Emotions and Eilat
Adam returned from a trip to Korea, and shared with us the cultural differences between Korea and Israel. In Israel, people are very emotional and direct and well....politeness sometimes is on the backburner. In Korea, politeness and avoidance of conflict are priorities.
The Israeli way was extremely evident on our flight to Eilat. Last minute, I decided to fly instead of suffer the over 5 hour drive to Eilat. Trust me, with my kids in the backseat for 10 minutes, you'd understand. The flight is 45 minutes, and is, well, stunning.
First of all, as the plane took off, the Israelis cheered and clapped, and the Israeli kids were excited and the parents alongside with them were riling them up (not hushing them like Americans do). "LOOK LOOK LOOK!" the parents were yelling with the kids, delighting in sharing what I would think must have been some first plane flights. We just laughed, because we'd never seen a spectacle like this on an airplane takeoff. There was a suggestion to turn off electronic devices, but not sure anyone took our flight attendant up on that. Seatbelt sign? That seems to be (like parking lines in Israel) a suggestion. Four Kalksteins fighting over one window was a bit brutal, but in 45 minutes you go from city, to Jerusalem mountains (including an aerial of the Temple Mount), to the Dead Sea, Judean desert, Negev desert, and Red Sea, where you are super close to Egypt and Saudia Arabia as you land.
When the plane landed? More clapping! In fact, on the way home, Matan, in his jaded 6 year old voice (kid who has travelled too much) says "what's the big deal? Why are they clapping?" That being said, Matan thought it was SUPER cool to actually get off of a plane (not on a jetway) like the old-fashioned way. I thought it was pretty cool too, as up until 2000, this was the way you landed and took off from Israel.
We got an all-inclusive hotel as part of our package, which included food (of course), but also had some entertainment. It included alcohol too, but with the exception of this one group of four guys who always were sitting in the same place with their Finlandia vodka in front of them, alcohol wasn't really a thing like it is in some of the American resorts/cruises. It was there, but no one was drunk. Really, for the price we got, I did not expect the entertainment and food we had. The kids' hangout area was amazing, and the first time my kids actually WANTED to do kids programming somewhere. The counselors who ran the programs were incredible. They themselves were performers, but they seemed to also LOVE the kids. They literally picked Sivan up and spun her around while she was singing. Even the lifeguard just loved Matan. Like I've always said...there is no better place to be a kid than Israel. You are well-loved here.
Eilat has always been stunning to me. The Red Sea is crystal clear. The mountains are always bigger than you expect. And it's literally desert right into water. For Matan and Sivan, it was cool to think this was the sea Moses crossed (how many times has Matan seen "Prince of Egypt"?--don't ask!)
But you can also see Egypt, and Saudia Arabia. It really highlights how unbelievably small Israel is.
Eilat is known for coral reefs (although the health of them has suffered, but is apparently getting better again). We went to Underwater Aquarium and saw them from an observatory underwater, a boat ride, and other exhibits.
on the way home...
Matan loves watching the plane land. And I love watching him....
Here's some geography. Taba is Egypt. The dot on the top is Eilat.
I just love this picture....it's like the Ray was posing for the camera!
coast of Eilat.
This week I had some "I miss America" feelings--namely after this woman bumped into my car and then yelled at me and threatened me...The kids on the other hand have declared their allegiance to Israel. Sivan went from being the most homesick one of us to now declaring she is moving here.
Matan had a struggle in the last week as his best friend was diagnosed with diabetes and Matan had to manage for days without an English speaker in his class. Fortunately, his friend is going to be okay as he has stabilized and is back at school, although he must now get used to his new life as a kid with diabetes, and Matan has learned that he can survive without him for a couple of days. They were glad to be reunited today though.
One interesting observation in Eilat in the hotel was that even in the hotel, which didn't have all Jewish people, and didn't have all observant people, I loved the feeling of shabbat. Huge candle trays were put out to light, and I was surprised when even this one guy with an earring in his ear, no kippa, and so "secular" looking, stops, puts his hood up on his head, and lights some shabbat candles and makes a blessing and then runs off with his kids. During lunch, I saw people with cutoffs and jeans stand up for kiddish with their friends/family. It is just so...SEAMLESS here. It's being Jewish without all the work.
The Israeli way was extremely evident on our flight to Eilat. Last minute, I decided to fly instead of suffer the over 5 hour drive to Eilat. Trust me, with my kids in the backseat for 10 minutes, you'd understand. The flight is 45 minutes, and is, well, stunning.
First of all, as the plane took off, the Israelis cheered and clapped, and the Israeli kids were excited and the parents alongside with them were riling them up (not hushing them like Americans do). "LOOK LOOK LOOK!" the parents were yelling with the kids, delighting in sharing what I would think must have been some first plane flights. We just laughed, because we'd never seen a spectacle like this on an airplane takeoff. There was a suggestion to turn off electronic devices, but not sure anyone took our flight attendant up on that. Seatbelt sign? That seems to be (like parking lines in Israel) a suggestion. Four Kalksteins fighting over one window was a bit brutal, but in 45 minutes you go from city, to Jerusalem mountains (including an aerial of the Temple Mount), to the Dead Sea, Judean desert, Negev desert, and Red Sea, where you are super close to Egypt and Saudia Arabia as you land.
When the plane landed? More clapping! In fact, on the way home, Matan, in his jaded 6 year old voice (kid who has travelled too much) says "what's the big deal? Why are they clapping?" That being said, Matan thought it was SUPER cool to actually get off of a plane (not on a jetway) like the old-fashioned way. I thought it was pretty cool too, as up until 2000, this was the way you landed and took off from Israel.
We got an all-inclusive hotel as part of our package, which included food (of course), but also had some entertainment. It included alcohol too, but with the exception of this one group of four guys who always were sitting in the same place with their Finlandia vodka in front of them, alcohol wasn't really a thing like it is in some of the American resorts/cruises. It was there, but no one was drunk. Really, for the price we got, I did not expect the entertainment and food we had. The kids' hangout area was amazing, and the first time my kids actually WANTED to do kids programming somewhere. The counselors who ran the programs were incredible. They themselves were performers, but they seemed to also LOVE the kids. They literally picked Sivan up and spun her around while she was singing. Even the lifeguard just loved Matan. Like I've always said...there is no better place to be a kid than Israel. You are well-loved here.
Eilat has always been stunning to me. The Red Sea is crystal clear. The mountains are always bigger than you expect. And it's literally desert right into water. For Matan and Sivan, it was cool to think this was the sea Moses crossed (how many times has Matan seen "Prince of Egypt"?--don't ask!)
From Eilat, you can see Jordan (see below)
But you can also see Egypt, and Saudia Arabia. It really highlights how unbelievably small Israel is.
Eilat is known for coral reefs (although the health of them has suffered, but is apparently getting better again). We went to Underwater Aquarium and saw them from an observatory underwater, a boat ride, and other exhibits.
This is off the mediterranean (Tel Aviv)
hills around jerusalem
Here's some geography. Taba is Egypt. The dot on the top is Eilat.
This week I had some "I miss America" feelings--namely after this woman bumped into my car and then yelled at me and threatened me...The kids on the other hand have declared their allegiance to Israel. Sivan went from being the most homesick one of us to now declaring she is moving here.
Matan had a struggle in the last week as his best friend was diagnosed with diabetes and Matan had to manage for days without an English speaker in his class. Fortunately, his friend is going to be okay as he has stabilized and is back at school, although he must now get used to his new life as a kid with diabetes, and Matan has learned that he can survive without him for a couple of days. They were glad to be reunited today though.
One interesting observation in Eilat in the hotel was that even in the hotel, which didn't have all Jewish people, and didn't have all observant people, I loved the feeling of shabbat. Huge candle trays were put out to light, and I was surprised when even this one guy with an earring in his ear, no kippa, and so "secular" looking, stops, puts his hood up on his head, and lights some shabbat candles and makes a blessing and then runs off with his kids. During lunch, I saw people with cutoffs and jeans stand up for kiddish with their friends/family. It is just so...SEAMLESS here. It's being Jewish without all the work.
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