From Nation's Capital to Nation's Capital: The Azza Street Spy

Final Welfare Installment and Other Money Issues
It's been a long time since I've posted, but not b.c of lack of action here on Azza street. I'm accumulating a list of entries I would like to post, when I find the time. Ultimately, I am being occupied by positive things here in Israel.

This week I hit another aliyah milestone: I received my 8th and final immigrant welfare installment! The milestone brings me mixed feelings for obvious reasons. I would like to receive cash deposits in my bank account indefinitely, just like I would like to pay almost-no rent forever. However, now that this era is over, another layer of my "newbee" status is officially removed. Side note: the payments are called "absorption basket" (or, sal klitah), not welfare. But, let's be honest, it's really welfare.

Once these payments end, new immigrants can start to apply for unemployment. My absorption counselor forgot that I have a job and told me before Pesach that I should apply so as to ensure a continuous stream of money. I told her that I work limited hours and receive limited income. Perhaps if I am underemployed as a new immigrant, I can still receive some welfare-type perk. Again mixed news: I make too much for government assistance. While I would be happy to take their money, it's nice to know that someone thinks I'm a grown up and capable of supporting myself.

In other money-related news: My rent and housing expenses have just gone up significantly. I am actually responsible for market-value rent and the utilities, unlike in my previous gated community. I still get a pass on city property tax, which is really high in my neighborhood. I have to go to City Hall to apply for the discount, which is a 90% reduction from the assessed rate and lasts for 12 months. After that, I might not be able to afford my apartment anymore :( But, that will be on next year's lease.

On a side note, I am very pleased to see that the dollar is sinking. Normally changes in foreign currency do not affect me. I am completely engrossed in the shekel economy: I am paid in NIS and pay my bills in NIS. On some macroeconomic level, fluctuations in the dollar and euro presumably affect me. But it is too indirect and invisible for me to feel it. However, there is one exception. My rent is charged in dollars and paid in NIS. This is common practice in Israel and other countries where the local currency is historically not stable. Now, my income is fixed in NIS and my rent became cheaper b.c it is tied to the sinking dollar. Yeah! While I selfishly hope this trend persists, I would like to see it last at least until 1 June, one more rent check.

And, as you just read, some of my income is now terminated. While the immigrant welfare was not even enough to support oneself, it was a very welcome supplement. Following this increase in expenses and decrease in expenses, good news: I got an increase in my hours at work! Since mid-Novemeber I was a 50% employee assigned to 4 Kindergartens, subbing at an elementary school whose school psychologist went on maternity leave, and the standard professional development activities (supervision, continuing ed courses, staff meetings, etc.). This job is sufficiently stressful that I would not want to add additional schools to my load. However, I was asked to overhaul the professional library of psych services. The library has fallen to benign neglect, and I started this new role awhile after I was approached. They couldn't find the keys to the library and I could not access the books :)

Rather than call myself the "librarian", I call myself, "the one responsible for the library." A more accurate and less pretentious title. So far I am enjoying working with the books and like that my paycheck is getting bigger. I believe I was approached b.c the director knew that I wanted to augment my income, not b.c she knew that I used to work in a library when I was an undergrad. That summer job involved working at McKeldin (graduate library at UMCP) assisting the acquisitions department by doing the initial processing of the new Hebrew books in their collection. At the time there was a major donation of older books and new ones. They needed someone literate in Hebrew to start the acquisition process, and I got some basic library training. This came in handy once I started grad school and nearly moved into the library during the tough dissertation episodes.

My boss at work seemed surprised and pleased with the professional way I've been approaching this task. Definitely a positive development for multiple reasons.

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