I'm Israeli! (and really tired)

We got to the airport yesterday at 9:30 in the morning and the next few hours were spent checking in luggage, taking pictures, getting free tshirts, and hanging out with the family.  My Aunt Ellen came and so did my Uncle Mickey (who is no longer meaner than Hitler cause he brought me popcorn!) The ceremony that they held at JFK was not as exciting and emotional as I thought it would be, and I still didn't cry! When it was time to say goodbye, I hugged both my parents and that was it! I cried a little, after all, it was sad, and my parents are the best parents EVERRRR, but I still don't think I realized what it meant that I was saying bye.

I have to admit--the flight was pretty uneventful.  I don't know what I was expecting--maybe a party in the air?  It felt like a Machon or Year Course flight--everyone was up and about talking to their friends.  I had expected singing and dancing!  It was a simcha, after all!  But when I tried to start some Am Yisrael Chai singing with some friends, nobody joined in!  It was so sad!  But landing in Israel, was as incredible as I had expected.  I couldn't stop smiling.  It was different this time.  Knowing that I proactively decided to follow my dreams and go to Israel and join the army made this landing a lot better than all of the others.

When we got off the plane I expected everyone who came to see us to be standing there.  Instead, there was a ton of press making us do different poses, say different things.  I felt like a celebrity (and I obviously ate it all up)!  Then we got on a BUS to take us to where all of our friends were.  It was not like they show in the nefesh videos! 2 of my girlfriends from the Garin came to welcome us, as well as our friend Sam in the garin.  It was really great to see friendly faces.  The ceremony, for those of you who didn't watch it (and shout out to those who did!) was REALLY long and pretty boring.  But I succeeded in getting on camera a couple of times, one of which is me dancing! It was the highlight of the whole ceremony!  Then they took us upstairs to process our paperwork.  We signed up for health insurance, we got some kesef to get us going, and we got our Teudat Oleh (thats my temporary identity card before I get my real Israeli passport!) It was so exciting!!!!  I then got my luggage, which took forever (and for all of you Sprouties you should know that the way they labeled/gave us our bags after the flight was the same way we do it for Family Fun Day!).  Afterwards I took  my free cab ride to Roey's!  It was really a long process and I was hungry and dehydrated and exhausted.

I am so lucky to have a good of friend as Roey!  As soon as I got there he helped me with my luggage, let me take a nap in his bed, and made me shnitzel!  What a dude, right?  After my nap I spoke with the Tsofim who told me that channel 2 (a big news station here) was going to do an interview with me!  I got to go down to the TV station and they put on makeup and everything!  My interview can be found here.  The truth is, it was a really difficult day.  When I skyped with my parents it took everything in me not to cry.  I was lucky to have Roey, and I called my friend Sahar in my garin, but I just felt so alone.  I knew that this was where I belonged, but I was just so sad and tired and I was so anxious.  But as I'm sure you guys could have guessed, being in the limelight put the spring back in my step.  After my big TV debut, I went out to dinner with Roey and his boyfriend, Maor and then I came home and slept from 10-830!  It was SO amazing.  Today I spent the day with people from my Garin and then I went out to dinner with my mom's cousin, Yael.

I'm really looking forward to ACTUALLY getting to know my family in Israel.  I can't wait to be fluent in hebrew, wear an army uniform, and not say sorry when I brush past someone on the street!  Tomorrow is my Garin Tzabar Tekes and I am PUMPED.  Can't wait to see my new mishpacha, Garin Regba THE BOSS.

I miss everyone and I love you all! Please email me and keep in touch!