Hi GOSIE 09 Parents,

Monday......wait I'm not Captain Kirk and Callie is not Zulu.  We are the chaperones for the Gosie 09 program. Must be the heat talking... It has been hike mania and everyone is coming home in better shape than when they left. We have reminded our guide during our hikes that we are from Florida....... where it's flat!!!! Alas, so far it has fallen on deaf ears! Our second week started and finished on a much better foot!  All the teens got the message that we mean business.  We have spent the week getting better acquainted with each other.  We have found that each and every one of the teens is unique and special in their own way.  The group has really bonded.

In our second week we met up with the Kiryat Motzkin teens.  All of the adults from Israel have said that this is a very special group.  It is amazing to us how quickly the two groups have connected. When you combine people of differing cultures you are not sure of the result.  We have seen that this combination has helped open everyones' eyes to our shared lifestyle and shared destiny.

The connection is greater than we could have ever imagined. You can read all you want about a country, a people, or place, but it takes on a whole new meaning when you connect with the people; whether hiking, cooking, singing or sharing endless hours on a bus.  The addition of the KM teens has brought a much better understanding of what it means to be Jewish. It has brought a greater understanding of what it is like to be an Israeli and to live in a country with so many complication issues.  It has also opened up an emotional connection to our shared history. We join the teens in having been surprised by the things we have learned from the hosts that have so generously taken us in. We have not heard one complaint on the housing front.

Everyone is a bit tired and a little homesick. This is normal when you are gone for three weeks. They all are having such a great time. We know how bitter sweet it will be to come home.  Truthfully, we think it is going to be one big cry fest! Everyone, including the chaperones, have made Israeli friends that ?we now consider to be our Israeli "family."  We can say, without hesitation, that this has been an unbelievable trip. The trip has been truly life changing  The memories and friendships ?will never be forgotten! We hope that you will see what your support, time, and financial commitment to the Federation and the partnership program has produced.

We will try to update you before we leave, but as with traveling, it is always about the electronics. We love your children and we will really miss them when the trip is over!
 
With appreciation,
 
Mary and Callie

P.S. We can't thank you enough for everyone's encouraging words in our first week in Israel.  It was a real comfort to know that we had your support. Chaperoning can be a challenging job especially when you're laying down the law.?????