The trip to Düsseldorf, when Shay led even outside the table

Shay chose to build a bridge.

Throughout the trip, I saw how he absorbed the local culture. How people behaved, how they spoke, how they moved in public spaces, how they respected the place they were in. Not out of self-effacement, but out of sensitivity. He understood that when you are a guest in another place, part of your responsibility is to listen to the environment and behave accordingly.

And there was also a funny, very human moment that I do not want to leave out.

As on any trip with children and teenagers, there were also moments that were less “educational” in the official sense of the word. At one point, Shay picked up some curse word or expression in German. I am not sure it was exactly something we would want to add to the official dictionary of values, but that was Shay: curious, quick to pick things up, with a little smile in the corner of his mouth, understanding the culture even through the small things that were not always festive or formal.