Shalom Hartman this summer

[cellio]

I just registered for the Shalom Hartman Institute summer program in Jerusalem (after confirming a sane refund policy in case the region goes pear-shaped in the meantime). My rabbi recommended this program a few years ago and I've been eying it every year, and this year the stars aligned (dates, interesting topic, timely responses to email queries

Comments

[ticklethepear]

as for #3 - I'd also scan them and email them to myself. and leave copies with someone at home.

might also be good to register with the consulate and get on their travel warning email list.

[cellio]

Good point about scanning and emailing.

It never would have occurred to me to contact the consulate; thanks. That's something I do from here before going, not something I do there, right?

[ticklethepear]

http://israel.usembassy.gov/service/subscribe2.html

Usually there's a page also where you can official "register" but I didn't see it. Good luck!

[merle_]

I've only been to Canada and France, both tame locations where I speak the local language, so my experiences might not apply. In Canada I was not alone but in France I not only took the rails around alone and slept in hostels but one morning in Paris I woke up at 6am and just walked down random streets and alleys until late evening. I had no map, and given the weird six-way intersections no clue where I was. But it was fun. (at one point someone asked me for directions to somewhere and pulled out a map.. it was hard not to giggle

[cellio]

Thanks for the advice! I should probably have mentioned that I've been to Canada bunch of times, though always with my husband (his family lives there). That seems like it ought to be pretty different from going overseas.

I was planning to take a backpack (and use both arms' straps), rather than an over-one-shoulder bag that screams "grab me". Is that any better for blending in than the fanny pack that you warned against?

I'm perfectly willing to waste some paper to have nice maps in a size I can see. I'm assuming my smartphone won't work there, after all, so if I want maps on the go they need to be paper.

[merle_]

Canada is indeed probably quite different from going to another continent, even if it feels like it politically.

A backpack should be fine so long as the zippers are closed and you can tell when they are being opened (I was behind someone about a year ago whose wallet fell out of his unzipped backpack that kept unzipping itself!). It's always hip to have a backpack. Fanny packs, though.. sure, the stuff is in front of you so what is in the pack is safe, but it still makes you a good target if you have anything else.

Paper maps are always cool. They also never stop partway through loading.

[shewhomust]

Since you're going to an organised program, I'm assuming they'll provide information about what you'll need, compatibility of electrical devices etc.

I'm so glad you're doing this - I look forward to reading about it!

[cellio]

I look forward to going and to writing about it. :-)

I do have a (single) universal power adapter thingy, so I know I can plug in my laptop. (The laptop is an iBook, which is small and fits nicely into a backpack, and that way I don't have to rely on finding public computers.)

[ticklethepear]

relax and enjoy. :)

[dragonazure]

Other good advice has already been provided, so here are my additions

[magid]

It's possible to rent phones at the airport, actually.

[cellio]

Is that better than getting them in advance? (Easier, cheaper, otherwise advantageous)? This is a new area for me.

[magid]

I don't know about better, but it's easy, since the stalls are right there.