Day 2: NYC --> Israel

Second flight = complete! 

The flight to Israel definitely wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. Really smooth flight. We were all surprised at how big the plane is: 2 levels & long; the rows sit 11 across (3-5-3). 

Our mental and body clocks are all off. We have been traveling for more than 24 hours; but, loving every moment of it! We didn't end up boarding till past 230am (we were suppose to take off at 230am). I got sleep - not sure how many hours I slept but I slept a few times. I totally slept through dinner (oops). 

The TVs were playing The Lego movie so I watched part of that. Read more of The Fault In Our Stars (I said I couldn't promise that I wouldn't read it on the plane. I warned the people I was sitting next to that if I was crying it was just the book.) And I of course played with an adorable baby.

Just getting to the point to check out bags took a while & was a different process than I expected (super safe policys). When it was our turn, we went up to the station (individually), gave our passports and was asked a (long) series of questions. (Did you celebrate Passover? What's on the sedar plate? Do you speak Hebrew? Do you have family in Israel? Do you go to synagogue? What's the name of the Rabbi at the synagogue you go to?...)

If a picture wasn't taken, did you really fly? 

Hello Israel! I'm so excited to finally be here!! We are on the bus (hey hey wifi) and just met our funny "travel educator." He said our ride to the hotel is "50 minutes and 3 seconds." 

Day 1: DTW --> JFK

!!!!!!!
TODAY
DTW ---> JFK

Yesterday, my friend posted on my Facebook wall: "This is appropriate since you leave tomorrow!! http://www.buzzfeed.com/israelinny/66-reasons-why-we-love-israel-hvel"; this is just some of the many things I'll be doing on my trip to Israel...

We flew from DTW --> NYC. 9 of us (from various schools) were all on the same flight. Once we landed in NYC we had HOURS to kill - we visited almost every terminal; got food, played cards, charged our phones, read, got to know each other... 

This is what happens when we find 1 outlet area...

We are through security in NYC. We have about an hour till we actually leave NYC for Israel. See ya soon Israel! 

Almost

Our trip (to Israel) is almost here. 

Almost 37 hours till takeoff. 

Tomorrow (Sunday) we will fly from Michigan --> NYC and then NYC --> Israel! I can't believe this day is almost here; a day I have been looking forward to for quite some time. Along with about 40 other college students from Michigan schools (MSU, WMU, EMU, etc...) we will meet other Birthright groups and travel along together. 

I just can't believe this day is almost here; an opportunity I have been waiting for. I'm excited to meet family that I haven't met before...To be in a country I haven't been to before, but have learned so much about. To experience all new opportunities about so much more! 

My plan is to write an entry about each day - to post when we have wifi. 

Thanks for all the support, phone calls, texts, and well wishes! I look forward to sharing about my trip.  

Fast Forward; Pause

It has been quiet awhile since I have last blogged... The end of the semester happened... I ended with a 3.87 semester GPA (making Deans List)! I worked really hard, met amazing new friends, and was able to take part in exciting and new oppertunities (I am serving on different 3 exec boards within campus student organizations). 

Fast forward to now, here I am. In a little over a week I'll be on my way to Israel. This week, I babysat, started my internship, babysat-overnights: for a family with a 1.5 year old and a less than a week year old, worked on the 8th grade Cedar Point trip for the middle school I went to, hung out with friends; and more! 

This week I will pause, pack, and work. I don't know what to expect. I have never been to Israel. I'm excited to see and explore a new country. I'm nervous for the long flight. I'm looking forwarding to meeting family members that I haven't met before. 

A week from now I will be getting ready to board the plane. So many people are excited for me. I'm excited. A new adventure lays ahead... 

2 Weeks

Only 2 weeks of classes stand between me and the end of the semester.

Only 2 weeks left of Kalamazoo living...until September.

Only 2 weeks till it feels like spring outside (a girl can dream).

Only 2 weeks for my college sleep schedule to continue.

Only 2 weeks of class-eat-homework-shower-sleep-repeat are left.

Only 2 weeks left of dorm food.

Only 2 weeks till I will be back home.

Only 2 weeks for late night netflix / homework sessions remain.

When I Grow Up

When I was in preschool, I told my mom that when I grew up, I wanted to be a teacher. Fast forward to 2014... Today, that dream has come a huge leap towards turning into a reality. Today I was accepted into the Special Education Program at Western Michigan University. I cannot be more grateful and excited for this new adventure. I will be in school for three more years (I'll graduate in April 2017) (our last year of the program is a full year of student teaching, one semester of special education student teaching and one semester of elementary education student teaching). I have dreamed about the day I would (hopefully) become accepted to the program since I was in high school. I have worked so hard to get to this point. I have never been more ready and confident to begin this next chapter of my life/college years.

One Week Later

Here I am; one week after alternative spring break, with mountains of homework; and five and a half weeks left of the semester (but whose counting?). I have talked about the trip with multiple friends; five of my friends were apart of other alternative spring break trips. 

I'm still in amazement how resilient the Oklahoma community is. I wish there is more we could do. 

Not a day has gone by where I don't think about our trip and the individuals we met. 

Each day I wish, I was back in Oklahoma; on the roof, repairing the damage.

My wish? To do further research on various repair efforts -- around the world. Something about being apart of life within a different community, is so powerful.