Perception: Too Focused, Too Broad, Just Right.

While I published a post two days ago, it has reached my weekly deadline.  While I may not always be as prompt as I may like, I will always do my utmost to have something written.  I hope that last week is a major exception, coming so late.  I hope that all of those reading are having a warm and joyous festival season, complete with good company and delicious food.

This past weekend was a wonderful, if not short, refrain from school.  Usually it seems like I had not but just left school and I’m returning on Monday morning; however, I think going to the tournament on Friday really turned it into a long weekend.  So I have already mentioned the tournament, but I did not cover (for obvious reasons) the wonderful time I had Saturday.

I hope that my friends know I am not the kind of person who wants some extravagant celebration, or anything overly complicated, especially for my own birthday.  Generally, I have usually felt that it is just another day in the year and I see no real need to celebrate; however, I can’t say I would deny a chance to be with my friends.  And this year I can say that my birthday celebration was a celebration to remember.  On the one hand it was exactly what I want in spending time with my close friends (albeit, it was missing a few who I would have wanted there), but more importantly it was the night my friend became engaged (though they didn’t want to make it a big deal).

The night was perfect.  It was small, it was simple and quiet; no unremitting bells or shrieking whistles; just close friends and good food.  What more could one ask for?  I want to say it was the first time I have ever had truffle oil; however, I am sure I must have had it at some other point.  While I am not in star struck awe of the truffle’s magical deliciousness, I cannot deny that the plate was wiped spotless with bread (can’t let any sauce go to waste can I?).  It reminds me of my trip to Boston to visit the Lazy Librarian.  It was an amazing weekend, and I even brought some canolis home (I had not realized that half of Boston was heavily Italian).  My dad laughed, because I was in awe of these large delicious creations.  Apparently, that wasn’t the first time I had eaten canolis either.

With that said, and the hectic business of midterms it is now time to look forward.  Unfortunately in my case I find myself looking a little too far ahead: to February, to April and beyond even then.  Final exams are creeping into my head, as well as my schedule for next semester complete with internships and extra curriculars.  My mother used to tell me when I was in middle school, and trying my hand at drawing, that my artwork revealed an eye for the big picture.  Well obviously I wouldn’t expect my mother to say outright that it was terrible (though it probably was), but there is some truth to what she told me.  On the other hand, I can also find myself bogged in details.  Both extremes are unkind.

To this day I will admit I am not a great artist, though I do enjoy attempting on occasion.  Nor am I a musician, though that has not stopped me from trying to learn piano and guitar (more may be said of this, eventually).  In fact, last fall one of my favorite memories was a jam session I had with the Monopoly Guy as he was teaching me to play.  At one point I was too self conscious to play a chord and just began a strumming pattern with all the strings muted.  I can’t tell you it was good, but three of us sitting with guitars and I was full of laughs.

The only real point of sharing this thought with you all is the hope that it may provide some aid or advice for others.  I know that some days are rougher than others and that a single ray of brightness can spark a total reformation of my perception and suddenly it’s a good day.  Perhaps that is thinking a little too highly of my own work, but I’ll stick to it.  If even one person finds a laugh here, and has a better day, than by golly I think I’ve accomplished all I could ever hope out of this page, aside from assuring you all that I am still alive and kicking.

All the best, and I hope you are enjoying the holidays.

Time flies: One Score and Five

This week has been both a very special week and a very busy week.  While I know my friends still in University are, for the most part, on their winter breaks, I just passed the middle of the semester.  So you can imagine there was a bit of work to be done; furthermore, it was also the beginning of Hannukah on December 20^th and during this week I will admit to one score and five years.  It’s a fun number, I suppose, but it is intimidating exactly how fast time has flown by.  Despite my best efforts, I have yet to master the ability to slow time.

I know that in the grand scheme, my week is insignificant.  Recently scientists reportedly found the first planets that are approximately the same size as earth (though too close to the sun), Syria has been accused of a terrible crackdown on its protestors including genocides, severe bomb attacks have killed many in Baghdad after U.S. troops were with drawn and the French National assembly passed a bill (which still needs to be passed by the senate) recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire.  In light of all this terrible violence, the details of my quiet life of study seem superfluous. 

Of course ridiculous pieces of news have also crossed my eyes drawing disbelief and anger.  The supposedly international controversy of racism in FIFA is astonishing.  I will only write two more sentence on it, because it really is not an issue that seems to require much debate.  To begin with, when teams are in competition and one player is shouting at a member of the other team, he is certainly not going to be encouraging nor is he going to be endearing.  That said, I believe the ‘expert commentary’ is complete garbage; when referring to someone as little is diminutive to begin with, even before bringing in skin color.

I will not bore you with any more of that talk; I just cannot understand how people can defend such actions, especially high level academics.  Refraining from the more intense recourse I can imagine, I will conclude to say they should have to go back to school and come to understand ethics before they should be able to speak again.

It is of some interest how much people seem to debate the sincerity of the mourning in North Korea.  While people continue to argue over if they are being compelled to publicly mourn, or if their pain is genuine, I have the same thought every time.  What is the point?  I have read numerous articles citing this and that, comparing him to other dictators and quite a number of pieces insulting or otherwise demeaning North Korea, yet though the authors write and write, none addressed the issue of why anyone should bother reading their work.  What it does indicate to me is a need to de-legitimize an “other.”  I can mention quite a few other places that employed such techniques, but I worry that some may find it distasteful if I were to compare American news agencies to the RTLM in Rwanda or the incredible bias in newspaper reporting during the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Though the above pessimism is certainly tangible, I cannot end on such a note; especially during this holiday season.  December is perhaps one of the hardest months; the dark and cold are more than physical deficits.  There is something special in sunlight, in its warmth and enjoying time outside.  I refrain from making a blanket statement here, but I will confess no love for leaving before sunrise to return home after sunset, to waste away a full if not the majority of a day’s light indoors.  It is fitting then, I suppose, that in this darkest of months and when perhaps our endurance is taxed, that we see light and familial based holidays.

What is Hannukah?  It is a holiday celebrated by people of the Jewish faith and is symbolized in the lighting of what is (arguably incorrectly) interchangeably called a menorah and a hannukiah.  The base story is fairly straight forward, and comes from the time of the Greek Empire during the second century BCE.  The holiday is a celebration of a miracle (significant as it is the last widely recognized miracle in Judaism and because it is not recorded from the Torah).  As the event is not within the Torah, the holiday is not one given to the people by the book but rather is unique in being a holiday that the Rabbi’s founded.  While the main miracle remembered is the lasting of the oil, often it is termed a victory of the Maccabi’s over the Greeks.  True, the Maccabis recaptured and rededicated the temple; however, the Maccabis never succeeded in liberating the whole territory of Israel.

There are many discussions to be had and many aspects of the history which can be analyzed and argued; all of which I would rather not delve into.  Rather, I will leave you with one other even from the other day which has to do with Hannukah, and that of course would be a cross cultural karate “special training,” otherwise known as a tournament.  It is one of Sensei Okazaki’s phrases that I recall from the tournaments where he spoke.  This particular one will be special for a long time coming.  It was the first tournament I assisted in judging.  I feel perhaps a little guilty saying this, and I know Sensei would expect no less of me, but the tournament reminded me of fencing.  the interactions were endearing and there was some incredible displays of form; all in all it was a fantastic day.  Not to mention, that participants came from both Jewish and Bedouin backgrounds.  While I got to practice my spoken Hebrew, I also started recognizing the Arabic words they were using.  It may turn out that I will (when I have time) help teach the children English in return for learning more Arabic.  Talk about jumping into the deep-end, anybody have a life-preserver?

Until next time, stay warm, keep smiling and enjoy the lights.

Self-revitalization: OSU!

Oh wow!

I woke up today with to a feeling I have not had in a long time.  Almost every single muscle was sore.  Hell, some of them are still sore, but I’m not complaining.  Actually, I’m quite elated.  Yesterday was one of the most fun days I have had in Israel thus far.  Now that may seem disingenuous and downright disrespectful to some.  I mean, what is better than a large thanksgiving dinner, or going to the movies with family, or quiet shabbat with a close group of friends?  While it is hard (in fact I’ll refuse) to put these major sources of joy, yesterday’s trip to Hod HaSharon certainly ranks up with the most significant days since I’ve started my master’s degree.  What could be so important that I have been overjoyed all day about?

First a little back-story to wet your appetite: about two years back I came to Israel for the first time ever.  I was a scared college graduate embarking on a Masa journey in a land I didn’t know, a language I couldn’t speak and quite frankly no idea what was going on.  The first day alone was an adventure at the airport and making my way to the base of operations in Hod HaSharon, but it was there that I spent five amazing months with the Budokan Israel program.  This past weekend, on Sunday, I went back to Hod HaSharon and met the newest group of Budoka and my instructors.  I participated in a Judo class in the morning and a Karate lesson at night.  In both classes it was only the basics; however, as every sensei has said, everyone always needs work on basics.  Having not trained in the last two or three months, training was such a re-energizing experience.  Now I just need to direct that energy back into my studies.

In addition to amazing trainings I had a lot of time with both the group and my instructors.  It was very good to speak with them again.  And this came after a wonderful Saturday evening where I visited friends for a small friendly gathering.  Surprisingly, school projects and ideas barely surfaced.  International law and conflicts stayed at the door for the most part, aside from the interactions in my head of the theories of adaptation and learning as compared to the theory of intractability in modern conflicts.  It is a problem that grips not only Israel, but also Northern Ireland, which many people seem to forget.  I look forward to going back to Northern Ireland and re-examining my first impressions after this degree.

Those are the major distinctions between the last week and other weeks preceding it; however, I had a moment of reflection today.  I live perhaps a thirty minute walk from campus.  I came to school and set up to do work, as I do every morning before classes.  On the one hand, that was very fortuitous because I realized as I set up that I had forgotten my notebook for class.  Now, looking back, I suppose I could have borrowed paper or ripped it from another book and pasted or copied it at a later time, but earlier the only option to cross my mind was to go home and come back before class.  Thankfully I had about two hours until class; however, I was instantly incited to irritation at forgetting my notebook and the prospective loss of an hour of time.  And trust me, hours are quite valuable.

On the way home I did make use of the extra trip, stopping at the grocery store to do my shopping for the week and cooked a small lunch to replace my sandwiches for the day.  But while a shelf cloud grew over my head, my mind thought of opportunities squandered in the long walk, and all the Arabic letters I could be writing; however, a beacon flashed amongst the troubling thoughts and like the sun evaporates the clouds, my mind settled at ease.  I simply thought to myself, that if the only thing I have to complain about in a day is that I spent an extra hour walking, than I really have nothing to complain about.  Instead it was truly a wonderful day, and perhaps I needed that walk to remind me of the simple (albeit clichéd) phrase, ‘don’t sweat the small stuff.’  I bet my father would have said the same thing if he knew that even for a moment I let a small mistake bother me.  Benjamin Franklin had a similar maxim, “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.”  And I have to say, here in Israel, it’s always sunny.  All you have to do is look outside.  I hope that I may save you a short walk, and that you remember to stay positive.  As I wrote earlier, both joy and sorrow are contagious, so embrace joy less you spread your discontent.

Your Traveler and Student.

Learning to Plan: Eight Days a Week

“For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what happens to the eight hours supposedly left after eight of sleep and eight of work.”  The quote is attributed to Doug Larson, though I will for the moment be a poor academic and admit I have not verified the source.  When I was a working man, as opposed to the student I am today, I found this so incredibly true.

A day would consist of: waking up, eating breakfast, going to work, the gym or karate training, dinner and than back to sleep.  Today, with school, I can’t really claim “eight hours of work,” in fact it changes each day.  A pessimist might even claim that all there is in a day is school and sleep, and I fear school may have even infiltrated my dreams.  I know that going out to dinner it creeps in, on my walk to and from school it dances across my mind. “Is that a strategic decision?  Where’s the non-strategic act?”

I’d love to say in the past week I’ve become a lot more organized.  That may not be a complete lie, but realizing where you are in comparison to where you thought you were is not always a happy realization.  Do not mistake that for being in any sort of trouble, far from it truly.  I just look forward to next semester, though dreaded finals loom in February and March.  To those of you in or near your own final exam period I wish you all the greatest of luck!

Thus far written, I can only assume some of you have picked up on the fact that I am indeed late.  I do apologize for that.  I am still making every effort to have these written and posted by the end of the day Monday.  It does not always work out.  While it is incredibly important for me to keep in touch with all of you, this writing exercise is not at the peak of my to-do list.  I have considered moving the due date for myself to Saturday, for Shabbat since everything around here is closed; however, I may not always be at home and so I have opted to keep it at Monday.

The single largest event of the last week was my trip on Sunday to Tel Aviv.  There I met a friend for some humus, a tour of the Tel Aviv University campus and buying a guitar. I started practicing back in the United States; however, when I shipped out here I left my guitar at home.  I didn’t bring it because I was worried about its transportation and safety.  Now that I am living in an apartment, I can ensure at least safety.  Of course, when it comes to it, I just added another time commitment to a schedule already over burdened.  Not to mention that the baby downstairs may not like my practicing.  So figuring out the best time to play will be interesting.

I also met another Budokan participant (wearing my Budokan shirt), and was told again to come on out to Hod HaSharon.  It will be great to start training again.  I shall have to see about getting another Judo gi.  Ironically as some ladies collect shoes, Barney collects suits I may be on my way to collecting Gis.  Assuming I don’t miss the stop, the bus ride may be a good opportunity to read, maybe even write.  Lately something has struck me to start writing again.  Nothing great, but that itch has returned.  Now if only school would let me scratch it.

There are some many little notes I’ve scribbled to myself.  Do this, do that.  Most get done, some don’t.  At the end of the day though, life is not a laundry list.  I make a choice and that choice is to seek something greater.  I’ll make up what I miss later, but for the moment, when things are just right you have to seize the opportunity.  As the theory of ripeness goes (in regards to conflict management and resolution), failing to seize the opportunity hastens its departure.  So take heed and take care, if there’s something out there you want and the opportunity presents itself.  Think for a moment if you must, but just know that the opportunity may be gone tomorrow.

A Day to Give Thanks

“I am thankful for the miracle that turned dinosaurs into dinner,” said one of the people in attendance at last Thursday’s thanksgiving dinner.  By candle light sat a family of some twenty-odd young adults, North Americans, South Americans, Israelis and Europeans.  This group of students had gathered together in the house of a kind hearted friend, and far from home I found a true representation of thanksgiving.

The word “Thanksgiving” means (unsurprisingly) to give thanks, generally to a higher power.  While some people give thanks daily with either grace, or birkat, nearly any family can tell you what thanksgiving is.  It may be an American holiday, but it is also an international sentiment.  What people are thankful for, however, can vary considerably.  Many times I’ve sat to a thanksgiving feast and enjoyed delicious food, greedily stuffing myself like a fowl.  Last year I know I was grateful for having a few friends at my apartment to celebrate, especially as I felt a growing detachment with State College.  This year’s celebration put a markedly new twist on the holiday.

We were not sitting by candle light because we had lost power.  We were not sitting by candlelight because we were performing any sort of Séance.  We were sitting by candle light because the host’s family has a tradition.  After the meal, everyone gathers with an unlit candle.  The first person lights his and speaks for a moment about what he is thankful for.  After, he lights his neighbors candle with his own and the light is passed from one to the next, each given a moment to tell what they are thankful for.

I thought of all the great things I have been given in the last year, so many times I received exactly what I needed at just the right time.  A call from a friend just to say hello, or a letter in the mail.  “What I am thankful for,” I said when I held a bright candle in my hand, “are the two most important things in life.  My friends and family.”  I have received so much support in my adventures, in my everyday life and I have been gifted with unanticipated generosity of both old friends and new.  I just wanted to mention that and thank you all for how much you mean to me.

Now please allow me to back track and gloat for a moment what a resourceful handful of young adults were able to create.  The atmosphere was warm and a blur of a number of languages.  At the end of a school week, it was a wonderful reprieve.  There were two large and juicy turkeys, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, stuffing and gravy.  In addition, just imagine homemade apple and pumpkin pies.  There was more than enough food for all.

Not only did I spend a wonderful time with these great people, but I managed to spend a little of thanksgiving with my family back home as well.  I’m sure everyone has done it, on thanksgiving or some other holiday.  I was supposed to call earlier, but I had not imagined the thanksgiving feast here would run to midnight.  I reached my family after they had sat to eat, and enjoyed telling all of them about the evening, school and my future plans (most of which are currently uncertain).

When I am more confident in where things are heading I’ll be sure to commit them with electronic ink, but for now suffice to say that I have a couple exciting things I’m looking forward to. We shall see which hatch from their eggs, which to survive infancy and which fly war and wide.

A Week without Adventure

There is a cliché, "time flies when you're having fun."  While it may be true, it is more specified than required.  Time flies.  Period.  I remember at my last job, after I was hired, and before I knew it, I had been working there a year.  I could attribute the passage of time to any number of things, but that would just be for the benefit of categorization, and no real other benefit.  The time slipped past and there was just so much I tried to catch.

I didn't accomplish everything I wanted; in fact I think I have a decent laundry to-do list after the masters degree.  But thankfully, regardless of the situation, I have always found myself supported by the most wonderful family and friends.  Perhaps I have not always realized that, but looking back it's pretty clear.  Above all else, the people in our lives are the most important part of it.  That said, I reflect, almost daily, on how very difficult it is to keep in familiar touch a world away.  This blog was established in part to address that problem; however, going to school is not nearly as interesting as going on trips throughout the country and learning their history.

Despite how quite I might be, and the lack of breaking news, consider this my firm proclamation: I am here and I am quite alive.  I am also quite a bit cold.  Would you have imagined I'd say that?  I don't remember it getting this cold this early last time I was here.  It's also been raining quite a bit, but I urge all of you to keep sending your wishes and rain this way!  Getting out of the rain last Friday, I had dinner with a few friends and it was absolutely delicious.  It is wonderful to sit and eat with friends after a long, cold, hard week.  It lights a warmth in the heart that goes beyond food or a warm house.  It is, simply put, a rekindling of spirit, a invigorating engagement after a week of near seclusion, surrounded by texts dry enough to spontaneously ignite.  Of course, despite how much we may grip about our studies and papers, they invariably manage to make their way into the table conversation. 

Speaking of food, and being grateful, Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  I can only assume my friends and family in the United States have already had your fill of Jingle Bells and other assorted Christmas carols.  I wonder if it's as ridiculous elsewhere in the world?  I remember last year in SC, Turkey Day went pretty well.  I made the same mistake I did as an undergrad and underestimated the time needed to thaw the turkey, and a twenty-two pound turkey does take a while to thaw.  I think there were at least seven or eight people over at my apartment, and we had a fantastic time.  This year I will not be cooking the turkey; however, I will be attending a thanksgiving dinner, and there is a strong possibility of pumpkin pie.  So come next week, you can be sure there will be a little on our Israeli Thanksgiving dinner.

I just want to leave you, as I normally try, with a thought.  I find that it is easy in any given day to get swept up in the river of events.  It's like trying to ford a river, and regardless of how shallow it appears, you'll always lose something, just don't lose yourself.  Instead of creating a massive list of things to do, pick one thing, right now, and make sure it's done by the time you go to bed.  The saying is attributed to Mark Twain, "Do something every day that you don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain."