2008 in 37 Q&A

As seen on Stingoo's blog. I read it there and I decided that in a while or so (longer, the better) I will like going back to this post and reading my answers. I will then invite the friends that I know have blog, to do the same. I think it's a nice honesty exercise. So here we go, for 2008:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Started to live by my own, in a new country.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I always make New Year's resolutions (I even made a Rosh hashana resolution) but I always loose them somewhere so I don't remember if i kept them or not. Too bad. And yes, I will make another one also. Should I write on it, among other, "Not to loose this resolution" ? Maybe...

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
YES! My sister! To the amazing baby Eytan! The smallest baby I've ever held in my arms! And the most advertised baby ever! (people that visited my room know why)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Unfortunately, yes. My grandmother passed away this February. She didn't get to see her third great grandson. I miss her, and even more, my heart breaks when I think how much my grandfather misses her.

5. What countries did you visit?
Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic, Israel again, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and now, Austriaaaaaa!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Butterflies in the stomach, but ones that will last and be worthed.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 6th - my grandma died
July 4th - my sister gave birth and I was dancing in Prague (damn it!)
October 19th - I moved to Vienna and my life changed
And unfortunately, a certain Friday noon, by the pool...


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
By far, deciding on leaving everything back in Romania and jumping in this new adventure called "studying in Vienna".

9. What was your biggest failure?
The fact that I still didn't learn from my own mistakes...

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Beside heart little scratches?
Not anything seriously (and, as I don't have medical insurance yet, please not!)

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Clothes and Universita for Eytan (whoever doesn't know what that is, means that he didn't have a small baby around). That and the ticket to come to the LBS assessment interview.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mother's for everything she does.
My sister for giving birth naturally! I respect her tremendously!
Mine! For daring to take such a big decision as moving abroad alone!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Sometimes mine, sometimes the behavior of the people that dissapointed me.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Flight tickets, laptop and food (last one, since in Vienna - this is one of the best reasons for living with parents:) )

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having a nephew, moving abroad, meeting great new people.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Halevai"...

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? fatter (I wonder how will I answer next year to this:) )
c) richer or poorer? moneywise - poorer, experiencewise - richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spend more time with my mom and grandfather, Swimming, Sports, Dancing (yes, even more!), learn more salsa, Blogging (;) )

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Google-ing, facebook-ing, mailing, all in all, Internet, loosing time in a terrible way.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? What about Hanuka? (My add, of course)
Home with Dad, Grandpa and Woody. As for Hanuka, first days here, starting on ice skating with people from LBS, lighting my candles on the Hanukia mom sent from Israel, and then, the rest, at home with friends. Can't wait!

21. What was your favorite TV program?
Amazing Race 12 and 13, of course.

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate. Let's just say i dislike some persons more than i did last year, or some persons that I didn't know last year.

22a (My add). Do you like anyone now that you didn't like this time last year?
YES! So many of my new friends that I made, be it here, in Austria, or in all my travelings (Summer U people!!!!).

23. What was the best book you read?
UPPSSSS..I feel sooo stupid...I know a book that I would love if i read it: "The Kite runner". Does this count?

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I don't listen too much to music. But I need to say that I liked Straigt no Chaser the first time I heard them and that David Broza and Shlomo Artzi are always wonderful to listen to. But all in all, music needs to be danced!

25. What did you want and get?
To change my life, my work place, my environment.

26. What did you want and not get?
Some people's feelings.

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
"The kite runner". By far!

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Danced all day & night long in Machol Hungaria, Israeli dance camp. 150 people sang Happy Birthday to me, the teachers carried me on their shoulders and I had with me some of my best friends. 25

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having mom near me all the time, being able to control and impose myself over my feelings, eating better food (since in Austria). :)

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
As confortable as possible. And sometimes even sexy can go:)

31. What kept you sane?
Talking to mom, having friends (even far away but feeling them close) to whine to.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Sarit Hadad, the famous Israeli singer, as I saw/met her in person, and organizing the Israel 60 event in Bucharest, in which she performed, was one of my great achievements.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Basescu, the President of Romania, but sure not MY president

34. Who did you miss?
Come on, this is what I am writing over and over on my blog. My mom, my sister, Eytan, my dad, my aunt, my friends back home, my new friends not in Austria, Woody.

35. Who was the best new person you met?
Well..can't rank them and they're so many. You know yourself and if I haven't, I'll soon tell you, you are among them! But for sure, this was one of the year with the highest amount of "best new persons".

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Trust your feelings and intuition and don't give in to what you believe in too quickly. Don't be afraid of change. And also, something that I learned some years ago, but still valid: Time solves everything. Ups, three lessons already!

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"It's the first day...of the rest of your life"

Later edit: Of course, among the wonderful persons I met this year, I couldn't forget to mention Sophie, my first niece ever, very very cute, with who I got to spend only a few days but I sure hope I will get to see her more often. So, Adina and Josh, we need to make this happen, ok?:)

salsa si parca...

...tot il stiu pe tipul ala de undeva...offf...ce sentiment naspa. si nu foarte (sentimentul). Ca si saptamana trecuta, azi am fost la Salsa...in Kfar Saba, cu Amir. Ariel si Sorana s-au predat de data asta racelii care a pus stapanire pe Ariel...incet dar sigur. De data asta am mers direct la grupa de avansati, unde am invatat o schema ("variatzia" in termeni "de specialitate"), de fapt doua, dar a doua a fost scurta. Scheme misto da naiba sa le tina minte, de fapt baiatul e cel care trebuie sa le tina minte ca daca ma conduce bine, ma prind eu ce sa fac:).
Da sunt tare mandra. Ca la un moment dat am schimbat partenerii si eu am ajuns cu un tip care pana la sfarsit de tot nu s-a prins ca eu nu vorbesc ivrit foarte bine. Si sa stiti ca am discutat si dezbatut, si nu asa, ce mai faci, bine merci ci tactici si scheme de dans si "ba nu, tu trebuie sa mergi mai in spate","stai, nu-mi rupe mana" sau "celalta mana e sus ca altfel nu imi iese rotirea". Ha! v-am dat gata?:) deci ivritul meu se imbunatateste vazand cu ochii si auzind cu urechile.

Si iar l-am vazut pe unu din madrichimi (instructori) pe care stiu sigur ca il stiu de undeva. data trecuta ma holbam ingrozitor la el incercand din rasputeri sa imi aduc aminte de unde. am luat toate seminariile, taberele, locurile unde am dansat eu sau am fost si tot nu stiam de unde sa-l apuc. Si ma racaia rau de tot. Si ni s-au intalnit privirile de cateva ori, probabil si-a dat seama ca ma holbam. Pana cand mi-am calcat pe inima (ca ma stiti ca de obicei sunt sfioasa rau - o sa zambiti ca nu-i asa, dar believe it or not, eu nu ma duc motz cocotz la niste baieti pe care nu ii stiu sa ii invit la dans si sa vb cu ei) si l-am spionat cand nu dansa cu nici o tipa, si l-am intrebat dc danseaza! el: "sigur". I-am zis (da, da, tot in ivrit!) ca mi se pare ca il stiu de undeva da nu pot sa imi dau seama de unde. CAT de lame poate fi??? Sigur s-o fi gandit..."o alta replica de agatat mai putzin fumata nu putea sa-mi serveasca?". eu cel putin asa as fi gandit. In fine, mi-a zis ca nu a fost in afara, si nu stiu deloc de unde ne stim. nici numele nu mi-e cunoscut. deci, concluzia? dintr-o alta viata! dar de racait tot ma racaie. a, dar de dansat am dansat! si ce mi-a placuuuuut! ce bine dansezi cand tipul stie sa conduca!!!:))
Si azi am fost, si iar l-am vazut. si iar m-am holbat. si iar am zis ca ma duc sa il iau la dans. noroc ca nu a fost nevoie, ca a venit el la mine!;) si iar am dansat. iar misto de tot. si...gata, am venit acasa:) :(
Acum macar stiu unde o sa merg la salsa cand mai vin in Il:)
Si tot cred ca ne stim de undeva. Ce sentiment ciudat...

cum spuneam, despre nesimtire...

...si nu a oricui, ci a israelienilor. in postul anterior va vorbeam despre unele aspecte ale vietii cotidiene israeliene, in special legate de comportamentul in trafic. Din acel post, se putea intelege ca dragii nostri israelieni sun ingerasi pe pamant la nivel de buna crestere. no way, jose! Este bine stiut ca din gradinita inca sunt crescuti cu ideea ca totul le este permis, ca nu poti ingradi libertatea pruncului de a zbiera in magazin ca vrea nu stiu ce bomboana, ca ei sunt l'ombelico del mondo. Si asa cresc. Si apoi, daca la un moment dat cineva le spune un "nu" cat de mic, este sof ha'olam (sfarsitul lumii). si atunci ma intreb (mai ales in perspectiva lu' bebele lu' Sori) : cum poti sa iti cresti copilul si cat de bine poti sa il educi daca la scoala si in jurul lui toti o sa fie asa...cum sa il inveti sa fie politicos, daca odata urcat in orice monit sherut (maxi taxi) ii auzi pe cei din jur tipand "Sofer, opreste aici!" "deschide portbagaju!" pe tonul cel mai normal (pentru ei) posibil tipator-rastit.
Funny! tocmai am vorbit la telefon cu un amic si vorbind de cu totul altceva mi-a zis :"Dana! noi, israelienii nu suntem politicosi asa ca nu fii nici tu!":)) si asta cand ii reprosam ca saptamana trecuta la salsa m-a lasat balta de cum am intrat si s-a dus la unul din cursurile de avansati iar pe mine m-a "agatat" proful de incepatori (in aceeasi sala, in acelasi timp sunt vreo 5-6 profi care predau cate unui grup micutz, si tu te duci in functie de nivelul tau la grupa respectiva) si cand am vrut sa merg si eu la avansati, nu m-a mai lasat, ca sa il ajut pe el sa predea. Reactia prietenului acesta al meu? Nu sorry ca nu te-am asteptat si ca m-am facut ca parca nu am venit impreuna, ci " de ce ti-a pasat ca el vrea sa stai acolo? nu trebuia sa stai din politete"...acum ma intelegeti?:)

prietenul meu, david...

...broza, bineinteles, care altul? De la concertul de deschidere a JCC, cand a fost in Bucuresti si a facut un SHOW de zile mari, m-am indragostit de muzica lui. Probabil si pentru ca am muncit la evenimentul asta cum nu am muncit la nimic altceva si pentru ca am crezut in el, dar si pentru ca mi-a depasit orice asteptari. David Broza ca om ( e un tip taaare simpatic, la locul lui, down to earth si sociabil) si David Broza ca artist si "facator de show". M-am indragostit de multe din cantecele lui si i-am innebunit pe colegii mei cu CDurile lui. Deci, in acest context, sunt EXTREM de incantata sa va anunt ca...azi am cumparat bilete la BEJUNTOS!!! cu Mayumana si David Broza. Joia asta! de abia astept. Pentru cei carora nu va spune prea multe (n-aveti grija, nici mie nu-mi spunea nimic cu 3 luni in urma), asta e linkul catre prezentare, cu subtitrare in engleza. Mie mi se pare o forma mai misto a "Made in Romania" cu trupa lui Dan Puric. Merg cu mama, Sori(si bebe la purtator) si Ariel. Promit sa povestesc cum a fost.

Later edit: nu am reusit sa ma prind cum se insereaza un filmuletz (ce sa-i faci, sunt la inceput, give me some credit, pls) asa ca asta e linku:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdxfVUBVAik Enjoy!

multe de spus...

da, intr-adevar, am atatea de spus si de povestit, incat numai cand ma gandesc si imi dau seama ca probabil o sa ma plictisesc din "tzacanit" (asa se cheama toata "pierderea asta de vreme a mea in fata computatorului"- tata dixit) inainte sa apuc sa scriu tot ce vroiam.
Sunt la raanana, finally, am venit azi acasa de la Spitalul Beilinson dupa ce am stat o saptamana acolo cu mama. Mama se simte mai bine, thanks for asking...si speram sa fim pe drumul cel bun. De fapt altfel nici nu putem gandi.
Ariel (sotul lui Sori, si tatal baietelului de -5 luni :) ) e bolnav, are febra 39 cu 2 dar nu ia nici un fel de medicament. Filosofiile lui strong! De fapt Ariel ar putea fi personajul principal al unui intreg post. Despre cum mananca el numai organic food, despre ce parere groaznica are despre doctori chiar daca e "ah"- adik sora medicala la masculin si e casatorit cu o mandra doamna doctor, despre perceptia lui asupra ce inseamna munca si cat trebuie un om sa se zbata in lumea asta (not much:) ) si tot asa. Va zic eu, e tare interesant:))
Revin (de fapt de unde plecasem? v-am ametit? si asta e de abia inceputul). Mie imi vin ideile cele mai misto despre ce ar trebui sa scriu in blog in mijloacele de transport, fie ele in comun sau nu, ideea e ca taman acolo unde nu am sub nici o forma cum sa le pun pe hartie. Da de data asta, na ca le-am fentat! aveam o hartie la mine si un pix si am inceput sa le notez. Asa ca le iau pe scurt:
1. Mai demult, anul trecut cand am petrecut ceva timp aici, in Israel, imi propusesem sa va povestesc cate ceva despre stilul israelienilor. Si sper sa nu mi se ia in nume de rau generalizarea, dar majoritatea lucrurilor pe care le voi spune aici vin din educatie, educatia generala si din (lipsa de) spirit civic. Pe de o parte, toata lumea stie ca peste tot in Israel sunt pkak-uri (ambuteiaje) imense si care te fac sa pierzi o gramada de timp pe drum. La fel ca in Romania. Dar, spre diferenta de Romania, si Bucuresti mai ales, ele sunt create pentru ca, la o anumita ora a zilei sunt FOARTE multe masini pe acelasi drum, in aceeasi directie. Si NU pentru ca sunt boi, tampiti, idioti si prost crescuti care, chiar daca vad ca nu au unde sa inainteze in intersectie mai mult de 2 pasi (bine, 2 invarteli de roata) si ca vor ramane ca gaina in mijlocul drumului (apropo, cum ramane gaina in mijlocul drumului?:P) daca ei au verde, pai se duc nene! si apoi se face verde in partea cealalta, si...pune-te pe claxonat. ca altceva tot nu mai poti face. Aici, am ramas suprinsa, de parca nu este de fapt lucrul firesc, cand, autobuzul s-a oprit la semaforul care de abia se facuse verde, si a asteptat cumintel inca un verde pana s-a facut loc cat sa iasa din intersectie. Si, supriza! nu tu un tipat isteric de claxon in spate. Ca sa vezi! Si tot din ciclul "chiar daca suntem nebuni, tot putem circula omeneste", eram in masina cu un prieten (care in romania este in afaceri cu masini, deci stie cum sta treaba), pe un drum cu sens unic, cu masini parcate si pe stanga si pe dreapta. Masina din fata noastra vrea sa parcheze. Noi asteptam cuminti, nu reuseste in locul din dreapta (si nici macar nu era femeie:) ), iese inapoi, mai merge putin cu 5 km/h, da semn ca vrea sa parcheze in stanga. noi iar stam cuminti (eu deja incepusem sa imi pierd rabdarea, deh, eu sunt crescuta in bucuresti:) ) si in spatele nostru codita de masini. dar ca sa vezi, nu tu, claxon, nu tu injuraturi, nu tu degete aruncate in stanga si dreapta. Si amicul meu (israelian de altfel) ma intreaba, semn ca a stat destul in Romania: "e, ai fi vazut tu asta in Bucuresti?"....si eu ce sa zic decat...pas! Numai ca...acum sa nu aveti impresia ca israelienii sunt cei mai bine crescuti oameni! Ohoho...departe de mine gandul asta, revin imediat cu contra exemple!:) si sunt convinsa ca multi dintre voi aveti exemplele voastre:)