I'm one step closer!

As of noon today, the last bit of paperwork was completed for my trip.  I went to Philadelphia this morning to visit the Israeli Consulate, and get my A/2 Student Visa.  It was an experience getting this little piece of paper now glued to my passport; I tried going to get it in July, only to be told that it was much too early to be thinking about it, and to come back in September. So lo and behold, September first rolls around and I'm back in Philly.  The same people were working, and some even recognized me, as we proceeded through the extensive security procedures of the Consulate. I won't share exactly what those details are, but let me tell you, that floor is a bunker. I also met some wonderful people who also were visiting the Consulate, a woman with dual citizenship in both Israel and the United States and her husband.  She was an incredibly vibrant person, and started up small conversations where ever possible.  It was awesome to hear her speaking in fluent Hebrew to the individuals working there.  Before she left, she joked that I'd "find a husband over there and never want to come back!".  I responded by telling her my parents may find that to not be a desirable outcome.  But I have to agree with her in one thing: I want to fall in love with where I'm going. I want to turn this trip into memories and contacts which I hold dear and keep strong, either through communications with the people I will meet or through repeated visits to this place in the world that everyone tells me is without compare. 

I've still got a month before I leave, and I fly out of Newark International Airport on October 5.  All the paperwork is done, and I'm cleared for arrival! Now I have to start thinking about packing... ARG. :/