Newb Loves HP and Taters

chaiteachick · November 2010

Okay, so I was going to wait for this for a few more months, but all the newbs today really encouraged me. :-P

So, yes. I am new.... I am absolutely addicted to Harry Potter, and my set is all first-edition (I started reading when the second book came out).

Additionally, I am half-Irish and half-German; potatoes are my favorite food.

*waits for squees to die down*

I am currently living in Israel with my bf of 2.5 years. We met in Europe in 2004 and have been friends since. No ring yet.

To be honest, I've wanted to stop "lurking" for about a year--yep, it's been that long. I figured that if I can't do it today, what with the newbie love going around, it will never happen. 0:-D

Hopefully I'm right and you all aren't in the mood to kill me.

[Deleted User] · November 2010

Welcome, Rachel!!

Speaking of taters! I had Sheppards pie last night and now I can't get it off my mind! lol

chaiteachick · November 2010

OMG, I haven't had that in forever! It's amazing the food you can and can't get when you move to a different part of the world. o.O

KatyRoseM · November 2010

Taters and HP are amazing, I like you already. What are you and your bf doing in Israel? What part do you live in? How long have you been together?

chaiteachick · November 2010

Haha--well, thank you! It's good to have friends.

Shlomi (bf) is Israeli by birth--when we decided that we wanted to get serious for real (and by that I mean actually see each other on a regular basis, not spending over $1000.00 every few months for a plane ticket), of course one of us had to move. I'm originally from MI, which was not the best situation for either of us.... and Israelis are very close with their families, so I volunteered to move. He was surprised by how flippant I seemed about the whole thing, but really, I was essentially brought up to move away from home, so it was completely natural for me.

We live in the Tel Aviv area, and we have officially been "seeing" each other for 2 and a half years, though we were best friends for years before that. He claims he has always been in love with me. I say it's a good thing that I brushed off his affections--aka hormones--until we'd grown up a little more and could actually handle a long-distance relationship.

Oh, something else--I use a looooooooooot of smiley faces!! I'm trying to curb that habit, but you see how it is.... xD

KatyRoseM · November 2010

Well that sounds great, though from my experience you don't get that many taters in Israel (though its probably different if you live there and cook yourself).

Was moving hard? Moving to another country just seems really difficult, but fun. How did you and your bf meet? Sorry for asking too many questions, I'll stop now

[Deleted User] · November 2010

Whenever I think of how difficult it is to be 6 hours away from BF all week, I remind myself that we could live in different countries! lol

I'm glad the move worked out for you... It must have been a serious culture-shock!

I like smilies too!!

Another message board that I frequent has a huge assortment of smilies available... TK needs to get with it! LOL

chaiteachick · November 2010

No, it's okay! I don't mind the questions; I sometimes feel when introducing myself that I say too much about myself and end up boring people.

The potatoes in Israel are miserable--they only have one kind, and I really had to get used to them, because they are much sweeter than what I was used to!! (I always got Idahos in the USA, but those obviously aren't available here.....) Their sweet potatoes and other produce are almost always better, though, because they don't allow genetically modified produce. Also, it's obviously warmer here, so the fruits and veggies are soooo much less expensive!

I think the hardest part of moving was getting all my things to the country. I had no idea that essential oils and nail polish couldn't be shipped, so I'm out those items... I should have had my parents ship my jewelry and shoes so I could bring my OPI and organic oils in my suitcases. />.< Oh, well--live and learn.

Now that I'm here, it's hard to find a job because I still don't know Hebrew--I was unable to get a language course because of my job's hours, and I couldn't find another job because I don't speak the language--lol!

Also, the people can be a bit challenging, but that's only when I have to deal with them. 0:-D

Shlomi and I met when we were exchange students back in 2004. We met in Norway, of all places. He didn't even want to go to Norway--it was like, not even on his list of ten places he'd be willing to go.

I told him it was fate--he only just started believing in anything spiritual after we met, lol. I'll take that as a good thing??

chaiteachick · November 2010

The culture shock wasn't so bad at first--but I've gotten irritated with the chain smokers, the lack of ANY form of respect or manners, and everyone thinking I'm Russian... so..... sometimes when I PMS I flip out on Shlomi and say we need to find a more respectable country to live in. xD

GreenPepperBurger · November 2010

Potatoes are amazing. Harry Potter is amazing. Therefore, you can stay.

I always wanted to go to Israel. I'm going to try and do Birthright soon.

Welcome.

[Deleted User] · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_newb-loves-hp-taters?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:944acdae-798a-4d0e-8f55-af7a4ecfe802Post:ae83c39b-7c85-4b5c-a54b-7132d3dc948e">Re: Newb Loves HP and Taters</a>:
[QUOTE]The culture shock wasn't so bad at first--but I've gotten irritated with the chain smokers, the lack of ANY form of respect or manners, and everyone thinking I'm Russian... so..... sometimes when I PMS I flip out on Shlomi and say we need to find a more respectable country to live in. xD
Posted by Rachel-Elise[/QUOTE]

Would he ever be willing to move to the US? What other countries would you consider moving to?

I've never been out of the US... (only to Canada but it was only for a day so it doesn't really count lol) I'd love to travel to Europe... I want to visit Dubai.... BF is Irish, so I've been forewarned that we will be retiring in Ireland lol

KatyRoseM · November 2010

Birthright is awesome, though when I went I got really sick so I missed out on a few things.

I'm sorry the potatoes are not great, I hope they get better as latka season is upon us, though I don't think they do many latka's in Israel. Are you guys planning on staying there? Has he already done his military service (or is he exempted form it)? Good luck finding a job, what industry are you in? And yeah, the smoking is hard to deal with.

Is the movie coming out on Friday there? Will it be in English?

chaiteachick · November 2010

Sorry ladies--I had to run out and get a few things before all the shops closed!! :-P

We wouldn't move back to the USA--not unless we really had to. We thought we would have to a few months ago, and I cried. Not to mention that he would have to either incur huge amounts of debt in order to go to college there or basically have a shotgun wedding. Neither are our style--but I was impressed that he was willing to consider marriage as an alternative to us going back to our long-distance relationship. More on that later, obviously.

Good luck on Birthright--when he was in the army he was one of the soldiers in charge of a Birthright group and he had a ton of fun. I never went, because I'm not Jewish.

Also, the potatoes are bad here year-round, unfortunately, but I've learned to deal. You all had me craving mashed potatoes earlier, though! xD

Anyway, so far we are planning on staying here; I'll be starting an ulpan--finally!!!--on Dec. 13. Shlomi finished his army service right before he visited me for Christmas 2008. He did four years because he was in a special intelligence division. Honestly, don't ask me what he did, because I'm not allowed to know, seriously. It's totally out of 007 or something, I know. xD I mean, not even his parents know what he did. :-P

I'm in the skincare industry; you wouldn't think it'd be hard to find a job, but the conditions here are TERRIBLE. I'm sorry, but I didn't go to the best school for skincare in the USA to be paid $5 an hour plus 3% commission, and contract lung cancer from all the dirty Russians who work there and don't bother taking their cigarettes outside. x.x Right now we are exploring if I even CAN work in skincare here--things having to do with paperwork and testing and certification and so on. It would be complete BS if I weren't allowed on my certification--again, it's the best in the USA, and Israelis basically worship the USA--but then.... a lot of things are backwards here.

We will see! Wish me luck! I don't want to go back to answering phones for paypams.com.

(Yeah, seriously. That was the job I quit a month or so ago.)

OH! AND! HP is totally coming out on the 18th here. NANER NANER BOO BOOO!!!!!!

X-P

AudgiePodge · November 2010

It's Sunday and I'm still in my jammies. I'm pretty mellow.
Welcome

loves2shop4shoes · November 2010

Welcome!

chaiteachick · November 2010

Thanks, ladies.

Going to make tacos now; I will most likely be back a little later this afternoon/evening.

AudgiePodge · November 2010

What's the time difference like to say, oh, the east coast?

rxjen · November 2010

Welcome

) Wow a year is a very long time to lurk, you seem nice so I am glad you came out of the bushes.My sister lived in Israel for 2 years and would call us to gripe about the same issues, The most important thing is that you were able to move there and be with the person you love

chaiteachick · November 2010

Back from the tacos! OMG--turns out that here, if it smells like a lime, looks like a lime, and feels like a lime.... it's an orange!!!!! My taco was NOT happy, and neither was I--all day I looked forward to limey goodness on my tacos.... and this happened. Shlomi thinks it's hilarious. xD

Anyway, the time difference to the East coast right now is 6 hours, but it's normally 7 hours. I have this memorized because I used to live in Michigan, which is on East coast time.

It is true, though--the most important thing is that we are together.

It was irritating to have to coordinate our schedules with a 7-hour difference.

Also--he just somehow scored us two tickets to HP, and he doesn't even like HP!! He is going to keep me company.

Also, the tickets were somehow only 46 NIS overall (about $12), which is absolutely unheard of around here, so yayyyy!!! :-D

nottheonlydreamer44 · November 2010

I'm with AP; it's sunday... I'm in a sweatshirt and yoga pants eating cookies and watching football/Real Housewives of BH; so I'm totally chilled out.

Good to "meet" you OP and you seem really sweet. No need to lurk anymore.

<---- I love smiley faces too!

chaiteachick · November 2010

Don't be fooled; my snark level is 10.

coastiegrl25 · November 2010

Welcome to the board. What is your feelings on mac n cheese?

chaiteachick · November 2010

An earlier discussion on this board of mac n cheese is one of the things that prompted me to formally introduce myself today instead of in a few months from now.

chaiteachick · November 2010

**An earlier discussion of mac n cheese, which was held on this board,**

leia1979 · November 2010

Welcome Rachel!

I went to Israel in August last year for work and it was darned hot! I did like going to the beach at 6am though.

chaiteachick · November 2010

LOL, I am NEVER awake at 6 am! xD Yes, it was really hot over the summer, lol! It got to the point where I didn't see why I should bother showering, as I would take the coldest shower possible and STILL sweat--IN THE SHOWER.

Hey, at least I don't have to deal with snow.

:-D

heyimbren · November 2010

Where did you and your BF meet in Europe?

I also really want to go to Israel some day, so I am a bit jealous that you get to live there

Fave HP character/book?? Anything else interesting you care to tell us about yourself? Welcome!

chaiteachick · November 2010

Hi Bren.

We met in Norway on a summer student exchange trip.

Have you ever been to Israel? I was well-educated on the country before I ever set foot there, and it was completely different than I expected. For one thing, I was surprised at how green it is!! xD

My favorite HP character is Ginny Weasely, by far. She was my favorite from book one; I was just pleading with God that Joann would write more about the "tiny, redheaded girl." :-P

It's hard for me to pick just one favorite book, but I do love that she and Harry FINALLY get together in books 6 and 7. That was honestly one of the main themes for me, and every time I would finish a book (as they were coming out) and they DIDN'T get together, I'd get so infuriated. xD

Hm... what else? LOL, some random trivia:

I competed in pageants from 2005-2009.
Shlomi was afraid of cats before spending Christmas 2008 at my house--with my parents' six cats. Now we own one. :-P
I can't find cookie cutters in Israel, so Shlomi and I are currently making some. (no, I'm serious; he just handed me a piece of metal he has been working on, and I'm about to make it into a Christmas tree.)
I have studied 9 forms of dance--classical ballet, pointe, tap, traditional Irish dance, contemporary Irish dance, hip hop, modern, lyrical, and West African dance.

There are other things, but right now, this is what I can think of.

desertsun · November 2010

I'm glad you stopped lurking. It's really interesting to hear from an American about living in Israel. I've wondered what that might be like.

What part of Michigan are you from? I grew up about an hour outside of Grand Rapids on the west side of the state.

I'm in Arizona now, and I would so much rather deal with the heat than the snow!

heyimbren · November 2010

Oooh Norway? You must be a traveller then!
I've never been to Israel. I haven't made it to anywhere in that part of the world really. I would love to- for many reasons. The history and the beauty of the country. I'd love to do a tour of various parts of the Middle East area.

chaiteachick · November 2010

Well, Desert, I'm originally from the Ionia area, I'm sorry to say. It's also approximately an hour away from both Grand Rapids and Lansing, in the west part of the state. What about you?

I love traveling, but haven't been able to do it as much as I'd like. I've been all over the USA, to Canada, to Norway, and to Israel. It's much less expensive to go to other countries from Israel, but as of now, we have absolutely NO money to travel. That, and Shlomi got to travel literally everywhere when he was a kid, so he really doesn't have THAT much of a desire to do it these days. Someday, when we are financially stable, I'll MAKE him go.

Anyway, we will have to go out-of-country eventually to get married, because I'm not Jewish. It's ridiculous, but here, people are not allowed to marry outside of their religion--and even though he's atheist, they still count him as a Jew. Additionally, since he is a Cohen (originally from the "priest" class), I would never be "good enough" to marry him, by law, even if I did convert (which I never planned to do anyway). It's stupid because I mean, I can trace my family back to the Biblical era through the genealogical lines of KINGS--but nope, not good enough for their Jews. />.<

/rant.

If you are interested in traveling to multiple countries in the Middle East, Bren, it's best to do your research ahead of time. Arab countries won't let you in if they see in your passport that you've been to Israel, so you have to request your stamp on a separate paper when you go into Israel--and Israel won't let people in from certain Arab countries, either, due to security issues. It's so much drama--like being back in high school, to tell the truth. I'd love to go to Egypt someday, and thank goodness I have friends all over the world at this point, because Shlomi isn't even allowed IN Egypt.

Like I said... drama. x.x

Anyway, now I'm knot-stalking Desert. Unfortunately, I can't identify you through your profile, though I'm sure that's exactly how you like it.

I realized after doing so, however, that you would have recognized me by my name here if we happened to have known each other in the past.

I love your gown on your profile, btw. Is that the one you ended up actually wearing at your wedding?

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