Designing a Better Immigration Experience

The following is a post I wrote for my design blog. It is a critical, unapologetic look at some of the design flaws in the Aliyah system. Just some mind you. I have been told (more than once) not to look at these things and think how to change them, or that my enthusiasm for change will wane. While these people may be right, I am not looking at the system through the eyes of an optimist, but rather through the eyes of a designer. It is a different kind of thinking all together. There is a reason this was posted to my design blog first...

The State of Israel is unique in that if you meet certain criteria you can gain citizenship immediately upon arrival in the country. Obviously this isn't automatic. There are forms to fill out, red tape to wade through and a whole host of interesting characters to meet.

As someone currently undergoing this process (I moved to Israel two weeks ago) I do feel blessed not to have to take any tests or wait a few years or any of those other lovely things some countries make people do, but I can't help but feel like this process could be redesigned.

For one it takes four days from the date of arrival to be registered in the system. This means you can't open up a bank account or get a phone or anything for at least four days. As well there are to many different offices to visit. Why can't things be more centralized?

Even sillier is what happened to me today. I had to go to the local absorption office. I was told the office is at 31 Shazar Street. Now remember, I am a new immigrant. I have spent a total of five days in my new city of residence. This means, I pretty much have no clue how to get anywhere. Luckily though, I have a map in my apartment. I manage to find the street no problem, but where is number 31? There is exactly one street number I can see and it is on building number 1. It just seems nuts that a place catering to new immigrants would have no street number, sign or other marking to indicate "you are here." After walking up and down the street in about 36 degree heat (Celsius) calling the place a few times and asking random people I eventually found the building. Needless to say this is just the most recent example of how this process should be redesigned.

The Mysterious Toothbrush Saga

I currently live in an apartment with one roommate, but we have 10 toothbrushes in our bathroom. Even if the two girls who moved out right before I moved in left their toothbrushes that is still 6 that are unaccounted for...

Orange, the color of love...

Yesterday I went to get a phone at Orange and the guy who sold it to me, Chai, gave me his number. It was funny, I laughed, I moved on. Today Chai texted me to find out how the service is. So yes, the Orange guy saved my number. Creepy, unprofessional, or just funny. I am leaning towards funny, but then again I have a false sense of security. You don't get that kind of help from most sales people in this country. The question now stands, what do I text back?

Getting it Done

I have a bank account and a phone. Three cheers for me! Getting the phone was really funny. I became "best friends" with the guy selling it to me. He gave me his number. His name was Chai. He used to do Bnei Akiva until he became chiloni. Oh Israel, what fun we have together! And yes, I now have an Orange number so I can be a real Israeli.

I have also come to the conclusion that despite the fact I have moved half way across the world my life has changed very little. This realization makes me very happy. I am still the same reclusive design nerd I was in Toronto.

Speaking of being a design nerd, I intend to get some photography done before leaving Beer Sheva. Sand and buildings contrast nicely. Will upload some pictures when I get around to taking them.

Heading North

I have decided on Technion. Look out Haifa! Actually Haifa doesn't have much to worry about. Doesn't look like I will have time for much of anything besides school next year...

Aliyah Video

Week One in Review

I am closing in one my first full week as an Israeli citizen. It has been surprisingly tame. I think. I say I think cause I am pretty easy going and failing to open up a bank account twice doesn't really bother me. How long does it take out mispar zehut to get into the system? Basically I am currently without an Israeli bank account, a phone and health care but happy as a clam cause at least I know how to get to the mall from my apartment. At least I think I do...

The jet lag has still got me a little messed up- more in respect to eating than sleeping. I thought with the time change I would finally be able to sleep in but apparently not. It is actually very strange. I am still waking up before my alarm.

My big dilemma at the moment is whether I should stay in Beer Sheva or go to the Technion in Haifa to study industrial design. Technion seems like the better option it is THE Technion afterall, but it also seems like a much more challanging option. Then again I always say my only regrets in life involve me being to lazy to do math and in my head being scared of Technion falls into that catagory. Plus I do have many mathamatically inclined friends up in Haifa I can have teach me math if the need arises.

Speaking of Haifa I was up there for shabbat at friends. It was a really awesome way to spend my first shabbat as an Israeli. It also afforded me to visit the opportunity to visit Technion. Surprisingly they knew who I was. They seemed a littled surprised I was in Israel but were super nice and helpful. Also cool, only 20 people get into the program and they accpeted me with out an interview. At least one university in this country seems to understand the concept of someone not being in the country to make it for an interview.

Speaking of interviews I had my group interview for conflict management today. We didn't have to solve any conflicts. There really wasn't a need to have the interview in the group. I was not the only one there interested in organizational/corporate conflict resolution which is a good thing. I was worried the program would be a bunch of either touchy feely helpful people or politicians but it was a very mixed group. Plus outside of the core courses you can take classes from any faculty which means I can probably take business classes.

In other news my room is set up. I did it in such a way repacking in a month won't be such a challange. Plus I have an art table in the middle of my room. It makes me very happy. Speaking of art, I really want to go to Caesaria for some drawing and photographing.

This is about all I have to say for now. I mean I could go on but I don't want to.

Israeli Number ?

I am here- woohoo :) The flight was great. The airport greeting even better. Beer Sheva is nice. My mispar zehut is not in the system and I got into Technion. Busy few days... I should write more but this technion thing has gotten me off track.

And so it begins...

Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. It all begins tomorrow.

Right now I should be finishing my packing. Should being the operative word...

My final Shabbat was awesome. It was like grade 5 all over again. Except with beer.

My final Friday was very fitting. On my ride with my dad my water bottle got smashed. It was sad but I guess it signifies and end. I have been using the word cathartic way too often these past few days. It is quite telling.

See you on the other side! (unless I write tomorrow.)

The Things You Learn When Cleaning Your Room

The big purge is complete and in the process I learned some surprising things about myself:

• I was once, for a very short stint, an advice columnist. This lasted one only one issue, but in my defense the paper itself may have only lasted one issue as well.
• I am a pack rat. Not for sentimental reasons. I just think everything can be used for an art project, or something. I also think I may want to read stuff later, but later being now, I realize I don't.
• I always knew I was bad at laminating, but apparently I am equally as bad at shredding. I am going to need one heck of a secretary one day.
• When I signed up for the SAT I told them I would be majoring in science. Somehow between grade 11 and 12 science became design. Although I did get accepted to sciences at U of T so I wasn't too off.
• I accumulate a lot of shreddables in four years. I really hate shredding an let all my receipts, bills, etc. pile up, this is dumb because I spent over an hour shredding stuff today.
• There are pictures out there somewhere of the fruit-by-the-foot game. It's worse than I thought, but not as bad as it looks.
• I love ziplock bags. I had empty ones all over my room.

I am sure I discovered some other things, but who can remember...

4

I literally cringe each time I walk into my room. It is so chaotic. Tomorrow is a fast day though, I can't do any gym-ing, movie-ing or shopping. I will finish cleaning and packing!

5

I am leaving in 5 days. 5 days. That is nothing. It is really all I can think about. Not in a panic stricken, what am I doing way, but in pretty calm factual way. I am happy, but not elated. Things just feel right. Personally that is how I like it. I am extremely complacent. Ok, I admit it there is a little bit of hyper-active happiness bubbling. Maybe more that a little. Actually I keep breaking out into spontaneous grins for no good reason. That being said though, I am extremely calm. Lost all ability to concentrate in movies though, but who knows maybe I just didn't like Public Enemies.

Wow, that was not a clear post at all...

5

Packing Pictures

Emptying the closet hanger by hanger:


The crazy knee sock phase is officially over and done with, never to be resurrected:


Ripping apart my bedroom one last time:


Such colorful shirts! Such needless excess! Goodbye shirts!


I am actually getting some stuff packed. Shocking, I know:

One Week

One week, one week, one week. I leave in one week. Insane. Completely nuts. Most importantly though, crazy exciting.

After 13 years camp is finally out of my system. Was up there for Shabbat and had a major Murtagh moment. I didn't know anyone there and I am ok with that. Now that that is over and done with I can be an adult and start a real life and maybe just maybe finish packing and clean my room.