This past winter break, I decided to go on the illustrious birthright trip to Israel. You would think that being over 11,000 miles removed from both Binghamton and the United States, I’d escape the people here and their gloom. But, we all know Binghamton is essentially Greater Long Island and therefore Greater Israel, so of course I managed to run into about 10 random Bingers throughout the trip.

I met most of my fellow collegians at the various nightclubs and hotels we frequented. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I don’t remember any of your names or faces save one or two of you. For all I know, I’ve already reintroduced myself to you twice over — I’ve done it to people before.

Two years ago, my then-roommate, now-housemate Dan, who you might remember from the Southern Comfort pancakes debacle, arranged for his friend Mike to visit from Ithaca College. I went through the usual motions people go through when they meet someone, and then we had a great weekend. Fast forward two weeks and he’s come back for another visit. I remember the day very clearly: I was sitting at my desk when he walked through the door. I jumped from my chair to where he was, extended my hand to him and said, “Nice to meet you.” But it was one of those weird occurrences where you realize you’re doing something very stupid the moment you do it, but it is too late to stop.

It was kind of like last year when I got drunk, donned a “Daniel Boone” raccoon hat and went around my floor clandestinely flipping off the switches in people’s circuit breakers. Except this one time, I did it at the exact time I saw this guy watching a movie with a girl on her couch. Bad move, but I was past the point of no return. Needless to say, I got the fuck out of there. Sorry guys, if you even read this, but it was too much fun to pass up.

And if any of the people (especially the five girls from that club in Tel Aviv) I met on birthright ever recognize me around campus, feel free to say hello. I probably won’t remember who you were, but who cares? And even if I do, I’ll just reintroduce myself to you anyway.

Morris Rieger is a junior economics and cinema major