Post by Lori on Oct 25, 2016 20:41:02 GMT
Full Name
Isidore Yosef Nussenbaum
Nicknames
His parents always call him Isidore and refuse to address him as anything else, but he prefers Izzy or Iz. Some of the older students in the newsletter refer to him as Camera Guy so he's kind of made a habit of answering to that as well.
Age/Birthday
15/March 19 at 2:35 a.m.
Zodiac
Pieces
Reputation
Izzy, growing up, was usually known as the weird kid. He grew up on the edge of a pretty large Jewish community, but went to a school where Catholic kids still ruled the majority. A lot of the kids didn't understand why Izzy didn't celebrate Christmas or why he had to eat different or a lot of things he did. Izzy's hoping to shed that reputation now that he's on his own at Metric and can get away from doing everything his parents forced him to do.
Job
He sometimes helps out in the mailroom at Metric. It's mostly organizing and making sure things are in the right place - the little things, really - but it's something.
Isidore Yosef Nussenbaum
Nicknames
His parents always call him Isidore and refuse to address him as anything else, but he prefers Izzy or Iz. Some of the older students in the newsletter refer to him as Camera Guy so he's kind of made a habit of answering to that as well.
Age/Birthday
15/March 19 at 2:35 a.m.
Zodiac
Pieces
Reputation
Izzy, growing up, was usually known as the weird kid. He grew up on the edge of a pretty large Jewish community, but went to a school where Catholic kids still ruled the majority. A lot of the kids didn't understand why Izzy didn't celebrate Christmas or why he had to eat different or a lot of things he did. Izzy's hoping to shed that reputation now that he's on his own at Metric and can get away from doing everything his parents forced him to do.
Job
He sometimes helps out in the mailroom at Metric. It's mostly organizing and making sure things are in the right place - the little things, really - but it's something.
Class
Freshman at Metric High
Major
Photography
Grades
Izzy's an average student. His grades were good enough to get him into Metric so that's really all that matters.
Friends
Justice Dawson is one friend Izzy was fortunate enough to make at Metric. Though they are decidedly different, she seems very accepting of Izzy for who he is. They have a math class together which neither enjoy but they motivate each other to get through homework. As of now Justice is the only person Izzy is comfortable photographing other than animals; he sees something in her dances through his camera lens which he wants to capture and thinks is very interesting. Izzy is hoping that Justice will continue to be his friend throughout their years at Metric Academy.
Vinny Hathaway is his other good friend, much more similar to him compared to Justice. Vinny is also a photography major and their personalities appear very much cut from the same cloth. If there's anyone Izzy feels he can relate to, it's Vinny. Much as he enjoys spending time with Justice it's nice to have someone on the same page as him sometimes. The three of them hit it off from the start and it's not surprising to see them together. Although it would be nice if Vinny would stop hinting about Justice and Izzy becoming a couple. It makes Izzy more out of place than usual. Can't they all just be friends who love spending time together...?
Enemies
TBD
Interested in
Izzy has his own definition of what he is. He refers to himself as pan - just pan, not pansexual specifically. He likes people in general based on who they are on the inside, not what they do or how they look. Even though his parents want him to mostly be friends with Jewish kids who understand his obligations and religion and eventually end up with a Jewish girl, Izzy doesn't care who he's around. He just wants the people he's associated with in general to be good people. And if he ends up being interested in a Catholic, Islamic or whatever person...then that's who he's interested in.
Clubs/Organizations
His parents want him to be part of Hillel except Metric, to Izzy's knowledge, doesn't have a Hillel. And he doesn't go out of his way to be a big part of any temple in a near Salem. But he sometimes does photography work for Metric's newsletter so that's something.
Freshman at Metric High
Major
Photography
Grades
Izzy's an average student. His grades were good enough to get him into Metric so that's really all that matters.
Friends
Justice Dawson is one friend Izzy was fortunate enough to make at Metric. Though they are decidedly different, she seems very accepting of Izzy for who he is. They have a math class together which neither enjoy but they motivate each other to get through homework. As of now Justice is the only person Izzy is comfortable photographing other than animals; he sees something in her dances through his camera lens which he wants to capture and thinks is very interesting. Izzy is hoping that Justice will continue to be his friend throughout their years at Metric Academy.
Vinny Hathaway is his other good friend, much more similar to him compared to Justice. Vinny is also a photography major and their personalities appear very much cut from the same cloth. If there's anyone Izzy feels he can relate to, it's Vinny. Much as he enjoys spending time with Justice it's nice to have someone on the same page as him sometimes. The three of them hit it off from the start and it's not surprising to see them together. Although it would be nice if Vinny would stop hinting about Justice and Izzy becoming a couple. It makes Izzy more out of place than usual. Can't they all just be friends who love spending time together...?
Enemies
TBD
Interested in
Izzy has his own definition of what he is. He refers to himself as pan - just pan, not pansexual specifically. He likes people in general based on who they are on the inside, not what they do or how they look. Even though his parents want him to mostly be friends with Jewish kids who understand his obligations and religion and eventually end up with a Jewish girl, Izzy doesn't care who he's around. He just wants the people he's associated with in general to be good people. And if he ends up being interested in a Catholic, Islamic or whatever person...then that's who he's interested in.
Clubs/Organizations
His parents want him to be part of Hillel except Metric, to Izzy's knowledge, doesn't have a Hillel. And he doesn't go out of his way to be a big part of any temple in a near Salem. But he sometimes does photography work for Metric's newsletter so that's something.
Body
Izzy's pretty tall for his age, at least he thinks so. He stands at 5'9 and last he checked he's around 139 pounds. His body's more than likely still in the process of developing so his muscles and figure aren't all there yet. It also doesn't help that he has to avoid certain foods and his diet is strict as is.
Eye Color
Blue
Hair
His hair is light brown and pretty thin, though in certain lighting he has gotten mistaken as a red head. When Izzy doesn't get a hair cut for a while and his hair grows it falls into kind of a swoop.
Style
Izzy likes to dress in more of a retro style. Sometimes he'll wear a hat, especially when it gets colder outside. He always keeps a yamaka for trips to temple or for certain dinners, even though he kind of hates wearing it. Regular hats are much more comfortable and they don't need anything to hold them up. He also hates turtlenecks.
Ethnicity
Caucasian/Israeli/Hungarian. Israeli is from his mother's side and his father's ancestors are beleived to be from Hungary.
Playby
Corey Fogelmanis
Izzy's pretty tall for his age, at least he thinks so. He stands at 5'9 and last he checked he's around 139 pounds. His body's more than likely still in the process of developing so his muscles and figure aren't all there yet. It also doesn't help that he has to avoid certain foods and his diet is strict as is.
Eye Color
Blue
Hair
His hair is light brown and pretty thin, though in certain lighting he has gotten mistaken as a red head. When Izzy doesn't get a hair cut for a while and his hair grows it falls into kind of a swoop.
Style
Izzy likes to dress in more of a retro style. Sometimes he'll wear a hat, especially when it gets colder outside. He always keeps a yamaka for trips to temple or for certain dinners, even though he kind of hates wearing it. Regular hats are much more comfortable and they don't need anything to hold them up. He also hates turtlenecks.
Ethnicity
Caucasian/Israeli/Hungarian. Israeli is from his mother's side and his father's ancestors are beleived to be from Hungary.
Playby
Corey Fogelmanis
Positives
Sensitive; Peaceful; Tolerant; Multifaceted; Fast Learner; Risk taker
Negatives
Socially Awkward; Self conscience; Restrictive; Emotionally fragile; Serious; Tendency to lie; Prejudiced (courtesy of a somewhat sheltered life)
Likes
Animals; Taking photos; Fantasy novels; Roleplaying; Card games; Pirate booty; Documentaries; His pets; Turkey with cheese (even though he's not allowed); Pringles (despite the fact they make him sick); Tacos; Dr. Pepper
Dislikes
His food allergy; Temple; Turtlenecks; Bacon; Origami; Hunting; Fur clothes; Regulations; Expectations; Animal abusers; Steak; Flip flops; Being forced into anything; Small spaces
Other
Izzy has a slight tendency to tap his foot. It's not because his impatient or that it's a nervous reaction; it's just a thing he sort of does.
Due to his parents nitpicking at things, Izzy can be sensitive to criticism.
Family
Father - Eli Avram Nussenbaum, Accountant - Eli grew up in a more Unorthodox Jewish home. He did fast during certain holidays and occasionally kept Kosher, but didn't go out of his way to attend temple nor was hesitant about working on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. However it was always obvious he was going to marry into Jewish faith without question. His wife Davinia was more religious than he and got him to attend temple and follow a more Orthodox lifestyle. While Eli has grown stricter over the years he can still be laid back about his heritage at times. For example, although technology or electricity shouldn't be touched on the Sabbath Eli will watch a movie every other week. He doesn't force this lifestyle on his kids, much unlike Davinia, though will give them the warning when they should stick to something. He is the proud father of three boys and a girl and hopes that they will keep their religion as a strong part of their lives.
Mother - Davinia Shaina Nussebbaum, Travel Agent - Davinia grew up in a very religious household, so to say if she lightened up at all over the years would be unbelievable. Her older brother is a rabbi, as was her grandfather, so temple was always a big part in her life. She keeps Kosher, acknowledges the Sabbath, spends certain holidays in temple and has only not fasted when she was pregnant or sick. She was very much looking into names for her kids that she felt represented their religion, hence names like Levi and Israel. Davninia has been to her homeland three times for birthright - once in high school and twice in college. Her journey to Israel partially inspired her to become a travel agent, so she could help people go on incredible journeys of discovery as well. She is much stricter with her kids than Eli and can be somewhat of a helicopter mom on certain things, especially when it comes to Judaism. She keeps Kosher and has separate sets of china for everything. As a result she will sometimes make food that doesn't always agree with Izzy.
Bother - Ezra Levi Nussenbaum, Grad Student - Ezra is 23 and in his first year as a grad student at Georgetown. He is planning on going into the medical field but is going back for another degree as a backup. Ezra is the oldest of his siblings and is what some might call an 'ideal' big brother. He set good examples, he did what his parents told him to and has never gotten into any trouble. Ezra is a little more laid back with his religion but has gotten away with it due to his activity in temple. In the past he has done activities with students and tutored Hebrew. His status as oldest brother and essentially the 'golden child' of the family has given him a bit of a cocky attitude.
Brother - Israel Dovid Nussenbaum, Student - Israel was a surprise to his family. Davinia found out she was pregnant with him when Izzy was only four months old. Israel is a year and three days younger than Izzy, making his birthday March 18. Due to the closeness in age between the brothers, Izzy didn't get a lot of time with his parents and Israel got much more attention. Israel was a colicky baby and had a few minor health problems, so Izzy being a healthy child save for his allergy meant almost nothing. It didn't help that Israel also answers to the nickname Issy. Last year he became a man through his Bar Mitzvah. He has saved a majority of the money he received from that day, proving that like Eli, Israel is very good with money and numbers. His best subject is Math and is overall a very good student.
Sister - Avigail "Avi" Danya Nussenbaum, Student - Avigail typically goes by Avi and is eight years old. She is just learning about Judaism and juggling Hebrew school with her regular schooling. Avi and Israel are a little bit more spoiled than Ezra and Izzy, although Avi isn't as receptive to it as Israel. A lot of Avi's friends are Catholic, causing her to be jealous of them. She's always hearing about them putting together a Christmas tree or going Easter egg hunting. The only thing she really has over their heads is she gets eight nights of gifts in December instead of just one day. She is struggling dealing with that as well as trying to handle two schools during the week.
Pets - Boomer, Dolly, Scruff - Izzy and his family have three pets altogether. Boomer is a young hound mix, though they're unsure of what specifically he's mixed with. He was their first pet, adopted from a shelter shortly before Dolly. Boomer loves to run and is very protective over Avi. Dolly was found in a field by Eli during one of his lunch breaks about four months after the family adopted Boomer. Dolly is a maine coon, and is estimated to be two or three years old currently. She is small but expected to grow into a much bigger cat. Dolly, unlike Boomer, prefers to chill by herself though will welcome some attention once in a while. She is a calm kitty, at times sitting so still she can be mistaken for a doll. Scruff is specifically Izzy's cat and lives with him in the dorm at Metric. He stays in Izzy's room except for trips to the vet and when Izzy's roommates aren't around. Scruff is five or six years old and declawed prior to adoption; he was left up for adoption for some reason or another by his previous owner. Izzy wanted to make sure he had one friend when he started at Metric and, since he's always been very good with animals, Scruff was the best choice.
Backstory
Izzy was born at 2:35 am on March 19. He grew up in West Virginia, right at the edge of a pretty Jewish-filled community. He joined Ezra, who was eight years his senior. However it wasn't just the two boys for very long. When Izzy was only a few months old, Davinia found out she was pregnant again. It was a bit difficult for the family to focus on an elementary schooler, a baby and a pregnancy. Because of how involved Ezra was in school - both public and Hebrew - he always had something going on the family had to be part of or see. The pregnancy wasn't exactly easier either; Davinia had way too many food cravings that she refused to satisfy due to keeping Kosher and she had numerous bouts of morning sickness. Israel was born three days after Izzy's birthday, which would eventually cause their parties to be merged together. Things didn't get much easier after that for Izzy, as Israel was a colicky baby who required a lot of attention.
With five mouths to feed there was little time to satisfy everyone's dinner cravings. This made it difficult for Izzy, who'd often get sick after having burgers or sandwiches for dinner. A few other foods gave him stomach problems though it was unsure why until he was diagnosed with a gluten allergy. Though perhaps allergic reaction isn't the perfect term; Izzy can have very little before he feels the need to throw up. Although certain things Izzy loves to eat, he can't due to his allergy. Additionally, living in a household that always kept Kosher made it even more difficult. There was still no time for Davinia to separate meals nor make sure Izzy's food wasn't contaminated with gluten products. He'd get sick a lot as a result and although it was recommended at points for him not to keep Kosher, to be certain he'd get any additional nutrients, his mother would hear nothing of it. The only time Izzy got to eat whatever he wanted was when he was out of the house and away from his parents.
In the Nussenbaum house, it wasn't just about keeping Kosher. On certain holidays they would have to fast - go without eating from sunrise to sundown. Friday night into Saturday afternoon all electricity would be off. No lights, no answering the phone and no TV - save for Eli's occasional movies. Sometimes it had to be done for his sake as well as the boys'. The family would attend temple every Saturday and Izzy and his brothers had to go to Hebrew school in addition to their regular school. Izzy's time in public school wasn't all that fun. Because of the zoning, he didn't attend elementary school with a lot of the other Jewish kids in his neighborhood. They would go to school in Peterstown while Izzy would be in the next town over. That school had a mostly Catholic population, causing them to think anyone who didn't celebrate Christmas was weird. They didn't understand why some kids might wear a hijab. Or why some didn't go Easter egg hunting. Or why some of the kids, like Izzy, wouldn't eat lunch at a certain time. Izzy didn't like living with that 'weird' reputation. And it didn't help he felt as though Hebrew school wasn't for him either. He didn't catch onto learning the language as easily and he was a nervous wreck preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.
But at points there was just no time to think about Izzy. When he was seven his sister Avi was born, his parents' attention was further divided. All four of the kids have been expected to keep the traditions alive in the family and do exactly what their parents have said. Izzy didn't like feeling that way, like these were things he was forced to do. Certain things he didn't have a problem with; he didn't care if they had to eat at a certain time or if some days he had to be home by sundown. But other things - temple and Hebrew school mostly - he hated going to places he didn't want to be at. So Izzy found his own escapes. One of them was fantasy novels. He liked thinking about places with magic and realms that had their own rules. Bridge to Terabithia was one of his favorite stories and movies. Novels like that also got him interested in roleplaying. Though he never found his own group to play with specifically, Izzy liked the idea of creating his own characters and giving them special traits. And being called a nerd was way better than just the weird kid!
Photography was a whole new world of escape for Izzy. There were no rules and there were no right or wrong answers. He could take pictures of anything he wanted. Izzy's favorite subjects were animals. He'd get snapshots of squirrels in trees or when there was a bunny in his yard. When the family added Boomer and Dolly, they became his favorites. He'd get pictures of Boomer in the park or Dolly chilling on her favorite window sill. The pictures were never perfect and he still had a lot to learn. Izzy prefers to avoid any editing in Photoshop so that way they'll never be at risk of looking fake. Photography was more than just a hobby for Izzy. It was also his way out. Photography was what connected him to Metric. As far as he was considered, he really had no more to learn in Hebrew school and if Ezra could go away to college then he could go away for college and high school. It took some convincing and for his parents to see the campus themselves. Honestly, Izzy doesn't even remember what made them give in. Maybe it was Izzy's agreement to not have night classes or do any work on Saturdays. Or maybe if he tried to have a bigger part at the temple in Salem. Whatever the reason, he was in and that was all that mattered. Of course, Izzy isn't always honest when his parents ask what he's doing at school. He totally leaves his cell phone on Fridays and Saturdays and if he has a lot of homework of course he won't just save it all for Sunday. But there was still something that made Metric not quite feel like home. So when the time came for Eli to travel to California with Izzy and they went around town looking for things to put in his dorm, the pet stores and shelters were obvious. Izzy didn't want to be the weird kid in school again. He wanted to make sure he'd start out the year with a friend. It probably also helped that he said if he had a cat he'd have no reason to leave his dorm on Saturdays except to go to the cafeteria. Eli gave in and that was how Izzy ended up with Scruff. He considers the cat his best friend. Even if sometimes Scruff misses his litter box in Izzy's room, he doesn't mind. It's just nice to have someone else around.
Now that Izzy's been made all nice and at home in his dorm he's hoping the rest of his first year will go smoothly. The only things that could derail him are his parents and seeing everyone else's photography. Izzy's good and all, but comparing his work to his classmates' does no favors. His parents have a lot of expectations out of him so there's no telling if Izzy even will be able to do something with his photos. But for now, at least he's away and can live his life the way he wants. Mostly, anyway.
Sensitive; Peaceful; Tolerant; Multifaceted; Fast Learner; Risk taker
Negatives
Socially Awkward; Self conscience; Restrictive; Emotionally fragile; Serious; Tendency to lie; Prejudiced (courtesy of a somewhat sheltered life)
Likes
Animals; Taking photos; Fantasy novels; Roleplaying; Card games; Pirate booty; Documentaries; His pets; Turkey with cheese (even though he's not allowed); Pringles (despite the fact they make him sick); Tacos; Dr. Pepper
Dislikes
His food allergy; Temple; Turtlenecks; Bacon; Origami; Hunting; Fur clothes; Regulations; Expectations; Animal abusers; Steak; Flip flops; Being forced into anything; Small spaces
Other
Izzy has a slight tendency to tap his foot. It's not because his impatient or that it's a nervous reaction; it's just a thing he sort of does.
Due to his parents nitpicking at things, Izzy can be sensitive to criticism.
Family
Father - Eli Avram Nussenbaum, Accountant - Eli grew up in a more Unorthodox Jewish home. He did fast during certain holidays and occasionally kept Kosher, but didn't go out of his way to attend temple nor was hesitant about working on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. However it was always obvious he was going to marry into Jewish faith without question. His wife Davinia was more religious than he and got him to attend temple and follow a more Orthodox lifestyle. While Eli has grown stricter over the years he can still be laid back about his heritage at times. For example, although technology or electricity shouldn't be touched on the Sabbath Eli will watch a movie every other week. He doesn't force this lifestyle on his kids, much unlike Davinia, though will give them the warning when they should stick to something. He is the proud father of three boys and a girl and hopes that they will keep their religion as a strong part of their lives.
Mother - Davinia Shaina Nussebbaum, Travel Agent - Davinia grew up in a very religious household, so to say if she lightened up at all over the years would be unbelievable. Her older brother is a rabbi, as was her grandfather, so temple was always a big part in her life. She keeps Kosher, acknowledges the Sabbath, spends certain holidays in temple and has only not fasted when she was pregnant or sick. She was very much looking into names for her kids that she felt represented their religion, hence names like Levi and Israel. Davninia has been to her homeland three times for birthright - once in high school and twice in college. Her journey to Israel partially inspired her to become a travel agent, so she could help people go on incredible journeys of discovery as well. She is much stricter with her kids than Eli and can be somewhat of a helicopter mom on certain things, especially when it comes to Judaism. She keeps Kosher and has separate sets of china for everything. As a result she will sometimes make food that doesn't always agree with Izzy.
Bother - Ezra Levi Nussenbaum, Grad Student - Ezra is 23 and in his first year as a grad student at Georgetown. He is planning on going into the medical field but is going back for another degree as a backup. Ezra is the oldest of his siblings and is what some might call an 'ideal' big brother. He set good examples, he did what his parents told him to and has never gotten into any trouble. Ezra is a little more laid back with his religion but has gotten away with it due to his activity in temple. In the past he has done activities with students and tutored Hebrew. His status as oldest brother and essentially the 'golden child' of the family has given him a bit of a cocky attitude.
Brother - Israel Dovid Nussenbaum, Student - Israel was a surprise to his family. Davinia found out she was pregnant with him when Izzy was only four months old. Israel is a year and three days younger than Izzy, making his birthday March 18. Due to the closeness in age between the brothers, Izzy didn't get a lot of time with his parents and Israel got much more attention. Israel was a colicky baby and had a few minor health problems, so Izzy being a healthy child save for his allergy meant almost nothing. It didn't help that Israel also answers to the nickname Issy. Last year he became a man through his Bar Mitzvah. He has saved a majority of the money he received from that day, proving that like Eli, Israel is very good with money and numbers. His best subject is Math and is overall a very good student.
Sister - Avigail "Avi" Danya Nussenbaum, Student - Avigail typically goes by Avi and is eight years old. She is just learning about Judaism and juggling Hebrew school with her regular schooling. Avi and Israel are a little bit more spoiled than Ezra and Izzy, although Avi isn't as receptive to it as Israel. A lot of Avi's friends are Catholic, causing her to be jealous of them. She's always hearing about them putting together a Christmas tree or going Easter egg hunting. The only thing she really has over their heads is she gets eight nights of gifts in December instead of just one day. She is struggling dealing with that as well as trying to handle two schools during the week.
Pets - Boomer, Dolly, Scruff - Izzy and his family have three pets altogether. Boomer is a young hound mix, though they're unsure of what specifically he's mixed with. He was their first pet, adopted from a shelter shortly before Dolly. Boomer loves to run and is very protective over Avi. Dolly was found in a field by Eli during one of his lunch breaks about four months after the family adopted Boomer. Dolly is a maine coon, and is estimated to be two or three years old currently. She is small but expected to grow into a much bigger cat. Dolly, unlike Boomer, prefers to chill by herself though will welcome some attention once in a while. She is a calm kitty, at times sitting so still she can be mistaken for a doll. Scruff is specifically Izzy's cat and lives with him in the dorm at Metric. He stays in Izzy's room except for trips to the vet and when Izzy's roommates aren't around. Scruff is five or six years old and declawed prior to adoption; he was left up for adoption for some reason or another by his previous owner. Izzy wanted to make sure he had one friend when he started at Metric and, since he's always been very good with animals, Scruff was the best choice.
Backstory
Izzy was born at 2:35 am on March 19. He grew up in West Virginia, right at the edge of a pretty Jewish-filled community. He joined Ezra, who was eight years his senior. However it wasn't just the two boys for very long. When Izzy was only a few months old, Davinia found out she was pregnant again. It was a bit difficult for the family to focus on an elementary schooler, a baby and a pregnancy. Because of how involved Ezra was in school - both public and Hebrew - he always had something going on the family had to be part of or see. The pregnancy wasn't exactly easier either; Davinia had way too many food cravings that she refused to satisfy due to keeping Kosher and she had numerous bouts of morning sickness. Israel was born three days after Izzy's birthday, which would eventually cause their parties to be merged together. Things didn't get much easier after that for Izzy, as Israel was a colicky baby who required a lot of attention.
With five mouths to feed there was little time to satisfy everyone's dinner cravings. This made it difficult for Izzy, who'd often get sick after having burgers or sandwiches for dinner. A few other foods gave him stomach problems though it was unsure why until he was diagnosed with a gluten allergy. Though perhaps allergic reaction isn't the perfect term; Izzy can have very little before he feels the need to throw up. Although certain things Izzy loves to eat, he can't due to his allergy. Additionally, living in a household that always kept Kosher made it even more difficult. There was still no time for Davinia to separate meals nor make sure Izzy's food wasn't contaminated with gluten products. He'd get sick a lot as a result and although it was recommended at points for him not to keep Kosher, to be certain he'd get any additional nutrients, his mother would hear nothing of it. The only time Izzy got to eat whatever he wanted was when he was out of the house and away from his parents.
In the Nussenbaum house, it wasn't just about keeping Kosher. On certain holidays they would have to fast - go without eating from sunrise to sundown. Friday night into Saturday afternoon all electricity would be off. No lights, no answering the phone and no TV - save for Eli's occasional movies. Sometimes it had to be done for his sake as well as the boys'. The family would attend temple every Saturday and Izzy and his brothers had to go to Hebrew school in addition to their regular school. Izzy's time in public school wasn't all that fun. Because of the zoning, he didn't attend elementary school with a lot of the other Jewish kids in his neighborhood. They would go to school in Peterstown while Izzy would be in the next town over. That school had a mostly Catholic population, causing them to think anyone who didn't celebrate Christmas was weird. They didn't understand why some kids might wear a hijab. Or why some didn't go Easter egg hunting. Or why some of the kids, like Izzy, wouldn't eat lunch at a certain time. Izzy didn't like living with that 'weird' reputation. And it didn't help he felt as though Hebrew school wasn't for him either. He didn't catch onto learning the language as easily and he was a nervous wreck preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.
But at points there was just no time to think about Izzy. When he was seven his sister Avi was born, his parents' attention was further divided. All four of the kids have been expected to keep the traditions alive in the family and do exactly what their parents have said. Izzy didn't like feeling that way, like these were things he was forced to do. Certain things he didn't have a problem with; he didn't care if they had to eat at a certain time or if some days he had to be home by sundown. But other things - temple and Hebrew school mostly - he hated going to places he didn't want to be at. So Izzy found his own escapes. One of them was fantasy novels. He liked thinking about places with magic and realms that had their own rules. Bridge to Terabithia was one of his favorite stories and movies. Novels like that also got him interested in roleplaying. Though he never found his own group to play with specifically, Izzy liked the idea of creating his own characters and giving them special traits. And being called a nerd was way better than just the weird kid!
Photography was a whole new world of escape for Izzy. There were no rules and there were no right or wrong answers. He could take pictures of anything he wanted. Izzy's favorite subjects were animals. He'd get snapshots of squirrels in trees or when there was a bunny in his yard. When the family added Boomer and Dolly, they became his favorites. He'd get pictures of Boomer in the park or Dolly chilling on her favorite window sill. The pictures were never perfect and he still had a lot to learn. Izzy prefers to avoid any editing in Photoshop so that way they'll never be at risk of looking fake. Photography was more than just a hobby for Izzy. It was also his way out. Photography was what connected him to Metric. As far as he was considered, he really had no more to learn in Hebrew school and if Ezra could go away to college then he could go away for college and high school. It took some convincing and for his parents to see the campus themselves. Honestly, Izzy doesn't even remember what made them give in. Maybe it was Izzy's agreement to not have night classes or do any work on Saturdays. Or maybe if he tried to have a bigger part at the temple in Salem. Whatever the reason, he was in and that was all that mattered. Of course, Izzy isn't always honest when his parents ask what he's doing at school. He totally leaves his cell phone on Fridays and Saturdays and if he has a lot of homework of course he won't just save it all for Sunday. But there was still something that made Metric not quite feel like home. So when the time came for Eli to travel to California with Izzy and they went around town looking for things to put in his dorm, the pet stores and shelters were obvious. Izzy didn't want to be the weird kid in school again. He wanted to make sure he'd start out the year with a friend. It probably also helped that he said if he had a cat he'd have no reason to leave his dorm on Saturdays except to go to the cafeteria. Eli gave in and that was how Izzy ended up with Scruff. He considers the cat his best friend. Even if sometimes Scruff misses his litter box in Izzy's room, he doesn't mind. It's just nice to have someone else around.
Now that Izzy's been made all nice and at home in his dorm he's hoping the rest of his first year will go smoothly. The only things that could derail him are his parents and seeing everyone else's photography. Izzy's good and all, but comparing his work to his classmates' does no favors. His parents have a lot of expectations out of him so there's no telling if Izzy even will be able to do something with his photos. But for now, at least he's away and can live his life the way he wants. Mostly, anyway.
Random
÷Between his allergy and keeping Kosher, it can by hard for Izzy to figure out dinner.
÷Although he technically does have a slight gluten allergy, he'll get sick of he eats too much of it. So instead of saying he can have a very small piece of bread, it's just easier to say he has an allergic reaction.
÷Izzy comes from an Orthodox Jewish family, though he plans on following a more Unorthodox style down the road.
÷One of his favorite meals is turkey with cheese, but it's not Kosher. He's going to be eating a lot more of that at Metric!
÷Izzy and his siblings also have Hebrew names: Ezer Lewi, Ishmael Yousef, Esmail Dawid and 'Avigayil Dinah respectively.
÷Izzy's cat, Scruff, lives in his dorm on Metric's campus with him. Whether or not Izzy's allowed to have a pet that lives outside of a cage is a different story. All the more reason he keeps Scruff in his room as much as possible!
÷Pirate Booty is his addiction snack.
÷Despite his enjoyment of fantasy stories and movies, Izzy's also into documentaries. He does like learning things and tries to keep a straight head about differentiating fantasy from reality.
÷Izzy could not be more grateful for gluten free taco shells.
÷Izzy's playby, Corey, is also into photography.
Music
÷Keep Your Mind Wide Open - AnnaSophia Robb
÷Hanukkah Song - Adam Sandler
÷Kids in America - No Secrets
÷Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
÷Who I Am - Nick Jonas
÷Roar - Katy Perry
÷Between his allergy and keeping Kosher, it can by hard for Izzy to figure out dinner.
÷Although he technically does have a slight gluten allergy, he'll get sick of he eats too much of it. So instead of saying he can have a very small piece of bread, it's just easier to say he has an allergic reaction.
÷Izzy comes from an Orthodox Jewish family, though he plans on following a more Unorthodox style down the road.
÷One of his favorite meals is turkey with cheese, but it's not Kosher. He's going to be eating a lot more of that at Metric!
÷Izzy and his siblings also have Hebrew names: Ezer Lewi, Ishmael Yousef, Esmail Dawid and 'Avigayil Dinah respectively.
÷Izzy's cat, Scruff, lives in his dorm on Metric's campus with him. Whether or not Izzy's allowed to have a pet that lives outside of a cage is a different story. All the more reason he keeps Scruff in his room as much as possible!
÷Pirate Booty is his addiction snack.
÷Despite his enjoyment of fantasy stories and movies, Izzy's also into documentaries. He does like learning things and tries to keep a straight head about differentiating fantasy from reality.
÷Izzy could not be more grateful for gluten free taco shells.
÷Izzy's playby, Corey, is also into photography.
Music
÷Keep Your Mind Wide Open - AnnaSophia Robb
÷Hanukkah Song - Adam Sandler
÷Kids in America - No Secrets
÷Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
÷Who I Am - Nick Jonas
÷Roar - Katy Perry
Attachments:
