Today marks two weeks since I arrived on my plane in the United States. As happy as I am to be home, I still feel like part of me is missing. I feel as if I am being deprived of something. The best analogy I can think of is how it feels on days I forget to wear a watch (I know it sounds silly, but give me a chance). I have loved watches and been collecting them for years. Since seventh grade, I've worn a watch nearly every day. Every now and then, however rarely, I am rushed in the morning and forget to put it on. It doesn't take long for me to look at my bare wrist and immediately become disconcerted. It's just plain weird. For the rest of the day I keep looking at my wrist, never remembering the watch is not there. I feel like I am not my usual self, I feel like a part of my normal wardrobe is missing. After so many years, wearing a watch has become part of who I am. And after two months in Israel, Israel has become a part of me too.
For the past two weeks I have felt perturbed. I wakeup in the morning and before I even get dressed, I remember there's no need to wear as little clothing as possible. The thought of walking outside in long sleeves no longer alarms me. Heck, before I even leave my room Israel comes up a dozen times at least.
"No Zach, you don't need to bring a water bottle with you."
"I know you're tired, but you can't go wake up with an Iced Aroma."
"Nope, I can't have shawarma for lunch, I'll need to find something else."
I've found that i really can't escape Israel. Moreover, I've found that I really don't want to. During my last week in Israel, we all talked about how much fun we all had, but many of us said we were ready to come home, we had been in Israel long enough. I sort of felt the same way too, I had missed my friends and family, and I knew I would only be with them for a short amount of time. After being away from Israel for two weeks, I realize that I was not at all "ready" to come home. There was so much more I had to do. There were places I never visited, tons of Israelis to meet, and so many experiences that would now be missed.
It is quite clear that I miss Israel, and it's only been two weeks. I haven't gone a single day without thinking about and talking about Israel. This past week I was at the David Project conference in Boston, an Israel advocacy organization on U.S. campuses. I spent four days learning about Israel, talking about Israel, and learning with and from Israeli's. In two days, I leave for California to go to a StandWithUs conference, another Israel advocacy organization. That will be another four days of nonstop Israel talk. I realize that there is a void in me since I left Israel, and incorporating Israel in my life at home is the only way I have been able to fill that hole.
There are no words in the entire english language to depict the effect the trip had on me and how great it really was. The entire trip was amazing, beautiful, eye-opening, incredible, and everything else you could imagine (and couldn't imagine) I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Career Israel, the Pittsburgh Federation, and our madricha Tess. From start to finish, the trip was organized, unique, and fun.
I really did learn a lot this summer, so i will highlight some lessons in particular here. I had the privilege of being a social media fellow for our group! Part of that position including running this blog, and another aspect of it included social media training sessions. I learned a lot about social media from our training sessions, and from running this blog. This position inspired me to really write about and document my trip in a way I otherwise would not have done. I have found that I actually really enjoyed doing it, and I think blogging is something I will continue to do in the future.
One last major area of learning was photography. I worked in a photography studio and for the Jerusalem Post this summer. I did learn many technical things on my trip, such as how to better use off camera directional lighting and new editing techniques in Photoshop and Lightroom, but I also learned a plethora of things about myself and my photography as well. I developed a skill and style for street photography that I never had before. Even more-so, I developed a love for street photography, a style of photography I had never really explored prior to this trip. I learned more about how to interact with a subject in photography. I figure if I can now direct a subject that speaks Hebrew and minimal English, I am a lot better off when it comes to directing subjects in my own country!
After dozens of answers to "How was your trip?" and the time spent writing this blog post, the only proper word I can think of to recount this experience was that it was perfect. All of the amazing people that I met were perfect. All of the mean Israelis that yelled at me were perfect. The place I lived was perfect. Even having half the things in my apartment break was perfect. Walking around Tel Aviv and Eilat was perfect. On the same note, getting lost and frustrated in Tel Aviv was just as perfect. Watching the sunset and celebrating Shabbos every week on the beach was perfect.
The two months I spent in Israel were truly perfect. I would not have changed a single thing. This trip was unforgettable in the most impressive way. Israel will forever be in my heart, and I will definitely be back in Israel. Israel, I love you, you gave me the best summer of my life, and I cannot wait to give back to you!
