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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Chodesh tov!



The last few weeks have held exciting developments for me - I completed my master's degree in library and information science AND I found a job! Remarkably enough both things happened within the same 24 hours!

It's a great feeling to know I finished all the coursework for my degree and now I just need to wait for the paperwork to go through until I get the actual diploma. I originally planned/hoped to finish my degree while in California but I took on too much my last semester and wasn't able to complete my final culminating project, the e-portfolio. Then I was worried that I wouldn't actually finish it at all - I have this bad habit of not seeing things through to the end but I had a lot of encouragement from friends, family, schoolmates, and my advisor and I managed to finish with time to spare (very unlike me, the queen of procrastination). 

That same week, I had 3 job interviews lined up, all through the help of friends. I know that once you actually get the interview it's up to you but I find it extremely frustrating that it's so difficult to get that first foot in the door without protektzia (n. personal connections, or as they say in Hebrew: מי שיש לו קשרים לא צריך פרוטקציה). 


The job I accepted is not in the library or information field which is a bit of a bummer but it is related to the clinical trial field which was my second choice. I am a logistics coordinator at a company that provides logistic services to international companies performing clinical trials in Israel. The people, including the boss, are really nice and very welcoming and I'm hoping that it will be a good fit.



Image courtesy of I-Heart-God


Arthur is still job hunting and it's very difficult and frustrating though we're trying to stay upbeat and optimistic. He's had some interviews and I'm hoping that something pans out.

This coming Shabbat is Bnei Akiva's Shabbat Irgun, which ends chodesh irgun. If you're not familiar with these terms, you can get explanations at I'll call Baila or West Bank Mama. This year is particularly significant for us as Maor is in 9th grade and will therefore be receiving her shevet name, which accompanies you forever. As Uri Orbach so eloquently puts it in his book, What shevet are you in (באיזה שבט אתה, ספריית בית אל):

גם כשתהייה זקן בעוד 80 שנה  
גם כשתהייה כפוף בעזרת הנכדה הקטנה
גם כשכבר לא תוכל לראות בלי משקפיים
גם כשתתחיל לשכחו איפה הנחת את השיניים
גם כשלגמריי תשכח מקומות אירוכים ואנשים שלמדו איתך בכיתה
תמיד תזכור מיד
באיזה שבט אתה!



Even when you'll be old in another 80 years
Even when you'll be bent over with the help of your small granddaughter
Even when you won’t be able to see without glasses
Even when you start forgetting where you left your teeth
Even when you completely forget long ago places and people who learned with you in school
You’ll always immediately remember
What shevet you’re in!

Chodesh tov!







 


5 comments:

bklerner said...

What does it mean, a shevet name?

Fern Chasida said...

A shevet means tribe. Each age group in Bnei Akiva gets a name (heavily guarded until the announcement is made on the Saturday night of Shabbat irgun) which accompanies them forever. When you're older it's a sneaky way of finding out how old someone is without being rude - you just ask what shevet they're in.

Unknown said...

Mazel Tov on your job!

Unknown said...

And on your degree!

Anonymous said...

It was very interesting for me to read that post. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to this matter. I would like to read more soon.