#Off_the_record with Maddie Krupnick, USA!
This time, meet Maddie Krupnick from New Jersey, USA! 
Maddie is pursuing her Bachelor’s in Middle Eastern studies at Queens College, and came to Israel to participate in our Hebrew Ulpan and our semester programs!
Maddie is so talented – she’s a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo 
she played the clarinet for 9 years 
she’s studying a few languages 
she has 300 books 
and the rest you’ll find out here 
she played the clarinet for 9 years she’s studying a few languages she has 300 books and the rest you’ll find out here So now for the fun stuff:
1. Favorite Hebrew word:
Melafefon (cucumber)! 
It sounds like a sneeze or an accident!
It sounds like a sneeze or an accident!2. What motivated you about BGU?
Both of my parents studied abroad in Israel for a year – my mom graduated high school and went to Israel, my dad worked in a Kibbutz, so I knew I wanted to go. I wanted to get to know people from different countries, not use English all the time. I love to study languages – I took courses in French, Korean and Hebrew, and I wanted to use Hebrew.
3. What did you want to do when you were little?
I wanted to do everything! At one point I wanted to be a princess 
and now I don’t even like the color pink anymore! Now I want to work in intelligence in the American government, using Hebrew and Arabic, working with Israel within the American government 
and now I don’t even like the color pink anymore! Now I want to work in intelligence in the American government, using Hebrew and Arabic, working with Israel within the American government 4. What surprised you about Israel?
That Israelis are very forward, the opposite of hesitant, and that they are wearing jeans every day! How are you doing that? It’s hot! 
And there are so many people that aren’t wearing a hat in the sun! and people with long hair that are not putting it up and it’s so hot – you are powerful, you are strong! 
And there are so many people that aren’t wearing a hat in the sun! and people with long hair that are not putting it up and it’s so hot – you are powerful, you are strong! 
5. What will you take from your time at BGU?
If I was in a place with a lot of Americans it would be pretty easy for me to speak English and not learn about Israel and everything that goes on in it, and here when there’s a blend – I get to learn about the real stuff and get to know people from different countries, these are memories that I’ll take with me 
6. What’s your favorite moment here?
When we had Shabbat in the old city in Jerusalem and I saw the western wall at night – it’s so crazy to see so many people getting together! It was special to me to see Jerusalem in real-time – on just a regular Shabbat.