My oldest son is spending his college break on a self planned Israel trip, his second. He's an Israeli citizen since his father was born in Israel. In all other ways, he's as American as apple pie.
I'm a typical anxiety ridden Jewish mother. He's back from Sderot, b''h, and I feel more secure with him in Rehovot at my friends' home.

Already in just a few days he's learned valuable lessons about war, terrorism, economic survival, and cabbies that rip you off... all important things to supplement his majors in Political Science, Judaic studies, and his minor in History. Trips like this are just as important to his education as the classroom.

Next phase is the "Yeshiva Tour" so he can decide whether to spend
a year learning in Israel, OR go to law school, OR get an advanced degree in a related field OR get a job OR get married OR whatever comes next in the life of a 21 year old young man.

I wish I had all these options/choices ahead of me, but alas I have to try to keep working to keep my family financially afloat. I have to pay for my kids to get their education and have their chance at traveling to Israel. I hope to send my 15 year old daughter to Israel for her first time this summer. And then there are all those veterinarian bills to pay for my aged dog...