Debrief
It's always a bit funny coming back to the states after having been in Israel for a long time.
For example, you say "slicha", "todah" and "efo hasherutim?" so naturally. The weather has been beautiful here...I only wish that Fall weren't so soon! Even today--a rainy day feels good compared to the heat in Israel. But I imagine if we had two rainy days in a row, I'd get sick of it. The kids are happily adjusting back, although nights are replete with awakenings. Sivan is now in horseback riding camp this week.
What changes do I see in us or my kids?
Matan goes around saying "ma ze?" to everything and is curious to know when he's going back to "gan". Sivan is using as much Hebrew as she can and her attitude is so much more positive about it. Our first week in Israel she was in her "i hate hebrew and i will never speak it" so this is quite a change. She also feels a certain sense of pride that she spent her summer there. I learned to sleep without a blanket in Israel :) My kids also like salad more now, and of course, are still drinking chocolate milk (shoko) religiously.
I miss Israel already...as hard as it can be, it's also home, and there is a longing that I feel, particularly after returning to the news that our shul is being sold. I feel a connection there with everyone around me...we are all part of the same people. Although we can walk for one more year to our local synagogue, the building will be sold because it cannot be financially supported by a community that didn't grow like they expected. The Jewish life is lonely here...and that makes returning from Israel extra hard. And it fills me with a bit of a dread about the Jewish holidays ahead where I always feel very alone in trying to do them. I feel like I had a better social life there than here! We also returned to the news that Monroe is removing part of our playground (a jet) and of course, this is infuriating. There simply is nothing to do here with the kids...and that's tough. So we pay for camps, schools, and classes...
As for the trip back...it was brutal...Adam was really sick on the flight (migraine and throwing up), and in all the struggle of trying to get off the flight, we (I) left Adam's ipod on board. I nearly fell asleep at the wheel trying to drive home...it was REALLY brutal. International travel with little kids is VERY hard.
My car, kitchen, and bed never looked bigger, and I hope that sense of appreciation (I LOVE MY CAR) lasts for awhile. The kids also are really happy to be in their own spaces and get back to a routine. Overall, it was a great experience. We saw and did as much as we could with two kids. I got to spend more time than ever with my children, which is priceless. And given the Jewish (lack of) life that exists here, I think it's all the more important that we exposed our family to Israel this summer. I'm glad Sivan has a good attitude about the country, and that she recognizes the importance of Israel (on a 5 year old level!) :)
For example, you say "slicha", "todah" and "efo hasherutim?" so naturally. The weather has been beautiful here...I only wish that Fall weren't so soon! Even today--a rainy day feels good compared to the heat in Israel. But I imagine if we had two rainy days in a row, I'd get sick of it. The kids are happily adjusting back, although nights are replete with awakenings. Sivan is now in horseback riding camp this week.
What changes do I see in us or my kids?
Matan goes around saying "ma ze?" to everything and is curious to know when he's going back to "gan". Sivan is using as much Hebrew as she can and her attitude is so much more positive about it. Our first week in Israel she was in her "i hate hebrew and i will never speak it" so this is quite a change. She also feels a certain sense of pride that she spent her summer there. I learned to sleep without a blanket in Israel :) My kids also like salad more now, and of course, are still drinking chocolate milk (shoko) religiously.
I miss Israel already...as hard as it can be, it's also home, and there is a longing that I feel, particularly after returning to the news that our shul is being sold. I feel a connection there with everyone around me...we are all part of the same people. Although we can walk for one more year to our local synagogue, the building will be sold because it cannot be financially supported by a community that didn't grow like they expected. The Jewish life is lonely here...and that makes returning from Israel extra hard. And it fills me with a bit of a dread about the Jewish holidays ahead where I always feel very alone in trying to do them. I feel like I had a better social life there than here! We also returned to the news that Monroe is removing part of our playground (a jet) and of course, this is infuriating. There simply is nothing to do here with the kids...and that's tough. So we pay for camps, schools, and classes...
As for the trip back...it was brutal...Adam was really sick on the flight (migraine and throwing up), and in all the struggle of trying to get off the flight, we (I) left Adam's ipod on board. I nearly fell asleep at the wheel trying to drive home...it was REALLY brutal. International travel with little kids is VERY hard.
My car, kitchen, and bed never looked bigger, and I hope that sense of appreciation (I LOVE MY CAR) lasts for awhile. The kids also are really happy to be in their own spaces and get back to a routine. Overall, it was a great experience. We saw and did as much as we could with two kids. I got to spend more time than ever with my children, which is priceless. And given the Jewish (lack of) life that exists here, I think it's all the more important that we exposed our family to Israel this summer. I'm glad Sivan has a good attitude about the country, and that she recognizes the importance of Israel (on a 5 year old level!) :)
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