By Rosette Gonzales
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
[email protected]
After UCLA and several other universities cancelled their
education abroad programs to Israel, some students are exploring
the option of “virtual study abroad” as a way to gain
insight to what it might be like to live and study in Israel
today.
Studyabroad.com, an international Web site that provides
information about study abroad programs around the world, will
tentatively host a weekly chat session connecting college students
in the United States to college students in Israel.
Approximately 15 students from U.S. universities, including
UCLA, University of Pennsylvania, University of Colorado and Temple
University participated in the chat which ran for the first time
Monday, 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. in Israel, and lasted for one
hour.
The session began fairly lighthearted as some students shared
stories about food, previous trips to Israel and the
country’s culture.
The atmosphere, however, soon changed when the issues of
violence, family members in Israel and politics were discussed.
Hielel Israel, a student at Hebrew University in Israel was
asked if he felt safe on a University campus in Jerusalem.
“I feel like a regular student. The conflict does not show
up everyday, but often we get the grim reminder of the
situation,” he said.
He also emphasized that he usually opts to use the “dorm
supermarket” when buying food and avoids the public markets
for fear of terrorist attacks.
Students also compared activities on college campuses regarding
the conflict, as well as education and what U.S. students who
support Israel can do for the country.
Rather than act as an alternative to studying in Israel, the
chat served as a forum for students ““ both who have been to
Israel and those who have not ““ to share their experiences
and viewpoints.
“I thought it would be an interesting venue for
conversation about the issues and a good way to put feelers out
about what people … feel about the situation,” said Dave
Yankelwitz, an English student at University of Pennsylvania.
In light of the conflict in Israel, StudyAbroad.com spokesperson
Joe Mitchell hopes the chat will help give American students an
understanding of what their peers in Israel are experiencing. At
this time, “It’s more important than ever, to
understand what these people are going through,” he said.
Gen Alfredo, who attends Temple University, is not Israeli and
has never been to Israel but said that the chat was informative and
she may join in again next Monday.
“Of course it would promote an understanding (because)
people are there firsthand, experiencing it,” she said.
To participate in future discussions, visit www.studyabroad.com or e-mail Joe
Mitchell at [email protected].