bbyo | :: jenstonia ::

Woof it’s been a while – thankfully, I found some time between Purim parties.

(Sidenote: Can’t believe I just said that) Anywho, while I’m here and you’re there and I have you if only for a few minutes…let’s do this.

There’s a great possibility I could have just returned home (Estonia) from one of the most deeply rewarding experiences of my young adulthood. Enriching, meaningful, impactful, whatever — there aren’t powerful enough adjectives that can describe every millimeter of your soul being shaken.

I traveled to D.C. for BBYO’s 2013 International Convention with 4 teens [2 from Estonia, 2 from Latvia] and 1 additional advisor [from Estonia]. This was their first trip to America.

Before leaving, I received phone calls, emails, or texts from teens saying, “Are you serious? Am I really going to America?” or “This has always been a dream of mine” or “I’m in shock. This can’t be real.”

You can imagine how this chilled every fiber of my being. I knew being able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip with them (and return to the Baltic’s) would not only cause me to break down in tears every minute, but be an extraordinary highlight of all of our lives together. To be able to return home with them and continue the conversations and reflect on the memories is a double blessing. To have a soul-shaking, immersive experience, and come home to let it wash away in the suds of your everyday, routine life at home is a shame. It was my goal from the very beginning to never let the post-BBYO convention spirit dwindle.

And so we departed for America.

Into the wind or “hambe kahle” as my Zulu-speaking friends and family say. We arrived with all passports and checked luggage intact, and were welcomed by a swarm of 40 teens from all over the world; more importantly, I had a Skinny Vanilla Latte from Starbucks waiting for me. *Gulp*, 5 months too long.

Next thing I know I’m in an 8-person SUV with luggage stacked to the brim, 3 teenage girls from Argentina, 2 from Bulgaria, 1 JDC Fellow based in Ukraine in the passenger seat, 1 past JDC Fellow who was based in Latvia in the driver’s seat, and me. I proactively demand no jet-lagged Russian speaking in the car; I hug my Starbucks and listen to the sounds of international snoring fill the car on the 4-hour drive to Baltimore.

I feel the burbs and a JCC coming closer when I see the following commercial developments: David’s Deli, some non-chain Laundromat, Best Buy, Fro Yo, Target, Chipotle, 4 Starbucks, need I say more? I am really back in America. Oh. My. Development.

A very surreal feeling to jump back into the Suburbs of America, but I will say there is an unspoken comfort when walking into a JCC. Normally, I’m a tip-toer and hypersensitive to other people’s spaces and time, but I ran into the Baltimore JCC like it was the Dallas JCC [aka my second home].

The kids got cozy with their host families and adapted quickly to their slice of American life. Facebook posts and messages confirmed they were overly satiated mentally, socially, and digestively.

I could not wait to be sucked into BBYO convention-life; 1 week of 150 staff, 1600 teens, 52 international teens, thought-provoking speakers (meh, like Obama), cheering, panel discussions, deep conversations, the feeling of togetherness, and every day with Jewish elements scattered throughout. There are few things in this world that I value more than learning; so when it comes to seminars and conventions created for the sole purpose of expanding knowledge, I am a truly the science geek in the Natural History Museum. What can I say, it’s my ‘jam’.

I reunited with many; fellow JDC Entwine Global Service Corps Fellows, co-counselors and campers from Camp Sabra, familiar faces from Dallas, people who’ve stumbled upon this blog, and so many more. One of the most gratifying things for me was to be a part of the International Delegation; while I could have easily been pulled toward Dallas-folk or even the Midwest, I felt such a strong sense of responsibility to be with the international staff and teens as much as possible. I was that kid 10 years ago completely infatuated with international delegates at conventions – to be a part of it was a dream come true. Really, it just showed me if I made the world my priority, the world would gracefully open itself up and let me be a part of it in some special way. This was special.

While there were truly incredible and inspiring moments, like… I don’t know… 52 International teens getting initiated into BBYO, the Hatikvah (Israeli national anthem) when more than 15 Israeli delegates hopped on stage, Nancy Carr’s speech, Obama’s speech, Susan Rice’s speech, I’ve gotta say one moment hit me the most:

Preface: I really pushed my kids to go to services on Friday night (Chabad is the only option in Estonia)

I asked one of my kiddos on Saturday morning: “So, how were services last night?”
Her response: “IT WAS SO COOL!”
I had to step away for a moment and gather my heart that just spilled out of my chest. For a teenager to say that a Friday night service was “cool”… Hello!!!!!
She continued, “I didn’t think services could be so fun! With songs and everything… At home it’s so hard to understand”

I knew this time in America would show them a world of Jewish pluralism; options, flexibility, engaging ways to connect to religion – I can’t imagine how deeply this peeked their curiosity to connect to the more traditional aspects of religion that really are just, as she put it, “hard”.

The rest of the convention was everything I wanted it to be: boisterous cheering under sleep deprivation, long nights of absolute absurd goofiness between staff, teens being completely independent (after the first day of awkwardness and clinging) and making friends from around the world, epiphanies, realizations, passion for the Jewish future, motivation for next year.

I’m back in Estonia only for a few days to catch some of the highest quality air (it’s true – #1 in the world), do Purim, make sure everyone remembers my face, and have some cool working conversations.

Off to Israel for a seminar with all the JDC Fellows (YAYY seminars) and then 3 days of Mediterranean vacation in Greece and Turkey! This year aint bad kids, it aint bad.