Tomorrow will mark start our third week here in the Holy Land. I’m really excited for this upcoming week due to we leave Wednesday night for Jerusalem to celebrate Yom Kippur. I had an amazing time this past week celebration Rosh Hashanah in Jerusalem. I was truly lucky because my mom came to Israel to celebrate the holiday with me. 

In the two weeks I’ve been here, I’ve noticed lots of changes, differences and inconsistencies in the culture from home in Seattle. For example, the workers are inconsistent in the sense that some are really nice. Such as, when I go out for dinner some waiters will give us free stuff. Whereas, at other places they will just be Israeli’s plotting to scam their next American customer in need. This is unlike America because most people will just be mean in general and not care as much about the sale depending on where you are.

A difference that took the first week to adjust to was the weather and time zone. It feels weird being 10 hours ahead of my family back home. It makes it difficult sometimes to text them and makes it really hard to watch football because I’m asleep during Seahawks games. Unlike Seattle, it’s hot and sunny here everyday and I love it!

It’s weird being here and not eating a family dinner or hanging out with friends every day. I would say that’s probably my hardest change I’ve had to adjust to. It’s been a weird but not too hard of a change because of amazing modern day technology and the ability for me to facetime and text my parents and friends everyday. It also hasn’t been a difficult change because of the kids on this amazing program. They are all really nice and open. It’s really cool that we are all from different places and none of us really know each other cause it gets us all to open up to one another.

I have liked getting used to the cultural differences but some more than others. I have not liked adjusting to the facts that every person in Israel smokes cigarettes publically than I have enjoyed getting used eating Falafel, Shawarma and Schnitzel everyday. My hardest adjustment was learning a whole new language even though I know basic Hebrew and have been taking it for a long time. Another huge adjustment and my favorite is still realizing that I’m in Israel for another 3 and a half months!