The Israel Chronicles Begin

Disclaimer: I was without internet almost the first week in Israel, but I wrote journal entries that I am now posting.

January 23, 2008
After a brief bittersweet pit-stop in Philadelphia to say one last goodbye to people close to me I was on my way to Israel. I did not know what to make of it all as the 4 of us Penn Nursing students drove away from campus to catch our flight at Newark airport. The sleep deprivation due to very few hours of sleep the previous 3 nights wanting to make the most of my time left in the States may have had something to do with it.

El Al’s reputation of having the tightest security held true. We were questioned before checking in at the ticket counter. Then while waiting to board the plane they pulled aside what I assume were all of the non-Jews (determined by the prior questioning), did a complete search of our carry-on bags, and took shoe swabs. After we passed the test they escorted us one by one to the already boarded plane.

The 10.5 hour plane ride was not as bad as I had anticipated. We each had our own T.V. so I watched the new version of Hairspray (not as good as the original in my opinion) and Moulin Rouge, played Tetris, and slept. The food was yummy and the service great. As we descended into Tel Aviv I looked out the window and got a pitting feeling in my stomach “Wow, I am actually going to be spending the next 4 months of my life here.”