I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, which makese sense I guess, since I've been spending most of my time alone. Aside from the Tel Aviv thing, I haven't done any major exploring. On one hand: bad me! I'm in Israel with a relatively open schedule and I'm not taking advantage of it! On the other hand: screw you, I can do what I want. So there.

I'm realizing that some of the decisions that I make in the next two years--between now and when I decide what my post graduation plans are--will have an insanely huge impact on my life. Academically speaking, I want to get everything over with as soon as possible. That doesn't mean choosing a graduate degree that takes a short amount of time to complete. It means that I don't want to take a break between undergrad and graduate school. I think. I've been thinking, and I want to try one of those 5 hours a day 5 days a week language programs. Like what Hilary is doing, but as ulpan, for conversational Hebrew. When will I do this? Next summer? Or will I defer for a year and take it then? Of course, the other answer is to do it when I make aliyah...if I make aliyah.

There's a hitch with the Cairo plans. Firstly, the program Hilary is in had a weekend trip scheduled for the time I am available. I say "had" because things have changed. There was a breakout of swine flu at the university, and they are closed down for 3 days. The program will have to make up for lost time, which means that some of the trips might be cancelled, with classes held instead. Basically, I have to wait until Hilary hears back form the program about the new schedule.

Ideally, I will still go to Cairo that weekend. If a different weekend opens up for Hilary, I will start my internship earlier and then take a Thursday and a Sunday off. Since I would be working the same number of days, it will hopefully be okay. Even if Hilary is busy during the days with classes, I can do the touristy stuff on my own and then hang out with her in the evenings. I mean, the places I want to go--the pyramids, sphynx, museum, boat museum, souk--these are all really touristy places. If there is no good alternate weekend or it looks like it will just be too complicated, I'll go the weekend I originally planned and find a hotel or hostel. But Hilary should hear about any changes on Sunday when her classes start up again, so I'll wait until then to make any alternate plans.