It has been one month and this place is really feeling like home. I have a schedule, something that I follow everyday as my daily life. I wake up, go to classes, maybe go out into town, come back and go to bed. When I go out, I know my way around. I go and maybe get shnitzl maybe so falafel from blue falafel, maybe a smoothie, or a slice of pizza. I go out with friends and we have an amazing time. This past week, we went to Masada, one of my all time favorite places in Israel, and every time I go up there, I am even more amazed. We woke up at four in the morning with all my friends and we hiked up the snake path. I hiked up with a big Israeli flag on a poll and not only was I proud to be a Jew, but everyone loved taking pictures with the flag. To be honest, I got some pretty good pictures myself too. Once up there, we did something I had never done before on Masada. We all got together and did morning services in one of the oldest known synagogues in the world. Teenagers were using this synagogue, built 2,000 years ago, as a place for prayer and I was honored to be a part of that.  The people, the places, and the aspects of Israel are making this place feel like home. But what makes this home different from America home? The answer is simple. In the big picture, nothing makes this different. I am around people that I have begun to love. I have made family, friend, familiar places that I can relate as a home. Yes the food is different, but the food is so good! But one thing does separate this home from America and that is the amount of freedom. The freedom that I get here is something new, something that I really like. I can go and get dinner with my friends and make memories with out texting my parents when I leave and arrive at my destination. But besides all of that, I am surrounded by a home like environment, and this is why I can call this home. Overall, I am beginning to develop a sense of love for a small town is Israel, Hod HaSharon. I am glad that this small town is a place that I can connect to and call a second home.