Why Israel?

Israel is a country in the Middle East, on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea. As we know Israel, is a country in constant conflict with some of their neighbouring countries. Thousands of soldiers travel from one side of the country to the other in order to serve the nation. Lot of those soldiers are not always supported by the country, so they are desmoblized and they live in bad conditions.

When I was little I always dreamed of going to Israel. My parents went several times, and they always told me very interesting stories about their experience in the country. I´ve seen lots of pictures of the country and learned a lot in the internet, and I loved it. So, when I turned 18 I decided to volunteer in Israel, I enrolled myself in the ''Ha’aguda Lema’an Hachayal''.  This organization provides a home for demobilized soldiers , assistance in their everyday needs, laundry, etc. It offers financial help where necessary, and assists soldiers in receiving academic scholarships. I was determined to help the country I loved , so I enrolled in an organization which helps people who serve the country. I knew that would take some risks, anyway I was feeling very confident of myself and I was extremely happy about my decision, so I decided to do it anyway. Besides, I also had in mind to begin my studies in there, right after I finished my volunteer year, so it sounded perfect to me.

My firsts impressions of Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Words cannot describe the way a person feels when they step foot into the old city of Jerusalem for the first time. The city is so old that it almost doesn't look real. You have a very different perspective than when you see it in pictures. There are so many different types of people around, orthdox jews, muslims, tourists, etc. The farther you walk the more amazing it gets. There are so many places that have been around since biblical times. We went to what looked like an underpass but was really what used to be the main street during the Roman occupation. There were that were 2000 years old. Stepping on them makes you wish that you had the ability to see what things were like back then. But nothing is more amazing than the Western Wall. I walked down with my note, I found a spot and I put it in. I was very happy because my dream was becoming real.

My itinerary

I arrived at the Ben Gurion airport and took a cab to a hostel I booked in Jerusalem. The city is the capital of Israel, it is located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, is one of the oldest cities in the world.  It is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The organization I was enrolled had its building in the old city of the country. I arrived in the organization and they taught me everything about my volunteering project and explained me the rules and different things I would have to deal with. They also introduced me the two cities, where I will work, and gave me lot of advices in order to do everything in the right way. The volunteer project was started two days after I arrived. So in the meanwhile I visited some places I've seen in the internet years before like the Western Wall and its tunnels, the old city and finally the monument of the Holocaust memorial. Days later, the project began, I went to Massada by bus, a city located in the east of Israel near Jordan. When I arrived I found myself in a place that looked like a desert. I couldn't believe it I was in the desert for the first time. I stayed two months in the city helping demobilized soldiers, building houses, and giving them different types of assistance. Those soldiers where in horrible conditions, especially because they were like 36°C in the city. After my two hardworking months I had the chance to visit the famous dead sea and floated in the water, and Metzeada, the ruins of King Herod’s mountaintop fortress and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 73 C.E. Finally, I took the train to Beer Sheva, the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the center of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the country. Even though I was tired and I couldn´t stand the heat I kept working and helping the soldiers, because I realized this people works 10 times harder than I do, they risk their lives in order to serve their nation. So they deserved to be helped. Two months later I finished my volunteering project, and I was very proud of myself. An year later I was begining my studies at Tel-Aviv's universitie as a doctor.

Western Wall Jerusalem

Massada´s Mountain

Dead Sea

Beer Sheva

Israeli soldiers

My experience

This trip was the best experience of my life from several points of view. It helped me to open my mind on the world and realize how different is to live in another country. This trip allowed me to meet people from all around the world, because Israel is one of the most visited countries in the world. As opposite as it happens in Uruguay, Israel residents are from all over the world, that means I socialized with people with different religion and language than mine and that helped me to understand how is life in other cultures. I can assure that is very different from mine. Furthermore, I can say that I´m coming back from this trip with far more knowledge than before, I learn about the history of the country, different religions and cultures and the most important of all I learn the Hebrew language. Now I understand the war between Israel and Muslim countries.

Besides, I experienced a very different thing from the ordinary, the fact of helping people from the army. I did a lot of hazardous things. I wasn´t afraid, but I knew the risks I was taking. I met volunteers from all around the world, and made some good friends. And that help me to understand how is like to be in a war, even though I wasn´t in one. However, the environment was almost the same, though. I understood the feelings of a soldier during a war and I realize how proude I am of myself for helping this people in several ways, and I think I will repet it in the future because I love to help people.  I experienced how is like to be in a first world city, walk 20 km and suddenly be in the desert. That one of the most amazing things of the country

Last but not least, I truly loved the country, the landscape is stunning, the people is very nice, and the quality of life is amazing and that´s one of the reasons of why I´m going to begin my studies in Israel in the future.

I recommend to visit this country, because it is amazing and is an experience that you will never forget.