Hello and Shalom!  Thank you for joining me on all of my adventures and experiences in Jerusalem, Israel.  For those of you who don't know, I am a current Junior at The Pennsylvania State University, majoring in Nutritional Sciences and minoring in Psychology.  I am studying abroad in Jerusalem for the spring semester, and I am beyond excited.
     The countdown is only 1 week until I fly to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv and begin my 4 1/2 month journey, as I rediscover my homeland.  Now, I say rediscover, because this is not the first time I've been there.  Last winter, I went on a 10-day trip to Israel with 39 other people with a program known as Birthright.  I had heard such amazing things about this country before I went, but I did not truly understand until I got there.  The food, the culture, the strong-willed people, and the patriotism all encapsulated me in this glorious place that I didn't want to leave.  Here are a few pictures from my journey:

 This is a view on our hike in the Golan Heights in the North of Israel.  This was the first thing we did, and I was instantly in love with this beautiful land. 

 Here's my camel friend that took me on a tour of the desert (his name's Elijah!)

 Gotta love falafel!  This was at a falafel stand in Jerusalem, called Moshika.  It was so crowded, and I knew why when I took my first bite. 

 The lovely city of Tel Aviv.  I didn't get to spend much time here, but I hope to really explore the city when I go back.  

Last but certainly not least, here is a picture of Jerusalem, my favorite city. Still can't believe I'm going to be there in only 1 week!

     I hope you enjoy this blog, as you follow me into my travel experiences as I learn Hebrew, discover new foods as a recent Vegetarian (technically pescatarian), and become immersed in the culture-all from the confines of your computer.