Special Kind Of City

May 18, 2016

I’ve been in Israel for about a week now, and it already feels like I’ve been here for months. The accommodations we have are wonderful—we’re living in a hostel at the center of Jerusalem, a short walk from Ben Yehuda street and the bustling Mahaneh Yehuda market. Jerusalem is a special kind of city; you can feel it in the air. It’s very different from the liberal “NYC” of Israel, Tel Aviv. On Saturday everything is quiet for Shabbat; you can hardly find a single store open to grab a bite to eat at. For me this wasn’t surprising, as I’ve traveled in Jerusalem previously. It was interesting, however, to observe how the other students on my trip adapted to the culture of Jerusalem. This is my fourth time in Israel and the first time that as a Jewish student, I am completely in the minority. So far, especially considering the purpose and content of this dialogue, it is making for a very interesting and different experience than anything I have had before. The sheer difference in opinion between myself and the other students on my trip has made it more of a challenge to get to know them, but I think that part of the experience of this program will be personal growth and learning to engage in challenging dialogues with others.

Written By

Rebecca Mueller

My name is Becky, and I am majoring in Communications with a minor in Jewish studies. In my free time I love to play ice hockey, belly dance, and read. I chose to study abroad in Israel because it is a place I love very much, but my narrative on Israel is incomplete. My biggest study abroad goal is to gain a new perspective—this will be my 4th time in Israel so it is my hope to return home with new stories that will help round out my knowledge of the land, its people, and their narratives.