It’s Spring Break! Yay! And what did I do with it? I worked my day job and now I’m apartment hunting in NYC. Not the most exciting Last Spring Break on record. Now, I’m about to have my first Shabbos in my new community. It’s pretty nerve-racking, especially because it’s also the old community of my friend Ilan. A lot of people already know who I am either because of my original blog post about him or from Ilan speaking about me to his friends. No pressure, right? Right.
I’m writing on Thursday as I steal the interwebs in the YU library thanks to a friend. Be very very quiet, I’m hunting Maccabeats… Not really, but the joke had to be made.
Related to the first paragraph about social pressure, this library is surprisingly anxiety-provoking. I may be a hoot at parties, but social anxiety is a real issue for me. Here, I’m surrounded by other Jews. Ones my age! And men! This is like my own personal Twilight Zone. Ok, so Brooklyn streimel-ville would be my real Twilight Zone, but this is definitely heading in that direction. In both my orthodox communities, I’ve been the only person in my age range. Ilan moving to my community last year was already SUCH a change. I’m looking around and this room is full of young frum Jews. This is totally alien to my experience.
My life is about change dramatically, and I have no idea what it’s going to be like. Scary!
I’m very lucky to already have a small mishpacha formed. But the adoptive mispacha is another tale for another day. I’m so thankful for them.
Shabbat shalom!
i feel for you as i'm right there with ya!