Is the honeymoon over?

Another rough few days for me. I'm missing everyone back in America so much. Achingly so. And I constantly worry about the girls. It's hard for them, being in a new country. I so desparately want them to be happy.

At ulpan, we talk alot about our acclimation to our new home. In hebrew, of course. And it seems that most of us are feeling this way at this stage of our Aliyah. When you arrive here, you really are on a high. That Nefesh B'Nefesh flight is really something special, even though it was a bit anti-climactic for me. And then the excitement of getting to know your new town, and figuring out how things work here, of meeting new people carries you along. But at some point, and I guess post-Chanukah seems right, you feel like you've been here a while, and it should be getting easier. And the fact that its not makes you feel discouraged.

Ulpan is amazing. Of course, for its goal of teaching us Hebrew. But also, being in a room with people who are going through similar experiences as you and having similar emotions really makes you feel better about what you are feeling; and those people are so kind and supportive.

It's weird how for a few days I could be in such a funk, and then one morning wake up, feel better and more positive. I think the people at Ulpan have a great deal to do with that.