The shortened Chabad experience. Never ceases to surprise

Tonight in bullet points:

• Met up with one of my camp best friend’s friend, Ari. He's in town, alone, as a result of a three day (planned) layover from Israel after a semester of studying abroad. Of course I’ve taken charge, leaving him with an itinerary for the weekend, planning meet ups to keep him company, inviting him along to a party tomorrow night, and taking him this evening to Trocadero to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle and Pont Neuf for a stunning view of the city.
• My camp counselor from my first summer in Israel—who, I should note, my camp best friend had tried organizing that we meet up with during my visit to Israel—was AT CHABAD THIS EVENING! How small of a world we live in. And how incredible of a surprise it was!
• Lili (my German friend who I had met last week at Chabad) and Mariene (the UK nanny) were there—Mariene and I having met up to ride the metro together for services and Lili texting me to tell me she’d be running late. But of course, she got there before us. The three of us had gone to a Jewish get- together this past Wednesday, so it was nice being able to spend the evening together again!
• And now I’m home, with plans to meet up Ari for a picnic lunch by the Seine tomorrow. And then plans to go to a party with Lili, Mariene and Ari. Except I have to leave early because I’m meeting up with another friend for dinner later that evening. Although honestly, I’d prefer to just cancel and stay out with the girls and Ari. Too many options for a social life—if only that were the worst of my problems.

I love ending off my weeks with Chabad. I love the social life its introduced me too, the common basis of our shared religion and culture we work our friendships off of. Tonight was good. And this weekend, I have no doubts will go just the same.