I cannot believe the trip is over, that I am no longer in Budapest but rather back in America. As I am writing this, I am wondering how I will include all the things I learned in Budapest into my everyday life. From the Hungarian phrases I learned from my friends, and how to be outgoing, to appreciating my Judaism. I am so thankful I had the opportunity of being included on this trip and be able to make the memories I now cherish. It is now Wednesday, I have now been in America for three days. I have spent a lot of time looking through the pictures I have taken and can’t help but smile. I smile at the new friendships I have made and the memories I will always treasure.
The pictures contain so many emotions that are hard to put into words. While looking at them I feel happy for all the new friendships and memories, but I also feel sad, sad that this amazing experience is over and that I will not see many of my friends again because they are graduating but again happy because in November many of my new friends will be coming to Beth Tfiloh. The first night back from Budapest I remember crying in my room because I knew it would be a long wait before I would be seeing my friends again. The people who taught me to appreciate my Judaism instead of taking it for granted.
It is hard to express all the things I loved about the trip. I loved that we were able to go to another country and so easily connect to the people there through our shared love of Judaism. I loved waking up every morning and going to daven with the Hungarians. I loved how everyone was so excepting of me and allowed me to be myself without worrying about judgment. I could continue this list for many pages, just listing all the things I loved about this trip. But the most important thing I think is the bonding we all went through. How we all became friends and what I would even call a family through our shared love of Judaism. While there I was taught to value my Judaism while also teaching them how to embrace it.~Lily
