Adaptation

March 29, 2007 - 7:30 AM by Stephanie

Right around the turn of the century when the 2nd intifada (Palestinian uprising) went into full swing, Israel began opening gates to hordes of foreign workers to fill a void in the labor industry as the Palestinian workforce to Israel dropped off.

As a result, today’s guest worker count in Israel is about 10-11,000 strong including a sizeable population of Philippine nationals who largely toil in the private elder care sector.

I always find it interesting to hear a petite Asian woman (or man) rattle off a list (in Hebrew) to the supermarket meat counter guy or argue with her/his wheelchair bound client or utter in exasperation: “Oy, nu?”

So the other day, while eyeing some rather pricey knives at an upscale cookware store in Tel Aviv (think: Sur La Table on a crash diet), I enjoyed eavesdropping on a Hebrew conversation between the salesperson and a Filippina woman who had come in with half a dozen of her Filippina friends.

Filippina woman: Hi hi! How are you?
Saleswoman: Fine fine. You?
FW: Oh fine, thank God.
SW: How is Mrs. Goldberg?
FW: She’s playing bridge with the ladies. We all have a few hours off (laughter)
SW: Good for you. Send my regards.
FW: Remind me of your name again?
SW: Tzipporah
FW: Right. Tzipporah. Tzipporah? You know me, right?
SW: Of course
FW: So you’ll make me a good deal? And also a good deal for my friends?
SW: Of course. Of course.