There's plenty I can write about, from
the incredible teacher I learned from to the conversation groups and
activities that contributed to our language skills and the
friendships we made. Instead, I'd like to talk about one night, a
night that summed up my Aliyah and my experience living here in
Israel so far.
When the Ulpan kicked off in the end
of June, there were about fifty participants. Now, with class
officially ending last Thursday, only about thirty of us remain in
Ra'anana. As a special treat, our madrichim (counselors) decided to
take us out of the town for a barbecue in Yafo, a welcomed excursion.
We arrived at an open, hilly field
above a small cliff overlooking the Mediterranean sea. The timing was
perfect, the sun setting just about the time we started to grill the
food. After some time relaxing and playing soccer, I walked a few
feet away from the edge of the cliff and took a few moments to look
around.
Directly in front of me, the sun had
finally set behind the last clouds. As I looked to the right, I could
see the vividly lit buildings of Tel Aviv in the distance. The water
in front of me stretched as far as I could see, the waves crashing
quietly on the rocks far below my feet. As I looked around, the one
thing I felt was content. The beauty of the view all around me was
overwhelming. The entire time, I smiled to myself, feeling more than
ever that this is my home now; this breathtaking land is my
breathtaking land.
After a short while, I was joined by
Chaim and we talked about it for some time. With the strum of the
guitar sounding behind us, the chatter and laughter of thirty others
muffled by the discussion, it was the highest point of my life here
in Israel so far. Those talking and laughing together some distance
behind us had become some of my closest friends. While my brother is
the one member of my biological family here, I knew that I had
already begun putting together the foundations of a different type of
family in Israel. Nothing could make me happier.
As our final days here in Ra'anana
wind down, I can't help but look back on them with the fondest of
memories. The language improvement is not the only thing I'll be
leaving here with. I have developed lasting friendships with many who
will be living all over the country and it will be difficult to say
our temporary goodbyes.
The future has a lot in store for all
of us here in Israel. I know that each one of the friends I've met
will be successful in the army and I look forward to our
relationships long into the future. While we're saying our goodbyes
to friends, the town we've become accustomed to, and the routines that
have become second nature to us, I'm thrilled to be beginning Garin
Tzabar finally this Wednesday. Tonight was the culmination of the
spectacular experience here at the Ulpan. Wednesday will be the
culmination of a patient two year wait for my turn on Garin Tzabar,
joining a Garin on a Kibbutz and getting started with the army
process.
I'm looking forward to joining all of
the members of my Garin, many of whom I haven't seen since our final
seminar. Everything is finally happening!
Lots more to come in the next month!
-Brett
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