In addition to the help given to us by the professors, the fact that I had a friend who is also studying in Tel Aviv this spring made the transition, or move, into Tel Aviv much easier. While I found myself becoming nervous at the idea of meeting new people and getting accustomed to life in Israel, I reminded myself that many of the other students felt the same way. It is normal to feel out of place or uncomfortable when you find yourself in a different environment. Sometimes pushing yourself into these uncomfortable situations is what helps you grow the most as a person.
Beyond the dorm, Tel Aviv could seem like an intimidating place at first. However, spending some time simply walking through the city and looking at all that it has to offer gave me the first step towards appreciating the city and its people. Even though I have been in Tel Aviv for a little over two months, I still have moments where I miss my family and pieces of my usual life. A few days ago, I wandered into a small cafe called “Origem”. Since the word is Portuguese, I was instantly curious as to whether it was a Brazilian cafe. And it was! They served a traditional Brazilian snack called Pao de Queijo, which is a kind of cheesy bread. Having a little piece of home here in Tel Aviv helped me out and cured a bit of my homesickness.
As much as I have missed my family and my home, living in a dormitory with the other students has allowed me to make a new home. Each room in the dorm is shared by two people, so my friend and I share a room together. The kitchen, however, is communal, which means that everyone cooks and eats their food there. With many seats and tables, there is more than enough room to have everyone eat, relax or even complete their homework in the communal kitchen.
