Hi Rollins! While everyone, including myself, is getting ready to return back to Rollins for the spring semester, I am trying to unpack from my incredible semester in Israel. I got back home to Dahlonega, Georgia on Tuesday night and have barely touched my suitcase. Part of this is because the jet lag and time difference hit me like a truck, but the other reason is because I am still in denial that I am back in Georgia and not Israel.
About a month ago, I received an email from International Programs about reverse culture shock and how that might affect the semester abroad students when returning home. I really did not think anything about it because my small town of Dahlonega is always a culture shock when I come home from Rollins every semester. However, I did not realize the small details of everything I do that became my new normal in Israel but is not normal here.
My biggest shock was the lack of security in the United States. In Israel, whenever you enter a mall, building, campus, market, club, or any place with a lot of people, you and your bag get checked. When I first got to Israel, I remember thinking how annoying it was to open up my purse every time I went to the grocery store, but it became second nature so fast. I would walk up to the grocery store, on the phone with someone, and open my bag without even thinking about it. My first day full day back at home I went to Wal-Mart with a friend. I smiled and said hi to the greeter but immediately realized he was not going to look in my bag like I had grown accustomed to.
My Wal-Mart adventure led to my next shock: people talking to me and asking me about what I was buying. I went to Wal-Mart to get basic things I did not bring home, and decided to buy baking supplies. Many locals asked me what I was baking, had I ever made this kind of bread before, I should try using insert special oil, all kinds of topics. I was overwhelmed by the kindness and friendliness that I did not realize I had been missing for so long.
However, people in Israel were kind and friendly, just in Hebrew. This has been one of the other most difficult aspects of returning home: nobody speaks Hebrew. Multiple times I have caught myself about to begin a question or statement in Hebrew, and then quickly catching myself and switching back to English. Last night, I went to dinner at a hibachi place with my best friend. When I needed more water, I asked in Hebrew and then quickly apologized and said it in English. I was also confused when he brought the check. I handed my card back and asked if he could add 20 percent, because in most other countries you have to add the tip before you pay.
Despite all of this, I am amazed at what feels natural and as if I never stopped. For example, I was so nervous to drive after not driving for 6 months. It came back to me as if I drove last week. Simple tasks like pumping gas, taking care of my dogs, checking the mail at the post office, all feel as if I never left.
As I repack my things and get ready to head to Rollins, I could not be more thankful for the opportunity I had. Studying abroad in Israel was the best decision I ever made and I cannot be more thankful for the faculty, staff, and family I had supporting me through it all. If I could go back to Israel right now, I would.