Up and down up and down.

Every day is up and down. I never knew that it would be so tough to adjust. Studying/living in a country is so much different than touring - I did expect it. I am really getting to things in Israel but at the same time I am in shock of something at least once a day. Today I went to the Ethiopian Absorption Center in Be'er Sheva to work in the community garden there. It was also a holiday this past weekend called Tu B'Shevat so the Ethiopian community organizers had organized a tree planting day for all the kids today. Imagine a few dozen religious Jewish Ethiopian kids running around. It was a complete 180 from what I'm used to seeing. And now imagine that they are crazy!! These kids were so wild and so goofy to the point that it was almost out of control. The moms would intervene every once in a while to give a good slap to some kid if he was misbehaving. It was the most interesting social experience. But these kids could dance! They still do traditional dancing even though most of them were not born in Ethiopia. It blew my mind.
Some days I am pretty homesick. It was tough to be so far away from home while my mom was having her surgery. But I have a family here, too. I feel really lucky to have Eyal's family. It is amazing to be able to go to a HOME and be with a family. His mom took amazing care of me this past weekend when I was sick from a migraine. So amazing. So lucky. I have to keep reminding myself that every day things change. I understand more and more every day. I understand more about myself, too. I never predicted that I would be this attached to my own homeland in the good ol U.S of A. I suppose that is what going away and traveling is for - to discover what is really important.
On Thursday I am going to my first Israeli wedding! I am really excited. Next Saturday my roommate and I are going to make a pancake breakfast! I am really excited about that. It will be nice to hang out with her.