This is on 1/28/19 at Hod Hasharon (first day photo-journal) We flew from JFK into Ben Gurion Airport and then took a bus to Hod Hasharon. This is the sign to get into the amhsi, there is no lesson today this is just the first impression picture. We did not study anything for this tiyul but it was fun to arrive at the campus and begin our 4 months.

I am so excited to be here in Israel. My first impressions are that this is a very well organized program that offers us an incredible opportunity to live in Israel for four months.

Today is my first day on campus. It is January 29th, 2019 and after a year of waiting I am finally in Hod Hasharon. This photo was taken right outside of the Friedman dormitory building as I was walking to my first class.

The music room - music has always connected people around the world. Finding a group of completely random people in a country 12000 kilometres away from home and being able to connect over a series of notes and a couple of words made me feel at home, and make some new friends along the way.

After an early wake up and a strenuous hike (full of pain) finally getting to the top of Masada and wearing the Australian flag. The first time on the trip I felt proud of who I was, my ancestors and my identity.

And as I walked away from the ledge that changed my perspective, with the rocks crunching under my feet I thought of Israel as not only as a tourist land but my land. I’d heard all the time, that is Israel is my home, but only now is that idea only just seeping through, making sense, bringing joy and fascination into my mind.

This picture was taken in an underground playground in Sderot. Rockets are frequently shot at Sderot from Gaza, so this playground was made so that the kids could run to a shelter in 15 seconds.

This was taken at Ben Gurion’s grave in the Negev. I learned all about the other side of Ben Gurion; how he wasn't just a political leader, but role model for settling the Negev. He believed that the Negev was Israel’s greatest opportunity. He settled in a kibbutz and farmed with the rest of his community. And he chose to be buried in the Negev to draw people to his home.

This is me at the JNF park. It is in Sederot. This is important because there are many bombs from Gaza yet they have to keep the children safe as much as possible.

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 Gilboa hike was really magical. When we started to walk I found it all right it was quite muddy which is really lovely but my shoes kept getting really heavy so I was finding it a little tough.

In Israel, I hope to learn about my Jewish history through the Jewish History class I will be taking. I would also like to learn more about the land of Israel and the different cultures that coexist. I am hoping to meet great students and teachers. I am looking forward to the different field trips, especially hiking, and being able to escape the snow in Upstate New York!

When all is said and done, when I’m off the plane and back in my American bedroom, when in five years I look back on the experience of a lifetime, I want to remember. I want to remember how I felt in every moment of the journey I am about to take.

“It is crazy to think that in two weeks, I will be waking up in Israel. It still feels unreal, but I am beyond excited. This summer, I traveled to Israel for the very first time, and I fell in love with the country. I will never forget the exact moment that Israel won my heart.

Anxious. The only word I can use is anxious. As I prepare for my February 8 week trip to Israel, I am not exactly sure what to expect.

As I begin to prepare for my trip to Israel, I am growing increasingly excited. I have very high expectations for my time in Israel, and I am hoping this trip will exceed them all. I am looking forward to all of the tiyulim because I love being able to see the things I have learned about in school firsthand. Additionally, I’m looking forward to meeting new people that share the same common interests as me. I also hope that this trip will allow me to form closer ties with Judaism and help me form stronger connections with my Israeli family.

Alexander Muss has been a dream of mine for a very long time. I have always seen tons of pictures on Instagram and Facebook of students just like me, hiking up Masada, floating in the Dead Sea, and visiting the Western Wall. Therefore, when I heard about the Philadelphia Impact Fellowship, I knew it was meant to be.

Honestly, the anticipation is killing me. As I sit here trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m leaving my home and all I know behind for two whole months it’s hard to picture. I’ve traveled by myself to other countries before but something about this specific trip is different.

I honestly cannot believe that in just 10 days I will be leaving my friends and family at home, and traveling to Israel.

I have never thought that I would be going to Israel in my life, let alone at only 15 years old. When I was preparing for the interview and writing my essays, I was so nervous and worried that I would not have been good enough to get into Alexander Muss High School. When I received the call that I was accepted, I did not believe any of it. I still cannot believe that I am going to Israel in 9 days.