Leaving on a Jetplane | Shorashim - Israel with Israelis

Leaving on a Jetplane

There is always a little pit in my stomach before a major flight. It isn't that I fear flying, as much as I carry a certain anticipation with me. For our forty participants, most of them travelling to Israel for the first time, this anticipation can seem palpable. Beyond the last minute packing worries (will my hair dryer explode over there?), there is an understanding that what will be experienced on the other side of the ocean is uncertain. Not only will the schedule be intense (trying to get an overview of thousands of years of history and covering an entire country in ten days), but some of the content may seem quite foreign.

But the growth of ideas, understanding, and identity always requires that we push the limits of our comfort zones. And so, with this in mind, I often relish the feeling in my stomach as a sign that surely I am about to experience something moving, something energizing, something incredible.

For any of our future busmates reading this, make sure to get some sleep and drink water on the plane, we'll hit the ground running.

For parents or friends, you will be able to follow updates at twitter.com/nextchicago, just don't expect your son or daughter to have too much free time to call you during the trip.