Prelude to Day 1

We arrive at the airport in a 15p van, from Crown Height to Newark, Excitement is in the air
with a mix of the unknown and familiar landscape. We get our name tags at the counter and meet the rest of our group - 39 boys in total.I will only hear about this later. After the tags we take our luggage and check on to El Al. I go thru check in, but first there is an interrogation to pass by the agent or security officer named Ronit. Speaking at 100 miles an hour she asks my purpose in coming to Israel, nationality, parents nationality and other random stuff. After the routine check she directed me to the counter to pick up my boarding pass with everyone else and head to security. I do so, even though it takes an hour thru the long line.
Finally I get thru and meet the rest of the group.Its exciting with out name tags, makes me feel all official.
We daven mincha and meet other Birthright groups in the lounge. It is fun but we still need to board the plane.
OU FreeSpirit Taglit 162 is on a roll. 

Whats this about?

Taglit is a progam that allows Jews aged 18-26 to go to Israel on a 10 day program for free (I mean 500$)
which beats any airline price out there. I'm going on the OU Free Spirit branch.
Getting excited for the big day.

Free means what?

They tell me the trip is free. Usually that means that from a financial point a view one does not have to pay anything. From the dictionary definition:

adverb: free

1. 1.

   without cost or payment.

   "students were admitted free"

   synonyms:

   without charge, free of charge, for nothing

So far here is a free list of my "free" expenses:
250$ deposit -  refundable - assuming you don't have do defend yourself from Arab aggression.
10$ processing fee - non refundable, this is needed to process the deposit.
45$ for Chai Travel health insurance - which covers the scratches you may get while climbing Masada.
(Dovid Pattshnick managed to get a cheaper version - Squaremouth for 13$. As consolation he told me his friend paid 75$ which makes me feel a bit better.

Total: 305

these are untested as of yet but which I hear are coming:
40$ - cell plan for 10 days
70$ tips
100$ for lunch, for as they say in America, there is no such thing as a free lunch :)

Total: 210
Disclaimer: In order not to sound like the ungrateful child, I will say this: I m extremely thankful
to the Birthright staff for everything they do, and for paying 5000$+ on this trip.

To put a correct marketing spin on it, this is the best 500 you will spend in your life!
A good investment

Will keep updating y'all with information.

what this blog is about

This is an online diary of sorts, to document my experience going on Taglit Birthright,
what its like and to spread the good vibes to others. Feel free to comment and spread the wealth and share the word.