Hebrew University – Page 2 – GW Blogs from Abroad

By AshleyLe

The question that I've had to answer no less than 50 times, to the point where I have memorized how to answer in 3 different languages.

No doubt, Israel is a fascinating country. It is perhaps the only country where peace and war exist together, or where armed soldiers in uniform march down the city streets while also dancing through the night in Jerusalem's most popular clubs. Israel is not my country; Jerusalem is not my city; but surprisingly, they have become my home.

As a daughter of Christian missionaries, I remember learning how to read, in both Vietnamese and English, by reading the Bible. Since I was 4 years old, I have always imagined myself roaming through the streets of Israel, where I can picture the scene of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the fall of Jericho, or the walk to Jesus' crucifixion on Via Dolorosa. As I got older and became more aware of international politics, I find myself not only interested, but saddened by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as other tensions within the region. Subsequently, Israel became my "promise land", where I made a commitment to myself that I would visit soon.

...continue reading "So, why Israel?"

A month prior to my flight to Israel, I still didn't quite understand that I was about to embark on a journey abroad for 5 months, away from the comfort of my D.C. apartment and the presence of my friends at GW. A week prior to my flight to Israel, I kept myself busy as I finalized the last details for GW's annual Welcome Week programming, organized the Student Association's Hurricane Harvey Fundraising Campaign, and coordinated the subletting process for my apartment. A day prior to my flight to Israel, I struggled to say goodbye to my friends, to delegate my work within the Student Association, and to prepare for the beginning of my study abroad program.

I had a hard time leaving GW, but rather than the fear of starting life in a new country, it was because of my hesitation to put a pause on what has been the best years of my life. At GW, I found my passion, my talents, and my community-- all the components that have helped me grow more than I could have ever imagined. In other words, I was afraid to miss my friends, my work, and my home.

Eventually, I boarded my flight to Israel, with a 12-hours layover in Belgium, before arriving in Jerusalem on Sunday, Sep. 3.

...continue reading "When My J(ou)rusalem Begins"