First Impressions for me are always telling. More than one person that has told me to reserve judgment until I know something better, but I've found I usually come to the same conclusion later on. I now tend to depend on the accuracy of my first reaction. I have been in Israel just over a week now and I am very glad to be here. Be'er Sheva could, in many ways, be pulled right out of America. The people dress like Americans, generally act like Americans, at least on a surface level, and Be'er Sheva has all of the amenities and facilities of a city of nearly 200,000 in the U.S. My sublet has three bedrooms, 1.5 baths, wireless internet and AC.
I like the other students in the program. Most of them are non-traditional medical students: they're older (25-35),They're experienced (6 other Peace Corps Volunteers, three registered nurses, and several very experienced EMTs) and finally, several are married (7 brought their spouses or fiancés, three brought their first child).
Yesterday we had a class trip to the Dead Sea and the En Gedi Nature reserve. I have included a couple of pictures attached to this email: The first is of me standing next to the Well of Abraham for which Be'er Sheva is named and the second is on the same day and includes most of my class at the war memorial outside Be'er Sheva . The third is of me and many of my classmates swimming in David's waterfall the runs through the En Gedi Reserve and into the Dead Sea. Yes, it is King David whom was apparently there and for whom it was named. The Dead Sea is so interesting and very difficult to describe with true originality. One is so very buoyant that it is almost disorienting. Yesterday evening I went for Shabbat dinner at the home of a friend. S actually went through the prayers and many of the traditions which I had not experienced last week with my host-family, whom are completely secular. I really enjoyed the dinner and the have been delighted at the general hospitality of my classmates.
I am so happy to be here and to finally be a medical student. I know many of you are still very concerned about the conflict in the north with Lebanon and I am bit at a loss for how to assure you that this nearby conflict feels as far away as our conflict in Iraq felt at home. There is an intellectual acknowledgement that there is a conflict and the constant sense that bad news could be imminent and yet life goes on in a very casual manner. Israelis seem very nonchalant about this situation in a way that is still puzzling for me. At any rate, I am safe and well and delighted to be starting my studies.
This is mostly by way of an assurance that I am safe and well and so very happy to be here! Please keep me updated about what is going on in your lives.
Love and Blessings,
K
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