To start off, my favorite thing about the classes at Muss are the class sizes. All my general studies classes are under eight kids, Jewish History is my biggest class, but there are only 21 kids in that class. This student to teacher ratio is super helpful with classroom environments, teacher availability, and student-teacher relationships. My only class that takes me off campus is Jewish History, although we do go out at least one time each week, and to many different places, these trips are called Tiyulim. Each Tiyul takes place at a site with historical significance, and we are educated about it there. If anyone is looking for teaching strategies, Tiyulim are my best recommendation, the visuals of being there help or I should say make the information stick in my head and make processing it way easier. Part of what makes the Tiyulim so exceptional is my Jewish History teacher’s style of teaching, he is always enthusiastic about what he is teaching and sometimes shows us visual representations. For example, yesterday we hiked Masada, to demonstrate how the Jews prepared for fighting he made us all partake in some physical exercises in a line and carry a person military style. We have done an assortment of these activities, which force everyone to participate and therefore assists in remembering it. I wish all my classes did these activities; I can assure my memory would be improved. Besides the classes being immensely different than my home classes, the living situation is what I expected, but it takes time to get used to. We get independence here, but I have more rules than when I am at home. For example I can’t go to the bathroom past eleven, I’m still not used to this, but it has improved my time management. The dorms are small, and I have 3 roommates, I have learned to appreciate space in a whole new way. Living with girls my age is so much difference than living with siblings. I have 2 siblings and one exchange student, so I’m used to a full house, but dorms takes it to a new level. This program is amazing for high school students, because the next stop is college and what a better way to prepare than to have hard classes and roommates. I have been at Muss for a month and have already learned so much. I’ve learned how to live with people who challenge my patience, live on 7 hours of sleep a night, manage my own money, cram for Jewish history quizzes, and be independent. I know I will learn and grow a ton while I’m here and I can’t wait!