As I sit in my room thinking about our trip, thoughts start to swirl in my head about the days to come. The first thought I have is not even about Israel, but rather the journey there. I am not looking forward to sitting on a plane for hours on end. I’m dreading the limited legroom, uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, and cramped spaces. However, I am looking forward to a long-awaited conversation with Ted White. I hope his rambling stories and long tangents will make the journey feel like mere minutes. Once we land in Israel, I cannot wait to meet Assaf. For months on end, I have been eager to meet the man who has verbally accosted us on Zoom from halfway across the globe. I am excited to learn more about modern-day Israel from his unique perspective and pick his brain about the topic. The more I think about the trip, the more curious I become. I am starting to speculate about the actual content of the trip. As I review the itinerary once more, I begin to question how places like a water treatment plant can be anything more than educational. I have yet to meet someone who when they hear the words “water treatment plant” think of the word fun. This notion fits with my worry about our trip being ‘strictly business’. If I am being honest, I am worried that with our crammed schedule and serious topic matter, fun will not be the main objective of the trip. Even little matters like the packing list point to this idea. I recently had to go out and buy new shorts since my old ones were not considered “modest” by the packing list. Everything leading up to the trip feels so serious. The seriousness is starting to cloud my judgment of the trip and paints it in a rather uncertain light. Nevertheless, I am still very excited. I am especially looking forward to things like the graffiti tour, the Dead Sea, and free time with my friends. I am also excited to get to know my fellow members of Cohort 11 since I only know a handful of them well. Overall, I am thrilled to be able to go on this trip and know that it will be great. This will be my first time in Israel. I aspire to deepen my connection to the holy land and form new friendships. I am excited to see what will unfold in just a few days.