september 1st, 2009

Flight CO90, leaving Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey at 10:50 pm, arriving Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, 4:15 pm on September 2nd

still to be packed: anything that would be kept in a bathroom, anything that could be considered an outfit accessory, anything that could be plugged in, and the laundry, that is still in the drier. Good news, though! I did not mistake the date of this flight, unlike the last international one I was on...thanks again to those who helped me through that one (batman).

so, approximately three and a half months ago, I commenced from NYU, ending my undergraduate career of studying abroad, writing a thesis, working for ResEd, and being a happy student. Naturally, I have moved on now to the next step in life, leaving behind the safe world of Washington Square Park for the real world...or maybe for the world that I can simply run away to.
And so, that is what I am going to do. As of today, or 20 hours and 35 minutes later today, I will be moving temporarily to Israel, experiencing living in the Holy Land, eating hummus with every meal, learning Hebrew, and oh yeah, living at a Yeshivah.

So, even though right now I should be packing, sorting through the laundry, cleaning up what I have decided not to pack, etc, before I have to go to the eye doctor tomorrow to get a contact prescription, buy some contacts, and get shekels, because, lets face it, the dollar doesn't have the same international appeal it once did, I would like to make some goals.

Goals for my time in Israel

1. Ride a camel in the Negev. My birthright didn't do this.
2. Learn Hebrew.
3. Learn to make shakshuka.
4. Post at least twice a week (on average).
5. Go to Egypt *
6. Connect to long lost family.
7. Establish new ties.
8. Take the GRE
9. Apply to graduate school.
10. Stay healthy.

*assuming that it is safe to do so at the time


In the meantime, a few more short term goals:
finish packing
clean the fish bowl
stay calm.

So, to finish this post, bathtubs will be missed, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the saddest movie ever, suitcases can be cozy, and baby wipes are a travel necessity.

Shalom!
~liz