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1. Go to ulpan (Hebrew school) if you can. You'll learn a lot more than the basics, not to mention the culture.
2. If you're coming with kids, let them fill one piece of luggage with books and toys.
3. Keep a well-organized calendar of must-dos.
4. Take advantage of the online webinars offered by Nefesh B'Nefesh and attend their events.
5. If you love books in English, invest in an e-reader (or two, or four).
6. Always keep copies of all your documents no matter how insignificant they may seem; keep the original even if the copy will be accepted, and keep it in a safe place!
7. If you have kids, stock up on Crayolas before you arrive.
8. Don't ask a native if they speak English. Just start speaking in English, and if they don't understand, they'll find someone who does.
9. If you need to go to a government office, get there as early as possible.
10. When you approach someone, assume they just want to help you get on your way.
11. Drink a lot of water, wear a hat, and sit in the shade to stay hydrated, especially during the summer months.
12. You don't pack yours kids "lunch" for school; you pack "aruchat eser." The kids eat a meal at 10 am, which usually consists of sandwiches, fruit and vegetables.
13. Set aside a few hundred shekels in the first year for a "Taxi Shalom Fund." That way, you save yourself the headache of arguing over a few shekels with taxi drivers.
14. Attend public events to enjoy the amazing life here and feel connected to your new community.
15. Don't expect to accomplish everything in the first few days (or weeks). Instead, try to achieve one major task and a few smaller tasks per day.
16. Call waiting has a different tone than normal telephone ringing, so you can tell when the person you're calling is on the other line. And you only pay for outgoing calls on a cell phone.
17. If things get tough, always remember why you came in the first place.
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