Summer living

Once again, vast oceans of time have slipped by, in the moments, minutes, hours and days that compose life when you're focused on living it, as opposed to writing about it. I was reminded recently to update my family and friends back home about my goings-on here. A reminder which I appreciate, especially given my tendency in the past days to lean towards a self-pitying state of homesickness. Thus, a good opportunity to reach out and connect, to share some of the moments that have been passing by in the last few months here in Israel.

I realize now that my last entry was one of comparative harshness, in relating an unpleasant experience Yotam and I endured at the hands of some power-tripping cops. Since then, life has been very smooth with summer setting in, bringing 40+C degree weather, constant sunshine and my first ever experience of swimming in warm bodies of water. My resounding impression of the Jordan Valley in the past months has been that if you can handle the heat, this is truely a natural paradise.

Directly below where we live lies the Kinneret, the only significant body of fresh water in Israel, which provides the country with 50% of its potable water. Dr. Tamar Zohary (the partner of Yotam's father) is the director of the Kinneret Limnological Laboratory, and invited me two weeks ago to accompany her out by boat on the monthly sampling of the lake. It was amazing to go out onto the lake early in the morning, and see both the collecting of specimens (in this case, phytoplankton of various sizes) and the laboratories where the specimens are studied and work is done to preserve the ever-shrinking lake. The state of the lake, and of water in general, is a topic of great interest here - so much so that a lovely gentleman and Ph.D student from Winnipeg named Bryan has been living here in the north doing water-shed related research and interviews for 3 months AND the Kinneret has its own Twitter page , reporting on its levels daily.

The Kinneret isn't all research, facts, and conservation though; it's also home to some seriously nice beaches which Yotam, myself and the dogs (Carmen and Seal) have been taking advantage of in the past months. Our favorite beach to date is the one located within Kibbutz Haon, on the southeastern shores of the lake. Because it is inside the confines of the kibbutz, it is much less crowded than the public beaches, and where there are fewer Israelis, invariably, there is less litter. While I do not claim any expertise, quantitative research, explanations or judgment, I cannot help but make the observation that eco-consciousness has not really taken any visibly firm roots here... well, as far as picking up one's own garbage is concerned. Thus, it is a rare jewel, a natural spectacle to go to a beach here and not be surrounded by plastic bags, food scraps, cigarette butts and dirty diapers. For this reason, we find ourselves going to Haon Beach almost every weekend to bathe in the sun and in the pleasantly warm waters of the Kinneret. Once we've had our fill of sunshine, we often then make our way to the shadier yet no-less pleasant banks of the Jordan River, adjacent to Kibbutz Kinneret. Here, it is a true paradise with calm, warm waters, gorgeous large trees and amazing birds of all colors and calls. It is a truly pleasurable way to pass one's day, floating or swimming in the current-less waterway, listening to the squeals of kids using the "Tarzan" and then sauntering up to the higher banks to listen to the live open jam, and sip Turkish coffee or Jasmine tea, compliments of the 'house'. This phenomenon, of having ready access to warm, swimable waters is quite a novelty to me, and I am amazed every time that I run into the Kinneret or swing into the Jordan that it isn't icy cold (like all of the waters I have encountered in Canada). This element alone makes the Jordan Valley a lovely place to be, and brings joy to life on a regular basis.

However, like all things there are two sides to this coin. On one side of this pastoral lifestyle are the idyllic moments of beach-bumdom, sunset walks and river-side camping; on the other is the inevitable boredom that creeps in when the mercury soars too high for outdoor pleasures and it becomes evident that there are limits to youthful enjoyment in a rural environment. These moments, of finding myself with clean floors, ample baked goods, work completed and not an article of dirty clothing in sight, leave me missing the more accessible pastimes that an urban center boasts. And there is only so much time one can spend in front of a screen before it begins to drain one's will to do anything at all. It is in these moments as well, that the menacing shadow of homesickness, until now kept firmly at bay, begins to inch in. The mind begins asking all the questions to which no answers exist, chasing itself in circles, confusing feeling for fact and fact for feeling. At this point, I am developing enough self-awareness to be able to recognize when this vicious cycle is beginning, and at least am aware that they are just feelings and that they, like all other moments, will pass. Despite my attempt at stoicism, I am an emotive and emotional being and I am becoming more and more aware that I do, in fact, miss home.

Thankfully, the antidote to this feeling is just around the corner, 26 days to be exact (according to the NWA Flight countdown I viewed online yesterday). On September 8th, at the ungodly hour of 5:05am I (with my Mama who is coming to visit in mid-August - WOO-HOO!!!!) will be boarding a flight, via Amsterdam to fly back to Canada, back home to all of the people, places and things that consume my mind and dreams of late. BUT, before this lovely visit home, myself my mom and Yotam will be indulging together in a lovely 5-day vacation to the largest Greek island, Crete! Needless to say, this trivial boredom/homesickness that has invaded my new-found peaceful, serene lifestyle will not be staying for long. The next adventure is just around the corner!

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Part of trip: Israel

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