The first week at AMHSI was quite hectic and adventurous.  Everything from exploring Hod Hasharon to my first shabbat was filled with new things and the exposure to new culture.  It felt very weird walking down the streets of Hod Hasharon like a form of déjà vu.  I thought it would be similar to Japan, but when I looked closer, it wasn’t anything like it.  The atmosphere of the town with cars blaring their horns were equivalent to a Manhattan intersection.  The markets reminded me of Thai markets, filled with fresh fruit and locals at the selling stand. 

At the airport in New York, we had to go through security personnel that asked the passengers random questions.  Since I’m a very reformed Jew and don’t really celebrate Jewish holidays that much, I was caught up with many questions about Jewish holidays such as what Jewish people do on Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana.  I almost knew nothing and I screwed up on many of the questions leading them to my further questioning.  After this program, I’d like to know everything that the security personnel was asking.  After I got out of the three hour wait, I headed over to the gate and boarded onto the plane.  I saw many people on the plane flight that I didn’t know.  Over the course of these four months, I would really like to get to know them better. 

After that, we hopped on an air-conditioned bus heading straight for Hod Hasharon and to campus.  The drive was only about 20 minutes and we got there unharmed.  I slept there as well, combating against my jet lag.  The town was very rural and fit all the expectations for a good adventure, including shady places and the occasional round table of elderly playing either backgammon, chess, or dominos.  There were cool shops and restaurants scattered all over the center of town.  I’m super excited for trying all of them out, authentic or not.  On the way there, I also saw a schnitzel sandwich place along with an ice cream place that’s supposed to be amazing as well.  We already were recommended by our madrichim to try a smoothie place “the best falafel you’ve ever had.”  Hopefully that statement proves to be true.  All the madrichim seem to be nice, too.