It was some of the most fun I've ever had; the students weren't shy at all and grabbed our hands to dance with them in circles and teach us their dance moves.
It was some of the most fun I've ever had; the students weren't shy at all and grabbed our hands to dance with them in circles and teach us their dance moves.
We were lucky enough to have a special guest come talk to us after the tour was completed: our security guard's grandmother, Drora Schlacter. We sat in silence as we listened intently to her survival story of the Holocaust. She told us of how she had traveled to a few different cities and her encounters until she eventually ended up in the United States. The entire experience was extremely moving.
We were able to listen to a pair of local musicians who play instruments that date back to the earliest times recorded in the era. The three instruments resembled a guitar, a piano, and a UFO-shaped steel drum. They played a beautiful set of traditional and modern music.
After learning from Bar (our Israeli tour guide) the history behind Rabin and his assassination, we were broken into groups to walk through the square, ask questions to Israelis about how they felt about the assassination and what it meant for the state of Israel. For me, this was an eye opening activity that was really beneficial to speak to Israelis in Tel Aviv to learn how they actually felt about how the assassination effected their lives and the future of Israel as a whole. Getting first handed accounts of how the people of Israel felt during this difficult time.
We all spoke about our favorite parts of the trip and what we are taking away from the trip. We are sad to go back home tomorrow, but what we experienced together will forever stay with us. It will be extremely difficult to say goodbye to our Israeli friends, but our friendships willl last a lifetime.