It is September 1st, and I am officially 28 – and perhaps officially insane. Many would consider my situation a quarter life crisis and I would have to agree. Here I am in Thessoloniki, Greece, alone, jobless, and getting ready to depart to Israel for a 5 month volunteer/study program called Tikkun Olam (http://www.tikunolamisrael.org/index.htm). However, if this is the outcome of a quarter life crisis, it could not be more exciting, enjoyable, and enriching.
This blog is called Jaffe in Jaffa, (thanks to Jeff S. for the suggestion), and it is quite fitting.
First off, my last name is Jaffe and I’ll be living in a city called Jaffa in Israel. As Maya and others have pointed out, I can jokingly claim to be the Queen of Jaffa as my namesake clearly indicates divine birthright. I’ll use that line if I run into any issues at customs.
But secondly, Jaffe in Jaffa may turn out to have a real impact on the regular Jaffe … you know, the one from New York, the market researcher, the one who is bad at returning phone calls but can always be counted on, the responsible, humble, opinionated, but sometimes quiet and overly cautious Jaffe. My brother, Joey, can attest to my cautiousness as I held on for dear life on the back of the Italian motorbike he was driving down the winding and steep roads of Alonnisos. But, the point is that I hung on and trusted in him and in life – and I’m going to try and apply this same openness to my experience in Israel.
So what the heck is this blog going to be about? Will it be about my personal growth, my observations of the Arab and Isreali cultures, or a more analytical slant on the conflict and interdependencies of the many different people populating Israel? The truth is, I’m not entirely sure what form it will take. Although it’s probably advised to have an agenda set out before publishing a blog, I’d like to have the freedom to explore many different subjects that inspire me to share my perspective. In market research, we try not bring out own biases to the study, but I do have an inkling that this blog will turn out to be a mixture of these different elements, and others, as they are all interconnected and relevant to the overall story. I’m excited to live out this story and share it with you all. Shalom! (That’s just about the only word I know in Hebrew, so this should definitely be an interesting 5 months!)
Reading this I suddenly remembered how we were in agreement that in this day and age people tend to over-communicate and often times over minutia... maybe we were wrong.
ReplyDeleteShalom Jess, I barely know any hebrew either. I hope u have a blast the next 5 months!! Looks like ur having a great time miss ya !!
ReplyDeleteScott showed me the pics and you look great and look like you're having a wonderful time. Enjoy. And I miss you girl!
ReplyDeleteJessica dear .... I'm sure you don't remember Marilyn and Fred who now live outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico but used to live in Manhattan. I met you and your family (dad, mom and brother) when I met Fred (in 1986 which would make you 5 years old at the time?) who was friends with your Dad and then I became Fred's wife in October 1987. They danced at our wedding. We've been living in the southwest for almost 20 years now and not once have your parents invited themselves to visit with us. Oh, we get pictures every couple of years to mark your growth (CAN YOU REALLY BE 28?) and maturity. There's nothing not to like about being in Israel for five months. Enjoy your youth while you can. Keep us posted. We'd love to keep up on what you're doing. Weren't you in the military a few years ago?
ReplyDeleteMarilyn, yes I remember you. I vaguely remember seeing pictures of your home in New Mexico! Everyone in the family is doing well. I was in JROTC in H.S. but did not do the military - instead went to college and then worked in market research for almost 6 years. Joey graduated with his BFA a year ago and is an electrician in the Manhattan union. If my parents never invited themselves out to New Mexico, you gotta invite them out! My mom actually wanted to move out to New Mexico at some point and she may still be considering it for the future. My email is jaffe.jessica@gmail.com
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