Top Seven Ways to Survive in Beer Sheva

Having just survived my first week of classes and my first exam, I thought today would be a good time to share how life is different in Israel. Since Beer Sheva in Hebrew means seven wells, here are seven tips.

1. Never, ever wait in line. If you attempt to wait in a line, you will be waiting all day. Push your way to the front and stare down anyone who tries to cut in front of you.

2. Nighttime is the perfect time to wander the neighborhood alone. Everyone is out walking their dogs, running errands, etc.

3. On a similar note, only idiot tourists walk outside between the hours of 10am-3pm.. No one else is outside, and every taxi driver will honk at you. They will also probably be laughing at how sweaty you are.

4. Hebrew speakers love to watch English speakers butcher their language, especially when there are hand gestures and sound effects involved. It's like free street theater.

5. All dairy products were not created equal. Just because it looks like yogurt, doesn't mean it is. It could be sour cream. Or goat cheese. Or worse.

6. If you want to to open any sort of account, be prepared to bring every document you've every possessed, all the way back to your grandparent's birth certificates. Then be prepared to still not get what you need and be given no explanation. Israeli bureacracy is the best.

7. Always remember what day it is, or you may get "shabbated" Most stores close for Shabbat, from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. Forget, and you're fasting for Shabbat.

Contact Info

Best ways to contact me, for those interested :)

Email: rlapham0409@gmail.com

Skype: rebecca.lapham

Phone: I no longer have an American telephone number. If you have an international calling plan, you can reach me at +972 054-498-6520. I don't recommend this, as it can get really expensive. I have an iPhone, so I regularly check Facebook, email, and Skype on my phone. I also have WhatsApp, a texting app that allows free texts to any number in the world.

Snail Mail: Mail can be really expensive overseas. I've been told to try to discourage mail...but here's my address. Any packages should be marked "No commercial value" or they will be charged big fines.

Rebecca Lapham

c/o Medical School for International Health

Ben Gurion University of the Negev

P.O. Box 653

Beer Sheva 84105

Israel

Settling In

This is a picture of the AC unit in my new bedroom. It has become my new best friend. To say that summers in Beer Sheva are hot is like saying winters in Minnesota are a little chilly. The weather here is ridiculous. That being said, I love everything else about it. I assumed when I moved to the desert that I was saying goodbye to water forever. So imagine my surprise when I learned that my new apartment had a pool (see picture below).

This outdoor patio area is my favorite part of Beer Sheva so far. It's the perfect place to sit at night, cool off, and relax after the sweltering heat of the day. My first night here, I invited my new classmates over to enjoy the oasis. We were introduced to the wildlife of Beer Sheva, which included stray cats, bats, and (my surprise favorite) hedgehogs. One animal they don't have- mosquitoes. The plants were also a big change. Below is a picture of the olive tree that grows next to the pool. Definitely don't have those at home!

Today we get a tour of campus and Shabbat dinner with host families, tomorrow is a pool party and a pub crawl, and Sunday is the first day of classes. Med school here I come!

The Beginning

Tomorrow, bright and early, I leave to start my adventure in Israel. All that's coming with me is 2 suitcases, a backpack, and pillow. Not much to start the next chapter of my life. In the last few weeks my emotions have run the gamut from excited to scared, and nervous to terrified. As the big day rapidly approaches, I find myself getting more and more excited about the adventures to come. I can't wait to get back into the classroom and learn again (nerdy, I know). I can't wait to be back in a foreign country, trying to figure out where I'm going without reading any street signs. I can't wait to meet all my new classmates. I can't believe that God has blessed me with this amazing opportunity. Although I know I will be overwhelmed at times, I know that these next four years will define the rest of my life. Lehitraot, Minnesota!