Post-chagim Update

Hi everyone,
I hope you have all enjoyed your first few days of non-chag. Long may it continue!

The kids happily returned to school on Wednesday after a very weird Simchat Torah of not keeping 2nd day, but still going to shul for the Simchat Torah festivities. It felt quite odd and was a little tricky to explain to Tzofia. But the kids were impressed with the shul's candy offerings so overall it worked out OK.

Eitan had a particularly good few days at school - he received his own personal iPad which will be used in all lessons for the year (only for 6th grade). It is not 100% clear why they need them but I'm sure they will be invaluable for his education. He also went on a school outing to a place called Bounce, which is basically a huge trampoline-filled facility. They played trampoline dodgeball and basketball with their classmates and teachers, and generally had a blast and narrowly avoided breaking any limbs. I think it was intended to be a team-building experience. Hmmm. Not completely convinced. Someone here told me that the schools are all about making the kids love school. I'm beginning to see what they mean. It's good to love school but I'm also looking forward to the kids learning some stuff. We'll see how all that pans out.

I had an epiphany this week while I was sitting back pondering the wonder that is school lunch. Why does it make me so deliriously happy? Well, firstly, the kids really like the food, so that helps. But I realized that I am actually winning three times over: First I don't have to make sandwiches every morning (yay!). Second, I don't have to rummage around to find something for the kids to eat for lunch when they come home from school, because they've already eaten lunch! And third, I don't need to make big elaborate dinners because the kids have had a decent meat meal at school (most days), so I can get away with Grade B dinners like jacket potatoes or pasta. OK - I never did make big elaborate dinners, but you know what I mean. This is seriously life-enhancing. Why would anyone ever give this up? If we end up living in America forever and ever, you'll know that this is the reason why. Well, this and the pineapples. (Don't worry - no plans yet to live here forever and ever.)

I remembered a couple more things to add to my list of stuff we like about America. The first is the huge washing machines and dryers. Love them! But why do they need to be in the basement? I don't know about Americans, but us Brits tend to generate most of our laundry upstairs. Looks like they didn't really think this one through. The other brilliant thing we encountered recently was a drive-through ATM. Fantastic! On the negative side, we are not enjoying the cold weather, and especially the part when people tell us that this is nothing compared to how it's GOING to be. We miss our lovely Ra'anana October climate. But at least we don't have to get out of the car to take out cash, so that helps.

That's all for now - tomorrow we plan to check out the Statue of Liberty. We figured it would be pretty embarrassing to come back from here without having seen it.

Have a great week and be in touch!