 "Photo: Tara Ezer")
A city that truly never sleeps, Tel Aviv is the place to wine, dine and do everything in between for all ages. On any given night of the week, one can find club after club packed with people until seven in the morning. DJs from all over the world flock to spin in Tel Aviv clubs. There are lounges in the heart of the city near Lillenblum St., and many also venture off to the Namal where the clubs are more intense than Manhattan's.
When I made the decision to spend the spring semester of 2007 studying at Tel Aviv University, I received interesting responses. Many of my friends understood what the country represented whereas others, blinded by the media frenzy, feared for my safety and questioned my decision.
Since its inception in 1948, Israel has suffered a bad reputation. For those who have never traveled to this tiny country that is roughly the size of New Jersey, Israel is perceived as an incredibly dangerous place.
I find these critics humorous because many of them have never stepped foot on the soil and are basing their opinions solely on how the media depicts Israel. What they don't realize is that Israel is one of the most unique countries in the world and thrives culturally, economically and politically.
Studying abroad is one of the most enriching experiences a college student can embark on. The process can be a bit sticky, but I was incredibly fortunate to have the support of Baruch Hillel and its Israel program coordinator, Veronika Lacktman. Because there are dozens of programs to choose from in Israel, I spent much time discussing options with Veronika and decided that Tel Aviv University was the place for me. Then, the real work began.
The courses in my program were conducted entirely in English. This allowed me to receive Baruch credit for some of the courses. After countless visits to the Study Abroad Office, I was to be registered for Israeli Politics, Commercial and Ideological Propaganda, Israel and the Environment, and Introduction to the Religion of Islam. Fortunately, two of these courses transferred to Baruch as credit toward the 3000-level political science course. This allowed me to complete the majority of my minor abroad.
Once I had my courses and program set up, it was time to figure out how to fund this semester. I was able to go with the gracious aid of the Study Abroad Office and MASA, a Jewish organization that sponsors students who want to participate in Israeli programs.
As part of the Israel and the Environment course, I participated in an all-day, all-night jeep trek in the Negev Desert, which occupies 66 percent of the country. Taking a trip there is a necessity when visiting Israel. We flew through the desert in a jeep driven by Ali, our wonderful tour guide who gave us a true desert experience.
I recall a moment when I was sitting on a mountain staring across at an amazing view of the Dead Sea with the country Jordan behind it and was awestruck at its beauty. It was at this instant that I felt "all tingly inside" and was so proud and honored to be a part of a country and its history that has existed since the beginning of time. The mystical day concluded with my class looking at the stars and listening to fables told by one of the tour guides while sitting on blankets. It was one of the best days of my life.
Aside from the crazy parties, Tel Aviv is packed with restaurants of cuisines from all over the world. One night it's dining in Sushi Samba, another it's devouring the decadent chocolate dishes from Max Brenner's. Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv's oldest neighborhood, harbors some of the best restaurants in Tel Aviv. Suzanna is among these restaurants, where I personally recommend the stuffed eggplant appetizer.
When it is time to go grocery shopping, a visit to Shuk HaCarmel is in order. My favorite part of Tel Aviv, the Shuk, is an outdoor market that sells almost anything and everything one could think of. New shoes? Sure. Some vegetables? Got 'em. How about some of Israel's most delicious chocolate? Yup, that's there too.
These are just a few aspects of Tel Aviv that makes it the amazing metropolis that it is. However, it's important to remember that Tel Aviv is just one city in the country and Israel is comprised of many other types of living environments. I was fortunate enough to have a group of friends that had moved to a kibbutz shortly before I arrived. A kibbutz is a rural compound also known as a communal settlement. A joint ownership of housing, education and contribution of the best of one's ability are its basic foundations. The kibbutz my friends lived in is located in Northern Israel and proved to be an incredibly beautiful and peaceful environment. Having the ability to take long weekends away from the city and explore an entirely different way of living opened my eyes and made me appreciate how special Israel is.
These experiences are only a handful of the amazing memories I created during my time studying abroad. Israel is a place that is so different from the reputation it has in the outside world. Safety and security are always number one wherever you are. And to be honest, I feel safer in Israel. The commercials say it perfectly, "Israel . . . who knew?"
The author is available to aid those interested in studying in Israel.
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