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Thursday, May 03, 2007

Commuting To The Holy City Of Tel Aviv

Thank God that I have a job. Unfortunately, my job is in the holy city of Tel Aviv, which means that I have to commute every morning from my home in the holy city of Jerusalem. Commuting is a drag, but it is much better than being unemployed.

The daily trek to Tel Aviv has certainly changed my life, and not for the better. I come home from work totally exhausted. The job is not tiring, the traveling is! I certainly have no desire to go to the daf yomi lesson. I have less patience for my family. I pray that I will find work in Jerusalem soon.

I have learned to make the best of my time on the bus. Here is a list of commuting tips:

1) Books: At least some of the time on the bus can be utilized for learning. I take a chumash and some mishnayot along with me.

2) MP3 player: This device was invented for commuters. After you are tired of learning from the books, you can sit back, relax and listen to shiurim or music.

3) Munchies: Being hungry on the bus adds to the misery. Fruit, cookies and chewing gum are good to have around. I don't recommend drinking too much as having a full bladder without the possibility of of emptying it is not pleasant.

4) Cellular telephone: Don't leave home without it!

Even with all of the above, sometimes I get bored. Taking pictures is my last resort of keeping myself entertained:

3 comments:

A Simple Jew said...

Surprisingly, I have come to enjoy commuting the 20+ miles to my work each morning. It is the only time during the day when someone doesn't own me. I do just what you do: learn, listen to my iPod, or read a book.

ifyouwillit... said...

I empathize. My commute from Jerusalem to Lod on a daily basis just got much better with a door-to-door ride from my neighbour/new co-worker, but the last year of buses, connections and unreliable tremps took its toll on my stress levels, but I did learn to sleep anywhere!!

On the plus side, I have a good job, with lovely people, and I kinda enjoy being here.

It's all about counting the blessings.

yitz said...

I commuted from Jerusalem to kiriat atidim in tel-aviv for 3 months.. 2 hour commute each way, 4 hours on buses and in cabs ever day.

I tried to learn/read but i would fall asleep, I tried to sleep but I would feel disgusting afterwards.

In the end I brought along a notebook and wrote. I wrote a novella in those three months. It was the most fun I'd ever had commuting. It was like reading, since I didn't know what would happen next, but better because I got to throw the characters into whatever situation I could dream up and see what they would do.

I couldn't imagine doing that commute all the time though.

ps. Ex Libris in Jerusalem has been hiring a bunch.. I've been working here for over a year and its pretty reasonable.

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