Please join me at the West Slope Library, 3010, 3678 SW 78th Avenue, Portland, Oregon on Wednesday May 16 at 6:30 P.M. I will be reading from my  book MY LITTLE FRENCH VILLAGE.
"In the 13th century village of Monflanquin,  Giselle Bawnik finds herself experiencing unexpected magic and personal transformation as she realizes a lifelong dream of owning a house in France and begins a love affair with the town's residents."

Hope to see you there!

Amicalement,
Giselle

Floating Away in the Dead Sea

March 22, 2018   I am now off the tour and on my own.  How to get to the Dead Sea? Luckily the Tourist Bureau of Israel offers the Dead Sea Shuttle Bus billed as the fastest and most economical way to get to the lowest point on earth from Tel Aviv. It leaves at 6:30 A.M. from a nearby hotel.  I am ready and eager. But wait! Savlanoot, Patience in Hebrew! The shuttle bus picks up  passengers in Jerusalem.  Two hours later, we are still not there. According to the shuttle bus driver, we need to stop at Israel's best felafel place. Happily, we did. That felafel was amazing! My seatmate, Melissa, who reminds me of my nieces starts to chat. She is  from Melbourne, Australia and her parents are Egyptian Christians. She is traveling on her own, brave girl, to check out the Holyland.  When we finally arrive at the Dead Sea, the driver tells us to enjoy ourselves and will be back 6 hours later to pick us up. At this point, I am not sure what there is to do at the Dead Sea for 6 hours plus with my fair skin, I am supposed to stay out of the sun. Whatever! The first order of business is float in the Dead Sea,

I soon realize I am the only tourist ever to bring a swim cap and goggles to the Dead Sea.  I leave them behind  in my locker, but once in the sea, I feel lost without them. All of my swim lessons have been with cap and goggles.  The bottom of the Dead Sea coated with that famous therapeutic mineral rich mud is bumpy and uncomfortable to the touch of bare feet.  I wade further and further out trying to find a comfortable spot. Its too shallow here, too uneven there, Finally, strangely, I am most comfortable quite a bit away from the crowd. Melissa went off on her own ages ago. Ok! Time to float on my back. Oh, no. It is not happening. Will I be the only visitor to the Dead Sea never to float? Of course, I just learned to float back home in swim class about a week ago. Still, this is the Dead Sea, quiet, calm, embracing, salty as hell. After what seems like hours, I lean back and manage to float. Floating, floating floating, face burning under the intensity of the desert sun.  Great! Mission accomplished. Time to stand up and walk back. Uh, oh! I can't stand up. Something is fighting me. I try dog paddling on my back to shore. It works slowly, slowly slowly. No rush. I have 6 hours to kill.  But suddenly, the life guard is shouting at me in his megaphone. "Come back, Come back." What does he think I am doing?" Danger, danger, he shouts." What danger? This is the Dead Sea. That means nothing ever happens or it already did. He is still freaking out as I slowly dog paddle to shore. He finally decides it is time to come in and rescue me, but is clearly  reluctant to get his swim suit wet.  I get closer to him so he does not get  too wet.( I try to be thoughtful even in a crisis).  He grabs my hand shouting "Get up. Get up." I can't get up that quickly. I need to get my balance which he does not seem to understand. He keeps shouting at me to stand up. His Dead Seaside manner needs work.  I tell him I just started to learn to swim. Not sure he understood me.  At last, I stand up. He asks me where I am from." United States, I say. " His unique response. "Welcome to Israel."

People tell me later I was lucky. I floated into a current. I could have floated all the way ` to Jordan. Luckily, I did not know enough to be afraid. Next time, I will take a tour where the guide gives more information.
During the time left at the Dead Sea, I go to the Ahava Beauty Store twice, buy postcards, and find Melissa. We sit under a canopy and watch the scene. Muslims and Jews convene to enjoy the Dead Sea. To specify, Muslim men and Jews convene to enjoy the Dead Sea. The men are in swim trunks floating, playing, laughing. The women are in full burka separated with the children. Suddenly, Melissa and I notice a woman in full burka and shoes entering the sea holding her teenage son's hand.
He helps her to float on her back. She is clearing loving the experience. I am moved by her courage and spirit. I am saddened that such a simple pleasure is not readily approved. But another woman, also in full burka and shoes follows her. Yes!  Feminism  floats and triumphs at the Dead Sea.

What? No pool.

I am standing at the top of Mount Scopus. Below me is Jerusalem.  I studied at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1973-74, a memorable year because the Yom Kippur War broke out shortly after we  had arrived. I returned to Israel in 1976 after my college graduation to work on a kibbutz for a few months. Volunteers picked pears and olives, took care of the babies n the Children's House,  drove tractors, shaved plastic pipes, etc.  Now I am back in Israel on an educational synagogue tour called Discovering Your Jewish Roots. Actually, it feels like my Jewish roots are rediscovering me. I have posted many pictures on Facebook for those who want a visual of the variety and complexity of Israel today.  What struck me the most so far on tour was a visit to a kibbutz. Kibbutzim no longer have Children's Houses. Parents wanted to sleep with their children. They no longer take volunteers as they find today's youth do not work hard, and it results in a financial loss to host them.  Most importantly, the Kibbutz has evolved from a socialistic collective where "ours" has been replaced by a more capitalistic "mine".
The result is a return of the young people to the kibbutz, more incentive to work among its members,
and an economic gain.

Our tour is intense, educational, and fascinating. We are  now in Tsfad where Jewish Mysticism was born.  Although the hotel has a pool, it will not be open until summer. I just learned to float on my back before I left home. My teacher gave me some land exercises  which I can do anywhere. But wait! I am going to the Dead Sea. To be continued......

Really? Inside my head during first Pool Comfort Class.

I now own goggles and two swim caps, one blue, one black. The swim caps are from a company called Friendly Swede, and they essentially sell two for the price of one .Very friendly, indeed!  Ordering this swim gear felt alien and uncomfortable. I went to a local store and tried on several pairs of goggles. None of them felt right.The sales person insisted that the googles must have a tight seal and make a popping sound upon removal.  The pop seemed impossibly unrealistic. So I did what I always do, order the best deal and the best recommended from Amazon.  Next dilemma. What color? So I did what I always do and asked Bill. He picked blue, and that's what I got. Is there a popping sound upon removal of the goggles? No. But they provide good coverage and work just fine.

I show up for my first Pool Comfort Class full of fear. The teacher is super sweet, patient, kind, and compassionate yet firm. She insists I put my head in the water and blow bubbles over and over and over again always checking on my comfort level. I feel very grateful for my goggles and swim cap. It surprises me that it is really possible to see under water with googles. My imagination takes over. I am Jacques Cousteau fearless underwater explorer. Ha! I can't even float or swim. Half way through the class, I feel like crying but am not sure why.  As a teacher, how can I not follow her suggestions? It is important to present myself as a good student, but to whom? She decides it is time to try to float. That seems utterly impossible to me, but I follow the steps she presents. Head in, blow bubbles, lift one leg then the other. I place my palms on her palms. My trust in her trust. Over and over and over again. Finally, by the end of the lesson, I am really floating with her hands parallel to mine. Matt her brother and fellow swim instructor takes the video of the last post. Lesson #1 is over.

MY FIRST PROGRESS REPORT
Well done yesterday, Giselle. You should be very proud of your progress. I'll be sending you your video via We Transfer. So keep an eye out for an e-mail from them. 

A few notes for practicing in between sessions. While developing comfort in the pool we want to progress slowly, securely and smoothly. If you feel confidently that you can practice on your own without causing too much anxiety I have written a few exercises below. If however, you feel that it may amount to too much stress, you can always wait until we have our session together to try out your new skills. What I don't want to have happen is you have an independent experience that causes distress or discomfort and detract from the work you've accomplished thus far. Be proud. You've accomplished great things in just one session.

When you are next in the pool, take a calm 5-10 minutes to yourself. 

• Breath smoothly in through the mouth and out through the nose 6-8 times. Fully inhaling to the diaphragm and exhaling completely out.
• With two hand firmly on the wall, start to blow bubbles, facing down. Continue until you run out of bubbles.
• With two hand firmly on the wall, start to blow bubbles, facing down, lift one leg up behind you. Hold this position until you either run out of bubbles are feel uncomfortable. Repeat, switching legs. Repeat this exercise until you feel completely comfortable with each leg separately.
• Still holding onto the wall with two hands, start blowing bubbles, facing down, lift both legs off the bottom to rest in a supine position. Hold this position until you either run out of bubbles are feel uncomfortable. Repeat until you feel completely comfortable with the exercise. 
• Once you experience calm and relaxation repeatedly, take a moment to observe how your body feels while its floating. What does the water feel like as it surrounds and supports you. Just make simple observations and relax in the knowledge that both your body and the water are supporting you. 

When we come together again next week, we will review what we covered making sure you still feel the same level of comfort we left off with at the end of our first session. Then we will continue to explore how our body relates and balances in the water with other positions and exercises. 

Great work, Giselle. Can't wait until next week!

Can you see me float?

FLOATING!!!!

I  am now taking private lessons to become more comfortable in the water. My teacher Jamee Small
uses the Total Immersion Method. During the first class, I practiced putting my head under water  and blowing bubbles  over and over and over again.  Finally, I practiced suspending one leg, then two legs.
Jamee who is so calm and friendly held onto me gradually letting go until I floated by myself for a few minutes. Major Progress. Yes, I felt unsure, a bit panicky, and needed a healthy dose of self pep talk.
Jamee even gave me homework which I did before Aqua Aerobics Class.   Got the swim cap, the goggles, and hopefully the courage and fortitude to keep on learning how to swim.

Facing Fear

www.turtlesyoga.com

What does fear look like anyway? I suppose it is a very personal creation, each fear different, twisting inside in some dark way.  My fear of water and  the inability to swim taunts me. Here you are in the ocean in Australia; others jumping waves; me fearing for my life. Now here you are in the lovely public pool of Monflanquin; others whooping and laughing as they play and swim; me feeling awkward and a bit pathetic.  Now  here you are in another gorgeous pool, this time in Hong Kong with Bill and Daniel. As they swim laps, I hang out in the training pool behind the aqua gym class; each Chinese woman in her numbered bathing cap smiling and waving at me.  Enough! I appreciate their friendliness, but it's time to take action.

Back in Portland, I resolve to start the process of learning to swim. I am now in an aqua gym class at Turtles. See web site above. The instructor is one of the kindest people I have ever met.  After several months of classes, I love being in the water, can do all kinds of exercises with and without  props. BUT I STILL CAN'T SWIM. I dream I can swim, but I can't. Starting in January, I am taking swimming lessons. Stay tuned.

Hong Kong Fun

 Our final trip of the summer to visit Daniel who has been working in Hong Kong for about a year.
Above pink flamingos at the Kandoorie Farm and Botanical Garden, paradise in the New Territories just outside Hong Kong Island.

 Bill on Lamma Isand where we hiked in the scorching heat and humidity.

 Kamikaze Cave on Lamma Island where the Japanese stored artillery during World War II.

 View from Lamma Island.

 Industry cannot escape us.

My solution to sun burn, Note the Daily Press Bag, a wink at son Michael's coffee shops in Brooklyn. This bag travels all around the world.

 Hong Kong, a city of tall skinny buildings.

 A new twist on the chocolate croissant at the SimplyLife Bakery. Delicious!

 I am on top of the world at Victoria Peak.

 Dried fish, possibly sardines???

 Hong Waffle Sundae. Somehow it works.

 You get the idea. Public transportation here is the way to go. Immaculate, fast, safe and Air Conditioned!!!!!

 Daniel lives in a tall pink building like this one. Harbor view on three sides. Lucky guy!

View from our hotel window. Overall impression of Hong Kong: Nooks and crannies, gritty and clean, tall skinny buildings, stairs and escalators everywhere. Great food. Gorgeous nature.  Mysterious, romantic, and the place where Daniel is happy!