Last night I had another anxiety-laden dream.
I had just arrived to Chicago's O'Hare airport to start my journey to Israel...when I realized that I forgot my bags!
Note to self: remember your bags!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
A New Chapter
In two weeks from today I will board a Nefesh B'Nefesh-chartered El Al 747-400 aircraft at New York's JFK International Airport bound for Israel.
In two weeks from tomorrow, when the plane lands, I will be in Israel for the first time...as an Israeli.
This life experience and monumental change is quite surreal - I am experiencing both tremendous excitement as well as waves of anxiety and uncertainty.
My thoughts are many: will I be seen as an Israeli? Will I be welcomed into the society? Will I see myself as an Israeli? How long will it take to become fully immersed in the culture and living in the Middle East?
These existential questions transfer to some on a more basic level - should I bring my bike? What kind of phone should I use there? How will I transfer money from my US banks to Israel?
Just last night I had an awkwardly frightening dream. When the flights lands in Israel, I dreamed that I proceed to an area to receive a free voucher for a taxi ride to a destination of my choosing, a nice benefit offered to new immigrants (olim, in Hebrew) from the Government of Israel and Nefesh B'Nefesh. I leave the airport area en route to my friend Rafi's apartment in Jerusalem, only to realize that I forgot about the ceremonial welcome celebration for all the immigrants upon landing in Israel after it's too late!
I'm pretty sure that I won't miss the music and dancing off the plane, but it is evermore apparent that with the jubilation of this new chapter in my life, there are also jitters that are quite evident along the way.
Overall, I can easily conclude that this step in my life is one that encompasses significant meaning and realizes a dream and idealism I have not yet recognized.
In two weeks from tomorrow, when the plane lands, I will be in Israel for the first time...as an Israeli.
This life experience and monumental change is quite surreal - I am experiencing both tremendous excitement as well as waves of anxiety and uncertainty.
My thoughts are many: will I be seen as an Israeli? Will I be welcomed into the society? Will I see myself as an Israeli? How long will it take to become fully immersed in the culture and living in the Middle East?
These existential questions transfer to some on a more basic level - should I bring my bike? What kind of phone should I use there? How will I transfer money from my US banks to Israel?
Just last night I had an awkwardly frightening dream. When the flights lands in Israel, I dreamed that I proceed to an area to receive a free voucher for a taxi ride to a destination of my choosing, a nice benefit offered to new immigrants (olim, in Hebrew) from the Government of Israel and Nefesh B'Nefesh. I leave the airport area en route to my friend Rafi's apartment in Jerusalem, only to realize that I forgot about the ceremonial welcome celebration for all the immigrants upon landing in Israel after it's too late!
I'm pretty sure that I won't miss the music and dancing off the plane, but it is evermore apparent that with the jubilation of this new chapter in my life, there are also jitters that are quite evident along the way.
Overall, I can easily conclude that this step in my life is one that encompasses significant meaning and realizes a dream and idealism I have not yet recognized.
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