The group is currently on the bus right now - salty, sweaty and full of sun bleached contentment. Today started at 4:45 am, where our wakeup call arose us from the floor of Bedouin tents in the middle of the Negev Desert. After some bitter tea and biscuits, we set off to hike Masada before sunrise. The hike was surprisingly short, and for many of us, we saw sunrise for the first time. Kineret, our tour guide, explained to us the history of Masada, and how the Jews built a civilized town atop a mountain in the middle of the desert. She explained their innovative irrigation system, their habit of worship, and their dramatic decision to kill themselves before Roman soldiers stormed their home. After touring Masada we headed toward the AHAVA discount store. Half of the girls, myself included, were so excited to buy dead sea beauty products that we practically ran into the store. The morning was completed with a visit to the Dead Sea where the entire group was able to float, bob, and stand upright without touching the ground in the highly saturated salt water. Being in the sea felt like swimming in a pool of oil, and after exiting the water, our skin and hair felt great. This little blurb is a summary of a few short hours on the program, but it is also a view into experiences that will stay with bus 149 forever. Away from our jobs, graduate programs, friends, family and loved ones, we are a group of 47 jewish kids who are discovering or rediscovering our sense of identity with every waking minute. I am very happy and fortunate to have come on this trip, and I can truly say the experience will be unforgetable. Now - off to Jerusalem to eat some falafel, shop in Ben Gurion street, and enjoy our last 24 hours together!! -Orlie
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