized. If there are minor children making Aliyah, it must also be certified with the Apostille. There are a couple of other forms that have to do with children whose biological mother/father is not making Aliyah. It would be best to go to the NBN site and read the requirements, as each scenario is somewhat different.
Adoption Papers---need to be submitted with an Apostille.
Sole Custody Papers--(Court Order) you need to submit the most recent order outlining the terms of the custody arrangement, and including any agreements regarding the children obtaining Israeli citizenship. An apostille must be attached to the signed document if minor children are making aliyah.
Legal Name Change--(Other than by marriage) If you have legally changed your name, you must submit a copy of the legal paperwork. If it was issued after September 1, 1988, you MUST have an apostille on it.
Letter of Recommendation--written by a non-relative, attesting to your reasons for making Aliyah, your character, contribution to the community, etc. It should be written by a community leader if possible.
References--needed from 2 non-relatives who have known you for more than 2 years. They can be in the USA, U.K. or in Israel. Please give NBN their contact information.
Supporting Statement--some refer to this as "The Essay". It's just your own personal story about your desire to make Aliyah. Tell of your reasons for wanting to live in Israel and how it all came about. Also be sure to list your post Aliyah plans...where will you live? What kind of work will you look for? What is your education level? What can you personally bring to Eretz Yisrael to make it better? Or will living there make YOU better? :) Be truthful (of course!) but sell yourself. My supporting statement went almost the whole character limit of 4,000 and was peppered with humor. Since I LIKE pepper, I'm hoping it wasn't overkill. It remains to be seen.
Photos of Family Members Making Aliyah--this can be a group shot of the whole family in one picture. If you are single, just submit a picture with only you in the photograph. (Seems logical, eh?) Digital photos are accepted. Must be in color, recent, and of good quality.
Official Passport Photos--Go get 6 identical OFFICIAL passport photos taken of each family member making Aliyah. The first 3 (of each person) are going to be mailed to the NBN address on their website. The other 2 or 3 will be given to your Shaliach at the Jewish Agency. I am almost positive that this happens at the time of the face to face interview, but I will double check and update as necessary. Depending on how you make Aliyah (charter flight, arrange your own flight, from within Israel, Lone Soldier program, etc.) determines how many photos the Jewish Agency will request. Better to have one extra than to be one short!
Taking Your Pets To Israel---Yes, this can be done. I am doing it also. It's a much more detailed and complicated process than when you just bring your pet on board a flight for a visit. Time is of the essence, so go to the NBN website and read all about it!!
Your cat/dog must have a rabies titer test, and that can take awhile to get the result. Also, they must have a chip implanted that can be read on the frequency that Israel uses. And THEN, right before you are ready to leave, (within 7 days or so of your flight) (like you're not already stressed to the limit!) they must be seen by a USDA approved Vet who will fill out all the appropriate paperwork stating that they are healthy and able to travel. (This location for me is an 8 hour drive each way from where my flight originates! AGH!!) You will then fax most of this paperwork to Israel 48 hours before your expected arrival. ***I was incorrect!! All I am required to do is take my Vet's Certificate of International Travel (after the pets are examined) to the USDA office to have it certified...I do not have to take the animals with me to the appointment! YAY!! But that whole scenario is under a time constraint--it must be initiated and completed within 10 days of travel to Israel..... THEN fax that paperwork to Israel 48 hours prior to your arrival. The fax number along with instructions are on the NBN Website. I will update the cost involved for the USDA certification when I go through the process myself.
Oh. And our pets don't get a free flight. They are paying passengers. I always brought my animals on board as my carry on---fitting perfectly under the seat in front of me. But if you are on a charter flight, I can only imagine how many other travelers will be wanting to do the same. On regular flights, I was told that only 4 pet carry-ons are allowed in the main cabin at a time. I don't know if El Al makes exceptions on a charter flight, I can only hope. My furry friends have never flown in the cargo hold. :( There's a first time for everything, I guess!
Yes, it's a rather stressful set of regulations to bring our animals along, but us pet lovers gotta do what we gotta do.
Here's the list I have:
Financial Affidavit--a summary of your net worth.
Grant Contract (If you are awarded financial assistance to make Aliyah).
Waiver of Confidentiality--to allow sharing of info between NBN and the Jewish Agency and/or other Israeli government entities.
Entry/ Exit Form--a form to document all of your entries and exits to/from Israel for the past 7 years prior to your anticipated Aliyah date. The amount of time you have cumulatively spent in Israel affects your benefits as a new immigrant. There are 3 different categories, if I recall correctly.
Proof of Living Outside of Israel---Support for the Entry/Exit form--because I had many visits over a short period of time, I have been asked to send copies of my US Tax Returns as proof of residence outside of Israel to support the dates on my form. If you previously lived in Israel under any number of circumstances, there are specific things you need to submit. Please see the NBN website for more detailed information.
Health Declaration form--simple health questionnaire.
Declaration of Family Obligation--This is a document that must be filled out if you are divorced, separated, or are going thru a divorce and you have children born during the marriage. My children are all grown and married, and my former spouse has been re-married for almost 20 years, and I still have to fill one out! It also must be notarized. If there are minor children making Aliyah, it must also be certified with the Apostille. There are a couple of other forms that have to do with children whose biological mother/father is not making Aliyah. It would be best to go to the NBN site and read the requirements, as each scenario is somewhat different.
Adoption Papers---need to be submitted with an Apostille.
Sole Custody Papers--(Court Order) you need to submit the most recent order outlining the terms of the custody arrangement, and including any agreements regarding the children obtaining Israeli citizenship. An apostille must be attached to the signed document if minor children are making aliyah.
Legal Name Change--(Other than by marriage) If you have legally changed your name, you must submit a copy of the legal paperwork. If it was issued after September 1, 1988, you MUST have an apostille on it.
Letter of Recommendation--written by a non-relative, attesting to your reasons for making Aliyah, your character, contribution to the community, etc. It should be written by a community leader if possible.
References--needed from 2 non-relatives who have known you for more than 2 years. They can be in the USA, U.K. or in Israel. Please give NBN their contact information.
Supporting Statement--some refer to this as "The Essay". It's just your own personal story about your desire to make Aliyah. Tell of your reasons for wanting to live in Israel and how it all came about. Also be sure to list your post Aliyah plans...where will you live? What kind of work will you look for? What is your education level? What can you personally bring to Eretz Yisrael to make it better? Or will living there make YOU better? :) Be truthful (of course!) but sell yourself. My supporting statement went almost the whole character limit of 4,000 and was peppered with humor. Since I LIKE pepper, I'm hoping it wasn't overkill. It remains to be seen.
Photos of Family Members Making Aliyah--this can be a group shot of the whole family in one picture. If you are single, just submit a picture with only you in the photograph. (Seems logical, eh?) Digital photos are accepted. Must be in color, recent, and of good quality.
Official Passport Photos--Go get 6 identical OFFICIAL passport photos taken of each family member making Aliyah. The first 3 (of each person) are going to be mailed to the NBN address on their website. The other 2 or 3 will be given to your Shaliach at the Jewish Agency. I am almost positive that this happens at the time of the face to face interview, but I will double check and update as necessary. Depending on how you make Aliyah (charter flight, arrange your own flight, from within Israel, Lone Soldier program, etc.) determines how many photos the Jewish Agency will request. Better to have one extra than to be one short!
Taking Your Pets To Israel---Yes, this can be done. I am doing it also. It's a much more detailed and complicated process than when you just bring your pet on board a flight for a visit. Time is of the essence, so go to the NBN website and read all about it!!
Your cat/dog must have a rabies titer test, and that can take awhile to get the result. Also, they must have a chip implanted that can be read on the frequency that Israel uses. And THEN, right before you are ready to leave, (within 7 days or so of your flight) (like you're not already stressed to the limit!) they must be seen by a USDA approved Vet who will fill out all the appropriate paperwork stating that they are healthy and able to travel. (This location for me is an 8 hour drive each way from where my flight originates! AGH!!) You will then fax most of this paperwork to Israel 48 hours before your expected arrival. ***I was incorrect!! All I am required to do is take my Vet's Certificate of International Travel (after the pets are examined) to the USDA office to have it certified...I do not have to take the animals with me to the appointment! YAY!! But that whole scenario is under a time constraint--it must be initiated and completed within 10 days of travel to Israel..... THEN fax that paperwork to Israel 48 hours prior to your arrival. The fax number along with instructions are on the NBN Website. I will update the cost involved for the USDA certification when I go through the process myself.
Oh. And our pets don't get a free flight. They are paying passengers. I always brought my animals on board as my carry on---fitting perfectly under the seat in front of me. But if you are on a charter flight, I can only imagine how many other travelers will be wanting to do the same. On regular flights, I was told that only 4 pet carry-ons are allowed in the main cabin at a time. I don't know if El Al makes exceptions on a charter flight, I can only hope. My furry friends have never flown in the cargo hold. :( There's a first time for everything, I guess!
Yes, it's a rather stressful set of regulations to bring our animals along, but us pet lovers gotta do what we gotta do.
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