A Student's Guide to Life in Israel

Being in a different country with almost complete independence brings up a lot of new challenges. Being by yourself in Israel can be challenging and you need to really find a routine to follow quickly. Here is my advice/routine.

First wake up at the scheduled wakeup time. The thirty minutes between wakeup time and breakfast is plenty of time to get ready for the day. I do not recommend waking up early to finish homework because sleep is very valuable and more important to be honest. After you wake up you should shower. It is very important to shower everyday because being in a room with four other boys leaves room for a lot of smells to develop. So shower everyday to keep the smell from getting too bad. After you wake up and shower you should eat breakfast even if you are not hungry you should still try and eat so you are not hungry during your core class. When it comes to core class quizzes and tests what I do is show up to class ten to five minutes early to study with other people. Studying with other people is the way to go for core class and it is good to refresh yourself on the information before the daily quiz. When you get breaks during core class, actually take a break. Don’t use that time to finish homework because you need to save your energy for the rest of the day. Use this time to sit down with people and talk and get your mind off of school. After core class, make sure to eat a big lunch to help push you through your sequentials. When you are finished with your sequentials you are going to be very tired so take a break, lay down on the couch and chill with people. After you’ve rested a little bit do your homework with other people so you can help each other. Living in a dorm with others gives the perfect opportunity to always have study partner.

That is the regular school day. Although it is good to stay focused on your studies, it is important to find a balance. Being here only for only eight weeks you can’t take the time you have here for granted. Connect with people and enjoy living in Israel. It is much healthier than being in your room all the time and doing homework.