Can you believe that a month has already passed since we stood at sunset at the Israel Museum? Tried to get one more glass of wine and keep the rocks out of our sandals. An entire month. I haven't just been back for a few days from Israel, but well over two weeks.
So much has changed... or rather, nothing has changed. My expectations for how this month would end were completely wrong except that Harry Potter was indeed released and I was able to borrow one last time. Here I am, hineni, the same as I ever was.
Tomorrow is a month from Tuesday in Israel. The day I wound up crying over my kebabs on that porch/patio with a cyprus growing through the roof. I had been so incredibly lonely at ROI120. It is hard to explain, because in the end I made a few good friends. But I felt like such an outsider with my little program, no funding, no proposals for funding out, no connections to important Jews... and introverted.
I was overwhelmed by the "who are you and what important things do you do" conversations. I'm just a blogger in Chicago with a program for 8 people. We go to a coffee shop and talk about judaism. That's all. No grants, no national infrastructure, no website. Not yet anyway.
I was very much at the end of my nerves, having a sad time at camp, I guess. The next ten days or so were magical. And now I'm still just where I was before I got on the plane. Hell, before before before before before...
I'm really sorry you felt lonely at ROI...I wish that my schedule had
allowed me to hang out more. What was with the introvertedness, anyway?
When we met in NY, all seemed fine, a little different, one-on-one...maybe
it was coming from "your world" into the full-on hyperJewish world of ROI
that did it...
Anyway, am glad that you can say it was a good experience overall, and that
you did make friends. And here's hoping your little project doesn't remain
little!
Introverts are like rechargable batteries; extroverts are like solar
panels.... I'm an extroverted introvert. One on one is easy for me, but
big groups is much harder unless I have a role to fill. If I'm presenting,
hosting, speaking, or otherwise doing something, I'm good. If I'm just
schmoozing with strangers I shrink.
I think this calls for a trip to Florida....I know a place you can stay :)
Orie, when I'm ready to be on a beach, I'm so calling this in!
I HATE that who are you and what have you done lately conversation. We
should come up with some good answers.