Less than 10 Days

I leave in less than 10 days. Wow. This whole semester abroad thing really snuck up on me. I'm leaving so early because I'm doing an awesome 2 week program in Jerusalem called Hamerkaz, which is basically Jewish-centered discussions in the morning, outdoor adventures in the afternoon (hiking, mountain biking, etc.), and then going out at night. They provide housing, food, and even pay for your plane ticket and the total cost is only $699 with scholarships. Info is here: http://www.hamerkaz.org/.

After Hamerkaz ends on Jan. 10, I have two weeks to myself before I move in to the dorms at Rothberg International School at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The people at Hamerkaz are hooking me up with a place to stay at the Tennenbaum dorms (it's a small college in Jerusalem). I'll use this time to get my student visa so I don't get deported, and I'll check in at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs about an internship offer researching and writing articles for their website from the perspective of an American Jew (www.jcpa.org). If I end up doing this, I'll link to whatever I write on that site.

For everyone going on birthright, I'm not sure how much free time I'll have during Hamerkaz, but I will for sure try to meet up with you at some point. Let me know when you're in Jerusalem! Here's my really simplified schedule:

Dec. 27 - Leave O'Hare for Israel

Dec. 27-Jan. 10 - Hamerkaz (Jerusalem)

Jan. 10-Jan. 24 - 2 weeks free (Jerusalem)

Jan. 24 - Registration and move-in at Hebrew U dorms (Jerusalem)

June 6 - Return to the US hopefully a much more experienced, independent person

I'm feeling all the typical emotions right now: excitement, nervousness, blah blah blah. I'm going to try to keep this blog interesting and fun to read, so it'll be mostly filled with funny little stories about my many mishaps once I get to the Holy Land. Feel free to subscribe so you'll get an email whenever I post, that way you don't have to keep checking back!

-Dan