After a two hour delay at Ben Gurion's baggage check in, I regretted bringing my external hard drive with me on the plane. If anyone flies from Israel to the States, please reconsider bringing large electronic devices with you. It's going to cost you time and a lot of security checks.

I can't believe my one year's study in Israel had come to an end. It felt just like last week when I arrived in Jerusalem. Wasn't it just a few days ago when I went shopping in the chaotic Mahene Yehuda Market? Didn't I just introduce myself as a new student in  film school? Now the year has come and gone so fast. I will never forget you Israel, my friends, and what God did for me while studying in the Holy Land.

As I embraced my four dearest friends for the last time at the airport, I knew this would probably be the last time I would see them. These four guys stuck with me through thick and thin over the year, and I will always be grateful for them. It was time for a new adventure now: the return home.

After an 11 hour plane flight from Tel Aviv, Israel to JFK, New York. I was so thankful to stretch my legs again, but not for 12 hours. Yes, that's right...I had a 12 hour overlay in New York. So what did I do? Well, I picked up my guitar and laptop, and I caught a train that ran to Manhattan. The first few hours were spent sight seeing. For the first time I experience ground zero, Ellis Island, and the Empire State Building. The last few hours were spent eating...McDonalds. Oh yes...after a year being out of the country, McDonald seemed almost the patriotic thing to do.

Once  my flight touched down in Portland, OR, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of everything. I forgot how green and plush the Pacific Northwest is. The yellow sand and red sunset desert memories began to mix with green water fountains of trees and grass. I was back home. When culture shock just began to settle in, I saw the most friendly, familiar faces in the whole world. My family!

And so I feel a big like Bilbo Baggins when I write this sentence: It was an amazing trip there and now I'm back again. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. If you ever get the chance to visit Israel, I strongly suggest you do so, just avoid bringing large electronic devices...