ISRAEL

My Tel Aviv

By Ester Davida

My name is Ester and I m from Tel Aviv, Israel. I moved to the U.S. 2 years ago. I live with my daughter, my son-in-law and my granddaughter. I feel very lucky to live here in Olympia with my loved ones. I m happy to have the opportunity to study language here at SPSCC. I hope to improve my English skills and make new friends.

I’m from Tel Aviv, Israel, a beach city on the Mediterranean Sea. There is a boardwalk with parks along the beach. The beach has golden, smooth sand and warm water. It’s the most popular beach in Israel. There are chef restaurants and authentic restaurants that offer fresh, delicious food. Hummus, falafel and shawarma are my favorites. The coffee shops specialize in unique coffee flavors, pastries, baklava and kunafa. Shuk Hapishpeshim (flea market) is the place to find gifts, souvenirs, second-hand items, good food, pubs, taverns and good company. You can find museums and shopping malls all over the city.

The most beautiful times of the year are the holidays Rosh Hashana (new year) and Passover. Families gather together for a meal prepared by the traditional cooks in the family. Meat, fish, vegetables, rice, fresh salads, challah bread, beer and alcohol are served at the table. We enjoy dessert with mint tea, pastries, cookies, dates and nuts. We listen to music, play card games and have small talks until midnight. I bring a piece of Tel-Aviv with me to Olympia and try to enjoy a version of this with my family here.