Shalom,
after a month full of work, traveling and reuniting, I thought it would be a good thing to update my blog a little bit. I am very sorry, that I couldn't handle it earlier, but really, I had not time.
So now I tell you a little bit about my father and my stepmother coming to Israel.
Because of Shabbat, it took me three buses and a taxi to get to the airport, but I was finally there waiting for my father to arrive. My time here in Israel feels like a decade and I was kind of expecting a big change, but when my father stood in front of me, it felt like seeing him after school. Of course I was more then happy!
We took a Taxi back to Tel Aviv/ Jaffa and arrived at 0.00 in our apartment in the middle of the old part of Tel Aviv. We went out to drink a welcome beer and the story time began. Because of all the possibilities to share my experiences, I had not that much to tell, but it was just beautiful to sit again together. The best thing is, I didn't had to pay the beer!!! For the first time since three month!!! No I'm joking, but I recognized, that my stepmother feel in love with the old part of Tel Aviv within seconds.
The next day, was one of the best day in this week. I slept at a friends apartment, so I had to walk to Jaffa and in the moment I stood before my fathers door and knocked, I realized, that they didn't get up. After I waited 30 minutes for them to wake up and open me the door, we finally went for breakfast! After that we took the bus to the modern part of Tel Aviv, to meet a person, which I didn't knew before.
Edna Levin is a relative of our family, and her grand-grand-father is the grand-grand-father of my Grandfather;) She is living in Tel Aviv and it was just possible to get to know each other because of the work of my grandfather. She invited us to her home, so we went there and it was funny to see her, because she looks like a direct relative of our family. We talked about 3 hours, explained our families histories to each other, explained how we are connected, I told a little bit about my voluntary, we showed pictures of each other and just enjoyed the time. Edna is a funny, kind and lovely person, who travels a lot and speaks many languages. A really nice person and I appreciate it a lot, that I had the opportunity to meet her. Thanks to my grandfather. After that long coffee, we went to the beach, rented some bikes and went back to Jaffa, where we just walked along the water, saw some galleries (By the way, Tel Aviv is full of beautiful art!!!), drank something and enjoyed the sun. Gladly the weather was perfect for the whole week!
The next day, we woke up a bit earlier and went to a car-company to rent a car. We went to Haifa, straight to the hospital, because I wanted to show them, where I work. The following 30 min. had been good ones for my ego. Everybody was shaking my fathers and stepmothers hand and told them, how good I work, what a great son I am and that I am such a good person. That put a smile in my face and since we finally got out of the wave of compliments, my father pretends, that I was paying them to say that.
We went to the hostel and went straight to my Headnurses house. She invited us for a walk and a dinner. Gladly they can speak good English, so it was really nice and we had some interesting conversations. Expect that, we ate typical israeli food, which was delicious. After that we went to my apartment and they got to know the people I am living with.
The next day we went for breakfast, to the supermarket and to the "Shuk" (Hebrew for market for vegetables etc.). Because it is horrible to drive in Haifa, everything took very long. In the evening, me and my father went to Akko, the next city to Haifa. It was beautiful because the sun was going down behind all the boats and we drank arabic delicious coffee. Spontaneously we decided to make a little speed boat tour. Me and my father between 20 muslim girls hearing arabic music in a speed boat. Weird but funny.
I do not know, if I am telling this in the right order, but I think the next day we went to Eyn Hod. Well, we tried. My calculation for the way with the car had been about 10 minutes. In the end it took us 30 min., what would not be a problem, if we had not decided to go their for breakfast. So: No coffee, no food and 30 min. car drive with my father...not the best idea. When we arrived everything was...closed. So you can imagine, that the atmosphere became better and better. Luca, who went with us that day kept being still and observed the family challenge " Do not get mad" in the car. We drove back and had our breakfast right next to our apartment...Then my father and I decided to go again, which was one of the good decisions. The following day we spent with visiting one gallery after the other. I got a birthday present for my dad, he got a beautiful neckless for his wife and we both just fell in love with the amount of original art there. Happy and with empty pockets we took our way back and had a nice evening, during celebrating into dads birthday.
The next day we went to Jerusalem. We slept in a apartment called the "Templer house", which is because of the temples building up a German colony in that part of Jerusalem. it was little, cold but nice. We took a shuttle to the old city and went straight to the wailing wall/ western wall. That was the moment for my father, which I had 2 month before. Without telling to much, because it was just a quiet and remarkable, I can say, that it was a great moment. Later on we went to the church, where Jesuses grave is supposed to be. Sadly for my stepmother it was not as beautiful as for us at the western wall. I can understand it, because this church is just full. Everywhere are people, everybody is making photos and you do not really get into the religious feeling in there. But in the end it was an experience. We walked a little bit through the old city and then, because it was my dads birthday, we went to a restaurant where you can eat typically isralian. It was delicious and very funny. During my father being on the toilet, we called to the barkeeper and he arranged a little cake and a little act for my father. With a full belly we went back to the apartment and went to sleep.
The Friday morning my father and I went to the "Yad Vashem". The most famous Shoa Museum! I already told you about it, but I can say, that it is as terrifying as the first time I had been there. In the evening (for Shabbat) we went to the western wall. The best place to be in shabbat.
The rest of the time we didn't do much more I think. We went back to Tel Aviv/Jaffo again and just enjoyed the city.
The last evening was also the first evening of Channukka, a jewish holiday! So I was very happy to light the candle with my father. And also the presents had been pretty cool. I think I am now in a situation, in which I am happy about everything. I got kind of a mixer so I can finally make pesto myself, a Pyjama, a tricot and a cup
from "Mainz 05", the football team of my hometown. So now Luca (Leipzig-Fan) is confronted by Mainz 05 everyday, which is pretty good.
With a crying and a laughing eye I went back to Haifa, my stepmother back to Germany and my father back to work....
I can really say, that I enjoyed this time! It was nice to get back to old habits, enjoy the evenings with them, watching films and watching my father cooking. Nearly the most beautiful moments had been those, in which we did nothing.
I am looking forward to see them again, but first I am more then happy to get my mother from the airport in one week!
Lehitraot,
SK
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