Sent July 24, 2006
Dear Family and Friends,
Certainly choosing to move to Israel involves some awareness that thousands of years of conflict in this region are likely to impact my life. On the eve of my departure there began an escalation of the conflict with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and while I apparently lack the necessary and normal function that would make this a worry for me, you all have expressed with love your concern over it... and so has Ben-Gurion. My departure (along with our group flight from NY to Tel Aviv and the start of orientation) was delayed one week.
So I've found myself in Poulsbo/Seattle for another week, having already exchanged well-wishes and good-byes with so many people I love and so feeling awkward about calling them up to have coffee. I am anxious to start this next step and feeling out of joint at having had to unpack, even just a little. Given too much time I am likely to start fretting over the situation in Israel, the size of my suitcases and everything in between. I have plenty of last minute activities and projects that I wasn't otherwise going to complete, yet I have still been thrown by the change in in momentum.
I foresee that it is going to be more difficult to keep my newsletters over the next four years non-political. Certainly far more of you have opinions about what is going on in Israel and Lebanon than had opinions about West African politics... and I have more than my fair share of opinions as, no doubt, y'all can guess.
I'll write again as soon as am settled in Be'er Sheva. Provided there is not another delay, I should arrive there early Thursday morning. I do not know how long it will be before I have good internet access. Until then, be safe!
Blessings,
K
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