University of Wisconsin–Madison

Israel: Julia Gozdziewski

A group of five people pose together in front of a tan brick wall.
Some of my friends and I visited the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. This is an incredible important site where people of all religions come to recite prayers or leave notes in the cracks. The wall itself is smooth from the thousands of hands that have traveled to touch it!

Program: Tel Aviv University, Summer

Julia’s Major: International Studies, Legal Studies, Social Welfare

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

For someone considering my program, I would encourage them to be educated about the different perspectives surrounding the conflict in Israel. Because this is very much present in the everyday lives of people living in Israel, I think it is important to have a general understanding of the history of the region. Notably, however, it can be easy to formulate opinions of who is right and who is wrong. While we all believe that we have the ability to positively impact a situation (and this isn’t to say I don’t think it’s true!), my time in Israel taught me the importance of striking a balance between inserting your opinion on issues pertaining to your host country and absorbing as much knowledge as possible from those that call it home.

The Israelis’ emphasis on rest and being present with friends and family is an important custom I will be taking forward with me.

What is a custom, food or tradition from your host country that you are taking forward?

A custom from Israel that I will take with me is the emphasis on slowing down to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family. I had the amazing opportunity to attend a Shabbat dinner, hosted by the extended family of one of my friends on my program. Shabbat dinners are a Jewish tradition on Friday nights to celebrate the beginning of the weekly 25 hour day of rest, when everything from stores to public transportation is shut down in most places in Israel outside of Tel Aviv. During dinner, there was no rush to put out the next course or clear off the table. Even as the hour approached midnight, no one showed any signs of ending the conversation. Everyone was content to simply enjoy the food and more importantly, each other’s company. The Israelis’ emphasis on rest and being present with friends and family is an important custom I will be taking forward with me.

Julia stands on a hill overlooking a city, a lake, and mountains as the sun casts a shadow over her as it sets.
Sunrise at the top of Masada, an ancient fortress in the Judean Desert. In the background is the Dead Sea!

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

One of my most memorable experiences from my program was participating in a school-organized trip to Masada, an ancient fortress on top of a plateau the Judean Desert, and the Dead Sea. At 1am, our bus left to arrive at the foot of Masada at 4am – leaving us just enough time to complete the hour and a half hike uphill before sunrise. This was by far one of the most challenging hikes I’d ever done, made especially more difficult in the heat of the Israeli summer. The view at the top, though, was absolutely incredible! Then, we drove to the Dead Sea, which definitely lived up to all of my expectations. After hiking for three hours, floating in the sea was exactly what I needed. It was a busy but such a memorable day!