All of this summer’s TAMID Fellows are blogging their way through the experience. We see blogging as a way to prompt deep reflection on the impact that the program is having on each Fellow, as well as a good communication tool. You can find liks to each Fellow’s blog at http://tamidgroup.org/index.php?content=fellowship
Adam Hollenberg ( http://tamidhollenberg.wordpress.com/ ):
We sell Alvarion’s networking equipment to network operators. In the United States, this would be a comapny like AT&T or Verizon Wireless, however, most of Alvarion’s business is with smaller customers. Anyways, the meeting was more like a shouting match, and it was not very organized. Much to my suprise though, it was just as productive, if not more productive, than it would have been ahd it been done in orderly, American fashion. This cultural difference is really fascinating.
Aviv Gilboa ( http://avivgilboa.wordpress.com/ )
The streets are packed, the women beautiful, and the food indescribable; but that’s not what makes this place unique. It’s the fact that only in Israel will the guy sitting next to me on the plane, who I exchanged not but 5 words with, offer me a ride to my destination when he saw me waiting at the terminal with all my luggage. That only in Israel can I walk by a local liquor store and ask the owner what he thinks about the current political climate and receive the most honest answer I’ve ever heard. Only in Israel, does the chef who serves me my local meat sandwich ask me to compare and contrast American and Israeli women to the best of my ability. Only in Israel can a group of 10-year-old newly immigrated Sudanese refugees have the audacity to challenge a group of 4 American college frat guys to a game of night soccer, and win. Only in Israel can all this happen in one simple summer day.
Evan Millman ( http://millblog.wordpress.com/ )
Living in the “White City” (Tel Aviv) is a totally unique experience. I live just minute away from hundreds of restaurants, fresh fruit stands, and clubs of all types. Most of the people in the city are bilingual enough to help you get around, but I often find myself lost in a flood of Hebrew-only signs and posters. At first I was too bashful to ask for directions and information, but in order to get from A to B in Tel Aviv you must sometimes ask ten different people to reach a destination. To thrive in this city, I know I must adopt the Israeli mindset of being blunt and maintaining a hard outer shell when trying to get things done.
Jeff Ong ( http://tamidjeff.wordpress.com/ )
fortunate to be living here for two months. As my time here progresses, my hope is to forge and foster a clearer vision for what the TAMID fellowship can look like in the future. It’s an interesting position to be in, seeing as the fellowship is just two years young. We have an incredible opportunity, I do believe. Will try to come up for air every once in awhile to get a better picture.
Justin Federbush ( http://jfederbush.wordpress.com/ ):
I am eager to finally capture what i call the three L package– Learn, Live, and Love– in Israel… Yes, i have been to israel multiple times, but never have i had the opportunity to enter Israel with a team of hungry young adults like myself for eight weeks of unmatched experience. Check out recent posts from my Tamid colleagues to get a taste of what i am talking about.
Sam Shapiro ( http://saminisrael.wordpress.com/ )
I came here with TAMID in order to get a better understanding of Israeli business culture, but in doing so, I have begun assimilating into the ethnic culture here as well. I eat shnitzel, falafel, and shwarma every day (see below). I grumble when the light turns green, and cars take more than a second to begin moving forward. I walk to the shuk and haggle for my groceries. It’s a pretty cool feeling, knowing that I can live and prosper in a totally different country on my own.
Tammy Ellenhorn ( http://tamidtammy.wordpress.com/ ):
On a less tech-related note, I’m getting a good dose of Israeli office culture. This is my fourth internship, so I’ve had the experience of working in an American office environment. However, the very direct Israeli manner of speech and the constant flying of Hebrew across the office rooms has taken getting used to. While my Blonde coworkers have their fair share of fun (short games of charades in the late afternoon and the occasional office feast), they are incredibly hard workers. They also aren’t used to having interns because Israeli kids my age are in the army. I came in with the assumption that because Blonde had seen my resume and interviewed me, I’d be entrusted with some really cool projects. It’s definitely taken time to earn their trust, which has been a good experience for me, because it pushes me to work hard and play the game. It was good for me to be reminded that I need to prove myself.
Yaniv Saraf ( http://ysaraf11.wordpress.com/ ):
As my second week of work ended, I felt less and less like a tourist and more like a person immersed in the Israeli way of life. Work has become a routine, I’ve become more familiar with the areas around me, and I’ve even been able to pick up some Hebrew. This week, my new task was to gather information about a certain company and its competitors. To find this information I would have to do research on the company’s history, background, market, share price, products and income statement. Doing this task did take a while but having this practice has made me aware of what key aspects to look for when trying to invest in any type of company. I’m always surrounded by experienced professionals who know their field very well, so I never hesitate to ask questions and learn from what they have to say.
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