Ten Things About Jerusalem

Jerusalem has no shortage of schools, including renowned Biblical institutes, Islamic institutes and Jewish seminaries. However, trying to find appropriate schooling while living abroad is a bit more challenging. Thankfully, there are a few international schools. We found one in particular with a curriculum similar to home and a busing service, which suits us well. So like many North American children, every morning, we wait for the bus. The school is small, but the quality of education appears to be quite high. Plus, there is also a nearby pool and regular swimming classes. While Lena won’t be learning Hebrew or Arabic, French is part of the curriculum, so she can keep up her skills. Lucky for her, the first science unit is on biomes. As our resident zoologist, she is thrilled. The main downside is the long days: we are awake well before dawn to get Lena up and on the long bus ride.   Her classmates come from around the world, from Turkey to Zambia, which will make ...

Visited the nearby grocery store. Lots of fruits. Understood cashier’s total in Hebrew: shmonim ! Learned how to take the tram using friends’ cards and forgot our passports – living dangerously. Heavy security between uniformed police, tram workers and some other people (soldiers? security guards?) with large guns. Entered Old City via Jaffa Gate. Mostly quiet, few shops open, fewer visitors. Good first taste. Old city is a maze and occasionally a warren. Must be intense when busy. Google Maps is helpful. Shopkeeper welcomes us, thinks we are Swedish Jews and asks us to tell everyone how safe Israel is. Prices are high, haggling is required, which will be tiring. More fun to listen to others argue over prices. $20 for pressed pomegranate juice and mint lemonade and indifferent server. Being Canadian, we tip. From religious icons and Roman glass jewelry to “Guns n’ Moses” and Hebrew NFL t-shirts. And canaries. Slept the night, didn’t notice traffic.

Morning walk to grocery store on Friday before the Jewish sabbath when everything on the Israeli side closes. Lots of food, lots of questions. Got everything we needed. Shabbat finger foods ahoy. Find of the day: green apple, lemon and mint popsicles. Surprising number of Jews with American, British accents. Making Aliyah is a big deal. On the walk back: we watch police cordon off a major thoroughfare and detonate a mysterious object. Very efficient. The locals are nonplussed. Afternoon heat limits enthusiasm to go outdoors beyond the compound. Maleaha takes 3 naps. Set up stereo. Second station is 70s-80s-90s+Israeli classics. 88FM, Shmonim-shmoneh ! Getting 10K steps simply by constantly walking around our house in search of things. Will need to optimize this place. Walked around the mixed Israeli-Palestinian neighbourhood. Shabbat begins at sundown, but almost everything is closed by 3pm. No buses or tram, but still plenty of traffic in the evening. Window will stay c...