what you imagine

This is the kind of personality you imagine that you'll be around if you make aliyah. 

Here's what you will be around:

Prospective olim imagine a country full of olim. They picture their friend from Boca Raton who made aliyah. They picture their aunt from Boston. They remember their classmates from Australia from their year abroad in seminary. They think of the physician from Atlanta who retired there. That's not who dominates Israel. That seems like a lot of people, but it isn't. It's a handful. Israel has 9 million people (12 million really.)  Israel is full of Israelis. They spent three years as youths being pounded in the army. They arrested Arabs in the Shomron. They saw combat in Lebanon. They don't speak English  They battle to earn a living in a corrupt economy, push ahead of you online, shout at the drop of a hat. They are quite different from your pal from Florida who at age 20 was studying at YU in New York. 

You imagine that you are coming home to family. That's what the ads from Nefesh b'Nefesh tell you. But no, you are moving to a highly stressful society full of people that are entirely different from you. Are you close with your cousin who is entirely different from you just because it's your cousin? No, you can't stand her. And it will be the same with these very distant cousins who are even more different.