Sorry for the delay in posts. We promise more to come soon. Here is another update.
Words cannot describe the experience we're having. The past few weeks in Bat Yam have been filled with highs and lows. Though the volunteering got off to a rocky start, once we got used to the camps it started getting easier and easier. One of the first programs conducted at Camp Nitzana was Canada Day activities. Arriving at camp in the morning, we were informed that today was Canada Day, and therefore we would be teaching english words and making pancakes, Canada's 'national food'. My job was the pancake making, in which I was given a hot plate, flour, sugar, eggs, and oil, and sent on my way. What was missing was a recipe... being Canada's national food, of course I knew how to make pancakes! Cue improvisation. (They turned out to be very tasty, for those who were wondering).
This was our introduction to working in Israel, where you have to take everything as is comes and just go with the flow. The rest of the week followed this pattern. Whether at the pool, in camp, or on outings, we just went with the flow and enjoyed our time with the kids. At times, this was a very frustrating experience, due to the language barrier, kids misbehaving, and never knowing exactly what was going on. However, there were also the benefits and warm feelings that came along with the experience.
At the end of the day, what we are left with are the memories we make and what we gain from volunteering, and the knowledge that we are making a difference in a child's life. This can take the form of the look of excitement on the kids faces when they see us every morning to how one girl invited me to live in her house and wants to come back to Canada to visit mine. No matter what happens in the next two weeks, volunteering with Hillel in Bat Yam will definitely be a trip to remember.
Check out these videos of Canada Day at one of the camps.
- Nechama Hirchberg
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