It really is so strange to be back in the US after being in Israel so long. Coming out of JFK, I felt the same way that I did when I would visit the US from France: excitement and a little sadness. I am happy that now I can read everything on the signs and that it doesn’t matter what religion I am, but it’s less challenging to be in the US. I was talking to my boyfriend’s parents the other day, and they asked me to tell them about my trip. I found it difficult because I hadn’t fully synthesized my experience within my own mind yet. Do I tell them about the culture shock? About the school? About the conflict? There are so many different angles I could take that it’s hard to just start with one. I guess what I have to say is that I’m happy to be back, but I also miss the daily problems that Israel offers. Here, I rarely think about the conflict and how people interact with each other, I just kind of take it for granted. I guess that’s the first thing that pops to mind when I have to summarize my experience: you can’t just be in Israel. That’s exhausting, but also exhilarating.
Hannah