As a young American living abroad for the first time, I did not know what to expect from my three month volunteer period in Arad, Israel. But now as my time here comes to an end, and I reflect on the past twelve weeks, I find that it is hard to leave this place where I have discovered many wonderful things about Israel that the average tourist may not see.

For starters the city of Arad is a beautiful place in itself, located conveniently in the northern Negev thirty minutes from Be'er Sheva and the Dead Sea. The desert atmosphere provides a unique atmosphere that a person like me from New Jersey can become easily attached to.

But the beauty of Arad goes far beyond its natural surroundings. It is a city of diverse people and opportunities that constantly captures one's attention. Volunteering in communities in Israel is an extremely rewarding experience, and Arad does not disappoint. There are many volunteer opportunities here for almost all ages. I had the privilege of working at two schools (a Jr. high and a grammar school) as an tutor in the English department. My tutoring was not limited to the school system though, because I also spent some afternoons working with high school students at the local community Center (matnas). Although I spent the bulk of my volunteering as a tutor, I also had two other interesting work placements. For one morning a week I worked at a musical Kindergarten playing piano and singing with the kids.

Also, I was able to get in some physical activity as an instructor at the tennis center. Although I had a diverse volunteering schedule, I found each job to be both challenging and exciting.

But volunteering was just the beginning for me because Arad has many opportunities for visitors to become involved in the community. I was lucky enough to join the city choir which rehearses a the music conservatory. I also found a coffee shop where I had a gig every so often.

With all this involvement in the community, I made quite a few friends here who would often invite me over for dinner. In fact, I had a place to go for Shabbat every Friday night!

On top of all of this, the Jewish Agency does a fantastic job of welcoming each volunteer and making him or her feel at home. The Partnership 2000 Staff is extremely hospitable and resourceful, always giving volunteers individual attention to make sure their time here is rewarding. They do a great job here, and deserve a lot of credit for my success.

They say time flies when you're having fun. Well my three months in Arad went by in a Flash. It has truly been an unforgettable experience that I will always look back to with fond memories. I consider myself very lucky to have been able to come to Arad and accomplish what I did. I will never forget this beautiful city and the great times that I 've had.

Adar Bet 5760 - March 2000