It’s hard to pick just one moment that fully describes my time here. Every day is a new experience that I will never forget. However, if I had to chose one moment that I feel touched me the most, it would have to be when we climbed Masada. Hiking has always been something I have enjoyed, but this was a completely different experience than ever before. I knew it would be a challenge for me because I have immense problems with my knees and joints, but that did not stop me. We woke up well before dawn on the day we would be climbing the mountain. In the dark, after little sleep thanks to the obnoxiously loud partying of the other people in our hostel, I packed my drawstring with the bare minimum I would need for the hike. Water (4 litres), an electrolyte packet, my knee braces and sunglasses. I laced up my heavy hiking boots and we set out for the mountain. At 5:30, we began to climb. I was pacing myself very well and was going steady until we took the first official step to climb the fortress and the right strap on my drawstring snapped off. That’s when it all went wrong. I lagged behind the group attempting to hold my extremely heavy bag while keeping up the rest of the group and began to feel very dizzy, so I asked out medic to stay back with me. Every fre steps, my heart rate would elevate so much that I would lose all energy and needed to stop again. My feet felt like rocks and I had to drag them behind me in the dirt.The group continued on, but I did not care. I decided to go at my own pace. This was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made, because it allowed me to have a deeply personal experience without the “intrusion” of others. As I took the steps 15 at a time, the sun began to rise over the Negev, the Dead Sea, and Jordan. The view was breathtaking. When I needed to rest, I would look out over the sunrise and enjoy the view while regaining my strength. Finally, after the sun had risen completely, I made it to the top of the mountain with more energy than when I started. It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done, mentally and physically. I learned so much about myself from that climb and I don’t think I could have done that anywhere else, and even if I had it wouldn’t have been the same because I wouldn’t be doing it in my homeland.