I recently moved from Turkey to Israel to start teaching private English lessons in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. So why did I move to Israel? Well, three things happened in interesting timing: (1) my photojournalist boyfriend could no longer enter Turkey, most likely due to the crackdown on press freedom, (2) my residency permit was about to expire and I’d lost all motivation to pursue the renewal process, and (3) while debating the merits of Amsterdam and Taipei, a good friend invited me to watch his dog for a month in Tel Aviv. Quite simply, I moved to Israel for the love of an adorable mutt: Oscar the dog! Oscar had won my heart months earlier when he flopped onto the floor for a belly rub. I instantly melted like butter on a sweet potato. This dog evokes great emotional intelligence, calm submission, and an immense sense of well-being. When he rests his head on my knee, I feel his empathy for an emotion I was previously unaware of feeling. He sends me good ...