My Home in Israel

For part two of this series, we will focus on the dreaded Lice. (Hebrew name: Kinim) Please note, in Israel things are viewed very very differently than in the US.

Recognizable symptoms: Itchy scalp, bugs and eggs on scalp
Downside: you can get it as well (see story from the front lines)
Upside: In Israel nobody cares. It doesn’t cause any permanent damage.
Important notes: All of the shampoos out there are filled with chemicals which will poison your child. The other methods might not work as quickly, but you won’t be risking their health to cure the problem.
Curing the situation: Well, as mentioned there are lots of options on the market, but I believe in a two prong solution: 1) Lots of combing with a fine tooth lice comb and 2) Rosemary Concoctions. I believe it keeps them away, and so far things have been going well. We use Dr. Fischer’s products. They have a shampoo and a tangle free cream that seem to do the trick. My big one has tangle-full hair anyway, so the cream works well. You do have to be diligent, and if you have a loving family relationship, often you will find that you have become the carrier…I speak from experience.

Reminder for new immigrants:

1. This is not a sign of being dirty.
2. No, you can’t make your child’s teacher keep the kids out who have lice .
3. Congrats, his means your child is a social being–hermits don’t get this.
4. Cacha zeh b Aretz!*

*Such is life in Israel

As we approach the five year mark of being a parent, we have been through a variety of illnesses of the standard variety. For some reason the “fun” ones seem to repeat several times. I’ll review them as they have come:

Pink-Eye (Hebrew: Daleket Anyaim): This one hit at age one and again about four more times before age three. (We seem to be having a break of this one.)
Recognizable symptoms: red eyes, sticky drippy stuff coming out of them
Downside: very contagous, no school/childcare for the first 24-48 hours after the medicine has started–or until the stickiness is gone.
Upside: Child is healthy enough to be schlepped to any activity that you need to get done.
Important notes: Wash hands as often as possible in order to prevent infection. Make sure to clean the eyes well before putting in the antibiotic drops, or you really aren’t doing anything!
Story from the front lines: One particularly bad instance was when we were in the Absorption Center. We tried two different antibiotics, and nothing was making it go away. We even went to an opthamologist, but he didn’t have any answers. A Russian neighbor told me to talk to his wife. She gave me something from Russia to clean her eyes (I never found out what it was.) and told me to use a homeopathic drops (Opti-dol). Within two days she was better. It could have been that it was a virus that ran it’s course, but I now keep Opti-dol in the house.

*Machalot: Hebrew for Illness

• On the needles: Still Danica

This is a warning to new and future immigrants. Life here can be good, but also things can be very difficult!

Immigrant accountants get lost in translation on certification exams

• On the needles: Danica scarf from knitty

The good news is:

Finished the hat for my father!

Finished the Hallowig!

The mediocre news:

The scarf with funfur is going slowly, because I can’t do it on the bus. It is strictly a home project…even though it is just a seed stitch, because it is so furry I need to focus and not be on bumpy roads.

New project news:

I cast on the Danica pattern, but I’m using left over yarn, so that must count for something! It is a great project by the way…lots of fun. I like carrying around the pattern because yarnboy is just too cute.

Totals:

Two projects on needles and two more completed. Yaaay!

Well, I guess I’m off to a good start, or maybe I’m hopeless! I completed a baby hat that I was working on. I also pulled out the 3/4 completed baby sweater. I think I’ll start that again in 2006, but I still need a break from it. The Hallowig is about a week from completion, and the scarf hasn’t moved much.

Also, I cast on for another hat for my dad, but it is a really bulky yarn, so it will be done quickly.

Totals: three projects on needles, one project frogged, one project finished, one project started.

I think thatSnailers is a great idea for Israelis who want to keep in touch with friends and family abroad. It allows you to send out a postcard (even with an image you upload) for less than the cost of a greeting card! Next Rosh Hashanah this might be the way to go.