It was surreal, the green lockers and the school championship banners in the main gym. The cheerleaders with pom-poms, football players wearing green jerseys with “Wildcats” marked across their chests.
Growing up in Israel I imagined America like it was shown in High School Musical, as if it were straight out of a movie. And to my surprise, it was pretty similar. I was born and raised in Israel and I moved to Maryland when I was 11. Coming here, I didn’t know if I would stay two, three or four years before returning back to Israel. Four years later I am still here, but now I am 15 and moving back this summer.
Being in America has taught me a lot. Learning to adapt to new and different situations is a great life skill to have and will be helpful anywhere in the world. I have experienced different cultures and have had the opportunity to learn American culture. The differences between Israeli culture and American culture are vast and the average person can’t understand it unless they have lived in both countries.
I recall when I first came here that the biggest culture shock was the size of everything. Whether it was Costco or XXL cups in 7/11, everything was up one scale. Another shock was the calmness. Life is simple in Maryland, at least in my neighborhood life is quiet, and honestly, there isn’t much going on. But in Israel, there is always something going on. Whether good or bad, it is never quiet or boring.
In Israel, everyone has to serve two or three years of mandatory military service. When Americans hear about the military, they immediately think it is bad and means fighting an enemy. But, most people including myself are excited to serve, and there is a wide variety of options such as social media, intelligence, army, navy and so much more.
Going to the military usually changes people for the better. It gives people a perspective on life and teaches them fundamental values and life skills. After the military, people then attend university where they are much more mature after their service. If you compare a college grad that just finished school, they haven’t experienced anything in life but school. In comparison people who’ve just come out of the military have been through many more lessons and can have a totally different perspective on life.
Being in America has been the best opportunity I could have ever asked for. I have made lifelong friends, experienced American high school, played sports and traveled to over 30 states. But now, I have to do the hardest task yet: leave.
No one talks about this part of living in multiple countries. The part of leaving the life I know and have created for myself. When I moved here, I had just finished elementary school in Israel, and now I’m in the middle of high school. I am going to a school where I don’t know a single person, and leaving my friends, my team and my current home.
Unless someone has moved cities or schools, they don’t know what it is truly like to be the new girl again. The girl that everyone stares at when she introduces herself in front of the class for the first time. The girl who has to find out who to trust and who she should be friends with.
Not only will I be the new girl again, but I will be a 12-hour flight away from my friends and won’t be able to visit whenever I want to. Nonetheless, as Alexander Graham Bell said, “When one door closes, another one opens.”
