Week 15 - Let's Get Together and Feel All Right

This was a tough week, but it was still a good one. I love everyone! (like I haven't said this before...) I don't want to leave, but then again I can't wait to see my friends and family at home. The end is always bittersweet.


This week we focused on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and negotiation skills.


Monday:
Flip flopped schedule. E&L was in the afternoon. We met with Jeffrey Helsing from the United States Institute for Peace. He introduced us to our case study for this week which is the very complicated Israeli-Palestine conflict. I'm really excited for this case study. We have been waiting all year to get in depth in this intense issue.


Tuesday:
Today was pretty much a normal day at school. It was our last school meeting though. Tear tear. I'm not letting this semester end. After school meeting, we had a giant group hug and we sang our semester songs and just stood there and it was amazing and special. I love moments like that with everyone. We need to make these last 2 weeks the most amazing and special and terrific weeks here. It will happen.


Wednesday:
Today was our last Wednesday E&L. I hate this word last. It signifies the end of something great. I'm not letting this great thing come to an end. Today was a great day though. We spent the whole day examining all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. First we Skyped with Thaer and Suhayb, two Jordanians who attended SEGL last semester. They provided an interesting civilian outlook on the conflict. We then met with Ghaith Al-Omari, the Advocacy Director of the American Task Force in Palestine. He provided the Palestinian view of the conflict. After that we ventured to American-Israel Public Affairs Committee or AIPAC to meet with Jonathan Kessler. He provided a very interesting Israeli viewpoint. It was a fascinating day. I really loved how we were able to look at all sides of the issue.


Thursday:
Today was a normal day at school. Our second to last day of classes. Where has all the time gone?


Friday:
Last day of classes. Last day of junior year. What is this nonsense? Wasn't it only yesterday that I was partaking in our first day traditions at HB? Here I am now... different "state" and different person. Time has flown by. Today was a normal day though. For E&L, we debriefed about the week, and then we did an interesting negotiation activity. We were split into two teams (boys vs. girls) and were sent to different rooms to come up with our rules for Capture the Flag. We would come back to the main room and have 2 representatives from each group negotiate the rules of the game. Once a consensus was reached, we all went home, changed, and then went to the park to play. It was so fun! I love playing sports with everyone here. It doesn't help that we get to play on the national mall. After that we had dinner, and then a group of us went to Good Stuff Eatery. Typical Friday night.


Saturday:
I had my last French class of the year. Au revoir! After that we came back to the dorms and chilled until Alanna arrived to give us a budget seminar. We are in the process of creating budgets for our social ventures projects and we needed a little guidance. After lunch, we all went and chilled in the park. It was such a beautiful day. We came home and hung out some more. We need to spend as much time together in this last week. This might be the last time that we are all together as a group especially because Sophie is going to Norway for 2 years. In the evening, a group of us went to Good Stuff again. Typical, typical. We came home and enjoyed a movie that Noah had chosen. He's such an 80s kid. He picked Say Anything. It was a good movie and a good way to end a good day.


Sunday:
Time to study for exams. We have them on Monday and Tuesday! Ah! So yeah, I have to go and continuing studying. Whoot.