FAQs from the Farewell Tour

As I am sitting in the Toronto airport, I am rereading my notes of my latest blog, and started to reflect on my last few weeks on Long Island.  After months of talking about "going to Israel for a year", this adventure is now in its beginning stages.  Over the past few weeks, I have made my rounds, on saying see you later to some very important people in my life; family, friends, mentors, professors, administrators, coworkers, and teammates.  Throughout this period of time I had the same questions pop up over and over again.  I will now answer, in writing, all of the most frequently asked questions during my farewell tour.  

Why Teach Internationally? 
I have lived on Long Island for the past 22 years.  As I talked about in my first blog, I feel like everybody needs to have an experience where they step out of their comfort zone in order to really figure out who they are.  This is my chance to do just that.  One chapter just ended with graduating from Molloy College, and now is my chance to control my next chapter.  I wanted to be a teacher so I could make a difference in my students' lives, now I can do this on an international scale.  

I always knew about the MASA Israel program, because I would constantly get emails from them, about different programs and opportunities.  It was my last semester, and I was on break from student teaching at Calhoun High School (my high school I graduated from), and it finally hit me that I had to figure out what my next step was going to be upon graduating.  I had the choice of going to grad school, finding a full time teaching job, or do something unique.  I knew from the start the first two choices were not really options.  When I got the application for the program, the first thing that popped into my head was "how much does it cost?"  After doing some research I noticed that there was no application fee, so I had nothing to lose.  I applied to the program, and as I was going through the multiple interviews, it finally dawned on me that I had to participate in this program.  It just felt like the right thing to do.    

Why  Israel? 
English can be taught all over the world.  I am sure each one of you know of someone who has taught english abroad.  If not, now you do :)  I am sure I could have found a program in another country to teach English, but I do not think I would have connected the same way as I will in Israel.  I got to experience Israel as a tourist back in 2012 for my Birthright trip.  This country is just so unique and stunning.  How can you go wrong when the Mediterranean Sea is within walking distance of your apartment.  This country has such rich ties, and they are so welcoming to all visitors of the country.  It's great when you can feel at home and still be thousands of miles away.  The purpose of all these various types of trips, is to get people to come back to the country.  I still do not know how to explain this feeling, but the trips really make you love this country.  You cannot always believe what you read and listen to through the news.  The news just tells you all the negative that is going on, but I know Israel as a loving and caring country and I cannot wait to spend the next 10 months here.  

I would love to here peoples opinions and questions so feel free to comment below!!

At the time I am publishing this piece, I have already spent a few days in Israel, but do not worry  I already have other posts in the works, and pictures to be posted.  Stay tuned to the continuation of this adventure.