As I read the newspaper article that a Nesfesh B'Nefesh flight had landed that morning - July 12th - I run through all of my memories in the past year in fast forward mode. HOT customer service hanging up on me, sheirut rides, nature parties, kibbutz parties, changing diapers every Sunday and Thursday, learning Hebrew from my kiddies, being Israeli, many of my "Ahh ok" Ulpan moments, understanding that once you know fifteen people in Tel Aviv you know everyone...
Even though this is nothing like America I have definitely adapted to the life here and have become Israeli in just a year that felt like a few months. I don't know if I will stay here forever - only time will tell - but I do know that I will be here for at least a few more years. Israel is my home and there is only one place like here, for the good and bad.
Having my family visit and check out all of the major sites reminds me how ancient and special this country really is :) I am genuinely happy here.
Next week I am going to visit America and these are some of the things I will miss :
"Ah, you came on Taglit?"
Tamara juice bar before Ulpan
volunteering in the Army
hearing protests out my window
Rothschild Boulevard
being able to catch up with a friend for hours over dinner
street graffiti
the energy at the Wailing Wall
the sense of the whole city feeling like family/ being invited to strangers houses for Shabbat
telling Israelis where the closest parking lot is
the background noise of matkot on the beach
Friday afternoon art fairs
Saturday being reserved for beach day
meeting Olim from all over the world
never being bored
"From where are you?"
realizing how easy hebrew is
the energy in the whole country
"Yalla, bye"
