Nights in Israel

A beautiful sunset in Jerusalem

      Once we finished all of our meetings and events for the day we would usually eat dinner together. I know, food was really a theme on this trip. We would talk about the events of the day and what we thought of all of the different situations. Then we would all say goodnight. Well, kind of.

       Depending on where we were we would do one of two things. We would go to bed or we would go adventuring. Now the second sounds much more exciting I understand, but sometimes we really didn’t have a choice. When you are in the mountains of the Golan there is not much to do besides go to bed, but sometimes we would try to figure out something to do because 7:00 is just way too early to retire for the night! So we would walk around for a while, or possibly just congregate in our room and talk about anything and everything; from political issues to school work to future goals! On nights when were actually near bigger cities, we of course had to have this time for further exploration of local life. A few classmates and I would catch a cab and head into town for the night! We would walk the streets and hit up all the local shops and street venders, though we never did really buy anything. While wandering we would run into random people and get the chance to talk with them for a while. See, we REALLY looked and sounded like tourists most of the time. The usual group was me and two other girls who were also blonde and loud. So this would usually strike up a conversation asking why we were there and where we were from. Sometimes people would take an interest in what we had to say and even offer to let us interview them about our papers. Other times, which was much rarer because the Israeli people are incredibly nice, the conversation would end at a simple response of “Good luck with your class and enjoy Israel!” It was during this time that we got the opportunity to see the current Israel, and really get to know its people.

          While in Israel I learned a few things.  For starters, in Israel people are extremely bold. If they think something they most likely are going to say it. Unless, of course, you ask for directions. When you ask for directions and they do not know where to tell you to go they will ALWAYS reply “straight, straight, and to the left”. I don’t know why they would make this up, but every time we asked someone where to go without fail they would say this! In an attempt to share my culture, I would try to explain to them the usual “Hi, How are you doin’?” greeting of Texas. Most Israelis found this to be simply ridiculous! Why anyone would greet someone they didn’t know like that! On one hand, this would be considered rude where I am from; but on the other hand, if they were talking with you it was because they wanted to, and you knew it was not because they felt like they had to. This honesty led to plenty of great conversations with people from all over the world!

Looking back on it this trip has become one of my favorite trips. I got the opportunity to learn so much while I was there. I learned not only about the political issues and the people and land of Israel, but I got the opportunity to learn about myself. I learned that the place does not make the person, but rather that the person makes the place. I could have had a horrible time if I would have let myself. Instead I approached all of my experiences with a sense of optimism and confidence and I was able to take away from my time there more than just a new favorite food, or a cool story to tell, or new information to include in my paper. I was able to take away a sense of accomplishment for navigating through Israel on my own, new friends, and a desire to learn in my everyday life. Studying abroad in this context was for me one of the best experiences of my college career.

**For more information on the opportunities offered to UT Tyler students please visit the Center for Global Education website!!! (Trust me, you won’t regret it!)**

This is an old gate in the city of Tiberius... Not sure what it says, but still! 

These guys were playing awesome music in Jerusalem! Plus this is an awesome mural!

We met these friends in Tiberius and they are from Russia and Germany... Like I said  people from all around the world!!!

This is the Western wall in Old Jerusalem. Seen, of course, on one of our late afternoon adventures.