On Saturday, January
24, 2015, I embarked on my journey to Kibbutz Tzuba, a kibbutz located near Jerusalem,
Israel. The Kibbutz itself is unlike anything I have ever experienced. The
small village-like land stands on the Judea Hills and has a vista point that
must the definition of the word “extraordinary”. The beauty in the land must
translate into the people as well, because the friendly group seem genuinely
sincere and are extremely hospitable. All of the people in the condensed area
live as one community. There are no uncommunicative neighbors nor are there
excluding “cliques” that judge others. They live together, eat together, and
work together. In this way, they act as a kind of team that’s primary rule is
to stand as each other’s support system, rather than classmates that try to
tare each other down in order to be accepted into the most prestigious
university. There definition of "success" is not who makes the most money, but rather who is able to form bonds with others that are so strong they feel tangible. Even the children become friends at a young age and form lifelong
relationships unlike almost any kind of friendship made in other
commercial countries. The lively people and culture are one of the main
attractions of my new lovely home, which has made me question my own lifestyle in
the United States.
My family, located in California,
acts very differently that those located
in the Kibbutz. Because we woke up at all different times, I saw my parents
only after they came home from work, which was
around seven or eight at night. The short time we had together was
usually broken up by large amounts of homework or extracurriculars that went on
until late in the evening. So many students in the USA compete to get into the best university, which usually inhibits their ability to show friendship and compassion. Their definition of "success" is one that involves monetary gain, rather than one involving social aspects. After witnessing the close bonds within those on the
Kibbutz, I have started to desire relationships that are more than just
obligatory. In the United States, many people act nicely in order to be polite,
however they feign it insincerely. The closer relationships enable lifelong
bonds to be made, something that to those who are solely focused on monetary success seem to be lacking.
