Sunrise Over Tel Aviv

Day one in Israel.
Not sure exactly how I feel yet, but the sunrise over the Mediterranean Sea, above the cloudline, was breathtaking.  That's two sunrises I've seen in one week (also my first two sunrises ever).  Got to be a record.
I ran around to the different Hutt cousins' houses this morning, wishing happy birthday to one (Daphi) before her birthday weekend getaway, dropping my suitcases off at another's (Tami's), and now I'm settled in at Nurit's (Mama Hutt) for the afternoon.  There's not much to do yet; I finished my book, checked my email, updated my Facebook status, and I think it should be lunchtime soon.  It's all I can do not to fall asleep--I've barely slept in the last few days (how many days, I can't really tell; the time difference is mighty confusing).
When I think about the months ahead, part of me wants to curl into a ball and dream myself back to Philadelphia.  I won't, obviously.  Not only is that impossible (The Wizard of Oz is wildly deceiving in that regard), but in spite of my current--predictable--anxieties, I know that good things are ahead.  I just need to get there.
The amount of Hebrew here is simultaneously exhilarating and paralyzing.  I love it--but it's scary being in a country by myself (relatively speaking--no pun in intended (ha)) that functions almost entirely in a language that's not my own.  I feel like I can kind of get lost here.  I won't, I know I'll manage--Mom, you can breathe now--but it'll take some getting used to.
Things I'm quickly learning/recalling:
1. Only in America can I get away with saying "Oy" to good news (e.g. "Oy, that's awesome!" "Oy, what a cute baby!").  Here, that's a jarring and mystifying oxymoron.
2. The big meal here is lunch.  I TOTALLY forgot about that and was not physically or mentally prepared to eat the feast Nurit had set out about an hour ago.  She said if I didn't eat it the last bits she'd toss the remainders, and I, being the good soul that I am, could not let those starving children in Africa down.  So I ate beyond my body's natural capacity, and now feel rather uncomfortable.  It's okay, though: it was all for the children in nearer-by Africa.
3. A "kaspomat" is actually a "kasfomat."  Go figure.
Going to a business party (or something?) tonight with the cousins instead of sleeping.  I might fall asleep on the dance floor.
Lehittt

P.S. I wrote different parts of this post at different times throughout the day, so if it seems chronologically off, you're not crazy (and neither am I).