Highs and lows. Shana tova!

Before I begin my (admittedly late) Rosh Hashanah post, I must send my congratulations from afar to one of my oldest and dearest friends, Holly. It seems like just yesterday we were silly schoolgirls playing pranks and goofing off. But today you became a mother, and my heart is bursting. I am sad I cannot be by your side as you begin this next chapter, but my joy for you far outweighs that. Mazal tov, to you and Mike. I can't wait to meet your beautiful little boy.

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Last week I celebrated the Jewish New Year in Jerusalem with my Israeli friends. We learned about the holiday traditions, ate a delicious meal together (thanks Na'ama and Ari!), and then spent time sharing the highs and lows of the past year as well as our hopes for the year ahead.

For me, the highs and lows seem to have come side by side. Change is always difficult for me, and this last year has been rife with change and uncertainty. Living and studying in Israel has been a dream of mine since I first visited this country in 2005, even though I knew it would be scary and difficult to leave my friends and family. After spending some time working and living in Boston after school, this year seemed like the right time to pursue a higher degree (if I wanted a chance at employment other than nannying or admin work, grad school was an imperative). The road that led me to Tel Aviv University was long and winding, and after four years of living on my own I found myself hauling all of my worldly possessions back to my parents' house in Erie for an indefinite period of waiting to find out if I could attend school overseas or if I would have to start from square one- literally. 

Living with your parents again is not any young adult's ideal- I had no income, no car, and was living in a town that hadn't been my permanent residence since I graduated high school. But lo and behold! The Lord blessed me with the opportunity to rebuild relationships with childhood friends, and the gift of spending five whole weeks of quality time with my mom and dad before I would spend a whole year further away from them than I'd ever been. This unexpected time at home was a real high point in my year- and a gift I will always be grateful for. It was during these weeks that I learned my dreams of moving to Israel would come true- WIN! This was definitely another high point in my year...hell, in my life. However, the same news meant I would have to begin saying my goodbyes. Bidding farewell to my friends and especially my family was probably the most difficult thing I have done in a long time. Low, big low. 

Since moving (you may have noticed) I've been on a bit of a roller coaster- I am so happy to be here in Israel, and loving it more every day...but I also am missing home a great deal, and it's definitely been lonely. School won't begin for another few weeks, and until then my social options are limited. While I've enjoyed exploring Tel Aviv, hanging out on the beach, and studying the language... there is only so much that one can do alone before the loneliness and boredom become overwhelming (highs and lows...) Today was a microcosm of this roller coaster- this morning I cried for awhile cause the loneliness caught up with me, and tonight I spent time with Jen, we laughed and talked and I walked home feeling exponentially better about life. 

So, what are my hopes for the year to come? I'm pretty sure that the emotional roller coaster isn't about to slow down. Being a poor student in a foreign country is challenging. However, I am fortunate enough to have friends and parents who, during those emotional valleys, provide support and encourage me to press on. Their pride in me reminds me to be proud of myself.  My hope for this year is that I will drink in every moment of this dream-come-true while I have the chance. I hope I will continue to take the difficult and necessary steps on the road ahead, to become the woman I want to be- someone who faces her fears and learns how to overcome them, a person who refuses to accept a life that is less than what she wants, and who insists on leaving this world a better place than the way she found it. 

So, to my friends and family near and far- may the coming year be for all of us a sweet and happy one, filled with joy and blessings beyond the hopes we may hold for ourselves. Shana tova!!

And what about you, dear reader? What were the highs and lows of your year? What goals will you set for yourself in the year to come? I'd love to hear from you. 

Pre-Departure Part One: Erie, PA

I had the pleasure of spending FIVE WHOLE WEEKS at home with my parents this summer. I haven't had a summer vacation for years and years. Come to think of it, I haven't spent that amount of time in Erie in the summer since freshman year of college, and I had forgotten how beautiful it is there. I am definitely a city person for now, but everything was sooo green. I did yardwork.  I couldn't get away from nature if I had wanted to- which I only did once. I kid you not, I saw a bear in our backyard. I don't have a photo to prove it, but my parents live walking distance from Fairview High School and this video is from the loading dock behind the gym there. Same bear. Probably.
Oh, also (as I mentioned in my acknowledgments) I was able to celebrate my parent's 37th wedding anniversary with Barb and Mike.

Some of you may know of (and regularly ridicule me for) my coolest summer job ever: ride operator at Waldameer Park and Water World. I want to say once and for all, it's NOT a carnival (Mary). Carnivals travel. This place is not going anywhere- it's legendary. For those of you out there who have not tasted the pleasure of a day in Waldameer, I think you're best bet of understanding what employment there looks like is to watch Adventureland, which just happens to star my girl crush Kristen Stewart, and one of my many boy crushes, Ryan Reynolds. Here is the trailer. Same clown-face trashcans, same borderline predatory maintenance guy (love you, Ryan), same rides (Wipeout). Seriously, the movie was filmed in our 'rival' park, Kenneywood near Pittsburgh.

I can operate every ride in this photo:

In fact, one evening I got home from a 10-hour day on the ferris wheel and couldn't sleep becacuse I had become convinced I left someone at the top when I locked everything down.

Erie in the summer offers the rare opportunity to pull out the old uniform, visit Walda, and indulge my inner-child. This summer the opportunity came in the form of my friend Tony's company picnic. A few friends (Jesse, his sister Lori and her son Caden) and I joined Tony and his daughter, Kyarra, to eat under the pavilion and share good times. Kyarra realllllly liked the scrambler and had no trouble making friends on the boats in kiddie land (Hi Kyarra! I miss you tons!):

Now, I can admit to being concerned that five weeks (three of which I spent worried that I might not actually get in to grad school) living in my parents house after years of living on my own in Boston might grow old. Sure enough, there were moments where I missed the liberties that come hand-in-hand with having your own lease. They were few, but when they snuck up on me I was fortunate to have some fabulous hometown friends to hang with. A special thanks to Holly, Jill, Ashley, Tony, Tom, and Jesse for helping me revisit 2001. Kim, Steph, Derek, and Andrew- the Lord made our paths cross for a fleeting moment in the land of our roots, and what a beautiful moment it was. 

Holly and I spent some QT at her dad's pool (we call him Sensae). When we put on Avril Lavigne I was immediately transported back to 2003, only Holly's pregnant now and I was drinking beer.

So that's a little about how I spent my summer vacation. Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the hippie music festival I went to with the guys, or kayaking on Presque Isle with Jill and Ashley (although I still have the mosquito bite scars from camping and the blister scars from the kayak paddle. I can show you those if you want. Gross.)  I've been back in Boston since August 6th to babysit a little, tie up loose ends, and say my goodbyes. Then it's off to NYC for a visit with my friend Steph before I fly to Tel Aviv (!!!). Because she is a friend who grew up with me in Erie I feel comfortable posting a picture of her in this post. Just cause we're so cute. Boston/NYC updates to come :)