"If you will it, it is no dream" –Theodore Herzl
I've been feeling a bit guilty lately. Why? Because I don't think I'm giving myself enough credit. If I can't be my own personal cheerleader then who in the world can? So right now I'm going to talk a little bit about how I've achieved one of my biggest Aliyah goals within my first year of being here.
I am so excited to announce that I am the new Marketing and Communications Manager for Masa Israel Journey. Guys, this is really kind of my dream job. I am working for a huge piece of the Jewish Agency who's goal is to provide Jewish young adults with meaningful, real Israel experiences. Not only am I working for them, but my specific job is to tell their story, our participants stories, using my creativity and experience. I hoped that when I made Aliyah I'd someday be working in a position like this at an organization like this but I honestly thought it would take at least 2-3 years.
Sorry not sorry, I'm majorly patting myself on the back right now because I feel that sometimes (a lot of the time!) during this Aliyah process I beat myself up. I feel bad for not having been able to save any money still, I sometimes question my friendships and think I'm more alone than I am, wonder why I haven't explored Israel since I've been here, why I haven't been to the Kotel to pray...the list goes on.
The reality is that I'm doing so well and I sometimes need to sit down and just appreciate it. It is stressful and it is hectic and there are days/nights of tears, but 9 months is not a long time. It feels like a long time. You can incubate a baby in the womb for 9 months, but when that baby comes out it doesn't know how to speak or walk or do virtually anything. That is because 9 months is just not a long time (and other scientific reasons I'm sure, but that is really beyond the point).
So I haven't saved money yet. Establishing a life anywhere is a huge commitment, monetary and otherwise. My friends here are really great. We have only known each other for 9 months (or less) and I need to keep that in mind. Our connections are still being built and strengthened and regardless, the love they've shown me is beyond this short time-frame. I haven't traveled Israel because I'm living here! Hello, Amy! You are not a tourist and now you are living real life. You'll get to see all the beautiful Israel you love soon enough. The priority right now is building your new life.
And there is time—so, so much time.
