Israel- anyone's dd or ds gone

[laughing lioness]

for an extended period of time? Please tell me about it.

[RebeccaC]

for an extended period of time? Please tell me about it.


I went to college there for a bit at Hebrew U in Jerusalem, studied Archeology and political science. My mil lived there and is buried there. However I lived there in the 80s and I loved it. My parents spend part of each year there. What exactly do you want to know?

[laughing lioness]

My dd wants to go there for more than a couple of weeks. We know people who know people that live on a kibbutz and I know there are other programs that take place there but we don't have $1000's to spend on a semester program She is wanting to live there- understand the people and culture more in-depth, be part of a family, soak up language, people, traditions.

[coralloyd]

I went for 2 weeks when I was 17. I would have (and still would ;)), killed for an opportunity like what your dd wants to do. The kibbutz idea is awesome. I visited a few (I still keep in contact with one of them), and love the sense of family community. She will be safe in this environment. I know as a mom it is probably a scary idea for you to send your dd so far away. I'd encourage you, to encourage her in this passion, and have a great adventure.

[RebeccaC]

Well, there are all kinds of youth hostels in Israel besides kibbutz. The Y in Jerusalem use to be very cheap and it is across the street from the King David hotel which is a very historic place. I loved living in Jerusalem. Your dd should visit Masda and climb the snake path. I did that several times. She should see Mt. Hermon. When I lived there you could rent inner tubes near there and go down the Jordan river and that was fun. She should also go and see the Banyas at the foot of Mt Hermon, incredibly beautiful! I did not particularly like the Galilee area as it was very humid but Lake Tiberias is nice in a humid way. Tel Aviv is also very humid and a huge party town and I did not care for it being an introvert. I enjoyed Mt Carmel and Haifa. Best place of all tho is Jerusalem and I loved the city!

Your dd will want to be very careful in the manner in which she dresses. I had stones thrown at me when I wandered into a religious neighborhood wearing walking shorts.... Modesty is of the up most importance when around Arabs and ultra orthodox Jews. No pants of any kind should be worn when going to a religious neighborhood, elbows should also be covered, no cleavage. So she will need to pack a loose skirt that falls below the knees and she might want to think about packing a head covering, a scarf would do or she could buy one there. Loose clothing that is modest will be a must in some areas.

You should have a talk with your dd about what it means to be a woman, especially a young woman traveling alone in the Mid East. I have lived in Israel, won a scholarship for that, and in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi while in the military. The culture will often view a single woman as loose and fair game especially by Arabs and those raise in an Arab Islamic culture (sorry if that offends any one but it is the truth.) I once got on a elevator on campus in Jerusalem and there happened to be a young Palestinian who was also in the elevator, no one else just us two, I had never seen him before, and what happened was not to nice.

I got lost late at night, 2 AMish my first night in Jerusalem and had 3 Palestinian men who were drunk corner me and press me against the back of a bus stop. They told me if I wanted they would pay and if I like it maybe no pay. If an Israeli woman had and started screaming and brought the whole neighborhood out...... I could post more. The neighborhood folks chased the men down, called the police, walked me two blocks to the right bus stop, stood with me until the bus came, told the driver where my dorm was, ect... It was a crowd of at least 20 men and women. Unbeknownst to me at that time a street walker wore clothing that showed both here knees and her elbows. I was wearing walking shorts that came just above my knees and a T shirt and I was a woman out alone at night. I was mistaken for a lady of the night. What I had been doing was trying to find a place that sold toilet paper. Not finding where that luxury was sold I had to take a bus out to Tantur Ecumenical Institute where my parents were staying so that they could give me some as the college did not provide it. Tanur is between Jerusalem and Bethlehem and going back to my dorm I took the wrong bus several time due to jet lag. I could not read the Hebrew bus signs well and became seriously lost. I could post more such experiences but I think you get the point.

One of my favorite things was to catch a bus just to see where it would take me that is one way that I got in trouble but it was the best way to really see the land and experience the culture. I did this in Europe and I did it with trains too and for the most part I had no problem. If I was traveling abroad now I would probably do it. Take a random train bus and see where it goes.

Another thing your dd will need to know is the cheapest place is not always the best place. I booked a room once when traveling overseas in what turned out to be a brothel. They could not believe that I wanted the room for more than an hour. I had prepaid for a night from the US, wired the money week before, and being to tired and short of money I demanded my night. I move the bed against the door and got as much sleep as I could. I was in my mid 20s when that happened.

[Ruth in NC]

Our whole family went in 2006. Son was there for 5 weeks last summer and daughter goes this summer. Son goes in August for 9 months.

Our teens have gone as members of a Jewish youth group so their activities have been organized and chaperoned. Son will be a bit more on his own this next trip.

Ruth in NC
http://travelingjews.blogspot.com/

[laughing lioness]

thanks for the info and the replies. Lots to think about :001_smile:

[Kate in Arabia]

The culture will often view a single woman as loose and fair game especially by Arabs and those raise in an Arab Islamic culture (sorry if that offends any one but it is the truth.)

Well I'm sorry you had such terrible experiences. I lived in Egypt as a young adult on my own, before I was Muslim, and while I had plenty of attention it was never offensive more flirtatious.. and if I ever showed signs of distress I was immediately helped by passers-by. It was one of the few times I felt perfectly at ease walking around a city at night alone.

I think a woman traveling anywhere alone, regardless of the country or culture, would be well-served to keep her wits about her.

[Dot]

Well I'm sorry you had such terrible experiences. I lived in Egypt as a young adult on my own, before I was Muslim, and while I had plenty of attention it was never offensive more flirtatious.. and if I ever showed signs of distress I was immediately helped by passers-by. It was one of the few times I felt perfectly at ease walking around a city at night alone.

I think a woman traveling anywhere alone, regardless of the country or culture, would be well-served to keep her wits about her.

My cousin just returned from a 3year trip thru the Middle East! A 24 year old female, totally alone 75% of the time. She said she was treated beautifully by all, never harassed by any man. (Her least favorite time was spent in Israel, she claims the locals were a bit rude and distant.) I imagine she'll move there permanently some day.

[laughing lioness]

Kate/Dot/Ruth
Did you/your cousin/ds go with a school, on your own, as part of a job?

[Kate in Arabia]

After I graduated from undergrad, I applied at at a univ in Cairo to do further language studies. I did this on my own, made arrangements on my own, etc. That is, I dealt directly with the school, not through a school or organization in the States (like a student exchange program).

Kate

[Shifra]

My dd wants to go there for more than a couple of weeks. We know people who know people that live on a kibbutz and I know there are other programs that take place there but we don't have $1000's to spend on a semester program She is wanting to live there- understand the people and culture more in-depth, be part of a family, soak up language, people, traditions.

Lisa--

I know that you wrote this some time ago, but I wanted to add some things. Israel can be very expensive, but the guidebooks geared towards students like Lonely Planet or Let's Go have lists of cheaper accomodations. If your daughter still wants the Kibbutz experience Kibbutz Volunteer by Victoria Pybus (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&field-author=Victoria%20Pybus) (while very dated) is still a great source of information. From the same publisher and updated more frequently is Work Your Way Around the World by Susan Griffith, which also has information about Israel.

If she wants to learn Hebrew, some Ulpans (Hebrew language classes geared towards new immigrants) will allow tourists to join for a US$100 per month fee (that classes from 8am to about 12 noon for 5 days a week--a real bargain!). You would have to find her accomodations, though. I know that Gerard Behar Center in Jerusalem (11 Bezalel St., tel. 02-625-4156, fax 02-623-4654) allows tourists, for example.

[Chris in VA]

When my husband was in seminary, he spent a month at St. George's, in Jerusalem. Would she like a college course? Maybe a mix of kibbutz and more academic work? (They travel all over in the St. G's courses)
He's also gone on digs--the magazine Biblical Archeology gives lots of info. He actually stayed on a kibbutz as part of one.