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	<title>bits of ink &#187; Being Israeli</title>
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	<description>parchment, pixels, and parody</description>
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		<title>Ping-Pong with the Army</title>
		<link>http://bitsofink.com/2007/ping-pong-with-the-army/</link>
		<comments>http://bitsofink.com/2007/ping-pong-with-the-army/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 11:44:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ilan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Army]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Being Israeli]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dialogue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[True Story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bitsofink.com/blog/?p=318</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	
	
	I went to the lishkat hagiyus, the army recruitment office, last week. It was suprisingly organized and efficient. Until the end. In the end, I went into the final office, where they tell you, bottom line, what&#8217;s going to happen with you. They told me that I didn&#8217;t have a giyus (enlistment) date yet, but [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	
	
	<p>I went to the lishkat hagiyus, the army recruitment office, last week. It was suprisingly organized and efficient.  Until the end.</p>
<p>In the end, I went into the final office, where they tell you, bottom line, what&#8217;s going to happen with you.</p>
<p>They told me that I didn&#8217;t have a giyus (enlistment) date yet, but I would get one when I got a profile (i.e. the number that represents your fitness).  So I wasn&#8217;t done with them yet.  Let&#8217;s start the cameras rolling&#8230;<br />
<blockquote><strong>Me:</strong>Am I not allowed to leave the country until you give me a date [as previously had been indicated to me]?<br />
<strong>Girl 1:</strong>Yes, you won&#8217;t.<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> When will I have a profile, then?<br />
<strong>Girl 1:</strong> When you bring in the medical documents that you&#8217;re missing.<br />
<em>- Begin quest for the missing documents. -</em><br />
<strong>Girl 1:</strong> Go back up to the 2nd floor, and walk into an office and ask what documents you need to get a profile.</p>
<p><em>Scene: second floor office, several minutes later.</em><br />
<strong>Me:</strong> I need to know how to get my profile.<br />
<strong>Girl 2:</strong> Did you see the doctor here?<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> Yes.<br />
<strong>Girl 2:</strong>: <em>(Checking computer)</em> Ok, let&#8217;s look at your profile.<br />
Me: <em>(Waits)</em><br />
<strong>Girl 2:</strong> You don&#8217;t have a profile yet.<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> Yes, I know.  How do I get one?<br />
<strong>Girl 2:</strong>You need to bring the required medical documents.<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> Right. Which ones?<br />
<strong>Girl 2:</strong> Oh.  <em>(Passes me off to another girl.)</em><br />
<strong>Girl 3:</strong> <em>(Checking computer)</em> You need some missing medical documents.<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> <em>(Through clenched teeth with a strained voice)</em>  Yes, I know.  Which ones?<br />
<em>I get passed off to a 4th girl who says she&#8217;ll be with me soon.  I sit patiently until I don&#8217;t feel like it any more, then go back into the office.</em><br />
<strong>Me:</strong> I need to know which medical documents I need to get to get a profile.<br />
<strong>Girl 5 (or maybe this was Girl 2 again):</strong> Isn&#8217;t someone already helping you?<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> Yes, but I don&#8217;t know where she went.<br />
<strong>Girl 5:</strong> She&#8217;ll be with you soon.  She hasn&#8217;t forgotten about you. [She had.]<br />
<em>Girl 4 finally walks by, and I follow her into the office.</em><br />
<strong>Me:</strong> Which medical documents do I need to get?<br />
<em>She turns to the other girls expectantly.</em><br />
<strong>Other Girls:</strong> You need medical documents.<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> <em>(Head explodes.)</em><br />
<em>(Practically yelling)</em> But which documents?<br />
<em>One of the girls (I am fairly certain either Girl 2 or Girl 3) checks the same computer they&#8217;ve been checking all along.</em><br />
<strong>Girl 2/3:</strong> You need to come back for a psychological examination.<br />
<strong>Me:</strong> <em>(Really wondering &#8216;what about the documents?&#8217; but certainly not curious enough to bring</em> that <em>up again)</em> When?<br />
<strong>Girl 2/3:</strong> We&#8217;ll call you.<br />
Me: <em>(Not taking any chances)</em> When will you call me?<br />
<strong>Girl 2/3:</strong> Within two weeks.</p>
<p><em>And I&#8217;m spent.</em></p></blockquote>
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		<item>
		<title>Hebrew Lesson</title>
		<link>http://bitsofink.com/2007/hebrew-lesson/</link>
		<comments>http://bitsofink.com/2007/hebrew-lesson/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:17:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ilan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Being Israeli]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hebrew]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bitsofink.com/blog/?p=311</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[	
	
	סבלנות &#8211; sav.lan.ut &#8211; n. Patience, specifically patience for the speaker from others. Note: there is no word for patience in the other direction.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[	
	
	<p>סבלנות &#8211; <span style="font-weight:bold;">sav<span style="font-size:180%; line-height: .8em">.</span>lan<span style="font-size:180%; line-height: .8em">.</span>ut</span> &#8211; n. Patience, specifically patience for the speaker from others.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:80%;">Note: there is no word for patience in the other direction.</span></p>
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