This week was like the proverbial calm before the ‘Passover Break’ storm! Just like Spring Break, we had a 10-day break ahead of us. So, what did we do? Well, it was pretty chill mix of classes, tanning, and going to the gym. We had a really cool Tiyul to an Ethiopian Village. Talk about unique! We got to eat some authentic Ethiopian cuisine with our hands which reminded me of when I did this with my family in Fiji where we visited a local tribe in the jungle, soaked in the sights of their vibrant village life, and learned all about their journey and historical ties to Israel. Plus, it was scorching hot, like, seriously, I think it was the hottest day ever!

Later, we got our hands dirty making homemade matzah for Passover. Did you know there’s a whole process to make it kosher? Yeah, it’s a bit of a mission, but totally worth it.

The rest of the week was all about getting ready for Passover and going to our usual classes. We wrapped the week up with an on-campus Shabbat, which was awesome since we hardly ever get those. It was bittersweet though, ’cause it felt like we were saying goodbye for good, even though we’re just going on break. Some of my friends went to meet family in Israel, Europe or went back the States. But hey, it was a chance to bond with my ride-or-die crew before heading out.

Now, let me tell you about my journey back home to Park City. It was supposed to start bright and early at 6 am, but guess who overslept? Yup, me! Cue my parents freaking out and a ton of missed calls from my friend. Total chaos, but I finally got my act together, threw on some clothes, and hightailed it to the airport by 7:45.

Thankfully, the lines weren’t too crazy, and I breezed through security and check-in. Israeli security is very intense. The questioning was a quagmire of logic that if I don’t follow seamlessly one can be flagged! I didn’t mind as I new that this was to protect everyone. Flying solo was nerve-wracking at first, especially with the language barrier, but I kinda loved the freedom it gave me. I grabbed some grub, did a bit of shopping, and then boarded my flight to New York. Eleven hours later (thanks, El-Al!), I landed in the Big Apple. Navigating the airport was a breeze, and after grabbing my bags, clearing security, and taking a train to a new terminal, I had a good five-hour layover to kill. So, I did what any bored traveler would do – shopped, ate, and wandered around.

But then, the dreaded flight delay hit. My patience was wearing thin after a long day of travel, but I finally boarded my flight to Salt Lake City at 10:30 pm. I learned something, being under 18, if the last flight is cancelled, I wouldn’t be given a hotel voucher but would rather be forced to sit in a section at the airport all night with a guardian until the next flight out at around 8 am. Note, if you can, don’t book the last flight if you are under 18. Touching down at 1:30 am, I was beyond relieved to see my parents and head home. It felt surreal to be back in my own bed, away from the hustle and bustle of campus life, but really nice to finally have my own bathroom again.

Anyway, that’s a wrap for now! Stay Tuned!

Xoxo,