Good-bye Iris

Saying good-bye is part of our life. When I was young saying good-bye used to be really difficult but growing older makes you strong and immune. With the globe shrinking and traveling is so much easier (let aside my carbon foot-print) meeting your friends is many times just few clicks away.

Last weekend my ex-flatmate and good friend Iris had her party - actually her very last party on the island. Few weeks back she has quit her job and already planned her next stop to another exotic part of the world - China. Spending many evenings with Iris was pleasant and I will miss it bunch.

From ByeBye Iris a...

The very same weekend I packed my luggage and actually most of my belongings to start my own mini-adventure in Tel-Aviv (for 3 months). Although visiting home for so many times since I moved on October 2006, this time it felt a lot different.

The day before I left, I had to say Shalom to many of my friends which is literally my Family. It was not so sad but defo emotional. Missing them was part of it, but realizing how many people I really love, care of and beloved by was overwhelming.

So I'm now on a work assignment back to my home-country which I miss so much. It's been MAD and SUPER busy around here. I hope I will slow down the pace and get into summery relaxish mood. I doubt it will happen anytime soon - but let me stay optimistic.

Iris - all the best dear. I've never seen anyone as happy as yourself and I hope your constantly cheerful being will surround your new friends.

From ByeBye Iris a...

Iris Goodbye BBQ

My dear housemate/friend Ruth blogged after the nice BBQ evening we hosted in our house.

From Iris Goodbye BBQ

Here it is for your convenience

Bringing the sunshine to Ireland by Ruth

Yesterday we had a bbq in our garden. It was the first one I've had in my house, in Ireland!

Somehow it is difficult to associate barbecues with this country. The sun has been pleasant to us during the last few days and we grabbed the opportunity to feast It. We got our little bbq set a couple of days ago, I still cannot deal with the idea of having disposable ones. They were a novelty to me when I came here..but then again it's Ireland..a country blessed by its showers.

We invited a few friends. Mediterranean blood kicking in, we were worried we won't be having enough food for all. Alon made his beef kebabs, I mad my tofu kebabs..then we had mushrooms in a balsamico/honey marinade, Quorn sausages, garlic & wine sausages, pork sausages, beef burgers; bread - wholemeal, mixed seed, white, mediterrenean loaf (M&S); Greek salad; tahini, tzatziki, marinated olives, cheeses..all washed down with white wine and champagne. Then we had lemon cheesecake, irish mocha cheesecake, and fresh strawberries..and Tea to finish all off!

Being 3 Israelis, a Greek and a Maltese amongst the Irish, German and Dutch I felt 'we' brought some Med element to it all.. could have been louder! Oh yes all this was accompanied by background music. No..there was no latin music..it was Madonna's latest album..and that's the queer touch for you ;)

That's sunshine to me..it's the pleasant, late and relaxed nights outside with friends.

Other Photos:
Iris Home Good byeBQ by Milli

BBQ photo album by Ruth

are you GAY?

While on the Andamans I've spent most of my time with my fellow diving course students. One was special in particular. A beautiful girl (an actress/model), well educated, with spectacular poetic English and noble manners.

Earlier this week we had another catch-up correspondence on Facebook where I mentioned a guy I was dating. This was her respond:

"ok alon, u said, u r dating a guy? u mean u r my gay friend?? :) if yes, europe is the right place to be in because ppl dnt consider u out-caste like in america or most other countries. i'm so excited to know this, for some reason!! does ur family know??"

So why am I writing about it anyway? Because I was shocked!
Beside the fact that I was sure she knew I was gay (how can it be more obvious?) every now and then I come across amazing people that never had any interaction with the "scene" or with "gay/queer people" and I get a reality shake.

Since I'm spending most of my time in a very particular environment and even more particular circle of friends around in Europe (or Israel) I tend to forget that in many places LGBT is yet to become visible or even far beyond that - do they exist?

"what do you mean by gay-friendly? do you mean I need to live with 2 gay men?", 2 weeks ago, a random phone call from a girl trying to arrange viewing. Dublin, Ireland

"I've only seen gays on TV. OMG, this is sooo coool" Elleni, a good friend of mine from Ethiopia

Here's a funny example for the extreme opposite:


It also reminds me that Doron purchased the domain cure-homosexuality.org and we're still discussing what should be there. It will probably be how silly is when people want to change the nature and try to help people who search for "How to cure homosexuality"