I went on a date with my Vietnamese friend on our (70 ish) Independence day. Unshaved, she understood only a few words in English, and her “R” is so much more subtle for me to understand…
Nevertheless, it was so wonderful to meet her on the main southern city junction, yet, a small city with some heritage of bravery wrote on the nation’s page-of-history.
Presented her to my father, he was smiling at me, this thin angel walking next to me!
On that night, a couple, in their mid 40s, who are more familiar with more fashioned parts of Israel reached to us, and asked her about her origin. I have advised her not to answer such a question.
She told me that it is okay, and they began to speak.
I have looked towards them and understood two things: I was mistaken: this couple feels deeply lonely here, in their own homeland. … many actually are, the strong Israel, the startup nation.