First week in Israel

Today marks the end of my first week in Israel. What to say….hmmm…well, as you might have noticed, it’s been a roller-coaster emotional ride. For the most part, it’s best captured by the song Stranger in a strange land. My head was full of questions such as: why did I come here (maybe I’ll answer it at the end); why do I always do these kinds of things to myself (I’ll never know why) and why did I not just go somewhere more safe and comfortable? (I don’t really know.)

If there is anything that has kept me sane for the past seven days however, it has been the daily online chats and phone calls I’ve been having with friends from different time zones. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet.

The positive thing about being on a different time zone from friends and family is that you get to celebrate an extended birthday, for three days at least. My facebook page is filled with greetings, for example. The obvious downside is that since you are in a different time zone from family and friends, then you get to celebrate alone in person, with an acquaintance or two if you’re lucky. But I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. It certainly took the cake for me. It also did something else though. As a dear friend wisely suggested, I should just go out and wander around, maybe even dare to be lost. Maybe I’ll get back my writing mojo from undergoing this kind of experience. I’m working on a new short story as of this writing. Who knows – maybe for once, I’ll get to finish it. That would indeed be something.

Wistful, hopeful, what-have-you. Tomorrow, I’ll post pictures from Nachalat Binyamin and the beaches of Tel Aviv.

p.s. I had the weird coincidence of eating at the Coffee Bar located in Yad Harutzim today for both lunch (grilled chicken breast) and dinner (seafood pasta). I like the ambiance of the place. Will definitely go back. Not just tomorrow.