I am Marilyn and I am originally from Antwerp Belgium. I have a Polish grandfather and a Greek grandmother. I moved to Tel Aviv in 2007 for work and I fell in love with the city.
When and how did you decide to move to Tel Aviv? Is it complicated to settle down there?
I moved to Tel Aviv in 2007 without really deciding it in advance. I just thought I'll give it a chance and come for a month or so and see if I can find my way, work etc.
It's never easy to settle in a new place even if you think you know the country from visiting and traveling there.
Have you ever lived abroad before? How many countries have you lived in or visited?
I've never lived elsewhere but I've traveled the world when I toured with Leonard Cohen: Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, all of Europe, etc.
What do you like the most about Tel Aviv/Israel?
I like the dynamics, the livelihood, the sun, the palm trees, the action, the vibe, it's 24/7!
How is/was the cultural shock? What are the main differences with Belgium, your home country?
Maybe it's my Greek roots but I'm much more at ease in a Mediterranean country. Belgians and Israelis are very different. A lot of the little manifestation of the differences are described in the articles in the blog, from little annoying habits to things I miss in Belgium. In a more general way, it is indeed a very different culture and it's hard to describe this in a few lines without simplifying things, it's not just black and white, warm and cold. But of course the Mediterranean life is a different temper. It's related to the climate. We're in the Middle East, a bit of Europe, USA, Africa and Asia: that's a lot of vibes that mix in one country.
Do you miss anything from your homeland?
I miss mommy's food and the supermarket, and the bread, and my favorite sandwich!
When did you start your blog? For what reasons?
I clearly started my blog in order to change the opinion and prejudice people have about Tel Aviv and Israel in Europe. With the blog, I finally have a chance to show them the great sides of the city.
Did you make new friends with your blog?
I don't blog to make friends, I have enough friends, but I am glad to see I managed to change people's thoughts on Israel and they'd even come visit!
Why did you register on
https://www.expat.com and what do you think of the website?
It's a great forum for people to meet, and share common thoughts and feelings to feel familiar surrounded by other strangers in a new country.
Which advice would you give to the other Expat blog members who would like to settle in Tel Aviv?
Keep in mind Israelis are like the sabra, the cactus fruit: hard and prickly from the outside, soft and sweet from the inside.
Like Shimon Peres said, focus on what connects us and not what separates us.
