Really hard at first, gets easier
I've lived in Israel for eight years. The first couple of years were really hard, even with an intermediate speaking and reading level of Hebrew. There is so much to get you down, really down, really depressed. The key for me was establishing myself and making choices that I am really living in Israel as an Isreali: renting on a one year contract, then after four years buying an apartment; finding a job (which was easier to do eight years ago than today); getting married and having kids; showing up for reserve duty; other little things. If you plan to "try" to live in Israel for a few years, then you will plan your life accordingly, and it will be really easy to leave when the going gets tough. If you really want to change your life, then plan to change it from the start. My $0.02. -David
