Entry #4
March 17, 2019
This is more of an appreciation letter for my friends and family than anything else.
It was invaluable having my mom here to visit me. In addition to bringing an entire suitcase filled with food, toiletries, presents, and miscellaneous items, seeing my mom really reminded me of home and how lucky I am to be around such supportive and selfless people who I’m really beginning to miss now.
The last week, for those of you who are unfamiliar, was the Parents’ Pilgrimage, a 10-day period where parents and other family members come and visit us. It’s the one time throughout the program when students generally see their families and friends. I chose to really take advantage of this time to remember what life is like back home and I’m glad I did. I guess I never really realized that I missed home and all the people back in Palo Alto, because it was really eye-opening for me when I realized how amazing it was to be with my mom and how hard it was for me when she left. Truly, I feel like some central part of me has been slowly dissipating since I got here, dissipating so slowly I never noticed its loss, until I was able to be with my family and that part of me was fully renewed. While I can and frequently do talk to my friends and family at home, it was so incredible to see my mom and get even a few days to catch up with her - and get a king size bed all to myself.
While it’s been an active week, it hasn’t been incredibly eventful. I’m finally beginning to get over a wicked cough, one that (further) deprived me of sleep for weeks and sent my friend to three different doctors with no definite diagnosis. I feel like I’ve been able to connect better with the people here, since I tend to take a while to really find my friends whenever I go to a new place. I said goodbye to my sister, Moriah, who’s putting her education at Berkeley on hold and doing an incredibly brave thing by dedicating her next two years to serve in the Israeli Defense Force. With recent conflicts (in the last week, Gaza launched multiple rockets into Tel Aviv and the IDF responded with a bombing on a hundred targets), I know she’s stressed, but I know she’s doing the right thing and I’m so happy she’s doing something she recognizes as inherently good. I’ve traveled to Ben Yehuda street with my mom, bought a bunch of groceries, and snacked on street food. And I’ve had some fairly insightful discussions with my mom about life at Gunn and if I plan to return there after this semester ends.
A quick summary: looking to the weeks ahead, I’m leaving for Poland fairly soon. I expect it to be a journey that potentially changes me as a person; though the Holocaust has interested me as a history topic, I haven’t been exposed to it as much as I think is necessary. A trip to Poland, where I can witness these tragedies firsthand, will really help me get a better understanding of what my ancestors gave their lives for and will help me understand myself and my identity better. I believe I’m leaving on the 30th, so a heads up that I won’t have reliable service at that time.
As a last note, thank you to all my friends and family who have been there to listen to me when I need to talk. There have been times when I really couldn’t have done it without you guys.