For the first time in a long time, my answer to this question is no. Today is my first full day in Israel. While I may at times feel like a tourist and engage in touristy activities like sightseeing, I am here as something more. I am enjoying my time here. The weather is beautiful, the beach is (I hear) about 10 minutes away, and there are wonderful stores and shops minutes from my apartment. Israel is also a very good instructor in cultural differences. People stand a bit closer here, are a bit more up-front, and far more likely to honk. They are also very helpful and unfailingly tolerant when my Hebrew doesn't quite serve to get the nuances of the situation across. Luckily, almost everyone I've spoken to here also speaks English, which has already led to a few interesting conversations.
While today I conquered getting an Israeli sim card and new phone number, I am still working on finalizing my visa (the ministry was on strike while I was in the US and I have 3 months to get the correct one while here), organizing my work in the lab, and getting my brain on my current time zone. I met my first lab mate today and very much look forward to meeting my Rotary and IDC colleagues in the near future. And, while all these things are interesting, I'll do my best to share the best of my experiences through pictures instead of words. Welcome to Tel Aviv.
While today I conquered getting an Israeli sim card and new phone number, I am still working on finalizing my visa (the ministry was on strike while I was in the US and I have 3 months to get the correct one while here), organizing my work in the lab, and getting my brain on my current time zone. I met my first lab mate today and very much look forward to meeting my Rotary and IDC colleagues in the near future. And, while all these things are interesting, I'll do my best to share the best of my experiences through pictures instead of words. Welcome to Tel Aviv.
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