Travel Manifesto

I feel like this study abroad experience is arriving at an uber-appropriate time. At about this time last year I felt like I had my life relatively figured out. My Seniors Honors Diploma served as a sort of manifesto on who I am. I thought I knew exactly who I was, what I believed in, and what I wanted. Over the past few weeks I haven't been so sure about what I want, what I believe, or even who I am. I think, perhaps, at the time I did know who I was; it may be that with a year of college under my belt I've changed.

The realization that I'm confused about my life was initially somewhat discouraging. I was reminded by both my sister and Herman Hesse's Siddhartha that the human life is by no means static. Siddhartha has at least 5 enlightenments throughout the course of his life. Not to sound wishy-washy, but it seems that maybe there is no definitive/objective enlightenment/epiphany/life course that can be discerned. Maybe one must perpetually roll with the punches.

Nevertheless, I think getting thousands of miles away from my friends, my family, and my past might allow me to view my life slightly more objectively. Hopefully it'll give me a chance to grow and learn as if in a vacuum, isolated from all the variables of my normal life.

My own caveat to myself: I particularly enjoyed Siddhartha's notion that people are so preoccupied with searching for Om that they don't recognize it in life. So, even though I'll be searching for clarity on my life I have to live my life in order to have a life to understand. I think I explained that very poorly. Mainly, it's not as though I will spend every moment in Beer Sheva philosophically analyzing my life. I'm actually anticipating having a lot of fun in Israel.

I love dry heat, so I'm ready for that aspect. Though, it still doesn't seem entirely real that I'll be leaving.

Well, those are the only reflections I have at the moment.

(I didn't even like Siddhartha that much, so it's interesting that I referenced it so extensively.)
(It's also interesting that Blogger doesn't have an underline function, lame.)