Life certainly has its twists and turns. It seems surreal to me to be back in Israel for the second time three months after my first trip. To say the least, I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself since I returned from my birthright trip in December (Xmas Day ’08 to be exact). Having never really traveled outside the U.S. (apart from two spring break trips to Mexico and an afternoon in Belize on a cruise once), I realized that I’m much more adventurous and ambitious than I once thought.
I always knew I wanted to take advantage of the birthright opportunity, but it definitely took a year or two and persistent nagging from my mom before I finally applied. Although I was really looking forward to going on birthright, I had no idea the profound effect my time in Israel would have on me and how it would literally turn my world upside down. I can’t tell you how many times I had heard from and about people that went on birthright, had a life-changing experience, and, not to mention, had a ton of fun. For some reason I was convinced that it would NOT be the same for me. I thought I, of all people, would of course, be the exception. I was always that girl who was homesick at sleep away camp begging my mom to let me come home, the girl that backed out of other abroad opportunities during college (my mom lost quite a few deposits which she reminds me of frequently) and was so sure that I wanted to live in St. Louis permanently. Boy, was I surprised.
When I returned home from Israel, all I wanted to do was go back. I craved the excitement that I felt I had been lacking for so long and the new experiences and knowledge I gained each day about the country, the people and, mostly, about myself. To say the least, my life in St. Louis did not go back to the way it was pre-birthright and my desire to return to Israel didn’t waiver. To put it simply, within weeks I made a lot of very big decisions that would dramatically alter the course of my life.
Let me just ask… WHO in their right mind quits their job in the midst of the worst recession of our time… breaks up with their boyfriend of two months after finally getting together… gives up their spacious one-bedroom apartment… and signs up for a five month internship program in Tel Aviv, Israel?
I still don’t know why things happened the way they did, but I’m happy that the decisions I’ve been made have led me to where I am today. I guess I was just looking for something else… something more. What I do know is that with such an incredible opportunity at my fingertips and my whole life ahead of me, I couldn’t think of a better time for such an adventure.
