I started working in a high-tech company (Optitex) located in Rosh Ha Ayin.
First shock - my native tongue, Russian, is spoken freely, loudly and openly all around the office. I have used to a mix of Indians, Pakistani, Brazilians, Chinese and some "native" Americans in the US high-tech but never before I have had the privilege of a big Russian company. There are also a few Canadians, US immigrants, Argentinians, and as a result of such non-sabra mix we could not even do one couplet of the traditional Hebrew "Ma oszy yeshiati.." song at the Hanukkah party.
Second shock - on a hill near our busy high-tech park is an Arab village and twice every day we hear Muslim singing-style prayers translated via speakers to the whole area. Our new employee from Ashdod always jumps as she mistakes this sound for the air attack siren that they are so accustomed to in her area. Once a week we go to this village to eat hummus and falafel with a freshly baked pita:
At home there is another reality. We are finishing our renovations. I created a list of all the remaining projects to accomplish in Russian for our Russian-speaking project manager and my father who is left to supervise the work at home. My sabra husband attached a short Hebrew translation for him to keep a track of the things. The Arab worker that our contractor sent us to actually perform the work appended the Arabic translation of the items. This is the resulting multilingual work list:
First shock - my native tongue, Russian, is spoken freely, loudly and openly all around the office. I have used to a mix of Indians, Pakistani, Brazilians, Chinese and some "native" Americans in the US high-tech but never before I have had the privilege of a big Russian company. There are also a few Canadians, US immigrants, Argentinians, and as a result of such non-sabra mix we could not even do one couplet of the traditional Hebrew "Ma oszy yeshiati.." song at the Hanukkah party.
Second shock - on a hill near our busy high-tech park is an Arab village and twice every day we hear Muslim singing-style prayers translated via speakers to the whole area. Our new employee from Ashdod always jumps as she mistakes this sound for the air attack siren that they are so accustomed to in her area. Once a week we go to this village to eat hummus and falafel with a freshly baked pita:
At home there is another reality. We are finishing our renovations. I created a list of all the remaining projects to accomplish in Russian for our Russian-speaking project manager and my father who is left to supervise the work at home. My sabra husband attached a short Hebrew translation for him to keep a track of the things. The Arab worker that our contractor sent us to actually perform the work appended the Arabic translation of the items. This is the resulting multilingual work list:
