Guesting

July 20, 2008 - 9:43 AM by Jessica

A significant part of the Israeli summer experience includes hosting guests from abroad. Not that it doesn’t happen during other parts of the year — but the summer is pretty much high season for family and friends…including people who you may not have seen for years, but are now entering that phase of life when their kids are being bar/bat mitzvahed, going on teen tours and family trips and travel abroad is a tad easier.

Lest anyone think that I don’t like hosting, let me say right now that I love it. I relish the opportunity to have people come and stay in my house, to have the late night chats and early morning conversations. or to have them for a meal and give them the chance to see how I live in this place called Israel.

There are the pre-preparations, whether that includes checking out an apartment they want to rent for the duration of their stay, figuring out the meals they want to eat together or making the guestroom bed. Then there is the duration of the visit, when you’re reacquainting yourselves, showing them around town, taking them to the local pool and helping them navigate the map of Israel so they don’t get completely turned around in their rental car. There are visitors who come bearing American treats, from bags of Jelly Bellies, Redskins jerseys, People magazines and silicon baking trays to teenagers who bring a simple bouquet of flowers and those who spring for a great bottle of Israeli wine or a fresh bottle of whisky from duty-free at the airport.

It’s the rare visitor who doesn’t offer to help out, whether by loading the dishwasher, stripping their sheets or taking you out to a great dinner in thanks for your hospitality. But what really comes of these visits are the conversations about your life and theirs. It’s not that we’re doing such different things over here. There’s work, family, mortgages, cars, aging parents, health, all the usual subjects. But when you let people into your bubble of a home life for a few days, they see you in a way that you don’t.

They see your daily struggles and triumphs; the way you converse with your neighbor and negotiate with the “installator” (Hebrew for plumber); your method for traversing Israeli traffic or taking care of your kids. They see your life in a way that you may not, and if you’re lucky, they’ll tell you. It’s a worthwhile compliment for putting out the proverbial sprig of grapes.
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