I'm Making Aliyah

Okay, so I'm not actually making Aliyah, I just wanted a title that would catch your attention, so now that it's caught here is my sob story as I say goodbye to abroad.
As sad as it is, I'm gonna go ahead and say this is my last blog post while studying abroad. I can't believe how quickly 5 months have gone by. January and February seemed like forever months, two of the longest months that I took for granted by not traveling the surrounding cities in Israel and exploring my "home" city of Tel Aviv. When March rolled around, things started to pick up and I began to adjust and then April flew by in the blink of an eye and as I sit here in my oddly shaped dorm room, in my semi-comfortable twin bed, with two more nights left, I have bittersweet feelings about leaving.
Today marked the "schools out for the summer" slogan with an incredible last week behind me. It started Monday night when myself and a handful of others were present at an "Entrepreneurship Conference" with the one, the only, Binyamin Netanyahu.

Yes, you read that right, Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu! It was the most outrageous, most moving, most amazing experience ever - to actually see someone as famous and powerful as him and to hear him speak - well that was a different story. I know it's silly, but I never thought I'd hear Bibi speak and now I have and I can brag about it :) ! And my finals? Well they weren't too bad - I mean, let's be honest, I didn't come abroad for school...so whatever happens, happens. Today after I finished my last final exam, my campus at Tel Aviv University went crazy! It was the annual Yom HaStudent (Student Day) in honor of all the students at campus, with multiple concerts, DJ's, countless delicious food stands like hot dogs, coal-fired pita, labane and zatar (Israeli spreadable cheese and a spice), froyo, ice cream, moon bounces, headphone concerts, and so much more! Such an incredible last day on campus that I was lucky enough to experience with the best friends I've made abroad.

As I look back on these past months abroad it's hard for me to believe that I will be boarding a plane in about 48 hours back to the US of A. Will I even recognize Americans? Going abroad is something that I feel so privileged to have taken part in, I'll remember the memories and miss the people I've become so close to, the Hebrew language, the fresh fruit and vegetables, the side salad's with every meal, the annoying taxi drivers who won't bargain with you, the names of the bus stops that no one else understands, the sketchy super market next to the dorms, and the list could go on. I've begun to find myself while abroad, developed independence and self-reliance and grown more in 5 months than I could ever imagine would be possible.  תודה רבה ישראל, אין לי ארץ אחרת. (Thank you Israel, there is no other land like you).

5 (months in). 3 (weeks left). 1 (memorable experience).

Call it the final stretch, call it the last hurrah, call it whatever you like but I'm calling it my last 3 weeks in Israel to live up my abroad experience. So instead of sitting in my room doing work, because obviously as any abroad student would have it - we get less than 10 hours of work a week during the actual semester and then when finals roll around, we get given more work than we've had this entire semester.
But with all work aside, since I feel as though I've finally adjusted to Israel, funny how that happens 5 months into my 5 month abroad experience, I've been trying to really understand what it means to be an Israeli citizen. It started on April 27, on Yom Ha'Shoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day. About a week earlier, I stood in the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in Oranienburg, Germany, one of the first concentration camps created during the time of the Holocaust. On the 27th at 10 AM, I stood as a Jewish American studying abroad in Israel, I had the opportunity to hear the National Siren in honor of Yom Ha'Shoah. I can't explain the feelings that came over me; emotion, pride and a love for Israel.

One week later, it's Erev Yom HaZikaron, The Day of Remembrance, where the state of Israel nationally honors its fallen soldiers. Some of the students of Tel Aviv University, along with our Madrichim (counselors) on the program organized a ceremony, full of speeches, songs and memories of fallen soldiers. This ceremony took me back to the time that myself and the rest of my edah at camp had learned about Michael Levin. An American and my connection to him, a Camp Ramah Poconos Alumni. And although I could never move to Israel, let alone join the army, I find it inspiring that this young American gave his life for Israel, we call him a "hero in heaven". After two somber days in Israel, it was time for some celebration, some love for this country I call my second home. Last night was the start of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day and Israel's birthday, Happy 66th!

We started the night with fireworks in Kikar Rabin and then later to the street parties on Rotschild! It was craaaaaaazzzyyyyy and so much fun! A perfect way to celebrate my last couple weeks here in Israel! The streets were filled with Americans, Israelis, Russians, French, I'm sure people from all over the world, showing their love and spirit for Israel. After a long 5 month semester, I feel privileged to have celebrated these three holidays in Israel and to have the opportunity to study in a place filled with citizens who love their country. אני אוהבת ישראל!