Back to school

Southern public schools (including Beer Sheva's) remained closed today, but tomorrow everyone will please G-d be going back to school.

Today was the first day of the 5772 school year for my Gerontology Master's program at Ben-Gurion University. Dad always was so excited to ask what I was studying, so here goes for my last semester:

• Legal Aspects for Older Adults and the Ill
• Biology of Aging
• Intro to Sociology (a better-late-than-never prerequisite).

As for the last credits to wrap up the degree, I'm debating between:

• Environmental and Occupational Health (a Master's in Public Health course), and
• Entrepeneurship and Leadership: Global Business Expansion (Master's in Business Administration).

I'm leaning towards the latter--it doesn't hurt that it's taught in English. I also feel an itch to try something different (the Public Health course reminded me today of my Epidemiology class quite a bit).

Just as I became a true local during my three years in Jerusalem and was able to offer directions to lost folks, it's really nice that I can do the same having studied in Beer Sheva for three semesters already.

Here's a picture with my great new apartment-mates (from left): Tariku from Petach Tikva, Ayalon the kibbutznik, and Ben from Gadera. These guys are great and chill. Ayalon has some work experience as a cook, which you can discern from his delicious creations (I'm taking notes).

He joked that it's been boring having a whole day go by without a siren going off. As for what to do in the event of a rocket or mortar attack, here are the

Home Front Command's instructions.

Back to work. Much love,

אריק/Eric