Gaby, left, during her travels.

Today marks the third week that I’ve been away from my home in Los Angeles. I think it’s safe to say these weeks have been the most exciting and hectic weeks of my life. In three weeks I have been in two countries, one of which I’m calling home for the next nine months. Israel, the home of the Jewish people, is now where I call home in every sense of the word. It’s my religious homeland and where I reside. I have always thought of Israel as my home away from home, a place I wish to visit frequently and support, but now it’s truly where I am living. I’m no longer just an American tourist. I buy my groceries at Israeli supermarkets, take Israeli busses and volunteer at Israeli after-school clubs. I’m making a life for myself here as a participant on Year Course and not just hanging out on a two-week vacation.

I didn’t begin my overseas endeavors in Israel. My Young Judaea adventure began before I came to the Holy Land. I’m a participant on “Olami 3: Sephardic Judaism and Zionism,” a travel program in which I will continue to be involved throughout my time on Year Course. The first trip we took was to Spain, and throughout the coming year I will be visiting the Netherlands, Turkey and Greece. Spain was absolutely incredible—the trip involved both normal traveling to touristy sights and an intensive Jewish history curriculum.

We started our adventures in Barcelona and then traveled through Madrid and Cordoba. We immersed ourselves in both Spanish history and modern Spanish culture. In one week, we went to Jewish history museums, Maimonides’s old synagogue, a flamenco show, a soccer game and different Spanish art museums, seeing the works of Antoni Gaudi and Pablo Picasso. Spain itself is a gorgeous country. It has a typical beautiful European feel enhanced with its own Latin flavor—I just loved it. The entire trip is a bit of a blur two weeks later, but I can tell you that my decision to add on the Olami component of Year Course has already proven to be a great one.

Year Course officially began on the morning of Sept. 1. A bus dropped us off in our new home of Bat Yam, and I must say, at first sight, I was a little hesitant. Bat Yam isn’t a brand-new, gorgeously styled city, but then again, I wouldn’t be here for community volunteering if it were. I arrived at my new home before any of my roommates, awkwardly chose my bed and passed out due to sheer exhaustion and jet lag.

I woke up to the sound of suitcases rolling up the stairs, jumped out of bed and met my new roommates. As I write this, I realize how long ago this seems. Although it may have been only two weeks ago, I already feel so at home in Bat Yam. I have my routine down and I’m loving it. I volunteer at Bait Noar Kadima, or “youth house kadima,” which literally means “forward.” It’s an after-school club for kids to do their homework, practice academic skills and just hang out. The majority of kids are Ethiopian immigrants, which is so cool, because coming from Los Angeles, I have met very few Ethiopian Jews. Working there is both challenging and rewarding.

I’m also taking ulpan (intensive Hebrew study) classes, which is so important to me. One of my goals is to come home from this year fluent in Hebrew. I’m truly loving my time here. I have made incredible friends, taken cool tiyulim (trips) and begun to really get the hang of this living independently thing. Check out what I’m up to next month!

Gaby Grossman is a native of Los Angeles, Calif. She recently graduated from the Shalhevet High School and will be attending Boston University next year as a double major in political science and print journalism. Her hobbies include watching and critiquing movies, going to the beach and relaxing, coming up with original catch phrases and incessantly quoting The Office and Arrested Development.