A Sidewalk Breakfast

Our first weekend here we went to breakfast at a little French restaurant. We loved it so much we went back for dinner this week. I was so pleased to have found French Press coffee (I'm not a huge fan of espresso). Medium ground coffee is difficult to find. Whole beans... haven't seem any yet.

My first impressions of Tel Aviv are that it is a very sophisticated and nuanced city. There are many facets to it, and I'm only beginning to get a sense of things. Along the beach people walk around with bathing suits and cover ups constantly playing some game with paddles and a ball. The gay beach is next to the Haredi beach is next to the dog beach is next to the quiet family beach...

Come a couple blocks inward and you wouldn't even know it was a beach town. People dress like southern Europeans with a lot of flowing, loose-fitting clothing. The sidewalks are crowded with people walking their dogs and children in strollers. There are juice stands, cafes, falafel stands, gelateria, and upscale restaurants and stores. And lots of cute (but feral) cats.

I'm trying to get together a collection of shots that capture the spirit of the city. I'll share some more with you soon.

Moving Postcards!

They say moving is one of the most stressful life experiences. Don't get me wrong, it is exciting, but it is also bittersweet to leave all of one's friends and taxing to keep track of the endless details. Joel and Ashley of This Paper Ship have made the moving process much more pleasant with their custom moving cards. We recently asked them to design something for us to commemorate our first big move and to send to friends and family.

If you are moving soon and would be interested in commissioning something similar, check out their Studio website and etsy shop. They design maps for all occasions and offer many other freelance photography and design goods! I adore their aesthetic.

(I'm sorry we couldn't send postcards to all of our friends. If you read this blog and you want our new address, let me know).

More updates to come!

Be Careful What You Pack

Friends, so much has happened since my last blog post. We have been easing into this move for over a year now, but it didn't feel real until last Wednesday when five strangers showed up at our house and packed all of our belongings into boxes to be shipped overseas. Three and a half hours later, our house was empty.

While there are definitely some things I would have done differently, overall we had a great experience. The packers were fun, courteous, and extremely fast. If I could do it all over again, I would pack more in the air baggage. It gets there much faster than the crate shipment that travels by sea. We only used half of our weight allowance, and I forgot to pack ANY books or Hebrew dictionaries. Or hangers.

After saying goodbye to friends and family in DC, we traveled to Newark for my job. Luckily, we have friends in Brooklyn who welcomed us to their city and made our last few nights in America memorable.

After arriving in Tel Aviv, we were greeted by this view from our balcony. We're still getting used to things here, but I think it's going to be a great two years!

I passed!

I took my end-of-training language test on Friday, and not only did I pass, but I got a score higher than what was expected. I want to continue studying once I get to Israel, but I'm so relieved to have this test behind me.

Now comes the preparation for the move next week. Dave purchased neon duct tape to label everything (by air, by sea, or storing at in-laws). We have so many random tasks to take care of between now and then that include getting Dave's suit re-weaved, taking our car to the auto shop, and deciding what to do with our wedding photos (still not scrap-booked).

What would you bring with you? Would you leave behind the things that are irreplaceable? Or would you bring them with you because what's the point of having nice/sentimental things if you can't enjoy them?

Have a great week, friends! Mine will be full-to-the-brim, but hopefully fun and exciting as well.

You Are There

My friend Lauren posted this poem the other day, and I am going to repost it because it seems very appropriate. My move is rapidly approaching, and I just need to be in the moment and enjoy the days as they come. As my friend David said, "You are about to embark on a great adventure. All of your training has led up to this, and you will never again depart for your first post."

You Are There

by Erica Jong

You are there.

You have always been

there.

Even when you thought

you were climbing

you had already arrived.

Even when you were

breathing hard,

you were at rest.

Even then it was clear

you were there.

Not in our nature

to know what

is journey and what

arrival.

Even if we knew

we would not admit.

Even if we lived

we would think

we were just

germinating.

To live is to be

uncertain.

Certainty comes

at the end.

Can't help myself

Here are a few more beautiful pictures from the weekend. I didn't have any close ups of the bride and groom. Enjoy!

Photos taken by Bill Mapes, a close friend of the family. Please do not reproduce.

Tying the Knot with Pizzazz

This weekend we celebrated the wedding of my sister-in-law and new brother-in-law. The couple partied through the summer heat surrounded by their best friends and caring families. I love this simple picture of Cait bursting into laughter. To me, it embodies the whole spirit of the wedding.

Here I am getting some ink to commemorate the event.