Midwest to Mideast

So you've made it. To my blog. One man's story of a 5 month journey to Tel Aviv. An American in Israel.. imagine that.

Whether you are here as a stranger, family member, or dear friend, welcome to a beginner's attempt at constructing a public diary.

Within 10 minutes of arriving to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, a Public Announcement declared "Will Dav-eed Leb please report to the information counter.. Da-veed Leb to the information counter" So much for blending in. I have arrived, and my dear friend Iliya had made sure that all in attendance at the airport this windy saturday morning were privy to this information.

I arrived this morning in Israel, previously awakened from my window seat by the rising sunset to the east. It's too bad that pictures from the airplane don't turn out well, because the snow-topped mountains in Turkey and Greece were breathtaking at sunrise. I included a picture below of the shores of Tel Aviv from the sky, but even that doesn't do it justice.

I'm staying tonight in Ra'annana, and I just returned from enjoying some Goldstar with Abby and Iliya at a cafe in northern Tel Aviv. I found out tonight that I will be staying at 89 Dizengoff, right in the beating heart of the city. Although I have only slept about 3 hours in the last 30, my excitement combined with caffeine and alcohol have me feeling anxious, excited, and a bit restless. Above all these feelings is one of optimism and hopefulness--I'm finding it hard to suppress my smile. I am in Israel. I have graduated from school. A great weight has been lifted, and this is my opportunity to immerse myself in a culture which has both foreign appeal and personal attachments. Arriving in Israel feels like both a homecoming and an

otherworldly experience. I feel like a welcomed stranger here. A home away from home that is still so foreign and distant yet inviting and intimate. It's hard to verbalize this feeling.. but it is one that has encouraged me and ultimately motivated me to spend 5-6 months here. The "israel bug" as my mom likes to call it.

In the next week I will post my goals for this trip. I want to come away with a mixture of tangibles and intangibles, and I see this opportunity as both a vacation and a professional development program. So much for not mixing business with pleasure.

I will do my best to post at least once a week...but no promises.

(much) More to follow in the coming days in weeks.. including videos, pictures, personal anecdotes and more! Stay tuned.