Karen Alkalay-Gut
September 30, 2018
back in NY from Boston. it is clear to me the two cities have completely different mentalities. One is completelty secure that their lives are ideal and all is understood, the other is hungry, insecure and unsure.. Tel Aviv is much more like New York.
My ideas about Boston may have something to do with the AC hotel, to which i had been looking forward for a long time because it is so pastoral. and indeed the pastoral scene prevailed:
But Saturday morning we woke to the sound of concrete piling that was so strong it almost knocked me out of bed. Turns out the fact that the hotel is built on swamp land means that any other building that would go on would have to be based on very deep foundations. But the upshot was that we both had headaches all day even though we escaped the hotel as soon as we could, and no complaints brought any results - not even an offer of a room change or a discount. this kind of ruined the weekend for us.
October 1, 2018
Having been in New Jersey, New York City, Providence, and Boston in the past week, and looking at all conversations from an Israeli perspective, I am now stuck with Emily Dickinson's poem in my head:
The Robin's my Criterion for Tune -
Because I grow - where Robins do -
But, were I Cuckoo born -
I'd swear by him -
The ode familiar - rules the Noon -
The Buttercup's, my Whim for Bloom -
Because, we're Orchard sprung -
But, were I Britain born,
I'd Daisies spurn -
None but the Nut - October fit -
Because, through dropping it,
The Seasons flit - I'm taught -
Without the Snow's Tableau
Winter, were lie - to me -
Because I see - New Englandly -
The Queen, discerns like me -
Provincially -
All of our discussions are local, wherever we are.
I've been trying to keep up on international news, trying to get international perspectives, and always found it possible in NYC. But this time my time is so limited i don't get to the newspapers and even though i try to watch the news in the morning - it is limited to Kavanaugh. My view on Kavanaugh is clear. i've been in Ford's position. I know those guys. so it has nothing to do with news.
All this makes me feel incredibly provincial.
October 2, 2018
Hemotologist today. then i hope we're good.to pay more attention to the world outside.
i was, however, greatly inspired by Amos Oz's talk at Tel Aviv University last week
October 3, 2018
Ezi's diagnosis is the same as the one in Israel. I wanted to make a dramatic account of it, but i'm too tired. we even decided to take a cab home tonight after dinner quick so we coul get to bed, the driver, i could see, was egyptian, but Ezi and I were too busy exchanging news about recent events and we chattered in hebrew all the way through the park. as i got out of the cab, though, i managed to acknowledge his presence with "shukran"" and was amazed at the emotion in the little smile he gave me back. As if yes, we do share something. i'm imagining it, right?
yes, i could have written about my friends, about the hospital, the doctor, the walk we took earlier through the park, but i choose the little smile to end my day.
may a smile end all of our days.
October 3-4, 2018
Two Japanese meals in one day. One at the Red Farm where you go if you just want to taste a little random stuff that seems like what you'd imagine Japanese food and tanoshi sushi where they make the real stuff like it was before refrigeration. I will never taste anything as good as tonight.
October 4, 2018
of course I didn't sleep all night. maybe it was the sea urchins, maybe the amazing cocktails from Bemelmans, but my body did not enjoy the extreme living from New York City, even if my palate whooped it up.
but we whooped it up in "Carravagio" - another amazing elegant restaurant. how will i be able to be kept down on the farm?
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