Three years ago I took the opportunity of a lifetime to go to Israel on a free two week trip. The biggest catch?
I would be going with a group of 20 -something-year-old's like myself from all over the United States. Anyone who read my #introduceyourself blog knows how I live with anxiety and everything about this trip fueled that anxiety! I would be traveling over 6,000 miles across the Atlantic with a group of strangers. Why does that sound that fun? I had to breath for a moment and think of all the positives that definitely outweighed the potential negatives.
For those of you unfamiliar with Israel, let me start off by saying that I hope you visit this beautiful destination at least once in your lifetime. Secondly, it is about the size of New Jersey, meaning if you plan correctly you can tour the entire state of Israel during your vacation. Thirdly, it is important for me to say how media outlets around the world get it wrong most of the time when reporting on the Jewish state. Let me show you why.
Anyone that travels to Israel will end up at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem at some point. A few days into our trip we did too. I am not a very religious person but I consider myself very spiritual. I am a firm believer in God (or a higher power if you will) and when I touched this ancient limestone wall, I heard God for the first time.
There were many other firsts for me on this trip...
The next would be our adventure to meet the Bedouin people. I slept on a mat on the desert floor, I ate with my hands, and heard the amazing history of the Bedouins.
Another stop would be at the Bahá’í gardens in Haifa. A must see for anyone planning a trip to Israel!
I walked down ancient streets and alleyways with a group of people I no longer considered strangers but brothers and sisters.
This trip happened three years ago and I am still so close with the people I met during this adventure. I felt this incredible energy while I was there and anyone who reads this looking for an experience of a lifetime, I encourage you to take a trip to Israel.
I would love to hear from anyone who has been to Israel or plans on visiting. Also, let me know if you have any questions about my trip to the Jewish state. I can't wait to hear from you.
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-Cheers