Something I love about NFTY in Israel is the freedom. I’m able to experience the culture of Israel like I’m here on my own, yet still feel part of the family of my group. Two days ago we were in Jaffa, and were allowed to explore part of the city with our friends. We walked around, experiencing everything in the city.

On Sunday, July 1, we explored Warsaw’s Jewish community. We visited the wall of the Warsaw Ghetto, walked along the Route of Heroism, and paid our respects at the Jewish cemetery. But I also ate a chocolate cake, blew out a pink candle, and carried around a unicorn-shaped balloon. We observed death, but we also celebrated life.

After the last 3 days of enduring the extreme living conditions of the Negev, our last morning in the desert provided a really fun and exciting twist on the previous hiking experiences. Twenty minutes or so after setting out for the final morning hike, the group stopped at an area that we previously hadn’t seen during our hikes – sand dunes.

When I was told that I need to pack a bag, fill up my camelbak, and put on my hiking shoes because I was going to spend the next 3 nights in the desert I was really scared. The desert experience is asking a lot out of a 16 year old – or at least it seemed that way before we started. However, the simple fact is that the desert has been full of great bus 9 moments.

It started with an extra early wake-up and breakfast at our hotel in Krakow, Poland. Some two hundred and fifty sleepy NFTYites, their staff and those of us who were afforded the privilege of accompanying them on their trip through Eastern Europe tried to shake the sleep from our eyes. We boarded buses and began the trek to the Polish town of Oswiecim, some 40 miles away.

As I write these words, I am presented with the breathtaking Israeli landscape. In less than a day, I have been able to discover a gorgeous variety of plants, architecture, and topography.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Galilee Medical Center. I knew that it has been taking in injured Syrians for that last couple of years, but I didn’t know the extent of their work nor anything about the hospital.

I chose to come to Israel with Sci-Tech for a variety of reasons. My friends are a big part of why I wanted to go with Sci-Tech. They are the main reason that my camp experience was so amazing!