Best Wedding Ever

One of my favorite people got married this past weekend and it was so much fun celebrating with her and her friends and family who traveled from around the world to partake in the festivities. Alana and I lived together at Hebrew University almost 13 years ago and have remained good friends ever since. She is part of the reason that I'm currently studying at Tel Aviv University, she is the best communicator that I know, she is passionate, purposeful, poised, and delightfully quirky. I am so happy for her and her new husband Liron!!!

The day before the wedding there was a prayer service at the Kotel (Western Wall). This is called the Aufruf and is a Jewish tradition of reading a passage from the Torah before the wedding. One of the things I find wonderful and hilarious about the tradition is that it ends with the throwing of candy! Once the passage has been read, as a way of congratulating the readers, candy is thrown at them and usually it gets tossed back and forth a few times. There is a dividing wall between the men's section  and the women's section but it is acceptable to stand on chairs and join in on the prayer service from the other side, as well as throw candy from there.

Liron is the one in the dark green ball cap.

And here is Alana!

The wedding itself was honestly the best party that I've ever attended, hence so few photos! I jumped, spun around, twirled, and danced between each course of the meal. I don't think that I've ever been in a room with that much externally exhibited exuberance. Everyone spun around with the bride and groom, I got to be a part of lifting Alana into the air whilst she was seated on a chair, the food and decor was impeccable, and the other guests were so enjoyable to visit with. I am truly still a little overwhelmed by what an incredible celebration it was. In lieu of action photos from the dancing, these photos will have to suffice.

Congratulations to the wonderful couple, Alana and Liron!!!

Footy Tradition

I've written a couple of times in the past about a sport that I watch very regularly, Australian Rules Football, or footy for short. I follow the Adelaide Crows (Tex and Lynch are my favorite players). I am frustrated by how many injuries we are having to deal with but appreciating the young new players who are being given a chance to prove themselves when the stars are sidelined.

In Tanzania I watched the game with a few friends every week and we would enjoy chips and salsa together. I usually made tortilla chips for the occasion. It's been a while since I've gotten around to putting in the effort to make tortillas chips but I finally was inspired last week! I made quesadillas with most of the tortillas for a Shabbat dinner and they were a huge hit.

It is a labor intensive effort and it is not as much fun to go through when I don't get to share it with my footy-friends. But it was surprising to find that the smell and process of making the tortillas made me feel like I was back in Tanzania and it triggered excitement and anticipation for the coming footy game!

15 Years a Linguist

When I started an MA in conflict resolution and mediation I felt like I was leaving the linguistic/language world behind. I even thought I was "over" linguistics. I was wrong. Apparently languages and linguistic theories are the lens through which I view the world, including conflicts. I think this is not the most common lens to use in conflict analysis. I'm currently developing a thesis topic that relates to the role of language in conflict and how it can be better used as a tool for conflict resolution.

In other language news I was given a small work/study scholarship for translating materials from Hebrew to English. I just finished translating part of the Tel Aviv University's student union website and am now working on translating some policy information for the university.

This is in addition to being involved with a language exchange event in Tel Aviv.

I chose to major in linguistics 15 years ago because it had the fewest core classes and would thus allow me more time to take classes like ballet, tap, martial arts, and ballroom dance. It is encouraging to know that despite my seemingly petty reasons for choosing linguistics God has used it to open doors for me to live and work outside of the US which has been a hope and dream of mine since I was very young.