Reflecting on the Course

Wednesday, June-23-10

Wow. What an experience. I just arrived back to Tel Aviv after what has been an amazing last 10 or so days. We stayed at the Beit Yehuda Hotel near Malcha about a 45NIS taxi ride to downtown. Whoever designed this place was brilliant. It as a pool, “library”, Beit Knesset, Heder Ochel, multiple classrooms, and bedrooms that convert to hold more people (wall bunk beds), attracting many groups to stay for a few nights or even a month. Our course began by being divided into 5 classes of 20 or so people each. Each class had their own Madrichim (instructors/counsellors) and even on Day 1 we went straight to work. The next few days were pretty similar, schedule wise. Class from 8:30am-12:00pm, lunch 12-1pm, class 1-6pm, dinner 6-7pm, and more class 7-8:30/9pm. It was a lot of class especially after having been on vacation for the previous two weeks, but it was sweet. The Madrichim were so good. They truly love מד''א (Mda) and made the hours enjoyable. At the end of each day all the classes would meet outside on the balcony and stand in the shape of a “Chet-ח”. We would listen to any announcements and finish with the signing of Hatikvah-Israel’s National Anthem. For me, this was one of my favourite moments of the day. It’s not often that the chance comes to sing Hatikvah in the heart of Jerusalem, surrounded by about 100 friends, and I appreciated it every night. The evenings were also our time off, time to study and also our time to meet people. Not only did I begin to meet the people from the other classes, but also the other trips staying at the hotel. I met people from England, France, and Australia who were on 5-10month trips and also some people from the US who were on their birthright trip. Just listening to all their Israel experiences over there time here was awesome. Even if we may never see each other again. Mid week we had our midterm. Lots of us stayed up together and studied which was really nice. There was something about knowing that even if what I was studying didn’t end up on the exam the next day I would still need to know it on the ambulance, made the studying actually enjoyable. Shabbas was the next day and we finally got some well deserved time off. Thursday night we were able to go explore downtown Jerusalem if we wished and Friday morning we were encouraged to go see what Israel is like on a Shabbass morning. The Madrichim organised Kabbalat Shabbat, with optional services, an Oneg Shabbat, and a hike/walk to a spring the next day. Sunday was our last day of learning at it was packed with information followed by a night of studying for our final the next day. After Monday’s final came the practical on Tuesday and then we were done. Hard to believe that we were actually now certified to be on the ambulances. Tuesday night we had a closing meeting and then we head out to the buses which we waiting to take us to a club they had closed for us. It was a fantastic night. Wednesday morning, exhausted, we all packed up and boarded buses (we our new uniform shirts in hand) to different parts of the country to begin volunteering. It’s going to be weird not being surrounded by everyone. A part of me wishes that we could stay there and all come back from our shifts and be together and the other part is just well to exhausted to think. It’s nap time.