It is now approximately two weeks past our departure from Budapest. I have had a lot of time to reflect and think about all the wonderful memories and friends I made. I am happy to report that I keep in touch with all my peers from SSG, and everyday we relive the happy, laughable, and exciting moments.
Never once, in a million years would have I ever imagined getting the opportunity to be a part of this incredible experience. The Morim Limmud project was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I can’t even begin with the event to start with. However, I guess I do have to choose one, so I will explain the feelings I felt after seeing my family when I came home and what I miss the most. I am very lucky to have such supportive parents in my life. No matter how unachievable it may seem, my parents always push me to exceed my limits and flourish in new situations. However, my parents and I both knew that it is a big risk to send me to a foreign country by myself and without their guidance. Furthermore, I knew that I would be able to handle all the responsibility while having the time of my life. I cannot express the amount of joy and pride my parents felt as I walked through the airport terminal, with only one and a half hours of sleep in the past two days and a smile from ear to ear on my face. Hugs and kisses were shared, and I could not wait to tell them all about my experience.
Coming back to school on Monday was both exciting, yet challenging. Although I got around ten hours of sleep the previous night, I was still seven hours ahead of what the actual time was in America. When I came into school it was around lunchtime, and to my surprise I was greeted by a swarm of my best friends. Answering questions and sharing memories, I was enjoying myself. However, that all changed as I heard the bell for the next period. Little did I know the rest of the four hours in my school day would be one of the most challenging it had ever been. I could barely keep my eyes half open, let alone stay awake. I had no drive to focus, nor did I have the ability too. However, I got through the day and I am thankful for my friends because, without them, I would have lost my mind and totally forgot about my experience.
Looking back, I learned many things. However, the main lesson I took away from my experience would be that no matter where an individual is in their life, they must always stay true to who they are because that is the only person you want people to meet you as. I volunteered to travel to a totally different country, not knowing the language, people, or even any plans that I would participate in. However, I knew that if I stayed true to my caring, funny, and optimistic personality, I was sure to find some people who I connected with. Although this was definitely the case, I was so astonished to see that all the students from SSG were not only willing to meet everyone and connect but also wanted to connect on an extremely meaningful level and make memories which will last a lifetime. I appreciate all the planning and commitment that the faculty at SSG and Beth Tfiloh did to accomplish this program, and I especially thank SOS International for allowing me to embark on this journey of a lifetime. ~ Ethan
