Awakening the sensory system

Yes, after one month of living in the middle east my midwestern roots are still adjusting to the tastes, touches, smells, sights, and sounds of Israel.  They say that the olfactory system is the strongest sense. I'm not sure that my body will ever be able not to cringe at the scents of garbage, urine/feces, exhaust, cigarette smoke, and body odor that line the streets of Tel Aviv.   Rather, I am developing the compensatory strategy of predicting when to hold my breath and breathe out of my mouth.  The second most obvious attack on my sensory system has been through the auditory channel.  My verbal memory is not naturally strong so I have to intentionally remember new Hebrew words, search for their definitions, write them down, and find opportunities to use them repetitively.  Additionally, living in the heart of Tel Aviv requires an adjustment from the silence of suburbia to the horns, chatter, alarms, and animal fights that sometimes wake me from my slumber.  My visual system is learning to keep my eyes peeled to the ground while walking my dog in case a sudden need to dodge feces or an angry street cat arises.  Visually, I am in awe of the Mediterranean sunsets, exotic faces, and Hebrew letters.   I will expand the tactile system to include vestibular sensations and anyone who rides the bus in Israel would agree.  My abdominal muscles and balance are learning to protect my body from the shock of sudden braking or weaving through traffic.  After the purchase of a floormat, dustbuster, slippers, and the station to wipe off Indi's paws, I can occasionally walk barefooted in my apartment.  Living in a sandy urban beachtown with three shedding females makes for sticky floors.  The tastes of Israel are easy to get used to.  While living on top of the open market results in more garbage, street cats, and homeless hanging around it also provides constant access to fresh produce.  It's easy to be a vegetarian here and I happily balance my fruit and veggie intake with red wine and desserts.  Overall, my sensory system has been awakened in both positive and negative ways and my reflexes are becoming more developed.  We'll see what happens when I'm wearing short sleeves in December!!!