Day Ten and a Half

'Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for departure'

Ok, it wasnt quite like that! But today was the day when approximately seven months of hard work, commitment and huge strain on the tenacity of everyone came to an end.

For once, to everyones amazement, Room 410 was up and out before everyone! Kol Hakavod...
We dragged out ten tonne suitcases downstairs and onto poor Uri's minivan and somehow all squashed in there as well.

We arrived at the school for the last time and were greeted by our friends. We all went upstairs to our 'lovely' classroom for the last time and sat in a circle...for the last time. It was really sad and we were all exchanging cell phone numbers, home numbers, emails, MSN's, addresses among others for about an hour.

Hed kept to tradition and started with an activity where we all had to put our names in a plastic box and pick one out. Then we had to imitate the person and everyone had to guess who it was. This activity was followed by one where we each had to say something we loved, something we didnt like, something we had expected, something we had learned and a habit we had gained.

The reason this day seems so abrupt is because in truth, everything I am writing was interspersed with hugs, kisses, talking, memories and more. These are things I cant really describe! So when I put the pictures on asap, you will understand.

Anyway, to continue...we all piled back onto our minivan in two shifts to the most beautiful beach in the world (that I have seen so far at least...). There is a restaurant at the top of a hill overlooking the bay and there was where we set up our decorations. We had a British flag next to an israeli flag; blue, red and white bunting and balloons and a english bandana worn by Koral.

We were all taking pictures and talking when Michelle had to go! Everyone said very emotional goodbyes to Michelle with sincere promises to keep in touch through the multitude of ways available in modern communication. Then our party began. Well not quite a party but just a review of all the memories:
Bull Dog Bull Dog:
My name is Koral
You can call me Coco
And I will show you
How to PARTY!
First we shakin shakin
and then we wollin wollin
then we chiken chiken
then we...bull dog bull dog...etc!

Big fat Mama Llama:
Happy llama, Sad llama, Mentally Retarded llama, Super llama,
Drama llama, Big Fat mama llama, Camel...Kiss The Camel!

Emanu: So Gwoss!!!!
Linor and Ruti!!!!
Nushi: Oh may gaad! I miss you!
Tali = Jennifer!
Brocha = Rebecca?!?
Avital = Barbie!
The day the bus rolled down the steep cliff...
Ebby = Chasing Pavements...!
Room 410 = ONLY wake us up, IF YOU HAVE TO, TEN minutes before we HAVE to go!
Nechama = If you drink your whole bottle of water...you will get a sticker! and if you get ten stickers you will get....ANOTHER sticker!!!
Ebby = Ze Magil v'Ze Magil v'Malon Shelanu Gam Magil!
Michelle = EVERYBODY DANCE DOWN bang clap bang...
Meri = STIGMAS!!!
Sapir = Eliran...and Mi Rotzeh Mashehu L'echol?!
Lihi = Mi Rotzah Bamba??
Korali - Bulldog Bulldog...
Hed = SUMMARY!!!! and INTRODUCTION!!!
Circle time!!
Erez = The kids annoiseing and then you eat them!
Erez = the halacha rules you from before boring until after you are boring!


And excuse my poor memory...I cant remember all the rest! But there were/are countless memories...

We, the English girls, presented each of the girls with their own leatherbound colorful siddurim with Tehillim in the back and a handwritten personal note in Hebrew (courtesy of Sacha and Yosepha). They presented us with beautiful fake gold chamsa necklaces with a note from each Israeli girl and Uri got chocolates!

We all began our goodbyes but we know that it was not a real goodbye because not only might Sapir and Linor and Dana come meet us in Jerusalem if they can on Thursday, and not only are Koral, Emanu and Noa going to come to the airport on Monday but we will always visit and be in touch until next time we all get together. While Liora sang the Speedo song and we all said our last goodbyes and last massive hugs, Uri waited patiently...

He brought our friends home and then came to get us. We all arrived in Jerusalem at our various stops...and for the last time: I must go catch up on my sleep!

Maybe there will be updates on the last few days of our trip to Israel (till monday), depends on if anything blog worthy happens!

I hope you all enjoyed this blog and it will be open for anyone to see whenever they want. The pictures are for you to download, copy, enjoy etc and none of this is copyright!

For the last time...

Love, Brocha