The Evergreen Region(EGR) encompasses five States: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and even Alaska. It spans just over one million square miles. Due to our region's mass, it is no surprise that our teens, especially our teen leaders, partake in a lot of driving.

A little over a week ago, three of my fellow board members and I found ourselves jammed in a car at seven in the morning, traveling from Portland to Seattle, a nearly three-hour commute. A half-empty Celsius in hand, yet still exhausted, I buckled my seatbelt and prepared for what I thought would be an agonizing ride. Little did I know, this road trip was just what I needed to bond with my peers, explore the Pacific Northwest, and expand my experience within this organization. 

For the first portion of the drive, our Regional Godol was swamped with college applications. This led to a meaningful conversation about our futures where I learned that both of us are interested in Brown University. As the aux cord was passed around, we drove through the forested region and our Regional Sh’licha played soft indie-alternative music that we enjoyed as we snacked on Hello Panda chocolate candies. 

When we arrived in Seattle, we stopped at Einsteins for bagels. I’m pretty partial to a lox bagel and thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast. We even ended up running into our regional director, Carly Sokoloff. After breakfast, we loaded into the Jeep and headed to the Jewish Community Center. I am used to East Portland's humble Jewish Commons which expands about a room in size. Seattle is quite different, stretching almost 100,000 square feet, the SJCC is a maze. 

When we finally arrived, we were greeted by our Seattle COs and Counterparts as well as Portlanders that had arrived the night before. I was overjoyed to finally meet the newly elected Mazkirim. I walked them through workshops, helped them with graphics, and gave them a schedule layout for the term ahead. 

Just like that, Execs were over. Our regional board decided to make one final stop at Shake Shack before returning to Portland. This was our best decision of the day. We got crazy milkshakes and ate delicious burgers. Additionally, we had the opportunity to debrief the day and talk about what went well and what can be changed for Fall Execs. It was great being able to decompress, especially during finals week. I still wonder how we got 14 teens into one booth. 

Back on the road! One final leg of our trip. After taking a power nap, I watched the sunset over the Cascades. Noticing our gas was low, we took a brief stop at the gas station. As the car filled, we ran inside to get some snacks. A Celsius was just what I needed to remain conscious for the rest of the car ride, and it worked. For the remaining hour, we all chatted. Discussing the upcoming convention, kickoff, and sadness about seniors leaving.

Before I knew it, we were home. This ride ended up being more fun than I could hope for. Being stuck in the car allowed me to learn about my travel mates, without the interruptions of phones. We disconnected to connect. This is an aspect of EGR that I adore. Because of our vast region, we spend time together traveling, sleeping over at houses and hotels, trying new foods, and best of all, bonding. I am very grateful that I can connect with my peers on such a deep level through travel and I hope that EGR can continue to unite teens from across all 5 states.