Planning

We leave in 11 days; a group of 20 seminary students, accompanied by two faculty members and assorted guests. We'll fly out of Chicago, spend a significant amount of time at an east-coast transfer point, and wake up in Tel Aviv (assuming my in-flight sleeping pill does its job). Not my first time out of the country, but definitely the first stamp in my passport. I feel like Sandra Bullock in "While You Were Sleeping."

I have a large suitcase and a barely-legal-for-size roll-on strewn across my bed, stuffed with jeans and khakis and casual skirts. I have a power converter, a plush U-shaped pillow, and a copy of the pattern for Berrocco's Leilani Cardigan as well as enough Boysenberry-colored Domy Heather to work it up during long bus rides and lectures and such. I've started checking Intellicast daily for Tel Aviv, trying not only to get a feel for the weather in Israel but possibly to will it into a slightly warmer mode. (The trend seems to be damp and mid-60's, yet I keep trying to pack the kinds of things I'd wear at this time of year in Tucson.) I'm also including a personal care package of Neosporin, Pepto Bismol and the like, as I'm not quite sure how I'd find them in a pinch on site. A fresh (comfortable, cheap) pair of casual black sandals can't be found in Wisconsin in January, so I'll look for some in the market once we get there. Ditto a sun hat, although Wikipedia says the Dead Sea has reduced UV rays because of its extremely low elevation. A fleece jacket, a rain shirt, and a bathing suit for use in the Dead Sea. I'm trying to decide whether it would be silly to bring my favorite stainless water bottle.

Most importantly, I'm trying to finish the required reading for this journey, which is of course a credited contribution to my Master's of Divinity program in addition to being the journey of a lifetime. "At the Entrance To the Garden of Eden" by Yossi Klein Halevi; "Israel/Palestine" by Alan Dowty, and "Once Upon A Country" by Sari Nusseibeh with Anthony David. Nusseibeh's description of his family's traditional role as key-keepers to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher reminded me of this video; a reminder, I suppose, that nothing in the Middle East is simple.

I get one of two very strong reactions from almost everyone who hears about this trip: either fascinated envy or fear for my safety. I promise to be aware and make consciously safe decisions, when presented with my options. However, I also trust Rabbi M, Professor T and our local guides to (a) understand and minimize any risks, and (b) truly have my bests interests at heart during this trip. Timidity would be counter-productive.

Eleven days. Maybe I'm jumping the gun just a bit, being fully packed. I even have my travel clothes laid out, complete with jewelry and a shawl for the plane ride. I forgot for a bit that I'm leaving from Chicago, and will need an extra day's clothes for my repositioning jaunt the day before.

I cannot freaking wait.