Well, the experience in Israel is officially over...at least for now. I can't honestly remember the last time I really choked up over something quite so emotional as compared to when the engines on the airplane I was on fired up for takeoff down a runway at Ben Gurion Airport. I can't begin to tell you the thoughts in my mind at the time...I honestly was overcome with confusion, concern, and most of all, I kept asking, "now what?" And as I sit here in the JFK airport in New York City waiting to transfer to La Guardia Airport, I still can't help but wonder, was I doing the right thing in leaving Be'er Sheva? Could I still go back? How long will it take to get home tonight? And how much longer do I have to wait in airports? And when might I, if ever, get my chance to take back the experience that I was supposed to have that I now can't in Israel?
Since I've since had a long time to sort things out and think about what might come next, I can honestly tell you all that within the past few weeks, I've sort of had a change of heart with regards to the journalism career. Television reporting and production are fun, yet the career is painstaking, underappreciated, and frankly ruthless. I have spoken with several of my friends in the journalism world now who are no longer interested in doing what they thought they wanted to do simply because they are often overworked to no ends and hardly compensated, let along appreciated. Since taking a few classes at BGU and having experienced Israel in this unique way, I have since really become interested in politics and public policy, and I recall on some of my positive internship experiences as working in politics. Now I've always had an interest in this, but this time around it seems to be much more evident, especially having spent a little time abroad and studying the U.S. from the outside in.
I have since done a little investigating into two particular programs, one of which might allow me to come back to the Holy Land in only 6 weeks. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem offers a graduate semester program, where I can take classes in middle east politics and public policy, and transfer them to a school like UCLA or USC, which both have top rated programs in public administration...a move encouraged by the folks I spoke with at UCLA. That said, that could be an option, and I would graduate by 2009 with a Master's Degree, still sooner than a lot of my friends in grad schools now.
In the meantime, I will be at home taking care of things and going through the holidays. My American cell number is now online and is still the same. I want to thank you all for tracking these adventures...however, don't unbookmark this blog just yet... it could be possible that the adventures will resume shortly. And for sure, I'll keep you all posted right here on this blog.
shalom, toda raba v'laila tov b'new york!
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