October 22 & 30, 1972
October 22
Well, I got the job. It’s called research associate, but really it’s typing and editing, working at the economics department.
I have to say I don’t like my “boss,” the chairman of the department. She’s American, so you’d think she’d know English grammar. Not so much.
This is one of the troubles with Israel. They have a huge batch of bright Ph.D. graduates each year, but instead of hiring them, Israel looks overseas for the prestige, even though these overseas hires are mediocre. So this contributes to the brain drain, including my husband Abe and several others I know from the Technion, who went overseas for their Ph.D’s and then no one in Israel wanted them. Well, the same Israeli professors, who wouldn’t hire Abe came to his door when they also wanted to work in the States.
Anyway, life as a working woman isn’t easy. I have to get up, make the kids breakfast, get them to school by eight, get to my job, get back in time to pick them up from school and then make the big meal as lunch is the main meal of the day.
On laundry days I have to get up at six so that I can hang the wash to make sure it dries, especially as winter approaches. Woe is me? But it’s what I wanted.
I’m very lucky to be sharing an office with Israela. She will become one of my closest friends in Israel. She speaks English, unlike some of the secretaries and has great sense a humor. One downside, she smokes. I remember asking her if we ever get a break from work and she looked at me strangely. Only later did I understand that some days that’s all it was, a break, as there was no work. Plenty of time to go to the misnon (cafeteria) with my husband for something to eat.
Next week after the student strike is over, yes another strike, I’ll start learning Hebrew. Officially. I’ve also signed up for an exercise class at night.
Surprise, surprise, as soon as we put in a claim for the box El Al lost, they found it. Now poor Abe has to go to the airport and tried to get it out of customs. And of course, as one might expect, there is a customs slowdown.
Abe and I are getting out on our own, thanks to relatives babysitting. We usually go to a French film and then out to dinner, which costs a fifth of my monthly salary. Money doesn’t go far here. Everything is expensive, except at a falafel stand. Yum!
October 30
Ben cut his head again, almost at the same place, this time a swing hit him. Fortunately, I was home and able to handle it, so no need for an ambulance. This is good because today there was a doctor’s strike. Do you see a pattern here, re: strikes?
Today we went to visit friends in the same building as the chief of staff of the IDF, so there was a guard on duty, an old man reading a newspaper.
This week we also took the kids to visit one of Abe’s far-flung relatives—they occupy every corner of Israel—who raises chickens and turkeys. They’re part of a moshav and the kids really enjoyed the farm life.
The student strike is over. But even if professors might have wanted to teach during the strike they couldn’t because the students had loudspeakers blaring music and announcements. So I can start my ulpan, for which, believe it or not, I had to get my transcript from the University of Michigan. Wow, I couldn’t believe what I found out. I was 34th in my class of thousands. What brains!