LUE: Generation 1.5
Dec. 17th, 2024 10:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
notquiteisraeliTonight we went to a poetry reading and discussion as guests of our friend Robbie, who was reading poetry and participating in the discussion. I was prepared not to understand much. We were there, after all, strictly as moral support for Robbie. It can be tough going, getting people to support your literary ambitions.
To my utter astonishment, I understood nearly the whole thing. And even better, I found it extremely interesting.
Generation 1.5 is a literary movement in Israel that's been emerging over the past decade. Its members were born in the former Soviet Union but came to Israel as young children. Because the Russian immigrant community in Israel formed very strong ties and is very close knit, most of them grew up in that bubble, with a foot in both worlds - speaking Hebrew at school but Russian with family. Some still write in Russian (though not exclusively). As an immigrant myself, I found the discussion very relevant.
More to the point, I am incredibly surprised that I followed so well.
When the reading was over we retired to Beersheva's fringe theater for an afterparty that started out intellectual in tone and devolved into gushing over British TV shows. It was heaven.
Now we're home. Plans for the weekend include a trip to Tel Aviv to visit my father-in-law. Next week is game night with Eyal's coworkers Peter and Regev. Regev is bringing his girlfriend, so thankfully it won't be a total sausagefest.
Chanukah starts a week from tomorrow night. During Chanukah we'll celebrate one night with family in the Central District, probably coinciding with Eyal's birthday.
And that's all for now.
To my utter astonishment, I understood nearly the whole thing. And even better, I found it extremely interesting.
Generation 1.5 is a literary movement in Israel that's been emerging over the past decade. Its members were born in the former Soviet Union but came to Israel as young children. Because the Russian immigrant community in Israel formed very strong ties and is very close knit, most of them grew up in that bubble, with a foot in both worlds - speaking Hebrew at school but Russian with family. Some still write in Russian (though not exclusively). As an immigrant myself, I found the discussion very relevant.
More to the point, I am incredibly surprised that I followed so well.
When the reading was over we retired to Beersheva's fringe theater for an afterparty that started out intellectual in tone and devolved into gushing over British TV shows. It was heaven.
Now we're home. Plans for the weekend include a trip to Tel Aviv to visit my father-in-law. Next week is game night with Eyal's coworkers Peter and Regev. Regev is bringing his girlfriend, so thankfully it won't be a total sausagefest.
Chanukah starts a week from tomorrow night. During Chanukah we'll celebrate one night with family in the Central District, probably coinciding with Eyal's birthday.
And that's all for now.
