I am currently sitting in the Newark airport, on a 7+-hour layover awaiting my flight to Madrid tonight. I'd heard pretty lackluster reports about Newark, and a cursory glance out the window as my plane descended more than confirmed this reputation. The interior is quite nice, to be fair, although after getting off the plane I wandered for a frantic while wondering who the wise-guy was who decided on the bathroom allocations. I've settled down now in a coffee shop, and feel it's a good time, perhaps the best time I've ever had, to write an entry.
Israel was unbelievable. The last few weeks couldn't have been better. From the all-night/day covert desert party on Hanukkah, to visiting Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, to spending treasured time with my friends in the Kfar and portraying our savvy party-throwing skills, to renting a car and traveling almost the entire north in a span of about 36 hours, it was a jam-packed month which emphatically placed the cherry on top of the trip of a lifetime. I saw so much of the country, many different kinds of people, from jovial Palestinians in Bethlehem to high-spirited Ethiopians celebrating Hanukkah as they feasted on Jelly Donuts (or Sufganiyot – by far the most manifest representation of Hanukkah in Israel, far surpassing the menorah or latkes), and, of course, my Israeli friends. I can't say enough about how much they affected my trip. Thanks to them I was easily able to break away from the bubble of the study abroad program and explore more of the authentic Israel, as I met their friends and families and lived their lives alongside them. The nature of the program, and the country, made this difficult to do otherwise. Particularly because of the army: everyone around my age is in it, and since Jerusalem is mostly dead on the weekends because of Shabbat, there wasn't so much exposure to these people. All the people studying were older, and, because of the nature of the Israeli education system, took their studies very seriously. So, in addition to just being incredible people and better friends than I could ever hope for, my Israeli companions had a profoundly positive effect on my entire experience.
The last few days particularly were a mixed bag of emotions. On the last night, many people came over to my apartment and we sat around together, just living and laughing, having a great time. My flight left at around 7 AM, so I pulled an all-nighter as I waited to be picked up at 3:30. As I made it onto my plane, many of the tough feelings I'd been going through – sadness, regret, longing – were displaced by an overwhelming joy of having gone through such a legit experience. Looking back, I just killed it. It was a 10 out of 10. I saw so much, so many different perspectives and viewpoints, learned so much about myself, people, the world, life, felt so much. Nothing but great thoughts about Israel. It's such a crazy, unbelievable, altogether unexplainable place. Living there for an extended period of time was an incredible experience which will stay with me for the remainder of my life.
There are just so many aspects coming from all directions of time and space which go into making Israel what surely must be one of the, if not the, craziest place on Earth. I'll arbitrarily start with the history. For nearly 3,000 years, people have been fighting over the land. Ancient walled cities which today house bustling street markets and modern apartments stand as stark reminders of the almost seemingly endless past of the country. The last century, after the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Zionism, with the subsequent independence of the Israeli State, has brought an amazingly fascinating sequence of events. Indeed, the country's significance, which has been prominent, particularly in the monotheistic religious world, has probably only increased in the last 100 years. The world exposure certainly has. A lot of the history is ripe with conflict, which is an unfortunate portrayal of humanity, but there is so much more. Even today, the people represent an incredibly eclectic, rich, varying culture. The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a shame, indeed, but it makes Israel all the more distinct and, in a word, wild. There's been so much strife, but an equal amount of bravery and cunning. When you look at the first ten or so years of Israel's existence, it's almost a miracle that the country still remains. The government, of course, has its faults, but one must commend them for making Israel a world powerhouse, respected on many fronts, notably for more than just their military prowess. Like my time spent in the country, they're so legit. Jerusalem is perhaps the paramount representation of the unending buffet of elements which are in play in the country. There are so many different kinds of people living there: staunchly religious Jews who don't even think Jews are meant to be in Israel before the Messiah comes, Arabs who feel their home has been tarnished, secular Jews who just love to live and just as well might live in any other city in the world, Arabs who appreciate the opportunities they're given which otherwise might not be available in other areas, and more. It's just so... crazy. And I was there. I was right there. The windows from classroom overlooked the West Bank. I went through checkpoints. I saw the conflict manifest itself in everyday life, from entering buildings to riding busses. Yet, and I cannot emphasize this enough, there is so much more than conflict. There's an ever-present love of life. A cultural consciousness of truth and reality which I've learned is not nearly so prevalent in the United States. It's a special, special place, and I cannot say enough of my experience there. So much fun, so much truth, so much value. Lifelong friends. Moments and images which will stick with me forever, and surely many others which will resurface from the depths of my memory at random times throughout my life. 10 out of 10.
My time at home was as good as I could have hoped it to be. A lot of mixed feelings about lifestyle and culture and belonging. Seeing my sisters in New York for the first few days was wonderful, and I'm proud of our relationship and theirs together. Spending time with my parents was great, and I feel my experience thus far has helped me gain a great appreciation of them. Seeing my friends was terrific; there's nothing like great friends who you can see only rarely but pick things right back up where they were left. Spent a fair amount of time in Ann Arbor, a lot of it with mah gurl Gummy (Clare), who I successfully converted to a Tigers fanatic when we lived together during spring term and the summer, and it couldn't have gone better. I'll miss everyone dearly while I'm gone, but I'm excited to meet more people, see more life, and just live live live. 2009 was easily the best year of my life, for many reasons. 2010 has started off terrifically and I can't wait to find out how it will play out. Here I go!
