Study Abroad in Arava Institute for Environmental Studies

The Arava Insitute was the most life-changing place I have ever been. I cannot recommend this experience enough. It is definitely an intense and emotional experience, but the cultural perspectives I have gained were very much worth it. Plus it is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

From the shores of the Red Sea, to the ancient city of Jerusalem and everything in between: an experience that changed my perception. In 2019, I spent seven months living the southern Negev desert with a group of various nationalities and cultures focused on transboundary environmental security. We students lived among the kibbutzim, spending our meals together and learning of each other's homes and families. I spent an hour every week learning their upbringings and tragedies as Jordanians, Palestinians, and Israelis all just a stones throw away but worlds apart. How is it that an invisible boundary only discernable on paper can seal ones fate? Each night we would go to sleep talking of the future, all of us with hopes and dreams. The sparks of familiarity, recognition, and yearning burning steady in everyone's eyes. I have always been afraid of the light, but this experience at least gave me to courage to look with eyes unclouded. Arava, thank you for showing me a world filled with hope in which each of us can contribute to peace.

I learned more at the Arava Institute than I learned in my 3.5 years in university combined. I was surrounded by the most intelligent, interesting, thoughtful people, learned from incredibly engaging professors, and gained hands-on environmental and dialogue skills that I've already taken back home. Parallel to the intensity is the joy of kibbutz life -- sitting around in the sun, making some of my best friends, and enjoying a more slowed down life.