Tel Aviv Diary - June 13-17, 2009 Karen Alkalay-Gut
June 13, 2009
I always forget to warn people but tonight i have to plan to get up very early to make it to the garage in Petch Tikva and then to Tel Aviv in time for the 10 a.m. reading of "Tel Aviv Stories" at the library. I think I've never read at Beit Ariella before, but it is only a little part of a story and won't last more than a few minutes. The reading should be fascinating, however - all those different voices about this great city. With all the loyalty exhibited to Tel Aviv, someone must be doing something right. Apparently at the gay pride celebration on Friday, there were signs "If I forget thee oh Tel Aviv, let my right hand forget its cunning..."
June 14, 2009 A minute before Netanyahu began his speech they reporters let the cat out of the bag, that he's going to agree to a Palestinian state. I was incredibly sick before that moment, cancelled my classes for tomorrow, but suddenly I feel well. More when he finishes. Nope. I'm still sick
June 15, 2009 The Palestinians are just as bad as we are. Everyone's disappointed in Bibi's speech, even though we all knew that we'd have to start at square one with the new government. They should have wrapped it up with Olmert.
"The Closer You Get" - Clip with Panic Ensemble by Leora Wise. My text. June 16, 2009
A senior economist has estimated that there are more than a few billion dollars in this country of - what - 7 million - in the mattresses or under the floor boards or maybe even in home safes. So if all the people who are hoarding money just in case brought it in, we'd be out of debt. It could happen, you know. Remember what we gave to build a golden calf?
And look what a strange attitude we have to money. The other day we went to buy a new toilet seat and Ezi fell in love with a hydraulic model that costs over $120, but i stopped him. Then on the way home i passed a shoe store and spent twice that for sandals for Ezi and me. Pound foolish and penny foolish, that's me. This country has realled ruined me for normal economics - i don't even try to balance my check book and don't know any one who does (except for 2 Americans and 1 Canadian).
I'm usually good about not getting swindled and invest wisely but don't particularly know about prices, and don't know anyone who does. How much does milk cost? how much are tomatoes? what price watermelons? I can't keep track - and go by instinct. My local grocer usually costs about 10% more than the local supermarket which costs about 10% more than the mega-markets, but i have to include convenience in my considerations. Clothes are impossibly expensive unless you really shop around, so i usually stock up when i go abroad, but to be in style here is fun, so i sometimes cheat.
So I don't have anything hidden in my mattress. June 17, 2009 I just noticed that in only twelve days i have a reading at Tmol Shilshom in Jerusalem. There are so many things going on right now that it is hard to keep track - every one is trying to get their events in before the summer begins.