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Leaving Home , Going Home , Returning Home
Category:
Cultures
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN-10: 1439258759
Type: Non-Fiction
ISBN-13: 9781439258750
Whether you dream of moving across the country or to another continent, or you are returning home after a prolonged absence, Jason Alster’s Leaving Home, Going Home, Returning Home is an illuminating and inspiring read. Alster paints a picture of his move to Israel, his palette of words reflecting the tones and hues of this Mediterranean nation, but the message he conveys could be applied to any move, to any change from one place to another. Why? Because this book is about the courage to change, to take risks, and to trust oneself regarding that place we wish to call home. How does one adjust to a new language, to a culture decidedly different from the one left behind? What new lessons must we learn? Is there a sense of isolation and longing, or is it possible to become part of that new place and create a sense of community and belonging? According to the author, the answer is a definite yes! Page after page, readers will discover the keys—and occasionally the secrets—to fitting in.
A synopsis of this novel is in the author's profile/blog.
I never thought I would write a novel. To me, this book about life in Israel was just something that had to be told. I felt, and was told many times, that I had a unique perspective and could see things from many angles. That is because of my background and different endeavors. My mother was a traditional Jewish lady born to secular parents , while my father was a secular Jew born to a traditional family. I myself had went to Hebrew school , but had grown up with many gentile friends from my neighborhood, and am secular today. By age 14, I had moved away from home to enter a private Hebrew school in another state, Maryland, and by the time I moved to Israel in 1984 at age 28, I had moved as many as five times and lived in four different states; Connecticut, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey. I guess I could identify with people who moved allot. By the time I had published this book, I had moved about fourteen times.
To this I also add my different vocations that give me different perspectives; psychology/biology, electro-neuro-diagnostics, real estate agent, sleep-wake disorders research, biofeedback, natural medicine, art teacher, educational technology, and author publisher. Well, I wanted to have a positive book that would be a real joy to read, but at the same time identify with other people who are deciding to follow their dreams , but know that might mean relocating. So the novel may be read on different levels. As an informative book on life in Israel spanning the years from 1984, an exciting adventerous novel, and a book about following your dreams. I know you will enjoy this book and hopefully be inspired.
Excerpt
Prologue
While sitting in a movie theatre in Israel it came to me like a spark. Intuition, a bout of creativity, a decision to take action, doesn’t always hit you like a bolt of lightning, but can be more subtle. In my case, the idea jelled while I was watching the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. The movie initially caught my attention because a neighbor of mine took his wife to Tuscany, Italy for a wedding anniversary and enjoyed it there. I was now wondering if I should vacation there too. In the movie, an American woman named Francis decides to purchase a home in the Tuscan countryside and begin her life anew. Keeping a positive attitude, she was determined to acclimate with the locals, overcome the hurdles associated with moving, find the fulfillment she was seeking, and even meet the man of her dreams. During the movie I realized that I have had similar experiences while moving and living in a Mediterranean country. I too started anew, acclimated with the locals, and had funny and enlightening encounters with the characters I met. I became conscious that I am now really a part of this corner of the world. Couldn’t I write a book about it?
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