International Week Experience: Israel

“Short exchange abroad, great experience, company visit and loads of activities. Excluding your flight ticket, free of charge!. The most sceptics of us will think it sounds too nice to be true.

However, this is how it works! The International Week organization is a network of 25-business school around Europe and Asia. To name a few: St Gallen University from Switzerland, Keio University from Tokyo, Lund University of Sweden and so many more.

July last year, I had the unreal opportunity to apply for I.W. Israel. Although, the political environment was unpredictable, I understood it was once in a lifetime experience. Fortunately, I got selected and, without mentioning my future trip to any of my family members, I was preparing myself for a breath-taking experience.

The communication and preparation for the IW were all well coordinated thanks to the dedicated committee and chief organiser. No questions were disregarded and all doubts were dismantled.

Arriving in Israel and meeting the group, seemed as greeting long time friends. Though, all of us were strangers, we applied for the similar experience and therefore, a strong network, astonishingly, grew among committee and participants.

The discovery of the country was breath-taking, to attempt to seize a glimpse of my experience, just picture: living in the dynamic city of Tel-Aviv, camel ride across the desert, retreat in stunning Jerusalem and the notorious Wailing wall, sleeping among Bedouins, walking through Jafa, astonishing city where Muslim and Jewish share tea and chicha, floating in - on the dead sea under approximately 40°C, learning about Google boot camp and other start-up incubator, celebrating the Shabbat together in the charming suburbs of Tel Aviv, Pub-crawl, tasting the unforgettable real humus, shakshouka and tahini, get-togethers, rafting though the Jordan river, … And many others dazzling memories.

Perhaps, two of the most treasured one were: the Beduin’s and the River Jordan. The first one, we were spending all night with few friends around the bonfire at the Bedouin’s camp playing games and fooling around. Then, we went climbing Mount Masada at 4am to witness the sunrise above the Dead Sea with Jordan on the other side. As I can recall, I was stretched between a feeling of exhaustiveness and regret of not sleeping, and the feeling of spending the best time of my life.

The second one, was rafting through the well-known and most holy river in the world, and we were … water fighting, smashing our kayak against each other, trying to drown members on the other kayaks, swigging as Tarzan across the river bank, … All the things that were forbidden. But as I learn during my stay: “Sababa”, a Hebrew variant of Hakuna Matata.

Moreover, the IW wouldn’t have been the same without their greatest advantage: the Israelis. The most welcoming people, with an outstanding sense of humour and the most straightforward attitude. Never did I ever felt among friend and family in such a short period of time.

As student, International Weeks are opportunities to grab and to enjoy. The experience drawn of it, the network and the long-term friendship are priceless !

For more information, visit the website: www.clublsm.com or our Facebook page: International Week Belgium.