The Outside Blog Minion Report

Yotveta

Jerusalem Post

Vaad Harabonim of Queens

The Newton D. and Rochelle Becker Family Foundation

I want to learn Hebrew. I started reading the Jerusalem Post on-line because while Googling for resources I discovered this wonderful page. Pretty soon I was also hooked on websites like Vaad Harabonim and the Newton D. & Rochelle Becker Family Foundation's  http://www.learnhebrewprayers.com

Let's not forget iTunes. You can download a lot of free language courses from there. Very interesting stuff if you bother to take the time to look. Coffee Break Spanish from the Radio Lingua Network was my first attempt at learning another language in over twenty years (LOL). I discovered them on iTunes and absolutely love their approach. Funny what you are determined to do when you have small children who will one day be bringing home homework you as a parent may have absolutely no idea how to do. Surely you've heard of the "new math" that every generation of us older folks seems to suffer through. In some states, like Florida, learning Spanish is a mandatory part of the curriculum. Since hubby is Jewish, Hebrew automatically goes on the table. Thus my adventures in language and culture begins with something yummy for the tummy (LOL). Everyone has an intangible incentive-button to push. Mine happens to be eye and food candy. You can get a lot out of me if you bring the right Hagen Daz over, or introduce me to a Spanking-A restaurant, but I digress... :-)

It is not enough to want to learn the language. You should immerse yourself into the culture. You need to understand people to communicate effectively with them. It may seem like a small statement to say, but it is huge if you really get the power of interpersonal communications. You can learn a lot about people by breaking bread with them. The next time you go out to eat, observe your surroundings and ask yourself why you frequent a place. Sometimes we do things out of habit, other times we do what is convenient...

Why not do something different? Go to Union Turnpike and 188 Street in Fresh Meadows. Find Yotveta. Ask them to select the most popular dishes requested and enjoy a fine dining experience.  I am still working my way through the menu, so we shall be having a few more conversations about this subject. It is time for me to go, but before I go, I must say thank you:

May God bless my most excellent girlfriend Susana Isakharova. She has been my cultural guide to all things Israeli in Queens County, New York.  She has impeccable taste when it comes to great kosher restaurants so I decided it would be fun to share what we've been up to while I stumble through my Russian-Jewish etiquette and enjoy delicious food candy for the soul. If you read my blog you already know how I feel about my eye candy so toss food candy right up there with me being crazy about my little minions. If you don't, let's just say I am a foodie paradise kinda gal. Yotveta is a foodie paradise kinda place. Unassuming, intimate, tasty... well... very, very tasty (LOL). I will keep eating until I've tried almost everything on the menu at least once. This may take a while... (Yay!)

I guess we know what my next blog post will be about... (LOL) Go enjoy your day and pick a new place to eat of your choice. Stop doing what you always do. Do something new. Have fun with it. :-)