School Work vs. Socializing: How to Master the Art of Balance While Studying in Israel
For most students studying abroad, they will find that the workload is much less stressful than what they’re accustomed to at home. One of the primary reasons for a less stressful study schedule is to enable students from abroad to immerse themselves in the local culture and enjoy the many attractions available outside of the classroom. Since Israel is such a small country, many students from abroad are easily attracted to the many tourist sites, from skiing in the Hermon to the awesome beaches of Eilat. The trick is finding the right balance between work and play.
After speaking to former students who studied abroad in Israel, in this post we offer some advice on how to excel in your studies without jeopardizing the amazing opportunities available in Israel.
Yihye B’seder.
That’s the feng shui mantra Israelis offer to stressful situations. For some, it’s a way to ignore the ongoing tensions in Israel, while for others they actually mean it.
For students studying abroad in Israel, hearing that response from teachers or fellow Israeli students elicits a sense of despair. It’s not easy for students unfamiliar with Hebrew to learn this ancient Biblical language. And, if you add daily ulpan classes, homework assignments after class is over, quizzes, tests and some papers and basically you have a recipe for disaster. All of this is before considering to have some semblance of a social life!
Remember Yihye B’seder.
But, before taking Israel off your list of places to study abroad, consider an alternative viewpoint. What if there were an option that blends formal learning and carefully navigates social experiences to include educational ones? That would be awesome, no?! Basically, study hard but don’t forget that you’ll also learn by going to cafes and interacting with locals!
Don’t play hookie!
Contrary to popular opinion, a semester abroad is to actually learn, not to party all day. Moderate effort in each class will ensure that you actually will learn something in the classes. Otherwise why waste money paying international tuition if you’re just going to play hookie? You’ll have your entire life to explore everything in Israel, but the opportunity to learn Hebrew in Israel, while getting full or partial credit, is rare. So take advantage of it.
Relax
If you’re struggling the world is not going to implode. A decent amount of effort should be sufficient. But if your efforts are not yielding A’s, it’s all good, relax. Think about it this way- you’re in a foreign country and enjoying an entirely new environment. The B or C that you get in Jerusalem Geography and Comparative American and Jewish Worldviews offered at Thrive @ Hebrew University, probably won’t matter all that much. Yes, the classes should matter but the informal opportunities are also critical to keeping you sane. Take some time to relax and enjoy the Holy Land.
Change gears
Israel is known for its informal educational experiences. Unlike many foreign countries, Israel views non-class engagement opportunities equally as important to the students’ success. When in Rome, do as the Romans, right? Might as well conform because otherwise what’s the point in coming to Israel? If acing every class is your primary focus and ignoring the broad array of awesome sites in Jerusalem and Israel is secondary, why come study abroad in Israel?! Change gears a bit and enjoy the national monuments, go to museums, visit historical buildings, etc. Have a Hebrew test coming up? Try studying for a while and then go out and practice what you’re learning by speaking with locals. You’ll be impressed what your Israeli surroundings and local culture can teach you. That’s a major aspect of studying abroad.
Listen to yourself
At the end of the day, striking the right balance comes down to your personal goals and what you’re looking to gain from studying abroad. There will be times when it’s difficult to decide between acing that Ulpan test and going to Tel Aviv to party, but that decision is yours. Letting your classroom efforts slide every so often is fine in the name of a once in a lifetime experience. Just don’t let it happen all the time. Work before play should also be a viable option.
