Hello everyone,
I was recently evacuated from Israel for security reasons, understandably ending my experience on a sudden note. However, before I permanently close this specific narrative, I want to say a few humble words about everything that I have witnessed, encountered, and felt during my time this summer.
Obviously, the Middle East is not the easiest place to live or exist for many reasons that most people can gather, if they saw a report about terrorist organizations in the region, or the ethnic tensions between many groups, or the fact that many civilians get killed in the crossfire between main powers fighting for control over a piece of land or territory. Whenever a conversation occurs about the Middle East, it usually involves dialogue concerning space, history, power, and who has the right to actively live within that region.
For a closer connection, when I lived in Israel this past summer, although I was in a city characterized by its cosmopolitan nature, it was easy to see how coexistence had its complications within Tel Aviv, and within the surrounding areas, like Jerusalem, what with riots, protests, and disagreements occurring as the conflict escalated. Occupation and the right to self-determination played a role in driving bitterness towards the citizens and anger towards the victims, which were, virtually, everyone involved in the Middle East.
The thing about these situations, like I said previously in a separate post, is that it's a matter of perspective, which philanthropy tends to focus on when telling the stories of who they help and why it helps its intended audience. But, more so, when it comes to down to it, I feel that a culture needs to change through challenging these perspectives of ownership and what territory truly belongs whom, because no territory can be singly owned by one person or one group. If that view continues to penetrate the minds of people in that region, then there is no end to the conflict. It's not an easy conversation to have, but it's one that should inevitably happen to realize a larger foundation.
However, regardless of political talks, I am saddened to see my experience end because I had to witness a conflict explode in very literal ways, but I am more depressed on hearing of others who have died because they got trapped in a conflict that always has ramifications on the citizenry. Although a bit odd to say, especially since I had to evacuate to bomb shelters and build my mentality to stay persistent and strong, in many ways I was privileged to be in a secure environment - an environment that many do not have when it comes to these kinds of scenarios. Tired words at this point, but because there is inequality and conflict amid groups, talks, discussions, and conversations should never end, even when it seems like the whole framework is collapsing and failing.
Despite the pessimism surrounding peace, I can only hope that the next time I visit Israel and the Middle East, it will be in a better state.
Until next time,
Joel
Monday, July 28, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
First time evacuating to a Bomb Shelter.
Shalom everyone,
Today, I am going to share my experience in evacuating to a bomb shelter for the very first time, just so you know a little bit of what it is like over in Israel. Obviously, this case is not representative of everybody's sentiments or situations in evacuating, so by all means, take this as an individual narrative from yours truly.
As most of you already know, and for those of you who don't, rockets have been targeting Tel Aviv for about two and a half weeks. This has caused many people to worry over my status and whether I will be staying in Israel until the end of summer. I, myself, have never been in a situation where I have had to evacuate and update others over my status, with the exception of short, nonthreatening fire drills at schools; so, suffice to say, it was a bit of a shock to me when I woke up at 10:35AM to loud sirens blaring over the dorms of Tel Aviv University, warning of rockets approaching.
In all honesty, it took me a few seconds to enter reality, especially waking up in a groggy state. However, when first hearing that siren, I knew that I had to bolt down to the basement of my dorm building, and because it was my first time, although I was calm for the most part partially due to being warned about the proper protocol for these situations, I was still a little bit nervous. When you're in these kinds of scenarios, you never know what to think or predict, you only see yourself in that moment, adrenaline-equipped, making a quick decision, no matter what happens.
After rushing down to the basement of my dorm building, I entered the bomb shelter. There were others like me, simply waiting for what would happen. The shelter, coincidentally, also functioned as a storage room; to pass the time, I would look at books, artwork, pots, pans, letters and whatever there was to ensure a distraction. However, despite my calm state and my preoccupation, nothing could take my attention away from the loud explosions overhead in the sky, stopping me from whatever I was doing. Even though there was small chatter among others, there was tension hanging over the atmosphere.
After waiting for about ten minutes, the sirens died down, no other instructions had been given, and I returned to my flat to begin my day.
That was my first experience in a bomb shelter. Past that time, I have had to evacuate from threats once or twice a day since rockets started firing from the Gaza Strip. I've also started to become a bit more nervous of loud noises, since I've had to become more vigilant. And, although I know the drill, am confident about my safety in Tel Aviv, and am now almost completely level-headed about evacuating, I can definitely state that the nervousness stays the same.
Until next time,
Joel
Today, I am going to share my experience in evacuating to a bomb shelter for the very first time, just so you know a little bit of what it is like over in Israel. Obviously, this case is not representative of everybody's sentiments or situations in evacuating, so by all means, take this as an individual narrative from yours truly.
As most of you already know, and for those of you who don't, rockets have been targeting Tel Aviv for about two and a half weeks. This has caused many people to worry over my status and whether I will be staying in Israel until the end of summer. I, myself, have never been in a situation where I have had to evacuate and update others over my status, with the exception of short, nonthreatening fire drills at schools; so, suffice to say, it was a bit of a shock to me when I woke up at 10:35AM to loud sirens blaring over the dorms of Tel Aviv University, warning of rockets approaching.
In all honesty, it took me a few seconds to enter reality, especially waking up in a groggy state. However, when first hearing that siren, I knew that I had to bolt down to the basement of my dorm building, and because it was my first time, although I was calm for the most part partially due to being warned about the proper protocol for these situations, I was still a little bit nervous. When you're in these kinds of scenarios, you never know what to think or predict, you only see yourself in that moment, adrenaline-equipped, making a quick decision, no matter what happens.
After rushing down to the basement of my dorm building, I entered the bomb shelter. There were others like me, simply waiting for what would happen. The shelter, coincidentally, also functioned as a storage room; to pass the time, I would look at books, artwork, pots, pans, letters and whatever there was to ensure a distraction. However, despite my calm state and my preoccupation, nothing could take my attention away from the loud explosions overhead in the sky, stopping me from whatever I was doing. Even though there was small chatter among others, there was tension hanging over the atmosphere.
After waiting for about ten minutes, the sirens died down, no other instructions had been given, and I returned to my flat to begin my day.
That was my first experience in a bomb shelter. Past that time, I have had to evacuate from threats once or twice a day since rockets started firing from the Gaza Strip. I've also started to become a bit more nervous of loud noises, since I've had to become more vigilant. And, although I know the drill, am confident about my safety in Tel Aviv, and am now almost completely level-headed about evacuating, I can definitely state that the nervousness stays the same.
Until next time,
Joel
Monday, July 14, 2014
The Normalization of Fear and Acceptance?
Shalom everyone,
Ever since the deaths of the three Israeli teenagers and the Palestinian teenager, tensions between the two regions have been escalating to the point where both areas have started firing rockets at each other in an attempt to defend their citizenry and, from my perspective, gain a sense of justice for their respective victims. However, ironically, by defending one innocent citizen from terror, another innocent is killed on the other side, and so the cycle repeats itself.
What people do not truly take into account at times is that although everyone suffers from war, the masses suffer the most. And, right now, it is anyone's guess as to how long the current conflict will be going on, since wars are relatively unpredictable periods of time. Most would think that this causes trauma and panic, yet surprisingly after the sirens, most people, from my observations, returned to their daily lives.
Of course, that statement is a large generalization, and to be sure, many people do deal with anxiety and trauma after hearing Code Red Siren Alarms. But, it was interesting to see people go back to waiting for a bus, going to a restaurant, or resume shopping. It was interesting to me because, having come from a country where national attacks do not happen often, I knew that most people in America would be shocked and terrified. Here, it contrasts quite a bit. Although people take shelter and protest against the violence and the war, many do not necessarily let these warnings hinder their day.
In a way, when you live in a region surrounded by turbulence, I think that you have to become used to that kind of expectation but never let it damage your character or your way of life because if you do, then you'll never commence what you set out to do. One half of the battle is getting to a shelter, and the other half involves swallowing that anxiety and that fear in order to survive. That acceptance, resilience, and normalization, I feel, has become a part of Israeli culture - a culture that I am beginning to understand more, now that I have seen it in its good and, sadly, bad times.
Until next post,
Joel
PS) Thank you to those who have reached out to me in hopes of my safety! I was initially a bit anxious and nervous upon hearing my first Siren Alarm (which is a topic for my next post), but I am doing fine as of now.
Ever since the deaths of the three Israeli teenagers and the Palestinian teenager, tensions between the two regions have been escalating to the point where both areas have started firing rockets at each other in an attempt to defend their citizenry and, from my perspective, gain a sense of justice for their respective victims. However, ironically, by defending one innocent citizen from terror, another innocent is killed on the other side, and so the cycle repeats itself.
What people do not truly take into account at times is that although everyone suffers from war, the masses suffer the most. And, right now, it is anyone's guess as to how long the current conflict will be going on, since wars are relatively unpredictable periods of time. Most would think that this causes trauma and panic, yet surprisingly after the sirens, most people, from my observations, returned to their daily lives.
Of course, that statement is a large generalization, and to be sure, many people do deal with anxiety and trauma after hearing Code Red Siren Alarms. But, it was interesting to see people go back to waiting for a bus, going to a restaurant, or resume shopping. It was interesting to me because, having come from a country where national attacks do not happen often, I knew that most people in America would be shocked and terrified. Here, it contrasts quite a bit. Although people take shelter and protest against the violence and the war, many do not necessarily let these warnings hinder their day.
In a way, when you live in a region surrounded by turbulence, I think that you have to become used to that kind of expectation but never let it damage your character or your way of life because if you do, then you'll never commence what you set out to do. One half of the battle is getting to a shelter, and the other half involves swallowing that anxiety and that fear in order to survive. That acceptance, resilience, and normalization, I feel, has become a part of Israeli culture - a culture that I am beginning to understand more, now that I have seen it in its good and, sadly, bad times.
Until next post,
Joel
PS) Thank you to those who have reached out to me in hopes of my safety! I was initially a bit anxious and nervous upon hearing my first Siren Alarm (which is a topic for my next post), but I am doing fine as of now.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Good and Evil; Perspectives and Narratives
“There are no facts, only interpretations.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche
Shalom everyone,
With the kidnapping and subsequent murder of three Israeli teenagers, suffice to say, the news has been perturbing, with riots, arguments, and grieving on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. I wanted to bring this up today because it reminded me of an important point that I learned from my Study Abroad trip that I took this past Winter. The topic was on philanthropy, and my cohort and I were hearing from several "Peace-Process" Organizations that facilitated discourse about the conflict.
There was one particular group called the "Parent's Circle". They consisted of parents, adults, and members who lost something from the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, mainly a child. From several narratives and listening to both sides of a story, hearing from these groups merely reaffirmed a precept that I always believed in ever since I was able to sympathize with characters from all sorts of stories and tales. This precept involved the concept of perspective and how no one is ever really "good" or "evil" in any sense.
In actuality, I believe that everyone is in this "grey area" that is characterized by a myriad of thoughts, feelings, intentions, and perspectives. I believe this because, while looking at the news and stories about conflicts and global disasters, each story has a side that interprets a narrative a certain way. That side, for better or for worse, leads to an interpretation that conclusively characterizes a person's moral dimension. But, it is ever really as simple as that? These sides believe that they are doing good for their people; so, if anything, can we ever characterize people by these "black and white" standards that have flooded media, literature, conversations, and aspects of our lives?
I think the truth is that "Good and Evil" are merely constructed out of our own perspectives, our own narratives that we consistently create, shape, and change. How do we begin to see other aspects of people, other than a "Good or Evil" characterization? Maybe through involvement, maybe through conversation, but most importantly, through understanding between others and other parties that have suffered the same consequences, which is why dialogue and cooperation, rather than immediate action, are so important in these types of situations. Even if sides do not agree to work with one another, there needs to be a mutual understanding and respect in order to move forward; otherwise, it seems like a circle that will inevitably cling to a problem.
On the same level, philanthropy aims to understand others through taking into account an individual's needs and what they need help with or what they want to work on, as I am learning through my research at the Institute for Philanthropy at Tel Aviv University. However, social-responsibility is not an easy concept to incorporate in many respects, especially when perspectives are irreconcilable and many are not willing to work with one another. That is an individual's challenge if one wants to be philanthropic in a world where misunderstandings are plentiful and the victims, abundant.
Until next time,
Joel
Sunday, June 29, 2014
"We no speak americano!"
Shalom everybody!
For today's post, I wanted to address a topic that everybody seems to have an issue with at least once in his or her lifetime when interacting with different cultures. It appears to be an easy thing to do, yet nobody truly has any single solution for problems associated with it. The topic is on communication and different styles of communicating.
I wanted to do a post like this because my advisor, whom I am doing research for, asked me a particularly interesting question the other day when we were catching up. That question was, "Are you meeting nice people?" In a regular situation, it would be a simple answer - a yes or a no. However, in this case, it was more complex because different people communicate differently in different cultures.
Israeli culture is no exception. In Israel, from my perspective, people are more informal, more direct, and more personal. I am not saying that this is the permanent norm of the culture, because to say that would be discounting the individuality of the Israeli people and the fluidity of culture, itself, which is something that is also important to consider. However, based off my experience, that is what I gained from my observations. To be honest, that particular style of communicating is quite refreshing to experience, since there is no question of what a person thinks about a certain matter or subject.
Contrastingly, having come from a culture where people, from my own experiences, are more indirect in consideration of others' feelings, it can be hard to really know what someone is thinking about an inquiry you asked or a topic you want to discuss. Of course, like I said before, this is not the permanent norm, as it is also important to consider the individual behaviors and preferences of people in the United States, but it is what I have encountered in one case or another my whole life.
I mention this because when people have different styles of communicating, they can conflict, since the connotations that a person aims to give off may not be the same feelings that a person receives during the interaction. It is an interesting experience to behold, and an even more difficult one to solve. So, what do I do? I give the benefit of the doubt and listen. What this means is that I do not assume anything, I learn about the cultural cues or common speech patterns, and I base my judgment off what I have learned and observed from others. It is not perfect, but I get by most of the time. :)
In conclusion, to answer my advisor's question, "Yup! I am meeting nice people everyday!"
For today's post, I wanted to address a topic that everybody seems to have an issue with at least once in his or her lifetime when interacting with different cultures. It appears to be an easy thing to do, yet nobody truly has any single solution for problems associated with it. The topic is on communication and different styles of communicating.
I wanted to do a post like this because my advisor, whom I am doing research for, asked me a particularly interesting question the other day when we were catching up. That question was, "Are you meeting nice people?" In a regular situation, it would be a simple answer - a yes or a no. However, in this case, it was more complex because different people communicate differently in different cultures.
Israeli culture is no exception. In Israel, from my perspective, people are more informal, more direct, and more personal. I am not saying that this is the permanent norm of the culture, because to say that would be discounting the individuality of the Israeli people and the fluidity of culture, itself, which is something that is also important to consider. However, based off my experience, that is what I gained from my observations. To be honest, that particular style of communicating is quite refreshing to experience, since there is no question of what a person thinks about a certain matter or subject.
Contrastingly, having come from a culture where people, from my own experiences, are more indirect in consideration of others' feelings, it can be hard to really know what someone is thinking about an inquiry you asked or a topic you want to discuss. Of course, like I said before, this is not the permanent norm, as it is also important to consider the individual behaviors and preferences of people in the United States, but it is what I have encountered in one case or another my whole life.
I mention this because when people have different styles of communicating, they can conflict, since the connotations that a person aims to give off may not be the same feelings that a person receives during the interaction. It is an interesting experience to behold, and an even more difficult one to solve. So, what do I do? I give the benefit of the doubt and listen. What this means is that I do not assume anything, I learn about the cultural cues or common speech patterns, and I base my judgment off what I have learned and observed from others. It is not perfect, but I get by most of the time. :)
In conclusion, to answer my advisor's question, "Yup! I am meeting nice people everyday!"
Friday, June 20, 2014
Power Eating
Boker Tov everyone!
So, just to start off from last post, one of the reasons that I came to Tel Aviv was to investigate how philanthropy can potentially aid in the construction of identity. What that means is that I'm examining how nonprofit work allows people to shape their own perceptions of who they are, what their race is, what their gender is, how they situate themselves with a nationality, et cetera. To do this, I want to hear several narratives from the audience of Olim Beyahad. I want to hear their stories, their conflicts, their goals, and what makes them, them.
Of course, this is an intricate study, and one that will inevitably require months of meeting with individuals and getting to know them, but in a way, it's exhilarating to gain knowledge on how people align themselves with a certain trait or characteristic. Influencing this process not only gives people the ability to gain trust with others but also have more representation and power in terms of identification. What that spells for the future cannot be predicted, but it's certainly fascinating to behold precisely because narratives themselves are extraordinary political works.
As I learn more about the individuals of Olim Beyahad, I'm starting to become more used to exploring Tel Aviv. Other than getting lost at times, I'm getting more and more out of my comfort zone, what with going to restaurants, parks, and famous monuments, I hope to know a little bit about this city at the end of the summer! Displayed is a meal that I had recently in the Yemenite Quarter of Tel Aviv; and it was delicious! There truly is no benefit greater than having the opportunity to experience a piece of culture in this way.
Next stop: museums!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Adventure Calls!
Lately, I've been exploring Tel Aviv to figure out why people praise it so much and what makes it so unique from any other city out there. I had visited Tel Aviv before during the winter, when I came with a group of students to study philanthropy and nonprofit institutions in the Middle East, but I figured I didn't have enough information to really solve that inquiry. Then, I figured that the key to my answer didn't exactly lie in anthropological investigations, but rather, it relied on lived experiences and the kinds of narratives that shape Tel Aviv, itself. So, in order to answer that beguiling question, I need to experience Tel Aviv for what it is, what it represents, and how it can potentially change me.
To do this, I've been going to various sites in Tel Aviv, like the Carmel Market, the Yemenite Quarter, the beaches, Tel Aviv Port, and there hasn't been a single site that has let me down or disappointed me. In all honesty, I don't think that anything in this city will, but until I find out more, I'll continue to keep an eye out for things interesting, unique, and lively!
Other than exploring Tel Aviv, I've begun to delve more into my work at the Institute for Philanthropy and Olim Beyahad. At the latter, I tutor members who want to be more fluent in English, orally. So, I met with my first "student" and we conversed for about an forty-five minutes on casual topics, like what books he reads, what he likes about them, what goals he wants to accomplish, et cetera. In a way, it was good to hear his story, and find out a couple of reasons why Olim Beyahad exists for the marginalized. I can expect to learn more as I talk to these people, and hopefully make the connection between philanthropy and identity - my personal end game.
But, that's for another blog post. Until then, enjoy some hummus and falafels!
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Diving into things!
Shalom all!
In the midst of touring and exploring, I had the chance to go to Tel Aviv Port, which is a beautiful site right by the Mediterranean Sea. Suffice to say, I wanted to stay there for hours and simply take in the sights, the sounds, the feelings, and the people.
However, other than getting acclimated to my settings and the environment around me, I had a chance to meet with my internship supervisors, whom I will be working with during the upcoming months. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I wanted to come here in order to really dive into what nonprofits do, how they work, and gain a better understanding of why they do what they do, in the hopes of potentially considering a career in the nonprofit industry. Of course, I would need a myriad of experiences to truly have a certain idea since each nonprofit is different, but as a starting point, I think that this is a huge step and an even bigger career move for the future.
We discussed some of the duties that I would be doing. In particular, Tel Aviv University wants to start up an Institute for Philanthropy, so I am helping them investigate successful academic institutions based on philanthropy in the United States. For example, my very own University of Maryland has a Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership! My supervisors want to investigate those models, how they do things, and in the future, replicate those successes to usher in a new wave of philanthropic culture in Israel and potentially, the Middle East.
In a word, I'm a bit excited to get into this, since I've never really delved into this study before! But come what may, I will be committed to this study until I see some results! Now, onwards to my other internship: Olim Beyahad - a nonprofit institution in Tel Aviv that helps Ethiopian-Israelis integrate into Israeli society through helping the latter find professional work. Should be interesting.
In the midst of touring and exploring, I had the chance to go to Tel Aviv Port, which is a beautiful site right by the Mediterranean Sea. Suffice to say, I wanted to stay there for hours and simply take in the sights, the sounds, the feelings, and the people.
However, other than getting acclimated to my settings and the environment around me, I had a chance to meet with my internship supervisors, whom I will be working with during the upcoming months. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I wanted to come here in order to really dive into what nonprofits do, how they work, and gain a better understanding of why they do what they do, in the hopes of potentially considering a career in the nonprofit industry. Of course, I would need a myriad of experiences to truly have a certain idea since each nonprofit is different, but as a starting point, I think that this is a huge step and an even bigger career move for the future.
We discussed some of the duties that I would be doing. In particular, Tel Aviv University wants to start up an Institute for Philanthropy, so I am helping them investigate successful academic institutions based on philanthropy in the United States. For example, my very own University of Maryland has a Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership! My supervisors want to investigate those models, how they do things, and in the future, replicate those successes to usher in a new wave of philanthropic culture in Israel and potentially, the Middle East.
In a word, I'm a bit excited to get into this, since I've never really delved into this study before! But come what may, I will be committed to this study until I see some results! Now, onwards to my other internship: Olim Beyahad - a nonprofit institution in Tel Aviv that helps Ethiopian-Israelis integrate into Israeli society through helping the latter find professional work. Should be interesting.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Contemplatively Traveling
Shalom from Israel!
I decided to do something a little bit unorthodox. I decided to intern for two nonprofit institutions this summer, live in Tel Aviv, Israel until August, and completely blast out of my comfort zone to experience something new. I thought that at age twenty, I would be working a summer job at a restaurant, not boarding a plane to a location that I knew little about, other than a slice of its political history and lifestyle.
So, why do it? Why venture somewhere completely new? Well, I was offered the fantastic opportunity to intern for an organization called Olim Beyahad - a nonprofit institution that aids Ethiopian-Israelis integrate into society through gaining jobs and accessing professional markets. I also had the chance to intern at Tel Aviv University's Institute for Philanthropy, which not only complemented the kind of background I unexpectedly found myself in but also gave me the chance to explore a different, emerging field in a different world from what I was used to. Given these chances, I wasn't going to decline this milestone.
However, more so, I think I wanted to see for myself if I could not only grow on my own, but grow in the sense that I take a step forward without looking back, changing my mind and worrying. I wanted to grow in the sense that I could fully make decisions for myself, professionally and personally, and live to see them through. I wanted to see if I could live on my own for the first time in my life. These lessons don't occur through a classroom setting, but through lived experiences and narratives, which is what I personally hope to attain by the end of this trip.
Other than those goals, here I am! I am ready to take on Tel Aviv one day at a time!
Shalom,
Joel
I decided to do something a little bit unorthodox. I decided to intern for two nonprofit institutions this summer, live in Tel Aviv, Israel until August, and completely blast out of my comfort zone to experience something new. I thought that at age twenty, I would be working a summer job at a restaurant, not boarding a plane to a location that I knew little about, other than a slice of its political history and lifestyle.
So, why do it? Why venture somewhere completely new? Well, I was offered the fantastic opportunity to intern for an organization called Olim Beyahad - a nonprofit institution that aids Ethiopian-Israelis integrate into society through gaining jobs and accessing professional markets. I also had the chance to intern at Tel Aviv University's Institute for Philanthropy, which not only complemented the kind of background I unexpectedly found myself in but also gave me the chance to explore a different, emerging field in a different world from what I was used to. Given these chances, I wasn't going to decline this milestone.
However, more so, I think I wanted to see for myself if I could not only grow on my own, but grow in the sense that I take a step forward without looking back, changing my mind and worrying. I wanted to grow in the sense that I could fully make decisions for myself, professionally and personally, and live to see them through. I wanted to see if I could live on my own for the first time in my life. These lessons don't occur through a classroom setting, but through lived experiences and narratives, which is what I personally hope to attain by the end of this trip.
Other than those goals, here I am! I am ready to take on Tel Aviv one day at a time!
Shalom,
Joel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)