The trip is already off to an interesting start... While finalizing my packing/ unpacking of unnecessaries, I receive a call from Chelsea, another girl on the dialogue. "Umm... Where are you??" I'm supposed to be at the airport at 2 pm... Shoot. Already late on day 1. Way to go Michele... My best friend and chauffeur for the day, Amanda, quickly whisks me off to the airport accompanied by our friends Bennett and Sam.
The only other time I've truly been out of the country (besides the occasional family vacation to Dominican Republic or Mexico or Spring Break 2011 with my sorority sisters, which is an other story altogether) was around this time last year when I went to visit a friend in London and Paris. Although I had an amazing, time I could never quite shake the feeling that even though we visited all the landmarks and staples- Buckingham Palace, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower- I never truly immersed myself in the culture. Besides the food being fantastic and superb in every way and being accompanied by one of the most amazing people and travel buddies I have ever known, I never really got to "know" the countries.
This trip I will be nothing short of forced into a culture that is completely different in their religions, views, customs, and so much more. I am studying at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva which is part of the Negev Desert. Yes I will be studying in a desert for a month... Which poses the question: Why did I pack a rain jacket? Here my subject of study if Health Management and Program Planning as well as a focus on the Bedouin community and their health care. My main goal for this trip is to fully and completely immerse myself in this culture, really find out what it is about and in turn discover what I am truly about. There is a lot of self discovery and rediscovery to be made, especially since I will be graduating next May and seriously need to get my booty on track!
After a nearly sleepless seven hour flight from Boston to Frankfurt, four hour layover, and unconscious four hour flight to Tel Aviv, we finally made it to our destination! We were ecstatic to arrive at the university after nearly eighteen hours of travel, but a little less excited about the four flights of stairs we had to haul our massive luggage up. Mine was a teense bit over the 23 kilo limit but luckily Sam was sneaky enough to "lighten my load" while on the scale at Logan International. After recruiting some strapping Israeli students to aid us in our troubles, who I'm sure were just as excited to see a group of nine American girls move in (ha-ha), we were finally able to settle into our dorms. The rest of the night consisted of unpacking, showering, doing some shopping at the corner store and resting.
There is no way to tell what this trip may bring, but I am absolutely sure it will be nothing short of life changing... I have willingly opened myself one hundred percent and am ready to take on whatever life throws at me. This trip is all about taking chances, seeing how others live their lives and by what means, and immersing myself in an adventure that is sure to inspire the heart. But first I need to get some sleep... I originally wrote this post at 6 am due to time change and over-all excitement... Jet lag you are not my friend...
You shoulda known betta.....
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