Before I left the U.S., I didn’t have many specific expectations for my study abroad program. This is because I am doing an independent research project, so the cause and effect of everything that happens is solely my responsibility. This is what I love the most about my program. I don’t have to depend on anyone else to see my plans through or change up what I want to do. If something goes wrong, like missing a train or forgetting my wallet in my room, the only person affected is myself. This also goes for when I discover places I love in Israel. My exploring and research is what I depend on to make the most of my time in Israel. Another expectation I had was it would be somewhat of a struggle to get to places I needed to get to on my own. This expectation has changed significantly, as the Tel Aviv-Yafo area is easy to get around and accessible to anyone. I can use the bus for cheap or the train if I need to go to other parts of the country. If for some reason the bus is not the best option, I can easily call a taxi or uber for not too much money either. Tel Aviv is also a very walkable area so once I am in the city center I can walk anywhere within 20 minutes or less.