This morning when we woke up Galil was fully of many sleepy chanichim (campers) and tzevet (staff). It's a different kind of sleepy than the mid afternoon siesta time, it's the kind of sleepy where you begin to just let go because you are closer to the finish line than ever before. Some of us have been running since the second week in June, and as hackneyed is it is, all good things must come to an end. We get lots of crying on the last days of machaneh (camp). The tears are not just for saying bye to friends new and old, and it's not just about leaving this place for the next year, it's about the end of a process. A parent said to us as
she signed out her crying child, "It's like she lived a whole life in three weeks."
Here, more than in most places, we pay tribute to the process. We recognize the importance of the beginning, the middle, the end, and everything in between. The kids get it too. Sure they may not love all of their peulot (programs) but they understand what an integral role our
collective learning plays in the success of our community.
During lunch today, the Bogrim staffed toranut
(kitchen duty) and played us the soundtrack of
the summer as we ate. It wasn't that intentional, but that's just how it played out. Each song stirred a memory of a different part of of the summer and brought us back to the place where we spontaneously stood and sang "Waving Flag" on world cup night or "Cecilia" when we wanted people to be energetic at breakfast. Each shicvah (age group) sang with more ruach (spirit) than the average day, because what they brought today needed to last them through the year.
And lastly, in honor of the process, I felt the need
to write one last post to conclude the summer.
I got the opportunity to experience this summer by living it here and then translating the experience with all of you. Hopefully there is a better understanding of what happens at Galil and now, when our campers share their experience with you, they'll be shocked that you know what they're talking about. Thanks for all of your support and your feedback, writing the blog has been one of the highlights of the summer.
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