I thought I’d have to wait til I got to Israel and out of quarantine for anything interesting or even noteworthy to happen. Cue arriving at my departure gate to a large and unexpected display of men rocking back and forth amongst the airport chairs in prayer (or what I now know is ‘shuckling’ from the Yiddish ‘to shake’). Feeling as if I was interrupting something I sat, rather unceremoniously, in a tangle of bags and books and earphones while their chants filled the air. As other (non-chanting) passengers joined the waiting area, the airline made a feeble but entertaining attempt at socially distanced boarding. Everyone of course rushed to the desk in Covid friendly style, leaving me once again wondering whether I was doing the wrong thing by staying seated…
The next 24 hours have blurred into a sleep deprived sequence of airport testing, paperwork and logistical stresses. Amidst it all, I remember arriving at my assigned dormitory at 3am to find a stray cat, an empty bed frame and a desk chair perched on it. And having to decide (before finding spare bedding) whether I would be better off sleeping on the bed frame or chair.
Ironically, I’ve been asked by Bristol's Study Abroad department to ‘share my experience' of Jerusalem with students looking to take a year abroad. What they don’t seem to have realised is that I haven’t 'experienced' Jerusalem outside the confines of my quarantine apartment. And although I’ve got lovely flatmates for company, they are all from the not so far flung town of London!
I could bore the prospective students with my experience of food in Jerusalem; so far one 'hot' gone cold meal a day (which quickly loses its appeal when it’s the same for the next five days, delivered in bulk). Or I could recount my daily quarantine routine of morning work outs, yoga and pre-reading for my upcoming units but then of course I'd be lying (literally in bed, as I have been instead :) Any regrets so far include the many many tests and forms I've had to complete and the gradual loss of soul and money throughout the process. And failing to download the BBC's six hour Pride & Prejudice. But I can recommend vegan plane meals (they have to make a real effort with the vegetables) and stealing the unused headphones from first class. And that’s all for now: some invaluable life lessons.