shabbat shalom 28.12.07

Hi everyone,

I woke this morning planning to tell about my Christmas week, but the news on the internet was full of the assassination of Ms. Bhutto in Pakistan. That probably seems remote to most of you, but through my conservation work in Asia I have several Pakistani friends and the country has become "real" to me. So my first sad task was to send condolences and check to make sure "my guys" are okay. She was a great hope for return to democracy to Pakistan, but democracy must be rooted in the people, who will produce another leader if it is healthy. I'm optimistic; India is Pakistan's mirror image and democracy thrives there despite chaos. Pakistan's chances are still good. I'm praying for my friends there.

So, Christmas. This year I decided to celebrate it as fully as I can, including hosting an office party on 24 December. This was funny of course, because except for me, everyone is Jewish! However, the Russian Jews keep the tree, gifts and many of the same customs as a secular New Year's holiday, so they have a lot of nostalgia for it. I set up a small decorated tree on the laboratory table, brought in hot mulled apple juice, cakes, Norwegian fruit soup, candies, candles and music. Summone the entire floor with a ribbon of jangling bear bells. They had a great time--I suspect many were curious what a Christmas party is like and others had experienced it in travels abroad, so there was great enthusiasm and a request to hold it again next year--in a bigger room.

Our Russian cleaning lady immediately ran out and came back with a gift (a big wooden candlestick); a couple days later when I returned to work, the other people presented me with a lamp and jewelry box in thanks for the party. I was really touched, especially since I had been worried about negative reactions. Quite the contrary.

I spent Christmas Day in Beit Hanina with the Nasser family, an Arab married to a Slovak. Here's Beit Hanina (Bethany of the Bible).

The Slovak wife had made all those Eastern European baked goodies: cookies, stollen, cake. I was plied with European tea and cakes when I arrived, played Chinese checkers with the kids until lunch, and then we sat down to makloubeh, the Palestinian festive dish of meat and rice, followed by real Arabic coffee (which definitely got the adrenalinup). Went to the spa to recover from that, jacuzzi and massage, then joined my Irish friend Breda for another festive dinner (by this time we were reduced to salads) ended by English fruitcake, dense, dark and iced with marzipan. My poor stomach. Time for the New Year's resolution diet, but I will at least experiment with the makloubeh at home.

By Wednesday, I settled back into regular work, but refreshed from the break. I have a manuscript to finish, preparations for a course I should teach this spring, a field project in Ein Gedi, a seminar to repare, and lots of other normal stuff like that. The holiday rest was good; I feel better and can concentrate now. January will be a lot of work.

The secret is not to push too hard on the holidays, just flow with it. One is not supposed to go back to work exhausted. I skipped a lot of attractive activities, and just went to bed early and slept late. It restored my stamina. With winter upon us, that's important.

shabbat shalom,
Linda

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://shabbat-shalom-jerusalem.blogspot.com/