Week One – Interview

I interviewed my friend Morgan for this assignment. Here are her answers:

1. Why did you decide to come to Tel Aviv?

Morgan decided to study in Tel Aviv in order to feel immersed in the Israeli culture and explore her ancestral roots. She is a business student studying in Tel Aviv, and she believes that this particular experience will provide her with great insight into the worlds of technology and entrepreneurship. Since Morgan am Jewish and has family in Israel, the country has special meaning to her as well. Here, she has the opportunity to acquire a well-rounded understanding of the culture and language of her Jewish roots.

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2. How would you describe your relationship to Tel Aviv (so far)?

Morgan feels as if she is very much immersed into the culture. She feels at home. Even when she buys a cup of coffee, everyone around her is super friendly and welcoming. After taking ULPAN and studying Hebrew, I have become familiar with the language and am able to communicate with those around me on a daily basis. She likes knowing the basics of Hebrew and believes that the course helped her feel more comfortable in a new country. Overall, she loves everything Tel Aviv has to offer and I am looking forward to exploring and discovering more in the future.

3. What is your favorite place in Tel Aviv so far and why?

Morgan’s favorite place is Sarona Market. The market has a multitude of great dessert and food options: from sushi, pasta, ice cream and cookies, Morgan loves the liveliness and cheerful environment of the market. The atmosphere is what truly makes the experience, and she enjoys how there is always music playing and people dancing.

4. What is your least favorite aspect of Tel Aviv so far and why?

Morgan’s least favorite aspect of Tel Aviv is the lack of time she has to actually explore the city. Likewise to myself, she feels that she is here to study and that is the priority, but simultaneously a huge part of studying abroad is being able to really see what the city has to offer. As a student, Morgan sometimes finds herself in school from morning to night, thinking about all of the fun and adventurous things that she could be taking advantage of.

5. What is your favorite Israeli coin and why?

Morgan’s favorite Israeli coin is the 10 shekel coin because it holds the most value, and additionally her lucky number is also 10. However, Morgan prefers US currency over Israeli currency because of familiarity and convenience.

6. What is one song (does not have to be Israeli!) that you keep listening to and why?

One of Morgan’s favorite songs since she has arrived in Israel has been TOY by Netta Barzilai. Morgan believes it “has an extremely fun and upbeat vibe to it. Whenever I listen to this song I always want to dance and sing with my friends. I also think the message behind the song has a lot of meaning”.

7. What do you most hope to learn during your time in Tel Aviv?

During Morgan’s time in Tel Aviv she hopes to challenge myself. She wnts to broaden her horizons and feel closer to her Jewish heritage. As a business student, Morgan is eager to study in the “Startup Nation” of the world. She knows that studying in Israel can give her the opporunity to learn in a different place and see another side of business that she is not exposed to in the United States. Overall, in today’s society it is imperative to effectively communicate across all cultures, and Morgan believes that studying abroad in Tel Aviv will broaden her abilities to do so, and hopefully in America she can transcend these skills to her peers, in and out of the classroom.