Hey everyone! I haven't posted in this journal in 23 weeks, over half a year ago. Returning to America was great. I got back with Joey, and I absolutely love him with all my heart. I readjusted to the land of Nerf, freedom fries, and hot dogs covered in bacon and eggs, and yeah, New York City is a wonderful place to call home. I'm writing in this journal again as opposed to my boring everyday life journal because tomorrow, I'll be traveling to Israel through Taglit-Birthright! I'm half-Jewish, which was good enough for them to send me on a free trip to the holy land for ten days.

I'm pretty excited, but anxious as hell. "Wait, you hitchhiked through Moscow at 3 am, and you're anxious?" "Wait, you screamed at a crackhead in Bushwick at midnight, and you're anxious?" "Wait, you survived a drive-by when you were 15 and you're anxious?" Yes, yes, and yes. I've got guts, but they're still a little shook up from the thought of being blown to smithereens, Dexter's Lab style. However, I know at least ten people who have previously traveled to Israel, and they've still got all of their lovely limbs. I oughta be perfectly fine.

I just can't wait to swim in the Dead Sea and ride a camel. I think everything about this trip will be wonderful. The only upsetting thing is that Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen block passports containing Israeli stamps or visas, as these countries do not recognize Israel. So I can never travel to any of these countries! Drat, and I was totally planning to get mortally maimed in Mogadishu.

So yes, here goes my travel journal once again! Exciting. Shalom, and shalom.



*(That's me on my roof, yesterday. Proof that I finally lost all that Russia weight I was ranting about, ha!)