Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya...you get the idea

So, if you had not guessed it already I'm leaving tomorrow. I'm leaving to New Jersey to stay with some relatives who will ship me to other relatives who will then ship me to more relatives who will ship me to the airport to finally go to my final destination: Israel. I'm finishing packing, and deciding what I'm going to forget and ask my parents to send or bring to me during winter break. I've got all of my essentials, but I'm worried about my luggage, I hope it passes the size test or else the fee is intense for an oversize bag. I'm excited about my morning flight. I do a lot better on morning flights than night flights because in the morning I want to sleep and at night I don't really want to sleep. But a 7:15 flight leaves little room for sleeping in. A kima (wake up in hebrew) of o-dark thirty does not excite me. Oh well, I may blog in the airport in San Diego depending on how fast I get through security but more than likely I will blog again from the Cincinnati airport, which apparently isn't in cincinnati at all...hmmmm. See you tomorrow

-Z

Hey,

So it's Sunday, I leave on Thursday. I'm really excited to go on Thursday and I'm just sitting here contemplating my time here in San Diego. 4 years ago I did not expect to be going away to Israel for college, in fact, college seemed like a mere afterthought to me socially dominated priorities of a high school freshman. I'm working on getting packed a day earlier than I'd usually pack because my Dad seems to think that I should finish all the packing early then goof off later, and I agree with him, even though I'm going to have to find what to wear and my anxiety about the trip will only heighten with the packing. I am used to packing for weekend trips, and every year I pack for camp, but going away for 9 months is a big deal. The idea of not being with my parents for Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, their anniversary, my birthday, the list goes on. Its an interesting idea that I can't seem to comprehend right now, but I'm sure the full effect of it will hit me when those dates occur. I'll continue to keep you posted. I leave in about 80 hours, it's scary.

-Z

15 Days Until Showtime

Well, as you can see there are 15 days until I will arrive in Ha'aretz (the land) and I'm making my preparations. I've gotten a new computer, started cleaning my room, practiced my cooking, and setting up my fantasy football league. I'm getting really excited and nothing made me more excited then reading the handbook that describes my second semester schedule of activities. I'm planning on seeing my USY friends for the last time tomorrow, and I'm planning on working on my packing list and my room for the rest of the day.

-Z

Quick Facts

For those of you who don't know, I'm leaving on August 28th to go to NYC to visit some family and friends but the NATIV program doesn't start until September 1st. I will be in Jerusalem for the first 6 months of the program, then I will be in Yerucham, doing community service for the rest of the year until I come home in late May. In Jerusalem, I will be studying at The Hebrew University and livin' it up in the land of my ancestors.

If you've got any ideas of fun things to do in Jerusalem, or even in Yerucham, please feel free to let me know.

-Z

Guitar Woes

So here's the deal, I acquired an old classical guitar from my neighbor a week before I went to camp. I did not take it to camp because I didn't think I had enough skills to practice with it, or the room in which to be able to take it home. At camp I practiced on my friend's guitar and I have gotten much better even in my Dad's eyes, but he does not support me taking it with me to Israel, where I will be spending the next year for college. I know that there will be others with guitars on the trip but having one of my own would be tremendously convenient. I would not have to ask others to borrow their guitars and I could play with them and not have to borrow from them. I believe that it's a good idea to bring the guitar with me. I know that a year off would hurt my skills and it'd be hard to catch up. On the flip side, I believe that having the guitar with me would enable to me to practice often and get a lot better especially when I come back after 9 months of being away from home. It would give me activity to do that doesn't involve a computer video game or things more detrimental to my brain power. I do have a hard case that I could check it in to the airport when I travel. Also it would be my responsibility and my hassle to deal with the extra charge for checking it, or if I carried it on I'd have to bring one less carry-on bag, which shouldn't matter to my Dad but it isn't. His direct quote was that he wouldn't forbid me from taking it, but he thinks it would be a very bad idea. I disagree with that...What do you think? I could use some inspiration.

-Z

2 Weeks Until Nativ

Hey everyone!

Zach here, and yes, it is 2 weeks until NATIV, but I will update this periodically until I get settled on NATIV. I'm starting to pack even though I've got 2 weeks until I leave. I'm saying my last goodbye's to my friends and I'm really enjoying my time in San Diego.

-Z