Six hours and thirteen minutes left until arrival. Or so says the screen on the airplane seat in front of me. Early this morning I left my daily world behind and in a few hours, tomorrow morning in the Middle East, I’ll be stepping foot into the world I never really left behind when I stepped on the plane to head back to Chicago last summer. I live in divided yet inextricable worlds: one of which I can never truly leave behind no matter where I am. To be completely honest, I haven’t let myself think – really, truly, deeply think – about what this summer means and what it will bring.
The truth is I can’t let my mind go there, to feel it fully, while I’m in the other world because I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to return. I don’t know that essays and term papers and finals will get done because I’ll be too caught up in thinking about experiences that have shaped my identity or will continue to influence who I become. It’s difficult to immerse myself in Victorian literature (which I love, by the way) when I’m thinking about now. What our world looks like now, and what we can do to make ourselves and our world better. Continue reading
Following the great time we had playing in the Paideia Cup in Atlanta, Asmaa, Mais, Yonatan, Hassan, and Rotem, with Abe in tow, flew to Chicago to introduce the Windy City to Ultimate Peace. After taking in scenic Lake Shore Drive and Northwestern University’s Evanston campus, we shared in a Passover seder at Glass home in Deerfield.
Tuesday was a big day. Rotem, Mais, and Nancy Glass were guests on Chicago Public Media’s world affairs show Worldview radio show, speaking to their experiences in UP. Meanwhile, Asmaa, Yonatan and Hassan were across the street at the Fox Chicago studio being interviewed for the local midday news. We celebrated with a snowball fight. Continue reading
The Ultimate Peace Tour 2014 finished its first week in the United States today, with groups leaving heading to separate places. Overall, the boys and girls tournaments, Atlanta-friend-making, and fundraising all went great!
After a few days touring and speaking in New York, going to Atlanta was meant to be focused on playing ultimate. The boys played in the Friendship Round-Robin and the girls in Paideia Cup. We also had a couple of group dinners, a tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, and some shopping time 🙂 Continue reading
The Ultimate Peace Tour 2014 landed in Atlanta today to great weather and new, wonderful friends. The second stop on the CIT Tour is happening!
Everyone landed at the Atlanta airport and was greeted with balloons and posters. Because its Ben’s hometown, he brought his cousin to meet us at the airport. All the CITs got a balloon and some new UP gear to play in this weekend – thanks to Five Ultimate! Continue reading
New York greeted Ultimate Peace’s Friendship Tour 2014 with some wind and rain, free hugs and amazing hospitality! The UP Tour 2014 is now in full swing!
All twelve Coaches in Training (CITs) departed from Tel Aviv early Monday morning…and before taking off they took about fifty selfies. We arrived in New York in two separate groups, dispersing to many host homes around Manhattan. Continue reading
