Welcome to dorm 21 in Hod Hasharon! I’ve been in Israel for only four full days so far, and time feels so warped. I feel like I was at JFK airport, awkward and alone waiting for the group just yesterday, but at the same time I feel like I’ve known the HSI kids forever. My first week of classes have been the best thing ever. Not just sitting in a classroom listening to a boring teacher is amazing. I can’t imagine going back to American public school again, it’s so gorgeous here.

For this blog, I was asked to write about my hopes and aspirations for this trip. That’s such a broad and deep question! The more I thought about it, the more I was confused. There are so many things that I want to accomplish while I’m here, I don’t even know where to start. First of all, I really want to learn more Hebrew. I have some Hebrew knowledge, but I want to come home and be able to hold a strong conversation. I’m just hoping that my Spanish class and my Hebrew class don’t conflict with each other. More than once in the past I’ve turned in a spanish test with hebrew on it… whoops. Secondly, I’m really hoping to be fully immersed in Israeli culture. Getting here was such a culture shock and so different from America. It’s a lot to get used to, but I hope that I come back to America as a true Israeli. People here are so much more helpful and friendlier. They’re also not in a huge rush all the time like the people in Boston. I love the more relaxed vibe here.

Just being here for less than a week has already affected me so much. I still have 4 more months here, and I’m already thinking about when I can leave home again and come back to Israel (Sorry parents!). Tonight is our first Shabbat here, and I’m excited to experience it with my new friends. I’m so excited for these next four months.

Signing off from Hod Hasharon, Israel

Ari Weiner