The U.S.

Being back in the United States is indeed strange. I can understand everything. We had a Boy Scout camp staff reunion campout and basically had the same number of people there who were on my Overseas Student Program. Hearing everyone speak English at once put me into sensory overload. It is strange knowing that other people understand your conversations and that I understand other people's conversations. I'm having some difficulty having extended discussions in English and thinking of some words. At the same time though, I feel like my lack of using Hebrew is already having some effect on my ability to call up words quickly. Hopefully, I'll be able to speak some Hebrew when I get back to Denver to keep it up.

It is also strange having things open on Friday afternoon - Saturday night for Shabbat, not having public transportation and taxis everywhere, and not seeing Jews in Kippot and Muslims in Hijabs(?) all over the place. Of course, there are a lot of other strange things here that make me miss Israel and the people there. I am, however, also happy to be at home to see and spend time with my family and friends.

I know that currently Israel is engaged in operations in the Gaza Strip against Hamas and that rockets from Gaza have now hit Be'er Sheva. My friends who are still in Israel tell me that one rocket even hit across from the Unviersity on the other side of Rager Ave, a major North-South street in the city. They have had to run to the bomb shelters and many have gone to the North for the time being. The University has canceled classes for a few days, at least, but that doesn't affect the OSP since my program is on break between semesters now. I could write a lot about what is going on in Israel and my thoughts, but I don't think that this blog is the place for that.