Although our trip started off with major delays that left us in the airport for nearly 10 hours, our first day definitely made up for all the setbacks. As soon as we got off the plane and changed into more weather-appropriate clothing, we met up with our guides, Ariel and Batsheva. They gave us a warm welcome to Israel and made sure our energy stayed high even though we were exhausted from the journey. The delays made it impossible to fit in all of the planned activities, but we still had a memorable experience at Caesarea. Ariel gave us his rendition of Jewish history complete with his guitar skills and original lyrics. We made a toast and said "l'chayim!" as we acknowledged that we had come full circle, standing in the same place our ancestors were in when they were forced out of Israel. After that enlightening experience, we were finally able to relax, have dinner and do some more group activities to get to know each other.
If our first day in Israel is any indication of what is to come, I cannot contain my excitement. I've loved starting to get to know everyone and learning about this beautiful place. I know that the next 10 days will be life-changing and packed with fun and excitement no matter what we do or see. And most importantly, we will strive to be travelers -- not tourists.