Ein Gev

This is a picture from our bungalow on the coast of the Sea of Galilee. Today, we will be visiting Technion University, one of the world's leading technology research institutions to explore entrepreneurship and innovation. Following our tour of Technion Labratories, we will stop by the Center for Jewish Arab Economic Development before returning to our resort weekend spot for this weekend's Hillel Shabbaton: joined by 3 other Hillel tracks - hundreds of engaged Jewish college students together for the last Shabbat of the American New Year and the final nights of Hanukkah.

Amazing Itinerary

After just 2 days in Israel with the Hillel Business & Technology Mission, our program of 85 students from over 50 different universities in America and Canada have already had the opportunity to meet several professionals in various Israeli industries including:

* Aluf Benn, Journalist, Haaretz
* Yossi Vardi, venture capitalist and creator of ICQ technolgoy
Mr. Vardi discussed with us the entrepreneurial role that young people play in Israel’s private and research sectors
* Alisa Peled, writer of Debating Islam in the Jewish State
Dr. Peled discussed Trends in Middle East Economics
* Jay Pomrenze, CEO of E4X Inc
* Nir Brunstein, Director of Poalim Capital Markets Group

Also, we have visited Weizman Institute, one of the leading research and developement institutes in the world, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and Raphael Recanati International School the first private university in Israel.

An amazing trip so far with a lot more to come...

In Flight

It was nice spending time with the cousins in Kew Gardens. I got to meet a few dozen of Chani’s relatives at a “Pre-Hanukkah” party on Christmas Eve.

The flight to Israel went by very quickly. Traveling 23 hours to India (with several hours lay-over at the International Airport in Seoul, South Korea) was the longest journey I’ve ever taken. So this 10 hour trip across the Atlantic only felt like a short flight in America across the Mississippi River.

Unfortunately, I caught a cold as we flew over Newfoundland, and my El Al in flight meals were replaced with cups of hot tea. Though my throat felt like a dried up baguette as we had breakfast flying over France, my head stopped spinning as we raced past Rome and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

On the bright side, I seem to always get sick when traveling to Israel, and hopefully I’ve gotten the worst out of the way, as we get ready to begin our Business and Technology program sponsored by Hillel. First stop: Kibbutz Shefaim Hotel to light the 3rd night of Hanukkah candles.

New York City

I arrived in NYC on the last day of the MTA bus/train strike. Walking over 200 blocks from Chinatown - Uptown - and all 'round actually wasn't that bad. I got to see parts of the city that I'd usually just fly right past underground on the subway.


Here's a picture of Rush Hour at one of the main subway stops near Time Square on Thursday, December 22nd, 2005 - The last day of the MTA Strike.




I arrived in NYC on the last day of the MTA bus/train strike. Walking over 200 blocks from Chinatown - Uptown - and all 'round actually wasn't that bad. I got to see parts of the city that I'd usually just fly right past underground on the subway.


Here's a picture of Rush Hour at one of the main subway stops near Time Square on Thursday, December 22nd, 2005 - The last day of the MTA Strike.

Washington DC

My 3 days in Washington DC visiting Elise were great! Elise works at The U.S. State Department. This picture is on the 8th floor of the State Department Building. We are standing next to the desk that Thomas Jefferson used to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The Nation's Capital

Spending a few days in our Nations Capitol was a great way to begin my winter break from Colorado State University. It was good to catch up with Elise Mellinger, and take a tour of the Diplomatic Reception Hall on the top floor of The State Department Building.

Elise now works the SE desk with a fellow colleague from FSI and other SD representatives covering TS information about FSO. I attended a holiday party hosted by OSE and SA while TBE was focused on SI. Ok, so I made up a few of those abbreviations, but half the job at the State Department seems to be getting all the acronyms in order! In civilian terms, Elise is currently working in the Office of Southern Europe.

It was really nice to be riding the metro around Georgetown and DC, as I was attempting to wait out the transportation strike that was announced in New York City. By Thursday, I took a bus from DC Chinatown to the NYC Chinatown for $20, and was ready to get some exercise in bustling bus-less Manhattan.