שלום לכול! Shalom (Hello, goodbye, and peace--though in this case, I'm definitely saying hello... you can't leave just yet), y’all! My name is Abigail or אביגיל Avigayil. I'm 22 years old and was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. Right now, I live in חיפה, ישראל or Haifa, Israel, where I’m studying archaeology. Archaeology is the study of people who lived long ago. Instead of finding dinosaur bones, I dig for things that real people made and used like coins, pottery, and even buildings. Sometimes I feel like a real-life Indiana Jones!
When I’m not outside digging, I love reading books, baking sweet treats, and watching and doing theatre! I just love telling stories, whether I’m on a stage, sharing adventures with people like you from far away, or finding an ancient coin that helps me share the history of the people who came before us.
When I was growing up, I never thought someone like me would get to travel the world. Then, I had the amazing opportunity to move to New York City for college, and I learned that big dreams can come true. That gave me the courage to keep exploring and asking big questions. I consider New York City my home now, and feel so honored to be a small part of the city--and to bring the confidence and culture of New York City with me to my new home in Israel!
I came to Israel because I wanted to learn more about my Jewish family history and about the many people who have lived here for thousands of years. This land is so important to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim people at home in America and around the world! Every day I learn something new.
Together, we’ll explore ancient and new places, meet incredible people, perform in some ancient and modern theaters, and hopefully learn a few Hebrew and Arabic words along the way! The world is just full of amazing stories waiting to be told.
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
