A Boost in Morale

This blog post is a little different than my typical posts. I wrote this specifically for the MSIH blog which is used to give incoming students in idea of what to expect here in Israel. I would love to hear which style you like better! Enjoy the break from the normally scheduled content ;)

(plus this is much shorter!)

The weather in Israel isn’t reflecting the rapid approach of finals, but the frazzled students are a blatant indication. How is it possible we are already halfway through November? My brain is torn between a state of denial and panic. Most days still feel like summer, with temperatures around 80 (Fahrenheit haha). But when I look at the calendar, the truth is no longer avoidable. We are officially 3 weeks away from our first final.

I can’t speak for all my classmates, but I am fairly certain I am not alone in my growing feelings of trepidation towards our upcoming exams. When I study, my most consistent take-away is that I don’t know anything at all. Long days of lecture, Hebrew Ulpan, and weekly quizzes often leave limited time to study or review by the end of the day. On top of that, additional unexpected challenges are constantly arising. To put it nicely, we are tired, overwhelmed, stressed, and wondering how on earth we are going to pass our exams.

One of my classmates brought a box of pastries to share to one of our early morning microbiology quizzes. When asked what the occasion was, her answer was simple. A boost in morale. Over these last few weeks as exams have rapidly approached, I have seen that when push comes to shove, we are here for each other. And the moments I have experienced a boost in morale from my classmates aren’t so few and far between. Sometimes it’s sweet treats someone brought to share in class. A shared lunch on the lawn or the glorious experience of eating in a cafeteria again. Other times it’s school related. When someone understands a concept well, they are more than prepared to take the time to explain it to others who need some of the gaps filled in. People willingly share notes and study materials. It’s in the conversations about life, the world, and hard things, but also hysterically trivial matters ending in laughter. I engaged in an intense discussion on the legitimacy of cow tipping with a group of classmates the other day. It is definitely not a thing (I’m from Kansas, I have an inside scoop). But I left the conversation feeling much lighter. It can be as simple as a classmate, Lauren, creating personas for the numerous cats on campus. Her stories always leave me grinning.

For your enjoyment, a photo and short story by Lauren Knibbee

Even in challenges totally unrelated to school, we are here for each other. The past few weeks I had been struggling to understand our apartment utility bills because they are in Hebrew. I asked one of my classmates to go over them with me and she was more than happy to oblige. As we went through the information, it felt like problem after problem kept emerging. There was a problem with the water account, something wasn’t right with the WiFi, various taxes, and on and on. Thank goodness for Ana. She went above and beyond to help me and my roommates. She talked to our landlord, straightened things out with the WiFi company, talked to the woman we were supposed to be paying building fees to (no one told us until we were already 3 months behind, oops), and insured we got the student tax discount. I know other classmates would be just as willing to help.

In the moments when I feel particularly discouraged and overwhelmed, I don’t have to look far to remember I’m not alone. All it takes is a little boost in morale, often provided by my classmates, and my confidence is restored. We can do this. And we are stronger together.

Definitely a photo I have used before haha