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| The garden tomb in Jerusalem, one of our favorite places to visit. |
The first year is officially over. I am now sitting in the kitchen of my in-laws in Long Beach, California enjoying my oatmeal with blueberries (a favorite breakfast, un-tasted for a year due to the scarcity of blueberries in the Holy Land).
Like blueberries, there were many things that I was accustomed to in the States that had to be given up in Israel. However, to my surprise, I found that there was almost always something to take their place. Instead of blueberries, we used whatever fruit was in season and quite enjoyed the variety. Freshly roasted coffee from the Conservatory in Los Angeles does not ship the best coffee in the world to Israel, but buying green coffee beans from the Shuk and roasting them in a popcorn popper is rather tasty and way cheap.
Trader Joes does not exist, though you can find almost any specialty food in you might want in Tiv Tam or Eden Teva. Not many students have the luxury of a car, but the public transportation system and fairly cheap car rentals will get you anywhere. Starbucks never made it in Israel, but Aroma Espresso Bar supersedes Starbucks in every way (especially the freshly baked goods).
There are many things in which we find comfort, things we never think we could live without. But once let go of, they are well enough replaced. In my experience, I have found that holding onto things lightly is necessary to discovering the best things in life. - blogger of the month, Jonathan Ditty
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