- Don’t listen when they tell you how much stuff you need to pack. Seriously, 1/4 of the stuff is just there to take up space, and anything you need, you can always buy at the hotel or Kibbutz on your trip if you find you really need it. Pack light enough that you can carry on your suitcase, but if you buy anything extra, you can check it and feel secure that your suitcase won’t explode everywhere. (It was interesting to see all of these people with suitcases bigger than they were wandering around the area.)
- Sarah will be posting what she took with her in her suitcase eventually…
- Don’t stress about plans changing. They will change. There is nothing you can do about it, especially sulk. It really is for your safety and you must understand that. While Israel is an incredibly safe place and there are bomb shelters everywhere, there are still places that Birthright will not let participants go. It’s beyond anyone but the higher ups control. Think of it as a view to the way of life for typical Israelis. They have to constantly change their plans to stay safe, you just get to experience it a few times.
- If you hear a siren, don’t panic. Follow the instructions that you are given, and if you happen to not be with your guides, follow along with what the Israelis are doing. (we were extremely lucky that we didn’t hear any sirens and didn’t have to go into any bomb shelters, but we knew it was a real threat the entire time we were there. It was always at the back of our minds that we should be mindful if we hear a siren we need to pay attention to our surroundings and follow all instructions)
- wear sunscreen, drink tons of water, and get a booney hat. They’re really nerdy looking, but you can get them wet and they’ll help keep you cool, plus the wide brim is great at keeping the sun out of your eyes and off of your neck. We brought stick sunscreen with us which was handy since it wasn’t a liquid and we weren’t putting scalding cream on our bodies in the Middle Eastern Summer.
- back to packing: Israel really isn’t super formal, but at the same time, you don’t want to be wandering around wearing your Lakers Jersey, right? Pack presentable things, but things that you wouldn’t be upset over if you left behind. Things that maybe you’ve had for a long time that you’re just about ready to part ways with. It’ll save you even more luggage space and give you an excuse to buy more awesome things when you’re there or when you get back, but hopefully you’ll get awesome things while you’re there.
- you’ll be on the bus a lot. a lot a lot. Make sure you get things that are entertaining even without the internet. Chances are, unless you get a data plan, the wifi will be spotty if it works at all and you won’t be able to have access to facebook. But really, you’re in Israel for ten days, stay off of facebook, unless it’s the best way to tell people back home that you’re okay. You will live, they will live without your awesome statuses for two weeks.
- If you do have access to wifi, email your parents/family and coworkers. They’ll thank you for letting them know you’re okay, especially if there is a conflict breaking out. However, if you can’t, just remember that Birthright sends your parents emails just about every day letting them know what you’re up to and that you’re doing okay. That’s why they have you fill out the emergency contact information as well as information about your family. They want to keep everyone at home informed.
- Lastly, have fun! There is literally no other obligation you have to yourself or to anyone else. They’ll give you this incredibly jam-packed itinerary that is constantly changing and you will go through it in a blur. You’ll come back and want to go to Israel again. You might want to make Aliyah just so that you can get more of a connection with the land of Israel. Their goal is to educate you about your heritage in a way that is meaningful to you. Make of it what you will.
Hopefully these little reminders are what you need to get you ready for your Birthright trip. You’re going to have an amazing time. Good Luck!
Sarah and Craig Travel 