As I sit in front of my half-full suitcase, trying to pack my thoughts all into one 50 pound blob, I feel that it will never zip. I am left speechless every time someone asks “are you ready?” or “are you scared?”. There’s simply no words I can say that could fully express the mess of emotions flooding my brain just 6 days before I leave for the experience of a lifetime. So instead, I’ll do my best to explain just how these emotions routinely arrive.

The first rush I feel as I fold away my towel is excitement. As I visited Israel with my family a short month ago, I was able to scrape the surface of Israel’s gravity. But this time will be different, because I am lucky enough to spend a full 8 weeks meeting new people, trying and learning new things, seeing new places, tackling new challenges, and fully understanding the value of such an important place. Yes, the 15 degree weather in New York may also play a role in my eagerness to leave, but I truly feel so lucky to be learning and living my roots. I am impatiently waiting for the adventure about to begin at Alexander Muss High school.

Now I tuck my towel neatly in the creases of clothing, and my anxiety begins creeps up. What if my expectations for the trip are too high? What if I don’t make friends? What if school gets overwhelming? This is when I begin to realize everything I’m feeling is completely natural. Traveling to a new country in the middle of my junior year for two months all alone with no family or friends around the corner is scary. But this realization brings my excitement right back, as I realize that the scary parts are what will make this trip that much more amazing.

So finally I am all packed up, and lucky for me my suitcase zips. Now I’m ready for my life-changing journey across the world.