We are three weeks into my adventures in Israel. I don’t know how to encapsulate the feeling of being here. It seems that we have already been here for 20 billion years, but at the same time it feels like we have only been here for a day. My bonds with everyone are growing stronger day by day and I have made a conscious effort to talk to everyone. My classes are finally beginning to settle down as well. I seem to understand what the teachers expectations are and their styles of teaching vs my teachers back home. I’m beginning to miss my family and friends a lot as well. It’s not that I have been gone for so long, but more the idea that there is so much longer until I get to see them again. That’s okay though the people here are becoming my second family. Even though we are supposed to have more free time here at Muss it seems like the days bleed together into one giant adventure.

This week on Thursday morning we woke up at 4 am and boarded the bus then drove three hours to arrive in the middle of the desert near Eilat. We then hiked through the middle of the desert for six hours, all the way up to the top of the mountain ranges.  Mt. Yehoram couldn’t have provided us with better weather. It wasn’t too hot or too cold, just right. We started the hike through a dried up river bed. The color of the sand stone was so perfect that it could have been on the cover of a National Geographic magazine. We also painted our faces with the clay from the ground. We then ate lunch and I became the lookout person for everyone who had to nature pee.

Lunch ended and we kept  walking through the river bed where we came across a piece of the missile shot by the IDF. The missile was used to block a Hamas missile shot towards Eilat. Suddenly were no longer in a river bed, and our casual hike had become a climb. They always say the hikes are going to be worth it, and let me tell you the view on the top of the mountain was beautiful. We stood between two mountain ranges thousands of years apart. You could see all of the rift valley, Jordan, and Egypt as well. It was the most satisfying hike yet. Then we went even higher up until we were at the summit. On the top of the mountain we all spread out and meditated to experience the true silence nature provides. Supposedly god can only be found in the true silence. The experience was truly powerful, it really let the idea that i’m in Israel sink into my mind. After our brief meditations we all stood in a circle and listened to the song “The sound of silence” by Simon and Garfunkel. After this, we hiked down the mountain and had dinner on the streets on the boardwalk of Eilat. 14 hours later when our day was complete we got to the kibbutz where we would spend the next two nights.

Fast forward to the next day which we started off with another hike. At the top of the mountain we got to overlook the gulf of Eilat. We also saw Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. We then had a class discussion about what each person brought with them to Israel to share with the group. I said I would bring an open mind and listening ear. After our brief discussion we headed down the mountain to go snorkeling. Even though the amount of time in the water was short, the sight of the reefs was absolutely breathtaking. We then headed back to the board walk where Honey and I went to the mall to find her a new pair of leggings since she had lost hers. Then we headed back to the kibbutz for Friday night services which I enjoyed very much. I love to sing and the community was very accepting and I recognized the melodies even though I couldn’t follow along in the siddurim. We then had a silent activity which wasn’t very silent, but it was still very enjoyable.  Then after yet another long day, we went to bed. Then we woke up and had our last day on the kibbutz where we were given a tour and told how the community there worked. Then we had a very relaxed Shabbat and sat in the sun and caught up with everyone. Then after the long three days we was back to school.