So another week has passed here in the Holy Land. But this one was much different because my group and I got to travel all around the southern portion of Israel. And needless to say, it was incredible.
Masada was the first up to bat. It was simply crazy. The view was amazing and not to mention I got a really cool profile picture out of the climb as well. After the hike we got to walk around the top of the mountain and it was very interesting how much of an architectural feat the base that Herod built actually was. In addition, my classmates and I learned about the significance Masada plays in an IDF soldier's life. There was a tradition where graduating soldiers were taken to Masada as part of the process to becoming an actual soldier. We learned how the tradition included a famous quote about how we as a people will not fall like Masada had a long time ago. It had a lot of importance to what was coming up later in the week.
After that we got to go rappelling and that was just awesome -- not much else to say about that.
Then we went into Gadna. Gadna taught me a lot about one person's individual potential versus the potential of an entire group. While I was chosen as one of the leaders of the separate teams, I had to rely on my team for their support so we could accomplish any task given to us. For example, if someone is more athletic than someone else, they cannot just do their part and wait for everyone else to finish. In order to be truly efficient the more athletic teammate has to help motivate the rest of their group so the task can be completed in a more effective fashion. In addition to learning this, I became much more interested in programs like Maravah and also even possibly making Aliyah and joining the IDF. I do not really know why, but I think it is something along the lines that I discovered how much a devoted country Israel really is, and I want to be a part of that (that probably makes no sense but whatever it did in my head).
We finished the trip off with a really relaxing visit to Eilat. The beach was beautiful and we got to go snorkeling (my first time) which was also very cool.
In the end, the trip was amazing and easily my most favorite week of EIE yet.
*BONUS ALERT* I ALSO DISCOVERED THE NEW KID CUDI ALBUM AND IT IS AMAZING.
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