My Year In Israel, ITF BEER SHEVA

I lived in New York all of my life. When I was 23, I found out that my house and everything I knew were changing. My family was moving to Arizona.
I was never a very religious Jew, I was raised reform and went to temple mainly on the high holidays and the occasional Shabbat. I was part of Hillel in college and was always involved more in community and social things like at my JCC and volunteering rather than strict observations and keeping Kosher.
When I found out about the move and my house going on the market, I just wanted to run away and have time alone to think and process, cope with the upheaval--so I went on Birthright, running away to Israel.
It was one of the best decisions I've made---I fell in love with Israel and on my last day, signed up for more information about how to return there from a Masa Scout.
To my surprise and excitement, I was handpicked to interview for a Teaching Fellows position, the first year in Be'er Sheva (which I knew very little about other than the majestic desert and close proximity to the Dead Sea--which is my favorite place in the whole country).
I spent one of the best years of my life there. The people were amazing and I loved my fellows & my host family. The Israeli Staff was amazing.
I loved being near the university and living with college students and able to easily walk for groceries and nearby restaurants or to the college to visit or enjoy the pool. It was great having laundry and a little gym in our apartment complex and living in the tallest building in town made it easier to never feel lost!
Of course, the turbulent war times and rocket fire from the south was very stressful and a lot of people from my program left early and had trouble dealing with it.
I had a lot of trouble myself but I stayed as strong as I could and pushed myself to finish my program and my goals and projects I had already started in my school and community.
At the end of the year, I felt like a new, more mature woman, who was more in touch with Judaism, Israel, politics, leadership, cooking, world music, and many other things.
I always felt drawn to being a teacher but after finishing the program I knew it was my calling and I will be certified to teach Special Education and Elementary Education in Arizona in just 8 weeks!
This experience was life changing, inspiring, and a real push in the right direction. It made me so much more self aware and feel so independent. I lived on my own in college but living on your own in another country is a completely different experience that really forces you to grow and realize who you truly are!