Shabbat at the Kotel

My roommmates and I have been wanting to go to the Kotel (Western Wall) on Shabbat since we moved here, so this past Shabbat we finally did it. It's amazing to live so close that you can walk to the Kotel. It's about a 45-60 minute walk from our apartments (or a ten minute bus ride). It's hard for me to put into words what the experience was like. I can try my best, but I feel that it is something that everyone truly needs to see for themselves. The Kotel was obviously crowded, with the men's side (which is also like 3 times the size of the women's side) being much more crowded. I made my way to the wall and touched it, then stepped back a bit and just stared at it and prayed my own prayers (as opposed to praying from the siddur--I find it more meaninful for me sometimes to pray whatever I'm thinking). My roommates all started crying a little, and I actually started crying quite hard. Since it's not uncommon for people to be overcome by emotion at the wall, I must have been crying abnormally hard, because one lady asked me if I was okay as I was leaving. And then she told me I was beautiful! So that was nice. My friends and I then walked over to stare at the men's side through the metal grates. You just see a sea of men davening (praying) with such intensity that all you can see are strimmels (the large fur hats the Haredi wear on Shabbat and festivals) and black hats bobbing backwards and forwards. Everyone is muttering the prayers to themselves, so you just kind of hear this hum of Hebrew. Some men in the back are singing and dancing. I always wished that I could go to the men's side, but on Shabbat especially! Then we all went to another free Shabbat dinner that didn't finish until 1 am! Those crazy Jews...
On Wednesday night I had a free meal at the King David Hotel (one of the nicest hotels in Jerusalem) with a rich American man and one other student. Just us three, and it was probably the most awkward two hours of my entire life. I got the impression that this man was very wealthy (flies to Israel first class every for weeks "just because he loves it") and likes to treat American students in Israel to holiday meals. So it was a great meal, extremely fancy, but just very awkward! It didn't help that the other boy I was with was really inappropriate (like one of those people who don't understand social decorum!). Another interesting experience here. But it is really amazing how I can get free holiday and Shabbat meals--I honestly can get Friday night and Saturday lunch meals for free every single week.
I went to Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem) with my program today. It's a very emotional experience. Beautiful museum--amazing architecture, extensive information and moving exhibits, including a beautiful memorial to the 1.5 Jewish children who were murdered. The pope will actually be there in just a few weeks.
I go back to work tomorrow. Pesach break went by way too fast! It's hard to believe I have been out of the office for almost two weeks. I suppose it's back to the grind.