On Tuesday, we got the amazing
experience to go to school in another country. The 15 of us split up into three
different groups to head to three different schools. I had the opportunity to
attend a school with a very welcoming community- and as a small bonus, many of
the students had a rich English speaking background! I, along with my Diller
counterparts, met the principal and vice principal and many teachers who were
amazed to see Chicagoans in their school. We even attended a Biology class. I
have to admit, Biology was not my favorite subject in school, but I thought it
was truly amazing to watch a lesson on Biology in a different language other
than my own, but still have an idea of what was going on and what was being
said.
The bus picked us up from
the various high schools and took us to Moshav Lachish where we had the chance
to spend several hours with fifth and sixth graders. The Americans helped
enrich their English speaking by playing various games such as memory and
putting together puzzles. In return, the Israeli children taught us some basic
Hebrew. We even stayed at the school during their recess time. The Americans
and the dozens of children played a large game of dodge ball – which is
different than the version we play back home. Here, they use a volleyball and
they don’t throw it, they smack and chuck it at each other’s legs and faces.
The Chicago cohort now had an idea on how the Israelis in cohort 1 could be so
physical.
After spending time with the
kids at the elementary school, we took our bus and traveled to the middle of the Negev, on
a large kibbutz in Sde Boker, a place known for the resting place of Ben
Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel. Here, we started the Diller North American Kennes, the
three-day, two-night journey with the teens from cohorts spanning across
North America.
We split off into the color
groups from the previous week and slowly moved into strong, meaningful
conversations from light, fun-filled ice-breakers. Our goal in these groups was
to create a strong bond and a positive, energetic community away from our home
Chicago group. Although there is no wifi in the middle of the desert, I
wouldn’t want to spend a wifi-less day with anyone else other than my own Chicago
group. Throughout our time in Israel, we have become so much closer then what
was ever imaginable and I am eternally grateful.
By: Robby Cohn
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