T-minus 8 days!

So it's been awhile since I last posted so I thought I would make sure everyone was still excited about my trip, are you?


Well I am.  Graduation activities have ended, and I have all of my flights booked--I'm ready!  First stop on the long journey to Tel Aviv is Chicago where I'll fly on to New York and await my 11:50p.m. departure from JFK.  It will take me roughly 10 hours to travel from JFK to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv so that will put me arriving around 5:15p.m.  (For those of you who don't know, Tel Aviv is 8 hours ahead of all my avid followers in the Midwest).


It appears that my first destination will be Jerusalem, although I am still a bit unsure because I am going on the special BioEthics trip.  But, I think that I will be doing most of the same things as other groups.  Ok, so I'm really looking forward to Jerusalem.  Known as the "holy city," I'm expecting quite a spiritual experience as I hike to the top of hill (I will surely tell you the name of that hill top after conquering it) and look at the stunningly beautiful landscape.  As if that is not enough, I think my next stop will be the Kotel (Western Wall) and the Old City, and then of course out to dinner somewhere in Jerusalem.  This all should be truly fantastic.  It also seems like I will be spending most of my nights in hotel rooms, with a trip to a Kibbutz thrown in.  Also, I will be partaking in a traditional Shabbat dinner, which should be very interesting.  For those of you who know me, you know that I am not a very religious person, but I am surely open to absorbing everything I can while on this trip-and its not everyday you get to say the Shabbat blessings and eat Shabbat dinner in Israel.  If nothing else, I'm looking forward to the spiritual aspect of this dinner.  Aside from the serious spiritual stuff, I think there will be snorkeling in the Mediterranean or Dead Sea, a camel ride, a visit to an Israeli Army base, and many other wonderful adventures.  


Now with all that being said, I'm sure you are thinking, why is Alex blogging about sites and experiences she hasn't been to or experienced yet?  It's called a "teaser."  I have to get you all excited about my trip and ready to read and peruse the pictures.  I should tell you I finally got my own camera so if you are a visual person like myself, you will surely be able to follow along with me on my many journeys over the next 3 months.


Ok, that is all for now!  I'm not exactly sure when I will have a chance to blog during my time on the Birthright trip, but can't wait to update you all once I find a coffee shop with internet.