Hola parents!!
Sorry we didn’t get a chance to write yesterday. It was our last night in the village so we tried to spend as much time as we could with our kids. While the kids were at school we devoted our day to understanding and learning about the Bedouins living in Israel. Bedouins are Muslim nomads living in the north and south of Isreal and are considered a minority. We had the opportunity to go to a Bedouin school and talk to 20 kids and learn a little bit about their life here. Religion seemed to be the most valuable aspect in their lives and they couldn’t imagine disobeying their customs and traditions. It was really interesting to see how meaningful religion is to kids our own age.
After the school we went on a short hike and bonded over our numerous allergies. We then ventured off to a Bedouin tent to learn more about their history and eat their delicious food. Once our stomachs were full of hummus, pita, eggs, mujadra, Israeli salad, and the bet falafel yet, we headed back to the village.
Saying goodbye to our families was the moment we’ve all been dreading since the beginning of the trip. The bonds we’ve created and strengthened within the past week are ones we’ll never forget. With the money we raised we were able to fulfill three dreams for three young girls in the village; $500 for art classes, $1,000 for gymnastic lessons and $3,500 for braces. Telling each of them that we could fulfill their dreams gave them a purpose and made us think twice about how fortunate we are. Each of our families threw us a little party and gave us gifts to thank us, but little did they know that they already gave us the gift of a second family. They welcomed us into their homes and gave us a perspective that we will always take with us throughout our lives.
Parents, we can’t thank you enough for being the most supportive and caring people in our lives and for sending us on this eye-opening trip.
Best, Kate