This is our 4th visit to Ramat Beit Shemesh since Ellen, Shalom Shachne and the girls made Aliyah. Each visit has been 1 year apart so it makes it very easy to make comparisons. For our first visit, they had only been in Israel for 2 months. They were very excited but still getting used to how things worked. Ellen regaled us with stories of mistakes made while shopping and her struggles with learning Hebrew. Ilana was already playing with the neighborhood kids. Penina was complaining that she hated school. We reminded her that she said the same thing while she was living in Malden--after all, she was almost 13!
When we went out onto their balcony, we looked at the hill across the street and saw a few cranes. They explained that a new development was being built on the hill.
By our next visit, as they began their 2nd year, you could see a change. Shalom Shachne and Ellen looked so much more relaxed than they had while living in Malden. We could see that this is where they were meant to live. Ilana and Penina were branching out with more after-school activities and had settled in to learning in a solely Hebrew environment.
As I look out their balcony today, the development across the street has been finished but the cranes have moved over and are starting on another new development. As they start their 4th year here, their personal development is mirroring the new houses across the street. I marvel when I listen to Ellen on the phone or at a store as she rattles off what she needs in Hebrew. Both girls are getting wonderful reports from their teachers.
We had fun watching Ilana and Shalom Shachne at their horseback riding lessons. Penina's business, PhotographyByPenina.com, is taking off. Ellen is doing some amazing things (I'll leave it to her to update you in a future post)
May they continue to change and grow in such wonderful ways!
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