Learning a New Trick

Today is most definitely a day that needs to be personally processed via writing. Mainly because…(suspense builds)…I worked with two migrant women today, all by myself! I arrived at the Kav La’Oved office, and my supervisor was like, “Ready? OK? You can be on your own?” And I said yes, if with a bit of hesitation and self-doubt. But that’s the best way to learn. I jumped right in, so to speak…

The first woman I spoke with is from India; her employer died (an elderly Israeli she was caring for) and the family is unwilling to pay severance/separation pay and prior notice pay, both of which she deserves. So, armed with my calculator and white-out (which was quite handy), I summed up the amounts she was entitled to and explained them to her. She really wanted to know what each calculation was, which makes sense considering she was a math teacher in India. Before we finished our session, I found out she had been getting paid below the legal salary for working on Shabbat, her off day. When I asked her if she wanted me to include it in the calculation of her rights, she said, “No…no…ze beseder [it’s OK]…my employer very poor…little money…ze beseder.” She said they treated her like family, so she didn’t want to stir up any more trouble than necessary. I didn’t know what to say. Part of me found it so kind and generous of her, but also weak and sad in some way. But unlike some other workers I’ve met, she knew exactly what she deserves and what her rights are. She was just choosing this path for personal reasons.

Right afterwards I worked with a woman from the Philippines, who was fired after a fight with her employer. She was really distraught, and teared up as we spoke. She’s returning to the Philippines, disappointed it has to be under such conditions. When she asked me where I was from, and I said US, she looked at me with a puzzled face and said, “No, where? Philippines? China?” This is pretty common now…the US has just a Utopian reputation in the world, people here find it hard to believe why I would choose to leave the US. I wrote up her rights and compensation on Kav La’Oved letterhead, which a staff member checked over for me. No mistakes! There’s sweet satisfaction in getting a new skill down…I also loved being useful today. Not just watching, or learning, but really actively helping. Oh, productivity. Old habits die hard.

Again, I met some of the other volunteers: awesome. They are so willing to help me and explain any complicated parts, even teaching me the phrases for “severance pay” and “annual vacation” in Hebrew so I can write compensation letters in both languages. One of the volunteers did a tour of the US with his best friend when he was young, hopping from CA to Vegas to NYC. It’s hilarious to me that people “tour the US” in the way Em and I “toured Europe”! You never think of your home like that. Another Israeli I met yesterday also said, “You’re from Colorado! As soon as I get the chance to go to the US, I’m going to Colorado…” I fully supported him in that plan (not surprisingly, he’s a skier and climber). I also chatted with a volunteer who spent 30 years of her life as a teacher and elementary school principal. Besides talking about the importance of elementary education (I have Bear Creek to thank for much of who I am today), we talked a lot about China. Israelis love China. It’s one of the travel hotspots these days, and I learned last night that there are some authentic (if overpriced) Chinese restaurants here. And today I saw a woman on the street buying a lampshade, one covered in random Chinese characters.
Speaking of China, last night was the weekly open hours at Kav La’Oved for Chinese workers. We heard through the grapevine that masses of Chinese men have been leaving Israel this month, so many that it’s getting hard to buy the tickets to fly home to China. Turns out it’s because of a rather severe lack of information. Visas that were supposed to expire on September 30th of this year have been extended to the end of December across the country for Chinese workers; no exceptions. But the Chinese workers have no idea about this, though the government was supposed to announce it and spread the news. Police officers have told some of them they have to leave this month, even though our office has official documents saying they can stay longer. It’s tragic to think about workers leaving their jobs, fleeing, because they were not properly informed. The full story is still a bit of a mystery…

So, my friend Beth from Cornell spent a semester in Florence last year. And I remember her telling me that at one point, the constant amazement of being in an incredible place wore down a little. She’d walk by the Duomo and not be engrossed in its beauty and grandeur, but rather she was frustrated that the tourists were making her morning walk to class take longer…I totally had this moment this morning. The main market we live by is a tourist attraction, and this French couple was taking their sweet, old time strolling down it. And I felt my frustration bubble up inside me—I needed them to move! That thought made me smile, and think of Beth’s story.

On a completely random note: Americans have completely butchered the pronunciation of the phrase “Mazel tov.” Why do we always find it so necessary to Americanize any foreign phrase and make it sound as American as possible? Like “croissant” and “lo mein.” If you ever listen to the song “I’ve got a feeling” by Black Eyed Peas, listen for the line, “Fill up my cup—Mazel Tov.” Mah-zel Tohv. Not Mazil tav. Really, people. Get your act together.