I arrived at the Ben Gurion Airport at 11:00 pm on a Monday night, carrying with me a bundle of expectations born out of my extensive study and reading about Israel, the conflict and the Middle East. I stood there, in front of these towering skyscrapers, bustling traffic and footsteps rushing in all directions. Before this Israel was a far-off perception in books, movies and academic debates; being in the very country was a surreal experience for me, the case study had come to life. I came to study at Tel Aviv University for a semester exchange program.