The Beginning
We made it! After a 12 hour flight and some extensive security checks, our entire group has arrived and settled in Jerusalem. Luckily, our small group of twelve made it easy to keep track and follow along with each other, and we all had the opportunity to meet at check-in and go through security together in Boston. Once aboard our flight, it was a non-stop journey to Tel Aviv, where two things became very apparent: the heat and the traffic. Stepping off the plane was like entering a new world in comparison to Boston’s cold and rainy spell, and at the rate of travel we were experiencing, we might as well have been parked most of the time. Another apparent element was the degree of visible patriotism on our drive from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Perhaps it was because of Israel’s recent Independence Day celebrations, but a number of buildings and cars displayed the blue and white of Israel’s national flag. National pride will certainly be an important topic to discuss when addressing the theme of this Dialogue. While Israel is distinctly different from its Arab neighbors, my first impressions find some similarities between Israel and Jordan, where I visited for a Dialogue last summer. Language and religion may be different, but the terrain and style of architecture do overlap.
By the time we arrived at our apartments and enjoyed our delicious Middle Eastern group dinner, it was quite late, so we reviewed the most important parts of our orientation. A more extensive orientation will take place tomorrow, after some much deserved rest. In the meantime, we learned where the nearest supermarkets and banks were, and oriented ourselves with our neighborhood. The currency here is the shekel, which equates to about one-third of a US dollar. We also learned a few Hebrew words to get us acquainted with our new home. By the time my next blog post rolls around I’ll definitely have some more content to base my observations off of. From what I’ve seen so far, I’m looking forward to my experience both in Jerusalem and later in Tel Aviv.
