5/16/26- In Defense of Typos

 5/16/26 In Defense of Typos

We’ve just concluded a beautiful Havdalah ceremony to end our last full day in Central Europe. Havdalah means “distinction” and refers to the distinction that we make between Shabbat and the other days of the week. It’s fitting that our trip began and ended with Havdalah. While our 8th grade trip is very much a part of all that came before it, it is also a distinct, unique, and therefore special experience. While this blog and our daily photos coupled with the more important first hand accounts that you’ll hear in the coming days can give you a glimpse into what we took place here, there will be aspects of the experience that don’t translate, that can’t be explained, and that will exist only for those of us who have been blessed to be here together. 

Our last full day in Budapest was spent trying to outrun the impending rain. We started the day with a picture perfect visit to the Buda Castle. There’s no point in describing the view, you’ll just have to see the pictures. From there we headed to Margaret Island, a small island in the middle of the Danube. 

On Margaret Island we rode special golf cart/bicycle type contraptions called (at least in Budapest) “Bringos”. Once we learned how to honk their primitive horns, pull their rudimentary breaks, and pedal together as one, we enjoyed zipping around the island both on and off the official route. It was a novel experience with lots of smiles. A great fresh air activity enjoyed by all. After replenishing with lunch, we hit the Bathhouse. The kids embraced the mandatory swim caps even if some didn’t avail themselves of the inviting pools. Those who swam reported soothing water and lots of fun. The rain began mid-swim but we were undeterred. 

By the time we left Margaret Island the rain was definitely “a thing.” But again, we persevered and returned to the Jewish Quarter for some outdoor shopping. Final souvenirs were selected and remaining Hungarian currency exchanged for an array of goods. 

Post shopping we returned to the Danube for an evening dinner cruise. Together we enjoyed traditional Hungarian cuisine and music along with the stunning views of Budapest. Toward the end the kids organized themselves in a circle for some sharing of funniest, favorite, and other assorted memories. After each share, there was a thunderous applause. 

Annually, I look forward to the joyful responsibility of chronicling our 8th grade trip in this blog format. I do my best to summarize activities but also to connect them to the bigger picture of what a Davis education might mean for our students now and in the future. While I put thought and care into the blog, it’s also done under varying degrees of exhaustion and occasional duress as we navigate evening duties for our kids. As such, there are always typos, thoughts left incomplete, and sentiments that don’t make the “final cut.” Sometimes, after hitting “publish” I’ll notice a typo and go back to tidy things up. I didn’t do that this year. Even though I noticed at least a handful of misspellings and grammatical errors, I felt like this was the year to leave them there. I’ve been reflecting on why I chose to let them be. 

We’re living in a strange moment. A moment when more than the usual amount of people are asking big questions about what it means to be human. A lot of these questions are prompted by AI. Why fall in love with an actual person when you can fall in love with an AI chatbot? Why write your own essay when ChatGPT can do it for you? Why go to a doctor when you can submit a photo of your affliction to an AI program and get a (better? worse?) answer? Why be a messy, imperfect, flawed, stumbling human, when you can pretend to be immaculate in all areas? Sound like an AI rant? Maybe so. But I feel for all of us that are asking even the most innocuous of these types of questions. I’m not an AI apocalypse type person. But c’mon. Can’t we agree it’s a little “weird” out there at the moment? 

So as for typos? I’m embracing them. I’m embracing them as a sign of my humanity. I don’t want you or me to wonder if these words were written by an algorithm. I’m embracing the typos. And I hope that our kids will do the same. 

Sometimes it rains when you’re in Budapest. Sometimes you overpay for a souvenir and regret it. Sometimes the itinerary changes. Sometimes something you’re excited about ends up being disappointing. It happens. And the opposite is true. Sometimes you surprise yourself with how thoughtful and articulate you are. Sometimes you discover a level of strength you didn’t know you possessed. Sometimes you end up being the friend that someone really needed in that moment. Sometimes you really do live your values unironically and with your whole heart. Being human means welcoming it all, our shortcomings and our great moments. We can’t have one without the other. 

When the class of 2026 looks back on their journey, as they have been this evening, they’ll see that it was a human journey. It was a journey they took together, guided by the adults who know, and love, and care for them. The humanness of the journey is what makes it truly transformational, what makes it instructional, what makes it real. Keep this in mind when they unpack their bags tomorrow. Keep this in mind as you help them share their experiences here. Keep this in mind as you model for them how to close a special and sacred chapter in their lives and begin to write the next one. Let the little typos slide, chalk them up to humanity. Teach them how to write with big, beautiful, truthful, iconoclastic, and grateful words. Teach them how to own their unique human stories. Teach them how to create their lives on purpose. They’ll thank you for it even though they won’t need to.