The End is in Sight

The end of the semester is quickly approaching with only three days left. The last final was today, we have our faculty v. student soccer game and final party tomorrow, and we pack up on Thursday. Not surprisingly, I'm feeling a little bit anxious and "pre-nostalgic" (as Elinor so eloquently put it). I am more than ready to leave in some ways, but in others, I am really sad to be going. The people are the best part of this program. I've made some really great relationships and had the privilege of getting to know some very special and interesting people. We've also had some really good times here despite the frustrations and difficulties.

I am responsible for putting together the yearbook. Don't ask me why I agreed to do it. Let's just say it was in a moment of mental lapse that I decided it would be fun. Not that I'm not enjoying it, but as with everything else here, it's hectic and last minute. Getting others to work on portions of the yearbook was like pulling teeth. In fairness, though, some have been really great about contributing. Anyway, the point is that I have been looking through hundreds of pictures and thinking about what should be documented. It has helped me remember how much fun I actually have had here. With finals, a war, and figuring out what comes next (a saga in itself), it has become easy to focus on the frustrating, dysfunctional parts of the program.

But what about our impromtu parties? Hikes in the mountains? Nargila and araq? The tiul? We did a lot at the beginning of the year that seemed to trail off as winter (if you can call it that) set in and as academics began to control our lives. I haven't done nearly as much hiking recently, but I have been baking a lot with Elana, which has been amazing. We've also been doing Saturday morning breakfast club, mmm french toast.

Looking back has also made me think about how my relationships with people have developed. I came here with certain expectations and goals about gaining new perspective and understanding about the conflict and how it affects the lives of Israelis and Palestinians. There is definitely a component of that at the Machon, but in some ways it isn't the focus, and I've realized that it shouldn't be. One of the Israelis articulated it well for me when she said that it's really nice for her just to be friends with Palestinians, to not have to talk about the conflict all the time. We're all people, we can connect in other ways. She's right, and it made me relax a bit about the fact that it isn't always the focus here. But I also realized during the war that talking about it is also important. Build the foundation - the friendship and trust - and then you can talk about the hard stuff with more empathy and without demonizing the other. Because how can you demonize your friends?

This wasn't supposed to turn into a philsophical post, I've just been thinking a lot about the fact that I have had some amazing experiences these past few months, and they are definitely something I will cherish. I'll even cherish the very frustrating and infuriating moments - also memorialized in Yalla - that have turned into some great inside jokes. Too bad I won't be with the people who will understand them soon...