Cease-fire

Cease-fire is excellent. Seams that all sides are proclaining victory, and defeat. But a day without rockets is a good day. Lets see if it holds.

Lots of people have been writing to me to see how we're holding up here on the southern border of the 'red zone.' Thank you for your concern. I decided to start this blog so you can check in with me at your leisure, and I hopefully will not be too lazy to keep it updated.

If you don't already know, I came to Israel with my husband, Hugh, and three children in August 2005 on my husband's one year sabbatical. Hugh is a professor of mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland. He came to Israel sponsored both by UMD and Fulbright, and he has been working very hard at establishing research ties with colleagues all over Israel, and especially at his host school of Tel Aviv University.

We spent the year living in Zichron Yaakov, which is a beautiful small town just south of Haifa. Turns out that we all love living here. Well, we love it a little less from inside the bomb shelter, but that's another story.

By late spring Hugh began to make plans to return to the US. I felt, however, that somehow, the family was not ready to go back. The kids spent the year on the very taxing task of adjustment, and were just beginning to feel comfortable. They just began to speak Hebrew, find meaningful friendships, and adjust to the new social requirements. What a shame to yank them out of here just when they got settled.

Not to mention, that I also didn't want to leave. Just a little longer, I thought. One year is just not enough. Hugh can go back to teach his class, and the kids and I will continue on here. Luckily with his flexible schedule, Hugh can come back here several times and especially for the long break between semesters. Seemed like a good idea late spring.

Then summer came and brought the war with it. I can't really explain why I am still staying. My parents call all the time asking what it will take to make me come home. I can't say I am without apprehension, but I am not ready to leave. Anyway, cease-fire today. Yipee. Can we go back to normal life now???