Well, it’s the final week before everyone heads off.  I can’t even begin to believe that the program is about to end, which is most likely going to leave me in shambles.  It’s funny seeing what I wrote on in my earlier blog regarding my goals I wanted to achieve while on the program. 

Considering me making friends with my madrichim and having a solid relationship with them, I couldn’t have imagined such a relationship.  The amount of things that I confessed about with the madrichim was immeasurable.  They were better than a counselor because of them being closer to us with age but just old enough to have substantially more experience than us to provide accurate responses to our needs and problems.  I talked with the madrichim about subjects that I don’t even talk about to some of my closest friends.  It’s sad to think how they all live in Israel, but of course, they are just one phone call away.  I am forever grateful of the madrichim and their dedication to us. 

It was funny how I mentioned in my goal setting blog that I didn’t know many of the Jewish holidays and their meanings.  I can’t believe that my younger self didn’t really know the meaning behind Yom Kippur nor truly certain of the amount of days of which you had to fast.  Looking back on how I learned about Yom Kippur and going to Jerusalem and celebrating it there truly was a special experience and an amazing way to learn.  I also didn’t really know what was Simchat Torah until I came to Israel.  When we went to the Yemenite synagogue and danced around the Torah, it was truly special.  It also solidified the relationship with the guys on the program more.  Just going back and looking at all of the activities we did to celebrate and learn about some of the Jewish holidays is incredible.

I also wrote about going into Hod Hasharon and trying out all of the different restaurants and food that the place had to offer.  The smoothie place, Moshiko’s, is spot on with it’s fresh smoothies.  The falafel place that I mentioned has amazing falafel, but I’ve still tasted better.  Going back and reliving all of these moments in Hod Hasharon is amazing.  The schnitzel place I mentioned in my earlier blog was actually a favorite spot for me and my friends to go after a long day of classes.  Since we were American and stuck quite out in Israeli society, it was fairly easy to tell that we were students of AMHSI.  The employees knowing that we were, gave us free food and good deals with schnitzel sandwiches encouraging us to come back.  All I have to say is that we did. 

Overall, looking at myself from before this program, I am quite shocked at how different I have become and the contrast of my character through the experiences I have gone through.