Shalom Hartman this summer

[cellio]

I just registered for the Shalom Hartman Institute summer program in Jerusalem (after confirming a sane refund policy in case the region goes pear-shaped in the meantime). My rabbi recommended this program a few years ago and I've been eying it every year, and this year the stars aligned (dates, interesting topic, timely responses to email queries). It sounds like a great experience and I'm excited to finally be going.

I'm also kind of nervous -- not about the program, and not about the Iran thing (I can always bail), but rather about being a solo international traveler. This will only be my second time off the continent and the first time I went with a tour group so I didn't have to personally arrange anything, and somebody was steering us in useful directions. Those of you who've done this "foreign travel" thing, this is your enthusiatic invitation to tell me anything you think I ought to know, no matter how big or small.

Whee! Eeek!

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Monica,
I was by myself for 10 days of my trip to Israel a few years ago and here are Israel-specific things I can remember that relate to some of the general travel advice above.
-For me, the exchange rate was much better on a credit card than any other way. I had multiple cards from different companies with me so that when one got shut off, I still had others to use
-ATM machines are everywhere. I used them for cash. Fees weren't bad because I got a chunk of money at a time.
-I had per-arranged to rent a cell phone; it was waiting for me at the airport. I don't remember the company. It was very cheap. Incoming calls were free. I felt more secure with it because I had security issues (with the Israeli side, not others, long story).
-Almost everyone speaks English. The times I tried to speak in Hebrew, people spoke back to me in English.
-Most signs are translated into English. For locations, you should know enough Hebrew to be able to read them by sounding them out.
-People do not wait in line to get on buses, you push your way to the front if you want to get on (yes, I rode the buses. So do millions of other people). You can get bus schedules on the internet and buy tickets there, too.
-Police officers and soldiers may randomly ask you or others for your passport. This is normal. They do not need "cause" like they do in the US!
-Your bags may be run through x-ray to get on long distance buses. You will also be asked for your passport. This is also normal.
-If you had trouble with the interview before boarding the plane, or at passport control expect to have it again. It may not happen, but if you're on a list, you're on a list. The questions they ask can be a problem for converts (they like to fish us out) but just be yourself and like every other Jewish tourist.
Carrie