First Time For Everything

Even though I am the teacher, I find myself in the position of learning all the time, just as a student would.  One of the most valuable lesson's I've learned in Israel is how to be a big sister.  Growing up I was an only child, and could never relate to that crucial sibling bond.

When I moved here, I was given a host family who I became extremely close with.  Their daughter, Naama immediately cozied up to me, in awe of my style, asking me tons of questions about America. 

 I began to take an inventory of our interactions:

Naama- the sister I never had.  We bicker because she can be totally unreasonable, but it will only last for a minute.  She will call me 11 times in a short time span to see where I am as I am walking over to her house.  It's annoying but it is only because she is eager to see me.  She is clever and sly, yet impatient- and it totally reminds me of myself.  I teach her American slang that I say back home, and she sounds like a carbon copy valley girl mini-me.  It's a crack up and slightly scary.  Especially when I fall asleep in her bed and hear her repeating endlessly "Loser + Loser, Together whatever."  What resonated the most was one night when we had a sleepover.  The way the moment we hopped into bed, she decides she isn't tired at all & I am therefore obligated to get out of bed & go back into the salon to watch tv with her.  The way we were pulling the covers back and forth in the middle of night, hogging the blanket to our respective sides.     It was surreal to lie in her bed that morning.  I woke up before her and treasured our bond, wondering what it's going to be like to leave Israel and not have her in my life every day.  

The day we met!  Symbolic because it was at Rosh Ha'Shaana dinner on the Jewish New Year.

Goofing around <3