Three Cups of Tea

Greg Mortenson and his friends in Pakistan/Afghanistan.

My evidence of change and hope. My inspiration.....

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Read Three Cups of Tea.

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116+21+89+130=356 DAYS

There are 12 months in a year, consisting of either 30 or 31 days, which adds up to our 365.25 days in a year (or 29, 30, 31 days which adds up to 366 days during a leap year).

I left Houston, my native city, for the spring semester 117 days ago. Today, I will leave Miami and will fly to New York, where I will reside for 21 days with my saba and savta until Birthright-Taglit. Then, I will live in Israel for 89 days.

After I say lehtraoat to Israel, I will say bonjour to Paris with my mom. After my mom says adieu, I will live in Paris in the Latin Quarter for 130 days. After 356 days and 3 seasons, I will return to Houston, my native city.

Can you believe that there are 7 ‘I will’s so far?

I will experience many things while abroad for 356 days.

Now there are 8 ‘I will’s.

I will go to airports, beaches, boutiques, cafes, concerts, clubs, groceries, lectures, malls, markets, movies, museums, parks, pools, restaurants, ruins, schools, shows, and work. I will make friends, open my eyes and ears, practice violin, use my legs, massage my mind, kiss a few boys, close my eyes and ears, feel everything, advance my Hebrew, face loneliness, read relentlessly, become a chef, release emotions, alter opinions, learn French, play in the streets, alter my opinions, look beautiful, love my family members, hug my new home, and live my lovely life. Now, there are 10 ‘I will’s, with one identifying the action of 21 nouns and another identifying action for 21 other actions.

I will turn the coveted 21 years of age in October, which makes 11 ‘I will’s.

There is 1 ‘will not’.

Though I might change my outlooks or way of life, I will not return anybody else but myself. I will still be a slender rose, with silly pretty petals and sharp thorns.

I guess that makes 12.