about

nomadmatan

All who wander are not lost

I'm a 25 year old Linguist (Applied Linguistics & Sociolinguistics) and dual citizen living on Kibbutz Zikim (next to the Gaza strip).

Presently I'm working as a Linguist, building experience while I continue to study Hebrew and Arabic before I go onto graduate school for my Ph.D.

I'm an avid hiker and I love to go camping, kayaking, canoeing - if it's outside, I'm there - during my free time.

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Tales of a Wandering Nomad

Tales of a Wandering Nomad - LiveJournal.com

• From Twitter 11-05-2009 (11/6/09) [View | Hide]

  03:01:38: has more rights legally as a Gay man in Israel than he does in the United States...oh, and he has universal health care too. 11:02:35: is looking forward to a weekend in the Old City of Jerusalem :o) 14:12:58: is going to the Old City for Shabbat this weekend...camping next weekend! :-D 14:46:43: is way behind in his #nanowrimo word count, but is definitely going to have a rally day on Sunday... Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 11-04-2009 (11/5/09) [View | Hide]

  23:07:33: WAY TO GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 11-03-2009 (11/4/09) [View | Hide]

  07:25:36: would like to remind everyone that due to his cellphone (almost) resembling a brick he can't read SMS messages or dial any # with a 5 in it. 07:35:47: RT @MyDomaindotcom I just entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card from MyDomain.com. http://j.mp/2upWJe #rtafterme 08:14:05: is heading to Tel Aviv to help Shirah pack, making a stop off to teach at a bus station for an hour on the way...then back to base in the AM 14:26:40: man I love Tel Aviv...okay, g'night y'all 23:24:29: wants to thank Melnash for once again making the network so secure that he can't even access his own files thereby protecting me from myself Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 11-02-2009 (11/3/09) [View | Hide]

  17:19:37: is listening to the rain as he falls asleep :o) 20:05:34: Operation Catch Stewart Little is a success...I repeat, Operation Catch Stewart Little is a success... Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• Second verse, same as the first, a little bit louder, a little bit worse... (11/2/09) [View | Hide]

  0400ish...another spider...already gave birth or she was taken her few hundred kids for a walk. Tonight I'm sleeping in Tel Aviv which gives me pause for concern, especially given the (much needed) rain...we'll see how it goes. Fortunately my bedroom gets sealed off (it's a bomb shelter) so the door will remain shut...whether I'll have to call an exterminator or not when I get back is up for grabs.

• 3,603 Words & Unrelated Disgusting Things (11/2/09) [View | Hide]

  My novel is at 3,603 words (to win NaNoWriMo you must write a total 50,000 words or around 1,333 words a day, by the end of November). Since it's 0102 we've now wrapped up day two of the competition (or those of us in my time zone, anyway). I decided I'd keep a list of the songs I listen to while writing, in the order that I listen to them... The NaNoWriMo Track Listing 2009 The NaNoWriMo Track Listing 2009 so far is: (I listen to most songs on repeat about ten or fifteen times before moving to a different song...sometimes more...like that eight hour car drive to Long Island from Buffalo when I listened to one Eminem song the entire ride, over, and over, and over...so I don't actually expect this list to be too large, overall): 1. At The End - IIO 2. The Key The Secret - Urban Cookie Collective 3. Mama's Room - Under the Influence of Giants 4. California Dreaming (2004 Benny Benassi Remix) - The Mamas & the Papas Unrelated Disgusting Things: Sunday morning I woke up at the usual hour (somewhere in the ballpark of 0500-0520). I opened my door to see my rodent guest standing on top of the fridge, attempting to open a bag of uncooked oatmeal (of the non-instant variety). He twisted his head to me, looked startled and seemed to say "I didn't know you were getting up this early...here...let me open this and we can share a breakfast together, it'll be jolly!" At which point I grumbled something to him rather similar to anything I've ever grumbled to anyone I've ever had to see at five o'clock in the morning (the exception being the officers who make sure that we check in for our guard duty shifts...but that's just because I like to screw with them and sing, and laugh, and dance at 0400...keeps them on their toes). Monday night I set a humane mouse trap for my little rodent friend in the attempts of relocating him elsewhere. He hasn't shown and/or hasn't taken the bait...though there's not many places to hide since the walls are all poured concrete (an Israeli way of building), he's not under my bed or behind the couch or under my stove. At around 0400 yesterday morning (I had to use the bathroom) I opened my bedroom door and noticed two things. One, Stewart (as my mother has taken to calling him) has yet to take the bait. Two, there is a spider who's rear end is as large as my fist...she is big and she is most certainly poisonous...the humane treatment is not an option when something that is clearly poisonous is now heading in the direction of where I sleep. I grabbed one of my combat boots, or in the case of defensive measures, known as the boot of destiny, and delivered a death blow...as I did, at least a hundred (a conservative estimate) baby spiders came running out from underneath her (clearly she must have been pregnant and I gave her an assist...but it took me a moment to realize what was happening). In between muttered profanities I found my can of Raid and their end can be fairly well inferred. Yes, I'm a vegetarian...but I do have limits...and that's one of them...not to mention ridiculously gross for so many reasons. Stewart still hasn't made an encore performance, but it's raining outside which means he and other characters are sure to stop on by to send me their warmest regards. All of this of course reminds me that I need to go to the hardware store so I can add a better rubber runner to the bottom of my door to try and make sure that this doesn't happen more frequently...because, presently, I'm having some problems with other members of the Animal Kingdom. Yom Siddurim I had the day off today, which was nice. Lonely soldiers are given (usually) one day off a month called Yom Siddurim which they use to handle paperwork, household matters, etc. Today was spent organizing, cleaning, mopping, sanitizing and taking care of some necessary catch up work and, of course, writing for NaNoWriMo. This did not, however, stop my army cell phone from going off around thirty or forty times, most of the calls I couldn't help with since my computer is on base and they want information that I don't have access to unless I'm in my office (or if it's about exam grades and reports, my classroom). One of them (at 20:30) wanted to move her commander's exam to an earlier day, which I was more than happy to do since I had the foresight of bringing a print out of my schedule home with me...but outside of that I wasn't really able to help anyone. Most of the calls went along the lines of "What do you mean you have the day off and your computer's in your office and you don't know?" to which the general response is "well, when I said that I had the day off and my computer's in my office on base and I don't know because all of that information is in the computer, in my office on base, what I meant by that was that I have the day off and all of the information is in the computer in my office on base." Difficult concepts, I know. The follow up usually went something like "well, when CAN you help me!?" and the (not shocking) answer was "Tomorrow, when I'm at my computer, which has the information on it, in my office, on base." Now, I'm going to look under my pillows and make sure nothing is lurking under the bed...and head to sleep.

• From Twitter 11-01-2009 (11/2/09) [View | Hide]

  04:08:14: is administering an exam. 10:17:22: Yom Siddurim tomorrow, for now sleep...and attempting to catch the mouse in a safe-release mouse trap tonight...nervy little cuss.,.. 10:17:56: @batlibrarian what's your handle on the NaNoWriMo site? I'll friend you there :o) #NaNoWriMo Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 10-31-2009 (11/1/09) [View | Hide]

  09:25:32: my kingdom for a refillable highlighter!!! 13:04:45: NaNoWriMo in two hours!!!!! 14:58:10: I favorited a YouTube video -- We Have No Other Country http://bit.ly/3dpZnr 15:01:09: AND IT'S GO TIME!!! NANOWRIMO 2009!!! NANO-ING...then email...then bed!! 16:00:31: @NaNoJerusalem Happy NaNoWriMo everyone!!! Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• ALMOST NANOWRIMO!!! (10/31/09) [View | Hide]

  I've been waiting for this all year...I missed out hard core last year because of Basic Training...but in two short hours it will be NaNoWriMo!! For those of you who want to link up on the NaNoWriMo site as writing buddies to follow each other's word counts, my user name there is (shockingly): nomadmatan (leave me your user name in the comments section here and I'll be sure to add you). Okay...I've finished making the new version of the exam (with notes on future changes I want to make). Time to clean the house, then send emails, and then keep watching and waiting for the clock to hit midnight...ahhh!!! So excited!!!!!!

• From Twitter 10-30-2009 (10/31/09) [View | Hide]

  14:31:10: it is raining and storming in Israel and we are loving it...exciting things to write about a bit later, for now, more work... 17:52:28: is going to let the mouse (it damn well better be a mouse) camp out under his stove tonight and bring him safely outside tomorrow morning... Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• The Mouse & I - Part 2 (10/30/09) [View | Hide]

  The little fucker is hiding under my stove...it is dark, and raining out so I can't even just throw open the front door, get some assistance, and scoot him out...maybe I'll sleep with the door shut tonight and attempt to remove him in the morning.

• It's Raining in the Holy Land (10/30/09) [View | Hide]

  It's 1:45am and I'm about to turn in for the night. I'm almost all caught up though, which is a good thing. I have some emails I need to send tomorrow (nir1, goodall, stevenh, iolausian), an exam to finish writing, and then NaNoWriMo to prepare for...oh, and I have to mop my floor. This is the first time though that I've been able to get on top of things over the past two weeks and feel like I've finally caught my breath - sometimes army life can just take everything out of you. It's been one of the weeks where I wake up at 0500 and get to bed at around 0100 the next morning. It's raining in Southern Israel at the moment, Kibbutz Zikim is being treated to a fantastic storm complete with lightning and thunder and wonderful, much anticipated, rain. The storm has been progressing towards a nice, relaxing, drizzle which echoes wonderfully off of my bomb shelter (which, conveniently, is also where I keep my bed). Storms have always been my favorite weather and out in the rural areas of Israel it's wonderful to watch as it interacts with the landscape. Last night I got back to the kibbutz late (after teaching in Tel Aviv - I was originally planning to stay, but it didn't turn out that way) and as I was making dinner I saw a mouse dart out from behind the fridge. Having sufficiently scared each other (the mouse scared me and I, in turn, scared him with an incredibly manly high pitched squeal of "HOLY SHIT!") the mouse darted out of the house. I slept with my magav next to my bed last night in case he decided to come back and needed to be shooed away once more. I don't want to use a mouse trap since my general rule is don't come into my house and I won't go into yours, not 'come into my house and I'll shoot first ask questions later' but a guy has to take a stand. I think I was more startled than anything. I think field mice are cute in general (and Efrat and I have saved them before on base when we've seen them stuck on those hideous glue pads)...it was more of the 'field mouse from the middle of nowhere hell bent on a mission' that caught me off guard. This, among many reasons, is why at some point I really need to do some legwork towards finding a boyfriend...sure, sure the companionship, sex and travel partner are great reasons in and of themselves...but I think the greater benefits come from having someone's arm to dig my nails into when this shit happens...normally as I scream "HOLY CRAP DID YOU SEE THAT." Similar reactions are to cockroaches...I'm cool with lizards and rocket fire though. Anyway, tomorrow at 12:30 I have to pick up my uniform from the laundry facility on the kibbutz. I hope to have my exam completely done at around 16:00, emails out at around 17:00 and the place cleaned by 18:00...just in time for me to relax with a cup of coffee and listen to music. G'night world.

• From Twitter 10-29-2009 (10/30/09) [View | Hide]

  07:24:01: is fighting windmills and looking forward to Friday afternoon when he can sit down to finish writing the new exams and a budget outline. 07:49:49: is en route to Tel Aviv but will be on the kibbutz Friday afternoon. Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 10-28-2009 (10/29/09) [View | Hide]

  06:18:16: just had to find keys to release a soldier who accidentally got locked in an office...never a dully day on base... 06:18:48: @SammySchwaa I love the rain, it's actually my favorite weather and the thing (other than family and friends) that I miss most in Israel. Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• Hello my cuddly blog (10/28/09) [View | Hide]

  I know, I know...daily blogging is the one thing that's currently suffering on my New Years Resolutions list...I'm getting there...slowly but surely. This has been a hectic week. I'm in the process of preparing to test nine Lt. Colonels and one Captain. I also have a Brigadier General who I'm teaching every Sunday in addition to my regular load. Adding into the mix the revision of two exams, the creation of a third and the writing of two budget proposals I'm ready for a nap. Tomorrow afternoon I have a meeting with the Lt. Colonel in charge of the Education & Youth Corps for the Ground Forces Command. I'm incredibly, incredibly excited On the bright side, ten exams is really an excuse for ten hours of NaNoing...since after I read the officers their instructions there's not much more I can do but sit there and wait for them to finish so I can begin grading... How is everyone out in LiveJournal land?

• From Twitter 10-26-2009 (10/27/09) [View | Hide]

  01:08:29: has no computer due to something needing to be installed across the network...charming. In the meantime, trying to finish scheduling exams. 02:57:52: 3/10 people left to schedule...now, time for lunch and learn with a Hebrew lesson! I WANT MY COMPUTER BACK MELNASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 04:43:10: 2/10 people left to schedule, computer is back and working, new exam is almost done, scheduling in general is almost finished...need coffee. Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 10-24-2009 (10/25/09) [View | Hide]

  08:52:36: is finishing downloading all of the components for the Hebrew course he signed up for while making dinner...then cleaning the apartment. 12:35:10: is finishing writing his travelogue, getting his documents together for tomorrow then showering. New exam is finished this Tuesday! Exciting Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 10-23-2009 (10/24/09) [View | Hide]

  10:41:59: is having a ridiculously restful Shabbat: cartoons all morning, soon to be having dinner, then writing and emailing...phone soon? Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• It's good to be back online (10/23/09) [View | Hide]

  It's 3:53am, I just finished my Travelogue (I'll spell check and edit it in the morning). Tomorrow I've dedicated to catching up on my email which I'm looking forward to, there's a lot of people I need to write. Anyway, in general, I've had a wonderful restful Shabbat. Lots of exciting things coming up so stay tuned :o)

• 86 Year Old WWII Veteran (10/23/09) [View | Hide]
• From Twitter 10-21-2009 (10/22/09) [View | Hide]

  08:07:50: "I'm the dandy in the ghetto with the snow white smile..." Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 10-19-2009 (10/20/09) [View | Hide]

  08:12:50: is praying he makes his bus...man I need to get a scooter. Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• From Twitter 10-18-2009 (10/19/09) [View | Hide]

  04:19:48: is in his office getting work done...and teaching his first תא"ל/Brigadier General today!!! 09:18:40: finished teaching and is heading home. 13:44:21: is sleeping. Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

• Flotsam and Jetsam (10/18/09) [View | Hide]

  I'm not doing so well on my email or blogging resolutions...but I'm also just, finally, getting back into the swing of things. I'm pleased to announce that my wireless high-speed internet is working flawlessly (so fast I can video Skype from pretty much anywhere). Hopefully with the wireless internet I'll be able to keep up with everything while on the go. I taught my first ever תא"ל (Brigadier General) today, which was incredibly cool. We'll be meeting every Sunday regularly for the next year or so. I have lots more to write about but I closed base for the past four days (patrol 0200-0600/1400-1800) and I'm so tired I can barely stay awake. My commander is letting me come in late tomorrow so I'm hoping to use the morning to catch up on emails and writing. Peace, love and hummus to everyone. M

• From Twitter 10-17-2009 (10/18/09) [View | Hide]

  11:24:52: one more patrol from 2-6 am them kafkaf until noon. Shavoua Tov =) 21:12:41: finished patrol...now on kafkaf until 1200. Sleeping...wake me and die. Tweets copied by twittinesis.com

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