“Stranger in a Strange Land:  A Unitarian in Tel Aviv”  Join the Evening Branch of the Women’s Alliance (EBWA) on December 15 to hear Peg Reich, longtime member of UUSS and EBWA, speak about her experiences living in Tel Aviv last winter.  She will describe her life there and show us pictures of Israel, an ancient land where English is widely spoken but where the culture is distinctly different from the U.S.  The focus of Peg’s remarks will be mainly personal, not so much political.

Peg retired two years ago from working in the field of International Education at the University at Albany.  She served as a study abroad advisor and then as Director of International Student Services for the last ten years.  She has traveled internationally a fair amount over the years and was eager, although a bit apprehensive, to try out living in Israel for a few months.   In her retirement Peg has taught English to recent immigrants, enjoys singing in a chorale, playing cello and piano, visiting museums, and editing her grandparents’ letters from a hundred years ago.

We meet in the dining room at 5:45pm for socializing with juice or wine before a catered vegetarian dinner is served at 6:15pm.  Networking, a chance to share with the group something of interest to you, precedes the program.  If you plan to attend the program only, plan on arriving before 8pm.  To make reservations for the dinner, e-mail Gabrielle Reals at ellegr3@gmail.com by Monday, December 12 or by calling her by Tuesday, December 13 at 382-5685 before 8pm. You may request a gluten-free meal when you make your reservations.  You may also bring your own dinner if you prefer.  Cost of the entire evening is $15; program only is $3.  All women are welcome.

December is the month that EBWA women have traditionally collected packages of new panties for the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter. Typically the women arrive at the shelter in emergency mode with few, if any, supplies.  Fresh packages of new underwear are greatly appreciated.  Generally, larger sizes are more popular.  Unwrapped packages (so the size will be clear) and wrappings will be collected until December 15.

Looking ahead on January 26: Jean Quattrocchi, longtime member of the Adirondack Mountain Club, will speak about her experience, Mushing in the Boundary Waters Wilderness of Minnesota.