Update from Israel

David and I have settled into a routine.  Two or three times a week we go to the grocery store.  One time a week I go to drop off a load of laundry and pick up the clean laundry.

David is rigorously working on his schoolwork, and during his spare time trying to find a job.  He has been on a few interviews, but so far nothing.   He has finished his doctorate classwork with straight A's, and now he's ABD (all but dissertation).

I have been trying to find massage clients and have been going to English speaking events in order to get my name out.  So far the events have been fun but they have not garnered me any business.  I am reluctant to put up flyers because of the language issue and the sharmuta thing.

Almost every evening when we are home, we watch You Tube videos.  Most of the video choices involve subjects like UFO's and conspiracies like 9/11 and stuff like that.  Other video choices are lectures that are interesting to listen to, but boring to watch.  NatGeo and History Channel have some compelling selections along with BBC documentaries.  Lately, I found several American films that we can watch on You Tube.

Why pay TV tax when you can watch You Tube tax-free?  Yes, that's right.  Israel has a TV tax for those who own a television.  If you claim not to own a TV, you don't have to pay but you can expect a surprise visit or two from the tax authority to inspect your house for a hidden television set.
Speaking of American films, we went to see The Dictator, which was very funny if you are an American.  The Israeli  audience didn't get the jokes.  They particularly didn't like the one where the dictator -- an avowed enemy of Israel -- was  laughing while claiming to be building nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes only and not for the destruction of Israel.

I can understand why that joke wouldn't strike Israelis as funny -- a little too close to home. But to appreciate the rest of the jokes, you really have to be familiar with American culture and Sasha Cohen's jokes just flew over the head of the natives in the 51st state.