8 years (plus a week and a half)

It's been 8 years (plus a week and a half) since I made aliyah.

8 years. First through 8th grade. High school and college together.

8 is the number that is considered "למעלה מן הטבע"-- above and beyond nature. Many people who make aliyah do not stay beyond five years. I know that quite a few people who were on my flight are no longer in Israel, having left for various reasons. I'm proud that I'm still here.

It's still hard to not have my family and friends from NY here in Israel. Yes, technology has improved significantly and it's easier to keep in touch and see each other, but it's still not a substitute for being with the people.

There are so many things I miss about the US and NY-- Sundays (aka, a real weekend and time to do things with family and friends), quality goods for reasonable prices, Bryant Park and the ice rink, the NYPL and all of the activities-- especially children's activities, actual customer service, bureaucracy in a language that I completely understand, the subway, Duane Reade/Walgreen's/CVS, calling in prescriptions, good pizza, Chinese food, Girl Scout Cookies, so much free stuff to do in the city, days off that are not connected to a Jewish holiday so it's actually a day off (President's Day coming up for one...), making a decent salary in my profession without having to work multiple jobs and have a crazy schedule, paper towels, Costco.

Of course there are good things in Israel also, and I would miss them if I were in NY-- the taste of fruits and vegetables, the shuk, paid maternity leave, socialized medicine (only the good parts), good falafel, the satisfaction of being able to do things like write reports and deal with bureaucracy in another language that's not my native language.


I just printed a buttload of pictures. Roughly 1,000-- the past 10 years, approximately. I realized how much of my life I left when I made aliyah and how much I've changed since then. I've managed to hang on to the friends who are really important in my life and who I don't talk to as much and there are many others who I've just dropped out of touch with. I've seen how my life has changed and the amazing, unpredictable journey I have taken from the time I was finishing up OT school through a few weeks ago-- graduation parties, celebrations, weddings, ulpan, trips, marriage, kids, moving...just wild to see 10 years of your life spread out all over your kitchen table.

These 8 years have been a heck of an adventure that started when I got onto the plane in JFK with this girl, Eden, who I met right before and was going to be roommates with until I got married (and she ended up marrying a friend of a friend) and have just continued.

Here's to more.