<p> Okay, so I need to be honest about something. Up to this point, most of my blog posts have focused on the wonder and growth that are part and parcel to a new life in Israel, and while it has been amazing thus far, it would not be right to say that the transition has been as easy as pie. Because it hasn’t. Like it or not, there are a lot of emotions involved with the process of uprooting yourself and starting someplace new. <p/><p> For one thing, there’s the “Stranger in a Strange Land” thing to contend with. Sure, Israel is “home”, but it’s sure different from the other home I come from. People here speak a different language (literally and figuratively) and I’m just starting to catch on to the basics. For example, people have a very abrupt way of communicating with each other, and the American in me find herself offended at least once on a daily basis. My dusty math skills have been getting a workout from mentally converting dollars to shekels and back, and then figuring out how to “hondel” (bargain) with shopkeepers without sounding like a complete idiot. <p/><p> And then there’s the loneliness. I miss my family, especially my mother. I miss my friends. My list of acquaintances here is abominably short, which means I have plenty of time to spend alone (with Yonah). This can be fun in small increments, but it can also be painful when doled out in large doses. When I have too much time to think, my brain becomes a dangerous neighborhood; I shouldn’t go exploring there by myself. I’m hoping that as time goes on and I meet more people, those moments will become fewer and farther between, but when I start feeling too sorry for myself I can always use my good friend Elayne’s quick fixer-upper: “Try to find someone who needs exactly what Rea has to give”. <p/><p> In the meantime, the adventures continue. Shuie, Shloimie and I went over to the Shuk this morning after dropping Yonah off at Rivka’s. We loaded up on cheap produce in preparation for Sukkot, including fresh figs, my new favorite fruit. We’re having guests for every meal on the first day and then another round for lunch on the second day, and I’ve got a fun, healthy, autumn-themed menu planned, including (but not limited to): <p/><p>1. Morrocan Pumpkin Soup2. Whole Wheat Penne with Pumpkin Seed Pesto and Roasted Peppers3. Apple Brisket4. Sweet Potato Pashtida (a mix between a kugel and a souffle)5. Whole Wheat Roasted Vegetable Pizza<p> I’ve been asked if we’ll be keeping one day or two of Sukkot, since we’re in Israel (the custom here is to keep only one), but since we know we’re going back to the States we’re celebrating like true Americans and keeping two. To be honest, I would love to keep only one day, since two days straight of not being able to use electricity can stretch long if you’re not occupied. Hopefully, entertaining all of our guests will be a nice distraction. <p/><p> Construction of our Sukkah is officially complete, thanks to Shuie and Shloimie’s hard work and shlepping. The only thing missing now is decorations, which is my department. Shuie brought me home a pad of drawing paper, pastel crayons and glitter paint to make some pictures, which I am taking a childish pleasure in making. I am testimony that there is definitely something to art therapy. Shuie also brought home a huge stuffed Torah for Yonah that is bigger than he is, but that didn’t stop the Bug from throwing himself all over it. It’s a fun toy, but it looks like a crazy, multicolored pet. I don’t know whether to read it or feed it. <p/><p> I am now forcing myself to go to sleep, since Yonah is still unaccustomed to the time change (we moved our clocks back an hour) and has been waking up at five in the morning. And they say a parent’s life isn’t glamorous…<p/>