Sometime over the last 8 weeks we became comfortable in Israel.

Sometime after the CPR, but before the Dead Sea trip, the four of us have become accustomed to our new life in Israel. We consider the hotel to be our home, we feel extremely comfortable at the MDA station, we have our favorite falafel stand on the way home from work, and we are good friends with the staff of the hotel and the small convenience store next door. As we prepare to leave, we suddenly realize that we have created a life for ourselves here.

In a strange time warp, the last eight weeks have passed incredibly quickly, but it also feels like we have been here forever. I have learned more in the last two months than I have in years. We have learned how to ride in an ambulance, take care of a patient, speak and write very basic Hebrew, and fully function in an extremely foreign country. I never expected to find myself in this situation, but I have fully adapted and enjoyed the experience.

My last week at MDA was surprisingly uneventful. It actually seems like there have been fewer incidents in Jerusalem over the last couple of weeks. The one exception was my very last day, when I was placed alone (for the first time) with a driver who spoke absolutely no English. It was a challenge, but I was remarkably surprised by how much Hebrew I had picked up over the last eight weeks. We were able to communicate on all of the really important issues, and I was proficient enough in my role that I was able to perform all my functions without detailed instruction. The first patient we picked up happened to be an American tourist who spoke no Hebrew, so I was actually able to serve as a translator (in a very limited extent). Despite some miscommunication over insurance papers, I felt comfortable and even more importantly, helpful.

The MDA Overseas Volunteer Program was promoted as a "life-changing experience”. I think it is difficult for me to say at this point in time whether or not my life has been changed. I will not know until I return to the United States how I have been impacted by the last two months. For now, I know that I have had a valuable and wonderful experience. I have a full understanding of the daily work of MDA, and some positive ideas that I can bring back to the American Red Cross in Greater New York. Moreover, I feel that I have learned some valuable personal life skills and I feel like I have made a positive contribution to MDA. On days when there were few volunteers, I was able to help patients and really interact with the Israeli culture.

However, I must admit that as of now the most valuable component of this trip has been the value of a good team. Katherine, Francis, Paul, and I have worked together extremely well over the last two months. We have spent almost 24 hours a day together, seven days per week in conditions that were sometimes difficult and frustrating. We have worked together, lived together, and traveled together, without any serious disagreements or incidents. I have always known that the American Red Cross in Greater New York is an exceptional place because of the people who work there, both volunteers and employees. However, this trip proved more than ever before how exceptional these people, and this organization, really can be. I am grateful for this experience, grateful to have the opportunity to work with such wonderful people, and I look forward to my return to ARC/GNY.