Getting Ready

I have been home from Costa Rica for almost a month now. And as September 28th gets closer, I realize how much I'm going to miss being home. I don't even know if I really want to go anymore. My mom, who is amazing and will do absolutely anything for me, is not happy that I will be leaving again-- this time for 5 months! My sister (and Griffin!) just moved back to Florida and now I am leaving. I just met my mom's new puppy, Jelli, and I absolutely love her and don't think I can leave her! I didn't spend enough time with friends and I didn't get to see some of my closest friends. It just sucks that I didn't have a longer time in between Costa Rica and leaving for Israel.

I went to Miami for a day--I wanted a chance to see friends who are still at school and I had to make a trip to the Israeli Consulate on Biscayne Blvd. to get an extended Visa. After I was done at the consulate, I went to the university. I picked up Chris and Ana and we went out for lunch at Stir Moon. Afterwards, we went back to campus and Ana and I went to the bookstore-- we needed a hat! We met up with Zach in the food court and did some catching up! And later that night, Ana and I had dinner at the Rat. It was a pretty good day--I got to see friends. But, it felt weird being at UM. I felt like I didn't belong at UM. It was like everyone was staring at me and they all knew that I wasn't supposed to be there. They all knew I wasn't a student. I felt unwelcome and I didn't like it. I never really liked being at the University of Miami and now that I don't go there anymore I wish that I did. I guess it's like that saying- 'You always want what you can't have, and you don't like what you've got." Even though I say now that I wish I was back at school in Miami, I know that I really don't want to go back.

I leave fore Israel in 5 days! I feel very anxious about arriving for 2 reasons: 1. I don't really know what will happen when I first arrive to the program (how I will get to the house, if the house will have kitchen stuff, sheets, towels, or anything that I'll need) 2. I don't really know what I am going to be doing with my time for 5 months. Ideally, I will be able to set up an after school ocean awareness program for kids! We can set up beach cleanups, do trips to the beach for snorkeling, ID fish, learn about knot tying, and possibly dissect something! But considering I haven't even heard anything from the program about anything, I don't know how well it will work out.

This is what I do know: I am flying out on the 28th at 2:15 PM from Ft. Myers to Philadelphia, and then from Philadelphia to Tel Aviv. I arrive in Tel Aviv on the 29th at 2:30 PM. I am getting picked up by Oranim's 'Smile Service' and being dropped off at my friend Lian's house. I am going to be staying with her for my first night in Israel. I met Lian when I was on birthright in January and she is awesome! I am so excited to see her again! And today, I received notification of a meeting time and place for the start of the program. Now, I have to somehow find a way to get to 10 Hashirion Street Apt. 22 by 8 AM on September 30th.

I'm not ready to leave. I am going to miss everyone (and I'm still not packed all the way!). But 5 days will go by fast, so the packing continues...