Some more about the last week(s) in Israel

(*) I should be writing more frequently and also – chronologically. There’s a chance we’ll see some improvements here – can’t promises…

In about 7 days and ~6 hours we will takeoff from TLV to PEK. This time – a one way ticket…

The past two weeks were at least as exciting as the preceding ones… we landed in Israel on Friday September 15th and immediately started to pack our apartment. Spending over 6 years in one place makes you ‘collector’; a collector of records, collector of books, a collector of clothes … being nostalgic as we are, every picture, every old letter/piece of furniture/book/etc resulted a debate with regard to its destiny:
a) pack to China
b) pack for storage
c) donate/sell/garbage

On Tuesday, we headed to the Chinese embassy to complete our visa application. It was a hot day in Tel-Aviv: rumors are that the highest temperature was recorded just within the glassed Chinese embassy.
We stood in the line, together with about 1.4 billion Chinese foreign workers. Finally – it was our turn to hand in the applications; the clerk carefully scanned our papers while we are standing there in anxiety (I remind that is was a hot day …). After about a minute that seemed to have lasted much more – we were sent to zerox our Chinese Physical Tests. Hmmm… you don’t want to mess with the Chinese authorities do you?! We stepped out, headed to the nearest copy machine. Equipped with the copied material, we again found ourselves standing in line. Again – we handed the papers to Mr. Liegh (by now we knew him on a first name basis); he carefully scanned the papers and without moving amy extra muscle in his face – he sent us to zerox some more papers (did I mention that there is a zerox machine in the embassy??!?)
Same story: step out of the line, go out, zerox, back in the embassy. As we needed the passports to the trip to Germany, we could not leave them there for handling – final visa was to be gained after we were back from Germany. By now we are the proud owners of an ‘Alien Permit’ – literally. I’m an alien – a legal alien. To be elaborated in a future post.

Munich was great. Some time with family and the newly born nephew, great weather – it was a perfect break from the ‘relocation arrents’. In fact – this is one tip we can share with soon-to-be-expatriates: take some time off during the preparation for the move. It will do wonders.

Back to Israel. Packing. More packing. Moving. Actually 4 ‘movers’ (parents, parents, sister, brother, china…). Last night in Tel-Aviv, Peretz-Hayut. Dinner in TA. Back to living with my parents for a ~week. J

Last day in Destinator Israel. After 5 years and 7 months. Who says I’m not consistent?! Clearing my office great spacious office (soon {VERY SOON} to be inhabited by intruders…). ‘Ma Sh Haya’/’what was’ party at N’s office with V and A. company meeting with very kind words from N, S and P. very moving and exciting. That’s it. Bye. See you soon. Kisses. Hugs. Can’t believe I’m part of a group that created so many jobs in Israel. Sense of proudness.

Farewell from friends and Kellogg classmates. ‘Saloona’, Tirza 17. was fun. I drank too much. Too much. Did I say it was fun?

(*) I’m completing this post in the Beijing AP on my way to HK à Israel. It seems ages ago while these events took place only about a month ago.