Natasha Gee-Firsht has recently made aliyah. Read her first blog about her journey to Israel as an olah rather than a tourist

A couple of days after I arrived in Israel - after meeting my roommates, settling into my shared room with minimal A/C (thankfully fixed now) and meeting other Olim on the same programme as me - Ulpan started. When planning my aliyah programme I committed to learning Ivrit for five hours, five days a week. I was lucky to have two lovely teachers and we started covering things I already knew from school. Just as I was thinking this was too easy, I discovered how complex Ivrit can be! I decided to set myself some goals, starting with learning enough Hebrew to get by. As long as I have the confidence to communicate with people and perfect my accent, I will be ok.

My main concern was how I’d make new friends. I’m used to having a great support system and wasn’t sure how I’d get by without friends and family surrounding me. I was surprised at how easy it was to make new friends, though. Of course, being in the programme you’re surrounded by people in a similar situation to you and you tend to gravitate to people who speak the same language as you at first.

I also found that when I’d go to a party or an event people would hear my accent, and they’d be keen to know my story, which is a great way to meet new people. I feel almost like an Israeli now when it comes to my social life!

Becoming an Israeli officially however has been a bit harder. People used to warn me about the bureaucracy in Israel; I never believed that it could be so difficult, but it was like a test! I had to go to lots of different offices to set up things like my sal klita (a benefits package from the Israeli government given to new olim including money, help finding a job, getting a mortgage etc), ID card, health fund membership. However, the lack of queues and the patience of those waiting in the offices was a bit of a shock for an English girl like me! However I still don’t have my Israeli passport as the government offices keep striking.

Getting around the city on public transport was also something to get used to; the network here is fantastic, but after spending hours each day in my car in England commuting along the A406 to go to work I was bound to miss driving. This isn’t something I’m planning on picking up again any time soon though as driving in Israel really scares me – it’s the wrong side of the road and Israelis don’t indicate…

The weather also takes some getting used to. I wake up later in the morning as I don’t spend as much time doing my make up in, knowing it will just sweat off. After class or on Shabbat I go to the beach, which isn’t something I’ve ever thought of doing at home. Soaking up the sun’s rays and listening to the waves crash is the best way to relax!

Of course I am missing my parents, family and friends. Every time someone I know has come to visit Israel, my mum has given them something to bring out here for me, whether it is clothes, toiletries, pictures or food.

I recently celebrated my birthday and although I loved turning 22 here, I found it really strange to not be with my parents, probably one of the only times I recall being homesick, as I have always been used to spending my special day each year with them.