One Day in the Life

     Yay! People are actually reading my blog! This made me so happy that I promptly (well, relatively) decided to write another post. I thought I’d do a little picture into what life in the JC is like. There are no “normal” days, and since most of my classes have ended by now, it’s a little late, but here is what life has been like for the semester.

     I wake up anywhere from 6-7:15 in the morning. Ha… I know. Breakfast is from 7-7:50. It’s super yummy. Then often we have classes for a few hours, if we don’t have a field trip. This semester I’ve had classes on the ancient Near East, the Old Testament, the New Testament, Israel and Judaism (historical to modernity), Palestine and Islam (again, historical to present), a field trip class and a Hebrew class, both one credit. We usually have lunch at 12, and then sometimes our afternoons are free (at the beginning we usually had class, but now it’s more free). If we are in East Jerusalem, we have to be back inside the JC gate by dark. Now, that means in by 5 pm, which is kinda sad, but it’s still enough time if you use it. If we have a guy with us and are in West Jerusalem, we can stay out until midnight but have to get a taxi back to the Center. We are never really allowed to walk around East Jerusalem after dark, or to be in the Old City (the walled part of Jerusalem.)

     Dinner is at 6, and is always interesting and usually very yum. Our chef, Ahmed, is awesome, as are all the other kitchen staff. When the schedule says “Thai food” or “Mexican food”, though, you know you’re in for a real adventure… and no matter what ethnicity the food is, it always still tastes Middle Eastern. Which is fun. But I will say that I can’t decide which I crave more: a juicy McGraff’s cheeseburger or a Doba Quesadilla. (Oh yeah, it’s super hard to find things like cheeseburgers or pepperoni pizza here because of the kosher rules. No pork, which is fine, but also no meat and dairy in the same meal, which is a little sad.)

On Wednesdays we usually have a forum speaker, which have all been amazing and interesting. I feel every time like I have so so much to learn, but I love to hear them speak. We just had our last forum last night… sad. We have at least one field trip a week, normally on Sunday or Monday. Sabbath (Shabbat) is on Saturday here, as part of the agreement with Israel (I don’t really understand though because other Christians still celebrate Sabbath on Sunday, but anyway, it’s been kinda nice. I actually like it, and it will be weird to go back.) There are concerts every Sunday night that they let us students in to if there is enough room. Sometimes one of the security guards offers a fitness class, which is brutal but feels great. I also have super motivated roomates, so they keep me in shape… as much as is possible with all the good cooking around here!

     For birthdays, somehow the tradition at the JC started that the birthday guy or girl is hoisted up on a chair and then lifted up as we count up to how old they are. Also, more recently, they get a kiss on the cheek for every year… ha, it’s been fun. In November, a lot of the guys grew mustaches in honor of No-Shave November. This started a whole war between “The Committee” (the pro-mustaches) and the “Shave-it Campaign”. Hilarious pro or con signs were posted on all the bulletin boards, like pictures of famous actors with mustaches, or without… it was really funny. We had the “best mustache” awards last night, including the “stalker award”, the “state patrolman award”, the “migrant worker” award, the “Wesley Princess Bride award,” and the “janitor award.” Maybe I can get some pics up… the awards fit perfectly.

In short: (Kesha meets Jerusalem?)

I wake up in the morning in Jesus town

I’ve got my script’s, I’m up the stairs, I’ve got Old Testament now

In my white tee, khaki pants, and a lunch in a sack,

I’m goin’ to the city and comin’ back when it’s black.

I’m talkin’ wearin’ baggy clothes, clothes

Weird smells in my nose, nose

Get ready for your picture pose, pose.

Another pita? Just one more, more

Were these pants this tight before, or,

And After Tarek’s class I’m so so sore….

Sixty girls, twenty guys.

Falafels with French fries.

Today, I can play,

Until the sun is gone away.

Shaban’s shop, one more stop,

Genie pants with tees on top.

Oh-oh-ohoh

Oh-oh-oh whoa oh.

All the merchants know we’re Mormon, which we think is pretty funny.

They all give us “special price” cuz we don’t have any money.

On our field trips all the ruins start to blur in my head

And on my test I try to remember what Ezekiel said.

I’m talkin living in Peace City, city

Lovin’ the Committee, (mity)

Getting food stolen by wild kitties, kitties.

Seein the devout, vout,

Orthodox kickin us out, out,

Our religion we can’t flout, flout

But Christ is what we’re all about, ya

Christ is what we’re all about.

That's all. Hope that was as fun for you as it was for me... and I got to procrastinate homework some more coming up with that! Not that my career as a rapper will start any time soon... anyway, love you all.

Thanks!

In a very predictable fashion, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here's a post dedicated to gratitude. But first, shout out to Todd and Emily!! Happy (late) anniversary! I am so glad you guys are married, and I love you both a whole whole lot. I'm grateful for the love and support you guys give, and for the fun you are, and patience you have with me.
I am so grateful for every day, that I am here in this land, that I have the family I do, and for the knowledge that my Savior lives, and atoned for the world. I feel in disbelief when I wake up sometimes, but I always feel so grateful. Grateful to be here, to be alive, to have happiness, and education. I am so grateful for the things I am learning! I feel like I am starting over in my understanding of the plan of Salvation, and of the gospel, because there is so much I thought I knew but am relearning, and so much that I am realizing I have yet to understand. But I love it. Even when I feel uneducated, I love it, because I am still learning here. I am grateful for all the people who work hard to put this program together for us.
Tonight when we all arrived back home at the JC, there were Christmas trees up, and Nativities, and some lights, and Ahmed, our chef, as well as Luba, the Salad chef, and the rest of the kitchen staff, had all prepared a HUGE Thanksgiving meal for all of us! That, and getting greetings from home and friends, and the hapiness to be home (JC home), all made me tear up a bit. There is so much to be grateful for. I mean, Ahmed even had stuffing ready! With chestnuts!! And turkey!!! Oh, so good. Family, I hope you all went bowling, and someone struck a turkey! Love you all! Happy Thanksgiving!

Some (few) brief photos. Looking is more fun than reading, right? :-)

My humble nativity set up with leaves from home.
Just something a little Christmas-y in our  little room.
(Thanks Ryan!)

Some of the things that made my Thanksgiving bright!  

Shepherd's field, a possible site where the angels appeared to the
shepherds, heralding Christ's birth. While we were having our devotional, the sun was setting,
and then a group of shepherds herding sheep walked right behind us!! It was so perfect. This night
was one of my favorites in Jerusalem so far. 

Allison and I reenacting sacrifice... ha ha. The metal shows the frame of
what the altar there would have maybe been like. (at Tel Dan if I remember right.) 

A two thousand year old fishing boat found in the mud of the Sea of Galilee. (Adam, Dow Chemical helped in the  preserving and restoration of the wood. Thought that was cool.) Anyway, it would have been a boat like that which Christ probably would have taught from and sailed upon. In the pic: Me, Mary, Kelly.

After our boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. The sunset was phenomenal.
Another of my favorite moments in this Holy Land. Galilee was just incredible.

Me pointing at a mosaic. If you couldn't figure that out. Another of our trips in Galilee. 

I'm maybe related to this guy, but really distantly.... and through marriage.
But this grave was a piece of evidence that helped prove that the LDS church
had been in this land before the state of Israel... allowing us to currently legally be here.

The Knesset, as in Israeli lawmaking hall place.  Really interesting government structure here.

Halloween, where we watched the silent film Phantom of the Opera while Brother Ohman
played the organ, this beautiful organ, behind us. This is our auditorium, and it has a spectacular view.

Halloween, with "King David and Bathsheba". He has binoculars. She's in  a bathrobe with a shower cap.
I think I saw the best and most creative and funny costumes this year,
especially because so many people played on inside jokes. 

My roomates and I. From left, Rebecca, April, Me, and Alyse.

Walking on water! Ha. Sea of Galilee, outside the Hepta-pagon church
(I think... things start to blur a bit after a while, but I think so.)