Where do I start...?
What with everything that's being going on, the last 2 weeks, it would be impossible to choose just one story to start with....the best I can offer is a concise version of what I've done since I took off from Pearson Airport all those many "months" ago...
Before Israel was even really a reality, I was waking up December 25th to a house full of delicious smells, presents to wrap and a suitcase to pack. I knew it was important that I get my stuff together but everything I saw, heard or smelt came as an unwanted distraction. It wasn't until well after Christmas dinner and very late into the night that I finally opened my suitcase and began to organize. Nothing is harder, however, than choosing what's essential and what's not so if you look at what I brought, you'll realize I came as minimally prepared, for this trip, as possible. One small "carry on luggage" size suitcase to my 10 days worth of stuff. Totally worth it.
Upon actually packing and squeezing in a few hours of sleep, I woke up the morning of Dec 26th absolutely and finally sure of one thing: Israel is real. I had no clue what was waiting for me yet, after all those months of preparation, I was finally going to Israel!
The truth is, after this part of the story my entire Taglit-Birthright experience jumbles into one giant awesome moment in time. Nothing and everything stands out to me as the "greatest" moment of the trip; every second of every day was a new experience and nothing was a waste of mine, or anyone's, time. There are, of course, points on this trip that I would have loved to experience for longer and others that could have been shorter but I truly loved every day as much as the next.
My only complaint, while we're talking about the experience [as a whole], is that there's not much emphasis on the cultural, day-to-day aspects of Israeli life. We talk politics and religion but don't touch on language or daily expectations. As a Canadian who found the historical, physical and communal aspects of Israel so appealing I feel as though it is the job of Taglit-Birthright to share some knowledge of what it takes to
live here. So far, on my extension, I've gotten a feel for what's acceptable and what's not but who am I to know? But this is really my only complaint about the experience.
As for those individual moments on the Taglit-Birthright-Tel Aviv Extension timeline, I will name only a few.
1. At the Kibbutz, on the first night (or was it second?) absolutely losing it with Erin. And so began the first of ten extremely outrageous days/nights.
2. Finding those hammocks, in Tzfat, with Adam and talking about a lot of really interesting things. And so began the cutest friendship of all!
3. Hiking the Golan Heights and laughing the whole way up and down.
4. Meeting the soldiers. Enough said.
5. Sharing in some of the most life changing conversations ever (I'm talking about you, New Year's Eve!).
6. Raptoring absolutely everywhere with Kelsey and creating the 10 Commandments of Our Religion.
7. New Year's Eve, itself, because everything worked out so beautifully.
8. The pinpoint in time when I knew, for real, that fate exists.
9. Bissli in Jerusalem.
and
10. Sleeping on the streets in front of the Azrieli Centre with nothing but a vague concept of what 2 weeks longer in Israel is capable of.
The examples I've just given are only a taste of what I've done and expect to do and I can't wait for the next pinpoint moment when I'll be reminded, again, how lucky I am to be alive.
If I wasn't so OCD about lists (you know what I'm talking about 353) I would make an 11th point. Actually, I'm going to make it even though it takes a lot out of me to see a list end in an odd number...
11. Laughter (and I apologize for the cli
ché) is the greatest medicine. Or gift. Use it whenever, wherever and however. Laughter is impossible to force because everything is funny. Of course there are times to laugh and there are times to remain quiet but never deny yourself laughter. If I've learned anything here it's that people are great! Everyone is capable of being hilariously funny or unbelievably wise and I could not have chosen a better way to spend my winter holidays!
I truly appreciate everything that happened to me these last 2 weeks. Somehow, everyone made their mark and I'll be forever indebted to them for the possibilities they've created. And what's so beautiful about it all is how unconscious this change has been. From one morning to the next I understood my position in this world and I owe it a million times to my beloved Taglit-ers.
Here we all are!
xoxo
