Pre-Flight Checklist

I've done checklists before. Enough times to know that I might not get everything on this list finished. But that isn't going to stop me at all. A few of my friends started a list of things to do before we return to the states. I slimmed down the list that we made together down to the things that I really want to do. I'm going to start trying to take things off this list as soon as possible.

Here's to experiencing Israel before I go home!

1. Beach Weekend in Haifa/Eilat

2. Camping/hiking somewhere up North

3. Israeli food-themed potluck Shabbat dinner

4. Group ride on the light rail

5. Museum on the Seam

6. Biblical Zoo

7. Caesaria

8. Wine tasting somewhere

9. Full Day Ein Gedi Hike

10. Attend Israeli Soccer Match

11. Visit Tzfat.

12. Play Shoots and Ladders on the board in the park on Azza

13. See Hadag Nahash perform

14. Bike/Hike trials around Jerusalem

15. Walk Via Dolorosa

16. Day Trip to Abu Ghosh

17. Latrun

18. Tel Aviv Museums: Diaspora and Rabin

Almost There

Well, well, well. I have realized that I was a little ambitious in my to do list before I go to Israel. Some of the books I wanted to read are just not going to get done. It's a good thing they were only recommended reading for before school starts. The important thing is that with only 5 days until I leave for Israel, the important things are getting checked off the list. Here is how the list looks right now.

Here is what is still left to do along with some of the things I have taken care of since the last time I was working on this.

___ Send HUC My Updated Transcript
_x_ Shop For Clothes and Things I Need
___ Send HUC my updated transcript

_x_ Buy External Hard Drive
_x_ Buy Adaptors/Converters
_x_ Gather Visa Information
___ Pack Up My Room

_x_ Pack

___ Leave

___ Apply For Visa

I packed today. There are only a few things that I need to buy to toss into the bags on the way out. I have weighed them and right now I have a few pounds of leeway to add some things. I am getting really excited to get everything started, but the problem I am running in to is that I already will miss things. I'm leaving as a bundle of mixed emotions. But as this chapter reaches its penultimate post, it is hard to understand that very soon I will be in Jerusalem. Very soon.

Lila Tov

Time Goes Too Fast

Time is going way too fast for me now. Each day that goes by, I am getting more and more objectives finished on my checklist. The problem is that the more I get done, the closer I am to actually leaving. I am full of this mix of emotions. I am incredibly excited, on July 3rd I leave for Israel and on July 12th we have orientation and start classes shortly after that. It's incredible. Yet I don't want to leave.

Last night I met up with a bunch of people for a going away get together. Realizing that it will be a year until I see most of my friends again is hard to realize. It will be a year and that's going to be hard. I know it's not as if I am saying goodbye forever, but a lot can change and happen in a year, much less the coming years that I will be spending studying.

It is a big mix of emotions. Yet I've gotten quite a bit done on my list and I have still found a way to add more to it too.

(32/46)

This has been a busy week, this is what I've taken care of since the last time I wrote up a blog.

_x_ buy our router
_x_ try out the router
_x_ have a going away get together
_x_ Fill Out Deferment Form
_x_ Buy Israel-Arab Reader
_x_ Buy Introduction to Tanakch
_x_ Check Out Bank Options
_x_ Set Up Auto-Deposit
_x_ Buy Luggage
_x_ Notify HUC that I'm coming


Here is what is still left to do.
___ Send HUC My Updated Transcript
___ Read Back To The Sources
___ Read History of Modern Israel
___ Read Certain Chapters from the Tanakch
___ Shop For Clothes and Things I Need
___ Send HUC my updated transcript

___ Buy External Hard Drive
___ Buy Adaptors/Converters
___ Take Pictures for ID Badges
___ Gather Visa Information
___ Collect Addresses
___ Pack Up My Room

___ Pack

___ Leave

___ Apply For Visa

Still Chugging Along

I haven't updated this in a while, but I realized that I have knocked off a few pieces of the to do list. The issue seems to be that I keep finding things to do. For those keeping score at home, I'm sitting at about 50 percent complete. The good news is, I don't think there is too much more that I can add to the list.

(22/44)
___ Send HUC my updated transcript
___ Read Back To The Sources
___ Read History of Modern Israel
___ Read Certain Chapters from the Tanakch
___ buy out router
___ have a going away get together
___ shop for clothes and things I need
___ Send HUC my updated transcript

___ Fill Out Deferment Form
___ Buy Israel-Arab Reader
___ Buy Introduction to Tanakch
___ Check Out Bank Options
___ Set Up Auto-Deposit
___ Buy Luggage
___ Buy Adaptors/Converters
___ Take Pictures for ID Badges
___ Gather Visa Information
___ Collect Addresses

___ Notify HUC that I'm coming
___ pack

___ leave

___ Apply For Visa

*Notice that I need addresses and email addresses. If you could send me your contact information that would be fantastic. If you need to get ahold of me, email me at Nelson.Brian.Thomas@gmail.com



Completed Tasks
_x_ accept the admission offer
_x_ mail in deposit
_x_ find an apartment
_x_ put a deposit on an apartment
_x_ buy plane ticket
_x_ preference campuses
_x_ mail in med. forms
_x_ apply for financial aid
_x_ accept financial aid
_x_ fix my computer
_x_ physical exam
_x_ clean up my computer
_x_ talk to the bank about being abroad for a year
_x_ glasses
_x_ remind the bank that I'm leaving for a year
_x_ prescriptions in Israel
_x_ buy a new driver's license
_x_ back up my computer
_x_ set up skype/google voice
_x_ plan a going away get together
_x_ apply for grants
_x_ figure out phone

In Progress

(18/34)
_x_ accept the admission offer
_x_ mail in deposit
_x_ find an apartment
_x_ put a deposit on an apartment
_x_ buy plane ticket
_x_ preference campuses
_x_ mail in med. forms
_x_ apply for financial aid
_x_ accept financial aid
_x_ fix my computer
_x_ physical exam
_x_ clean up my computer
_x_ talk to the bank about being abroad for a year
_x_ glasses
___ Send HUC my updated transcript
___ apply for grants
___ Read Back To The Sources
___ Read History of Modern Israel
___ Read Certain Chapters from the Tanakch
___ apply for a visa
_x_ figure out phone
___ figure out internet
___ remind the bank that I'm leaving for a year
___ prescriptions in Israel
___ Health Insurance
_x_ buy a new driver's license
_x_ back up my computer
___ set up skype/google voice
_x_ plan a going away get together
___ have a going away get together
___ shop for clothes and things I need
___ pack
___ leave

In The Beginning...

I have been looking forward to this for such a long time and I am incredible excited to be getting ready for Israel. There is so much to do though before I am ready to go. If you have been reading my main blog, I've been posting what is left to in preparation for leaving. Today I will be getting a few more of those things off my list, I hope.

Here's where the Honey-Do-List stands;

(15/34)
_x_ accept the admission offer
_x_ mail in deposit
_x_ find an apartment
_x_ put a deposit on an apartment
_x_ buy plane ticket
_x_ preference campuses
_x_ mail in med. forms
_x_ apply for financial aid
_x_ accept financial aid
_x_ fix my computer
_x_ physical exam
_x_ clean up my computer
_x_ talk to the bank about being abroad for a year
_x_ glasses
___ Send HUC my updated transcript
___ apply for grants
___ read a few books
___ Back To The Sources
___ History of Modern Israel
___ Certain Chapters from the Tanakch
___ apply for a visa
_x_ figure out phone
___ figure out internet
___ remind the bank that I'm leaving for a year
___ prescriptions in Israel
___ Health Insurance
___ buy a new driver's license
___ back up my computer
___ set up skype/google voice
___ have a going away get together
___ shop for clothes and things I need
___ pack
___ leave

There is so much left to do, so I won't be long on here today. I also promise that this will be much more interesting when I am on my way.