Until we meet again …

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A little bird told me that there has been a mild level of confusion in pockets of Rhode Island’s Jewish community for the past few months. This confusion, from what I understand, stemmed from my imminent-postponed-imminent departure from The Jewish Voice. That departure is finally here, and I thought: what better way to say “au revoir” to all the people I’ve met through this job than in the newspaper?

 

I use “au revoir” intentionally; I’m moving to France on a work-holiday visa, which allows me to work in most jobs for up to a year. I am moving for goals that have shifted several times over the years, but surely among them is that I want to speak French better. This has been a goal of mine since before I could drive (this is documented; I found a journal entry from when I was 15 that included something to the effect of “when I go to live in France in my twenties”).

While obtaining my visa in late August left me deeply relieved after eight months of frustration with the notoriously impenetrable French bureaucracy, these last few weeks have also seen me in a Janus-like state: looking forward to the future, but also reflecting on the year I’ve spent living in Massachusetts.

As a community journalist, I have written about community goings-on. As there are a zillion things that go into making a community, I got to learn about a zillion topics and meet a zillion kinds of people. I had virtually no “niche,” which I liked because the next assignment was always a surprise.

My first story was about a cook-off, and the last two are about two talented and ambitious young athletes and pickleball – quite possibly the sport that ranks number one for bringing a smile to people’s faces when they hear its name.

In between these stories, I learned about neurology from a musician, how to use tape to make art at a Jewish-Islamic event for children, and about an Israeli minister’s wacky proposal to deport feral cats from Israel. I held a sword and fenced (it was against a dummy, but still!) and did a photo shoot with a giant inflatable sea dragon. I even met one of my childhood heroes, Jane Goodall.

The point is, I’ve done a lot, and I tried to share what I learned and experienced with readers. One of my goals in writing is to be accessible and engaging, so I hope that in reading my work, you learned something too – perhaps something you might not have otherwise learned.

I’m off to learn more in a different way – through the eyes of a working traveler, as opposed to a journalist.

It’s been very cool getting to know people in the Rhode Island/Massachusetts community, and a special shout-out to the team at The Jewish Voice. I will be lucky if I ever work with a team as good and as much fun as Fran Ostendorf, Leah Camara, and, up until recently, Tricia Stearly – not to mention their tolerance for my comfort-seeking penchant for moccasins and loungey sweaters in the office. Much appreciated, ladies!

Shalom/à bientôt/’til next time!

Ariel