criplomats

We’re definitely in full-swing summer here in Tel Aviv, but it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Highs in the low 90s with a good dollop of humidity, but nothing like what the folks back home are experiencing. Add a nice ocean breeze and most of the time it’s fine – unless you are out walking in the sun.

Last Sunday, our friend Carlos came over in the morning to watch John roast coffee. Afterwards, we walked down the beach to Manta Ray to meet Mary, Jimmy and Will for brunch. It’s great to get to see our friends from the Consulate in Jerusalem.

We had book club at our house on Thursday evening. The group read a book on water – very interesting discussion and a good turnout.

Last night we set up a video call with John’s family, who were celebrating Pete and Ginger’s 50th wedding anniversary. It was fun to see the family – Phillip, Michele and the twins; Cathy, Bruce and Melissa from Texas; Aunt Roberta; Marcia and Brad. The internet has come a long way since we were in Costa Rica and had a painfully slow dial-up connection just to receive email! Technology really makes being away from home so much easier.

After the call, we headed up the hill to a co-worker’s birthday party – good fun and conversation. He had a clever drink menu made up  – I tried his Greentini: pear vodka with pear water, mint and lemon. Very refreshing! It made me want to look for a mint plant so I can add some mint leaves to the water pitcher in the fridge.

We watched a couple of fun movies this week: “The Lincoln Lawyer” and “Unknown.”

Authorities in Mexico this week captured the man who allegedly was involved in the murders of our Consulate friends in Ciudad Juarez last year. He said in an interview, “I called our partners, the Aztecas. … They had made the determination to kill them thinking they were part of the opposing side. Afterward, we learned they had nothing to do with it.”

Cold comfort to Lesley’s baby girl who will never know what a beautiful mom she had.

Last Sunday, my friends Jen and Rebecca went with me to a small shopping center in Hertzliya. We went for brunch and to shop – we had a good time, but we were expecting a big place on the ocean – instead, it was just a couple of blocks in a small village (with no ocean view, despite its name “Ocean View”). At any rate, we had a nice brunch at a little cafe and visited the jewelry shop of Sigal Meshorer and saw her beautiful designs, which was pretty much the point of the trip.

Afterwards, I introduced the ladies to the joy of the duty free store here in Tel Aviv.

We watched a good movie this week with Robert Duvall and Bill Murray, “Get Low.”

The rest of the week was calm. John is adjusting to his new schedule with the Ambassador. Some nights he gets home at a normal time, and other times he is past 7 PM – just depends on what is going on.

I don’t think I told this story last week…John learned that the new Ambassador likes Diet Mountain Dew, which is not available in Israel. John arranged to have a 12-pack shipped over and had it waiting in the refrigerator. One of the Ambassador’s first questions to John was about the availability of Diet Mountain Dew in Israel. John said no, we don’t have it here…but you might find a surprise in the fridge! Definitely got him off on the right foot.

Friday was my manager’s birthday, and I set up a cake and a small celebration for her. Unfortunately, I got called back to ACS for an emergency passport, and missed the whole thing! Oh, well…so it goes.

For my American friends, I’d like to pass on a piece of advice. When you are in a foreign country and have a question about the country that can only be answered by the Ministry of the Interior of said country, please do not come to the American Embassy and scream at the Vice Consul (me) about why I don’t know the answer. Avoid the following phrases: I am an American citizen! You have to help me! I pay your salary! What do you mean you don’t know? It’s your job to know!

Just sayin’.

Our new Ambassador arrived this week, so John will be moving into high gear. We went to a small reception Friday night and had a chance to meet him. He’s a young, personable man with credentials a mile long – and fluent in Hebrew. John looks forward to working with him.

Last Sunday afternoon, we went to a party upstairs at Howie and Ale’s apartment. Ale is going back to Juarez for a few weeks and wanted to see everyone before she left. I’m jealous that she will get to see so many of our Juarez friends!

Yesterday, John did a coffee roasting demo on Dave and Emily’s balcony (I passed because I had work to do at the office). He said it was a lot of fun, and he sent everyone home with samples of his coffee. This is a hobby he’s been doing since before we joined the foreign service, and he’s gotten really good at it – luckily, I can reap the benefits!

The rest of the week was very low-key – mostly just worked and came home. We both got a lot of reading done (well, that’s always true for John).

I’ve been enjoying our apartment pool this week. I’m not much of a water person, but we have a gorgeous saltwater pool overlooking the ocean, and usually there aren’t a lot of people using it. I went up everyday this week after work to just float and relax – I call it my water therapy. Just 20 minutes and I feel so relaxed!

John started his Staff Aide position this week in the Front Office. He is really enjoying it – this job is the reason we bid high on coming to Tel Aviv. Right now, we are in between ambassadors. The down time has given John time to settle in to his new routine and get organized, which is good.

I’m continuing in American Citizen Services, which I really enjoy. The American staff currently in place will be leaving over the next few weeks, so we had a going away lunch in the section this week for them.

Last Sunday, I made my first foray to the duty-free store and placed an order. It will take a couple of weeks to get processed. The selection is pretty limited, but I ordered some frozen meat and other things – the best thing is that they deliver and I don’t have to lug it home.

Tuesday night, we went to the DCM’s residence to hear a great speaker. She works for an NGO that works to help folks in Gaza. Very interesting.

Friday night we went to a fun going away party for our friend Stephanie, who is leaving post early to go to Baghdad – we’ll miss her. The party was on a rooftop deck with a pretty view of the marina.

Our big news is that we are going to Islamabad, Pakistan, for our next post! We are still working out the timing details, but we volunteered for two year assignments there. There are lots of reasons to go (and lots of reasons not to go) – mostly we just felt it was a good time for us to do it and we were able to get good jobs. (It’s surprisingly competitive.) We broke the news to the parents – luckily they are understanding and supportive! Two big pluses of the assignments are that we can take Flavia and we have eight other good friends who will be there with us! We have our built-in dinner party already, which makes us very happy.

Already having our onward assignment feels like a turning point in our time here. We will probably have to leave here in the spring, earlier than we originally anticipated leaving here – it just makes us want to enjoy Israel even more, knowing that we don’t have that much longer here!