Davids Jewish Traveler and Hacker
Things that break....
My folding shopping cart broke on a plastic joint yesterday as I walked out of the grocrey store with 30-40 lbs of food in it, it was a break along the joint that allows it to be pushed like a baby stroller instaed of on 2 wheels withthe weight pulling out your shoulder. I had epoxy glue at home so hopefuly this repair will work. I really liked the design of the cart, just seems to have weak joints.
I belive I posted obout my MFJ 4125 power supply for ham radio blowing out after I forgot to switch to 220 from 110 volts. Reading from the side of the box I see that they claim to have over voltage protection (that is why it has a fuse) apparently this is not the case and I am more unhappy with the $30+$30+$40 in shipping to-from-and taxes to replace a device I paid $110 for.
I guess it is good that the device was undre warranty or it would have been even more for being stupid.
Buy your Judaica in Jerusalem in either Geula or Meia Sharim for around 200NIS we got havdala, kidush and handwasher sets.
Plastic stuff is also super cheap in Israel laundry baskets, wash basins, chairs, etc there is a huge plastic resin industry here. If you are smart and dont require the finest quality in everything you buy you can live and outfit yourself quite inexpensively.
I found a 4 wheel push/pull shopping cart that easily will carry 60kg (100lbs) this cart folds and if the nylon box/bag is removed becomes a kind of hand dolly, for 120NIS, the quality could be better but the price is right and it met the work requirements.
I truly miss the bike friendly atmosphere of Portland more than anything else, there are lots of cyclers here but they are expected to compete with pedestrians on the sidewalk or cut their own space out of the roadside. I still have some desire for a bike trailer but am not sure if it would be practical in a city setting without bike paths.
Carrying the groceries...
I have been trying to figure out the best way to schlep all of the groceries, I am thinking the delivery service offered by many stores is money well spent.
Yesterday I bought a large toaster oven (there is no oven in our apartment) and while trying to cart it home it fell and broke the tempered glass front door. Fortunately the clerk felt sorry for me and gave me the display since I dropped it after only 20 minutes, delivery 40 sheckels vs. replacement of a 300 sheckel appliance. For smaller items a hand cart seems to be the best idea, the question is wether I want a shopping type cart or something else..... I am still trying to decide.
Language.....
I wish I had brought my Hebrew study books. ulpan would be easier with familiar study aids like my visual hebrew/english dictionary and my hebrew verb dictionary. It is always to your advantage to have a basic knowledge of the language of the place you plan to visit.
Food...
Why didn't I bring my chinese cooking equipment!?!?!?
WIth a wok and steamer you can go without most other cooking equipment. Everyone knows about wok stir frying, but you can also do the following.
Steam bake: cook fish, meat and even breads they will not brown but a quick fry will brown the meats.
Deep fry: simple just use more oil
A nice recipe for a quick shabbat dinner
Coke chicken:
1 - cut up or not frozen chicken
1- can coke
1- onion
garlic
pepper, soy sauce, and other spices as you like
Chop up onions dump spices and coke onto chicken. Carefuly flip and turn chicken frozen or not in the wok until it thaws, cut up and turn untill all skin has browned. Serve!!
While the coke is boiling you can have a bamboo steamer on top to steam veggies or other parts of the dinner. Steamer can be stacked four tall or higher. If you are still steaming and the coke runs low add water or more coke.
My basic list of handy chinese cooking equipment.
Cleavers heavy and normal
wok with lid
wok shovel (spatula scoop)
wok steamer bamboo stackable
fry dipper
cutting board
Laptop blues:
It seems that my laptop is failing, every few hours of use it dies, I think it may be a power supply problem and I intend to repair it once again. I hope that I stll have enough money in the US to buy a new laptop.
Bring your repair kit.
So far I have saved my laptop power supply with a soldreing iron and heat-shrink tube, the tape and zip ties have been invaluable.
I have been an Israeli for a week now, and I am so tired and happy!!
Lessons learned:
1-Try to have an organization help you with paperwork why should you have to take care of red tape?
2-dont forget that 220 will fry your 110volt stuff AND DONT FORGET TO TURN THE 110/220 SWITCH!!!, your burning electronics may not be replaceable!!
3-you can fit amazing stuff in a bicycle box
4-If your cell phone can do internet/GPRS use it, as crowded internet cafes are no match for your own laptop but beware high data costs. also know the settings you will need before you land.
5-you cannot share your neighbors wi-fi when a VPN is required to log in unless you put a router in to split the connection..
6-movies, tv shows, and music are the best possible use of burned cd's and your hard disk.
7-have a list of friends in country, this will lessen the freak out factor.
8-Israel gives you almost everything to feel at home in Rananna absorption center, I doubt any other nation makes the move so easy.
9-try to learn as much of the language before traveling to a country, fortunately english works most places in Israel as a crutch.
10-always buy multi voltage electronics, then you can use them on both continents, non standard power supplys are one way to fry your valuable electronics.
11-bring a adjustable loudness battery powered alarm clock, this should be a dedicated device with a long battery life, you dont want your cell phone or PDA laying around to be lost when you try to snooze it.
11-bring pens, notebooks big and small, and batteries (rechargeable is good)
12-Bring at least one bike if it is of good quality
I am so happy to be here and while there have been setbacks (burning electronics, oversleeping, etc) this is my home now. Israelis are unified in their welcome for another Jew coming home. The facilities while not a five star hotel are nice and liveable (varies by location) we were fortunate to get two bedrooms, air conditioning, and phone/DSL ready.
