Alex, Lincoln, Rinnie
Day 1 | 2022 Children’s Village Teen Volunteer Program
Today, we woke up relatively late, which was great for resetting jet lag. We made our own breakfasts out of a variety of ingredients in the kitchen, many of them Israeli products we had not seen before. Then we went to the plaza to set up the stalls and decorations for Purim. While some of us were blowing leaves, the rest of us put up decorations. After, we went to the cafeteria to have a great lunch consisting of schnitzel, rice, and mint cucumber salad.
After lunch, we met our mishpactonim (foster families) and hung out with them for a couple of hours. Despite the language barrier, we were able to have lively conversations. It was most interesting to see how similar our lives are despite various circumstances which differentiate us. For example, in Rinnie’s house, she and her mother discussed and compared NCIS and Criminal Minds. In Alex’s house, they discussed how excited they were for Purim dressing-up. In Lincoln’s experience, he met someone who is also very interested in psychology.
Following this, we went back to our house, dressed up in our costumes, and headed back to the plaza to celebrate Purim. Purim is a Jewish holiday that celebrates a time when the persecution of Jews finally ended in Shushan. Children dress up in elaborate costumes to disguise themselves, just like Queen Esther had to keep her Jewish identity a secret. At the time, King Achashverosh’s principal minister Haman, using the King’s decree, had ordered the persecution and death of all of the Jews in the land of Shushan (because they refused to bow down to him). Esther risked her life, revealing herself as a Jew and saved her people.
We danced, ate, and participated in fun activities, including the costume contest, which we judged! We danced with the children to many different songs, and were most excited when the DJ played “Cotton Eyed Joe.” We finished the night by hanging out with some of the village children and played basketball and soccer with them. All in all, a great first day!!
Also Remmie (thanks for your help with the Purim Story)