My trip continues…
I slept on and off the plane ride and towards the end my legs were majorly cramping. I kept walking laps around the plane. I even did stretches and wall squats at the back of the plane. In the morning, the 10 year old boy sitting in my row started talking to me and seemed really bored. We played would you rather, which is quite interesting when he is so much younger than me haha. Then he wanted to play truth or dare and then he started to show me random tricks. I have to admit he was probably the coolest and most entertaining person that I’ve sat next to on a plane. I helped him enjoy the long ride and he helped me to do the same.
The reality of the struggle to get back to my hometown is starting to come back and I don’t like it. I at least know how amazing Israel is and how it opened my eyes to things and lifestyles I really want. After we landed, the guy in front of me started talking to me. (Yep the cute one!) It was a pleasant surprise and a nice conversation. I saw my friend from my group who had been on the plane with me. We went our separate ways and then once again I was sitting by myself in the wee hours of the morning in the middle of a new airport: EWR (Newark).
The morning turned out really well. My friend from my Germany trip lives in Newark and so she picked me up and we went to breakfast. It was incredible to see her again and catch up on everything!! There is definitely something special about our Germany trip and how close we got and how we understand each other. She showed me around her town which is so cute and reminds of something out of movies. Its so colonial looking and looks vastly different from my hometown. She dropped me back off at the airport and I still had many hours to wait for my flight. Talked with my mom on the phone which was fun and I missed all our conversations. Finally I decided to check in.
After making my way through the crazy check-in which stressed me out and actually made me more fearful than I had felt going through security in other countries. Funny how “safe” America is supposed to be and make you feel and yet I have found myself feeling more safe in foreign countries. Maybe its because I’m not from there so I don’t know the real dangers…or maybe they just make you feel safer…Not sure.
When I ordered my chicken sandwich at the restaurant in the terminal it brought me back to reality when I had to request no cheese or bacon to be included in that. It made me sad to know it wasn’t kosher. I kept hearing “Wake Me Up” and I wanted to cry every time I heard it. I kept reminding myself what my bus buddy in Israel said, “don’t cry because its over, smile because it happened”. Its a good mentality.
Then I chilled, bought some snacks and talked to my friend and then my parents before hoping on the next plane. The sun was nearly set when I boarded the plane. I was exhausted and I really didn’t want to sit through another plane ride but it was kind of like you already took me out of Israel so just get me to my house. The lady who scanned my ticket to get on was like, “wow you’ve been here all day”. NO joke!
So grateful for the free trip to Israel. The friendships formed and the beautiful, sweet challenges along the way that make wonderful memories.
Day to Embrace Change 