More than a Year

More than a year has passed since I updated this blog.  A lot has happened during the last year, though not much blogging it seems.  Some quick highlights for 2008:

• Dapper moved headquarters to San Francisco from Tel Aviv.  We got an office.  I stopped working from home.  Things started happening on the business front.  We built a business model.  My cofounder moved to Sunnyvale.  I got real busy.  We added a some great people to our team.  We recently moved into our second office of 2008 by the Caltrain.
• More things ended up on the walls of my apartment.  Until just yesterday there were two huge walls that still had nothing on them.  Ofri finally put up some of Liesbeth’s beautiful paintings in the bedroom, and I put up some of my photos from Thanksgiving in the living room.  We’ve still got work to do.  Today we finished constructing my holiday gift: a spice rack that Ofri designed and created with her school’s laser cuter – that made it onto the kitchen wall.
• I made great strides in my cooking.  Taking a cue from my good friend Roos, I started cooking my favorite Indian dishes from scratch.  I bought a food processor.  I bought good pans.  I accessorized the kitchen.  I realized I can make any dish I want if I just try.  I realized I could even cook for other people.  I’ve been making lasagna, Chinese orange chicken, butter chicken, aloo gobi, garlic chicken, larb gai, and much, much more.  We started eating green salad every day.  I started liking tomatoes more than I once did.  I started baking, making chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bread, and coconut cookies.
• I slowed down my travel to and from Israel.  From August 2007 until May 2008, I traveled to Israel every 3-5 weeks.  Since May, I’ve only been to Israel once.  While it has been necessary to slow down my travel both because Dapper is more active in the States and because it was wrecking havoc on my life, I do miss my frequent trips to Tel Aviv.  For a while, I was maintaining some semblance of two lives simultaneously (though at some point I realized that two half-lives does not equal a full life).  I miss my friends and family there and the vibrancy of life in that crazy country.
• I organized and held a fun event for Dapper called DapperCamp at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco.  Lots of people came and it was a success.  Building on my experience of running the event, I’m helping bring the Internet Marketing Conference to San Francisco in May, 2009.
• Ofri and I did a whole lot of hiking and camping: Henry Coe, Lake Pillsbury, frequent trips to Mount Tam and Point Reyes, and more in the Bay Area.
• I traveled to a bunch of places I didn’t know well or had never been before, and Ofri joined me on some of the trips.  Particularly enjoyable trips were Seattle, Vancouver, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. I especially enjoyed my second trip to India.  I visited Bangalore and Mysore and am eagerly awaiting my return this spring.  Part of me really connects well with India and the Indian people.  I’ve got the head wobble down.  And I love the food so much.
• All the travel added up, I earned tons of frequent flier miles, and I requalified for my elite status on Continental for another year.  If you want to dork out to my flight paths, check out my flight memory.

The year will end in Peru (courtesy of those frequent flier miles)  Ofri and I leave soon for our first foray into South America.

Hopefully 2009 will bring with it as much progress, both in life and in work, as 2008 did.  If nothing else, I finally feel back in my place in the US, and some sense of stability has returned to what was, for a long time, a very hectic life.

Best wishes to everyone reading this – happy holidays, happy new year, and happy 2009!

Nokia N95 Cracks and then I Crack

I had been doing so well. I resisted the temptation last week at the Apple store, having realized that my Nokia N95 is by all means a fantastic telephone and needs not to be replaced by an iPhone. I tamed my envy.

Last night, I take my phone out of my pocket and see the following:

No idea how that happened.

Now yeah, I could have dealt with this until two weeks from now when I’ll be back in Tel Aviv. After my last phone fiasco (read: swimming with your smartphone will break it), I smartly insured this phone. But who can spend two weeks without email, calendaring, and more on the go? At least that’s what I told myself when walking into the Apple store today. So now I have an iPhone. I’m sure I’ll miss the N95…

Life with a Canon 30D

Those of you who know me, know that I’ve long loved photography. For years I’ve wanted a digital SLR and so recently I finally broke down and bought one. I totally love it – now I just need some more hard drive space.

I’m still not sure what solution to use for showcasing my photos, but so far I’ve broken it down as follows:

I’m using PicasaWeb for full albums that I want to show friends after an outing

Flickr for my higher quality photos

Facebook for photos of my friends who are on Facebook. (I’m using some Facebook application called zuPort to post my Flickr photos into Facebook – anyone have a better recommendation?).

My old gallery has long since been retired, but maybe I’ll resurrect it some day.

I’m using Xee and Adobe Bridge to manage files locally on my computer.

I’d love to hear other people’s photo strategies. In the mean time, check out my photos and let me know what you think.

Two Lives

August marked the beginning of a new stage in my life.  Or, rather, in my lives.  I have effectively started to lead two lives – one in Tel Aviv and the other in San Francisco.  It’s bizarre to say the least.  I have two apartments, two sets of clothes, two sets of friends, etc. (though there’ll always be only one Ofri). I’ll be splitting my time fairly evenly, with a slight bias towards San Francisco.

In San Francisco, I’ll be pursuing business objectives and partnerships for Dapper in addition to my new role as chief evangelizer.  In Tel Aviv, I’ll continue to work closely with the development team on technical issues.

On a personal level, it’s hard to say what’s going to happen.  After a year and a half in Tel Aviv, I was ready to return to the States.  But now that I have, I’m happy that I still continue to spend lots of time in Israel.  The best of both worlds?  Maybe, though I’m seriously going to have to figure out how to deal with this jetlag…

Israel Survival Tips: Part 3 – Driver’s Licenses

While I can’t imagine a trip to the DMV is fun in any country, the process of converting your foreign license to an Israeli driver’s license may be one of the most convoluted, expensive, and bureaucratic processes you have to go through when moving to Israel. It involves multiple visits to various places and getting the appropriate rubber stamp at each office. Hopefully, this post will save you some time and anguish.

First off: you’re apparently permitted to drive in Israel for a year after arrival using your foreign license. This, however, doesn’t mean that if you borrow your friend’s car, the insurance of the car will cover you. Read the fine print (in Hebrew, naturally) on the policy. After a year, you’re no longer allowed to drive without an Israeli license, and if you do it’s illegal and no insurance policy will cover you.

The first step in the process is to obtain the necessary paperwork – essentially a green form which confirms that you are medically and visually fit to drive a car. Unlike in the States, this is not done at the DMV. You have to visit a Teldor or Marmanet store in your city (the “moked” can tell you where – call either 1-559-50-20-30 and/or 03-929-8587). Show up with your Teudat Zehut and Teudat Oleh (and any other documents that might be needed, like your passport). This store will issue you the correct form and will give you an eye test. I went to store at 139 Ibn Gvirol in Tel Aviv – it took almost no time and cost 50 shekels. I walked away with my form, my photograph printed into it, stamped with the eye test results.

The next step is to take this same form to a doctor to get a stamp indicating you are fit to drive. If you don’t already have a regular doctor, just call your Kupat Cholim’s moked and ask for an appointment with any family doctor. The Kupat Cholim covers the cost of the doctor’s visit.

Be sure that at both places, you get official stamps on the form – without them the DMV will not accept the form.

Next: take the form, your foreign driver’s license, your passport(s), your Teudat Zehut, and your Teudat Oleh to the DMV. Every DMV branch is different, but my experience at Holon (the branch responsible for Tel Aviv) should reflect what you’d go through elsewhere. First thing to check is what days they deal with Hamarat Reshiyon Zar (exchange of foreign driver’s license). In Holon, this is on Monday and Wednesday from 07:30 to 13:30, but definitely double-check. The DMV has a website, though most of the information is available only in Hebrew. Once at the DMV, ask the information desk which line to get in and then wait. When it’s your turn, the person will verify that your form is filled out correctly and that you have the right to exchange your license (meaning that your foreign license is not expired and was issued during the last three years). Once they sign your form the real fun begins.

In Israel, to exchange your license, you have to pass a road test. This requires finding a driving instructor because you cannot take the test with a private car – it must be the car of a licensed driving instructor. So to find a driving instructor, go around back the DMV and look for the aging men sitting under the tree. Any one of these guys will be happy to provide his car for your test. I used a guy called Sammy – he was reliable and friendly (just ask for him).  Once you’ve selected an instructor, he (naturally) fills out more forms and will then schedule a date for your test. If you do not drive stick, make sure you find an instructor who has an automatic vehicle (and note that your license will indicate that you are not allowed to drive stick in Israel). At this point the instructor will convince you to take two lessons with him. Naturally, it’s all a ploy to get you to spend more money, but I took the classes and found them useful (I learned very little, but I entered into test mode).  Each lesson should cost 90 shekels for a stick, or 100 shekels for an automatic.

When you set up the time for your test, the instructor should give you a bill for 58 shekels.  This sum is used to pay the tester.  You have to take this to any post office and pay the sum, or else the tester won’t show up to your test.

Typically you’ll have your second lesson right before the test, and this is also when you pay your instructor for the two lessons and for using his car to take the exam.  To take the exam in his car costs 350 shekels.  When you are taking your test and reach the end of the examination, the tester will not tell you if you passed (unlike in the States) – apparently they don’t like to be asked, either. You can call your instructor later in the day and have them check if you want to know.

You’re almost there.  If you failed the test, you’ll have to show up and get your form back and schedule another test with an instructor.  You get two chances total.  If you fail the second time, you have to take 28 driving lessons (at 100 shekels a pop, that’s not something you want).  If you passed the test, you show up and supposedly your temporary license is waiting for you (of course, when I showed up, it wasn’t ready because the tester forgot to sign the form).  Either way, you have to show up in person and go back to the same line. Once you have your temporary license in hand, take it to any post office or bank and pay the 372 shekels to get your real license. Your permanent license is sent by mail – expect up to two months (mine took just over one month).

Again, the process is tedious, obnoxious, and expensive (50 – Eye Test, 100 – Lesson, 100 – Lesson, 350 – Examination, 58 – Tester, 372 – License = 1,030 shekels), but if you plan to drive in Israel, it’s necessary.

Drive safely, and feel free to post any questions in the comments of this post.

The Hidden Lake

After hearing much about a “hidden” lake in northern Israel, Ofri, Nachshon, and I set out to find it. Nestled in between some cliffs and desert-like sand, we found the lake glimmering in the sun. It may be hidden from view, but at least 25 others were able to find it this past Saturday. It was totally beautiful, the water was cool, and the swimming was fantastic. I didn’t know Israel actually had bodies of water other than the Galilee and the Dead Sea. It was refreshing to swim in water that doesn’t sting from salt. The lake is extremely deep – 5 meters at the edge – and fairly big (for Israel): 40 meters by 150 meters. Here are some photos.

Mayumana and David Broza

Today I’m 25 and while I’m not entirely sure what to make of it, at least now I can rent a car like a normal person.

Last night, to celebrate my birthday, Ofri took me to a performance in Yaffo by a group called Mayumana. The troupe performed with one of my favorite Israeli artists, David Broza. I wasn’t sure what to expect and I was totally impressed. It’s a bit hard to explain what the group does, but it’s some sort of well-choreographed composition of dancing, singing, breakdancing, beatboxing, drumming, guitar playing, lighting, trash cans, violions, didjs, and comedy. David Broza mixed in with the group extremely well, playing quite a few of his songs while Mayumana did their thing around him, in tight coordination. I was probably most impressed by how talented each individual was, exhibiting such a wide range of skills. Beyond that, the show started right on time, the place was clean, and everything was well arranged.

It’s well worth the evening. To give you a sense of what goes on, I’m including some a photo and video clip from another performance. Each show is different, but it conveys the general idea. If you’re in Israel in August, I’d highly recommend going.

In Search of Forests

One of the things I miss the most from my years in Amherst, Ithaca, and San Francisco is the woods. Green trees, ferns, moss, trails covered in pine needles, soft loam under my feet. Though it’s certainly not void of nature, Israel is definitely not lush. Trails tend to be dusty and dry and there are no forests like those in Amherst. For a long time, I’ve been trying to figure out what it is that Israelis keep bragging about when it comes to Israeli nature. Yes, it is beautiful, but I’ve always missed the woods. So recently I set out to find the closest thing I could find to a forest in Israel, and I was pleasantly surprised. Ofri, Nir, and I set out for a day hike in Ya’ar Kdoshim near Jerusalem (next to a town called Beit Meir). It was beautiful and uniquely Israel, and it made me realize that, with some effort, I can find nature that I can relate to here in Israel. I really enjoyed myself. Here are some photos:

 

 

Music in Israel

One of my first complaints after having arrived in Israel was that I’d no longer be able to go see bands that I like perform live shows.

It’s the sad truth that the artists I like will, for the most part, never play a show in Israel due to the security situation and because, unlike Europe, the expense of travelling here can’t be offset by visiting nearby countries (“Iron and Wine Live in Damascus”? I don’t think so). As such, these bands will remain relatively unknown in Israel, which in turn means that no one will really know who I’m talking about when I’m asked what I listen to. I guess I can live with that – I’ll always have the Internet to find and listen to new music.

But it turns out that, at least to a small extent, I’m wrong. This summer saw the arrival of indie rock artists Devandra Banhart and the Silver Jews. I was in the States at the time, so I can’t comment on the shows or the audience they drew, but just the fact that the shows were played makes me happy.

I did, however, manage to catch two shows last week – the first two I’ve seen in Israel in a long time. The first was Ziggy Marley. Though not a huge fan, I have two of his discs and I like some of his more upbeat songs. I didn’t think too much in advance of what to expect and as such, I managed to keep a relatively open mind. My first reaction was that the venue (Ra’anana Amphipark) was great – an open air theater-style venue, with floor, pavillion, and lawn sections. It reminded me of Great Woods, Shoreline, and other similar American venues. The crowd was, not surpringly, pretty similar to what you’d see at a jamband concert in the States – a bunch of mostly young, white, dread-locked music fans. The exception was, much to the delight of my anthropological curiousity, the relatively large contingent of young Ethiopian Israelis. It’s rare that these groups mix, not because of prejudice but more because of lack of opportunity, and the result was definitely positive. The vibe in the crowd was mixed, though overall pretty good, and characteristically Israeli (though definitely subdued, as you’d expect at a reggae show). The music was what I expected and was performed well, though it didn’t lend itself particuarlly well to dancing, and the result was a bunch of people standing around on the floor. This was probably because of both the nature of the music itself (Ziggy’s brand of reggae is a bit more aggressive and rock-infused than other types, with various changes in tempo through the course of each song) and because, overall, I think there was a mismatch between the crowd’s expectations and what they received. I’m not sure anyone in Israel has really heard of Ziggy Marley, but they all love Bob, and I think that’s what they were expecting to hear, or at least something similar and familiar. The two encores were my personal highlight, given that they contained the most upbeat songs. I was surprised to hear him play “No Woman No Cry” as the second encore, but the crowd’s delight made up for (what I consider to be) a sellout move. I wonder if he plays his father’s songs in the States, or if it was only to address the crowd’s clear yearning for something familiar. On a final note, I think Ziggy could have done more to connect with the crowd and get everyone more enthusiastic – he barely spoke. I wonder if it’s because that’s just his style or if he didn’t think he could interact with the crowd without voicing an opinion on the current conflict, possibly an opinion that no one in Israel wants to pay 200 shekels to hear.

The second show was performed by a New York Jew called Jewlia Eisenberg (does she spell her first name like that for real?).  It took place in a cool new venue on Levontine street in southern Tel Aviv.  It reminded me a bit of Cafe du Nord in San Francisco because of its basement appeal, though a lot more grungy and with less history (Cafe du Nord was a Speakeasy in the early 1900s).  The music was a shock – I haven’t really heard anything like it, though I guess if I were to categorize it, it’d be somewhere in the punk realm – instrumentation included a beatboxer, a violin, a trumpet, percussion, guitar, recorder, and accordian.  Jewlia was full of energy, a clear fan of Israel, and it was apparent in her singing (some of which was, strangely, in Yiddish).  The music was strange to my ears in that it was clearly composed, but completely unconventional in style – I couldn’t discern any verses or choruses, any set tempo, or any repeating features.  But it was certainly interesting and worthwhile.  It made me happy to see that alternative kinds of music are being played in Tel Aviv and that they are well received.  It leads me to believe that, if only exposed, Israelis would love a lot of the underground / less-known artists so common in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Ithaca, and elsewhere.

I’ll continue the search for live music in Israel that appeals to me and I suspect that some day I’ll find something I’m really into.  In the mean time, I have my MP3s

War with Lebanon

It’s a little hard to believe that I landed in Israel after a five week visit to the States, only to witness a war starting.  I’ve never been in a country that was being bombed. As the bombs are still landing far away (in Israeli terms – about an hour north of here), it still hasn’t really struck me personally.  But I have a sinking suspicion that before long, I’ll be spending nights in the bomb shelter of my building in Tel Aviv.  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared.

But at the same time, much to my amazement, I support the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah and Lebanon.  Those who know me, know that I’ve typically leaned toward being an advocate of restraint, diplomacy, and giving the Palestinian people a chance to prove what I hope are their good-natured intentions.  But now it seems as though this policy has, at least in part, led us to where we are today.  Israel can no longer afford to sit idly by as its young soliders are kidnapped – the time for action has come, as much as I had hoped it could have been avoided.

I, by all means, feel sorry for the Lebanese people and the Israelis in the north of the country.  Lebanese infrastructure is being wiped out and the ordinary Lebanese citizen is paying the price for the extremism practiced by the terrorists.  It’s sad for me to think that the Lebanese probably view the IDF in much the same way as we view Hezbollah – terrorists inflicting needless pain.  Even so, I believe that it’s imperative for Israel to take this action – it is time to change the rules of the game.  If Israel can weaken Hezbollah and provide the Lebanese government the incentive to dismantle the organization, then the region will be better off.  I think that there’s little chance of that happening for several reasons: the Lebanese army is afraid of Hezbollah, even in an a weekend state and the Lebanese are probably unlikely to want to attack other Lebanese after 20 years of civil war.  But still, it is about the only thing I can see Israel doing at this point.

I’d be very interested to hear what the average Lebanese citizen thinks of Hezbollah and the Israeli offensive.

In Israel, Israelis are taking the situation in stride, though it’s clearly more than another suicide bombing.  People are a bit shaken, as most people have friends and family in the north.  The situation is young and is likely to continue for some time.  In the mean time, let’s hope that some progress can be made, either diplomatically or in damaging Hezbollah to the point where they can no longer attack northern Israel.