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.)

Gramary, Gagging, and Gandalf

Today I got to go to an elementary / preschool, to paint a wall. Eventually we will paint a mural on the wall, but today we just sanded and puttied and white-washed. Super awesome! Even a bit of my hair got a fresh coat of paint! :-) We got to talk to some of the kids there: some teenage girls (So I'm not sure the exact age range of the school. There were quite young kids also.) and some boys, maybe twelve ish years old. Kaleb, one of our small group today (there were 4 of us, plus Brother Bentley) performed a few slight-of-hand tricks for them, with those puffy red balls, and the boys loved it. (Gramary means magic, for those too lazy to look it up. As in I was trying really hard to be clever and come up with a cool G word.)

Other than that, today is a study day. We leave for Jordan on Monday, which is way exciting! It's been so fun to be here during the high holiday season. I'll try to put up a few posts about those days as well.

Not a pic taken by me, but my camera is temporarily on
bedrest so this is the online version. 

This Sunday (Sabbath is Saturday here) we went snorkeling in Eilat. That was way awesome. Not only was the water unreal shades of blue, and filled with amazing fish from big to teenie tiny and of all reflective shades (some of them looked like flecks of butterfly wings!), but I also had hands down the best coconut-cream-made-of-heaven slushie I have ever had. Perhaps even the best drink I've ever had. It still takes second place to the beach and snorkeling though. Despite the fact that I inhaled enough salt disgusting water to start my own sea. (Hence "gagging") I learned it does not taste as pretty as it looks. (Maybe that was why the slush was so heavenly: it didn't have a hint of brine or fish or anything salty at all.)

Again, "borrowed" from Google. Thanks fellow bloggers!  Red outline = City of David.
The Jerusalem Center would be directly above the label "Temple Mount", but off the picture.

On Monday we went to the City of David (ok, just looked over where it used to be) and then walked through Hezekiah's tunnel aka "feel like Indiana Jones / awesome explorer" time. Truly, I felt like I was back in ancient times. a brief history lesson: Hezekiah's tunnel was built to channel water from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam, in preparation for impending attack by the Assyrians. They would need every
possible advantage, as the Assyrians were incredibly powerful.
              The Assyrians were also famous for doing lovely things to those who opposed them, such as whole human skins taken off and tacked to walls, heads put on spits outside gates, limbs cut off, ... you get the idea. So these City of David dwellers are pretty gutsy, and I swear I could still feel their intensity as they carved out the tunnel that would provide them with the ability to survive a siege. It was cool to ponder on the thoughts of those who gouged into that rock with their chisels and picks. They must have been afraid, but intense and focused. Two groups carved it out, one from the top, one working up from the bottom. When the Assyrians came, Isaiah stood on the wall and prophesied that Assyria "shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there..." (Isaiah 37:30) Is that epic or what? I see Isaiah standing up on the wall, preaching, robes flowing all around him Gandalf-style, striking his staff down and shouting "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" (Ok, I'm sure that's a bit dramatic... but it's fun to think about it like that!)

Wow, talkin' straight to me. (Midterm tomorrow - Gandalf is on a roll today, always having the perfect words for the moment!) Therefore, I'm signing off. Shalom!

Reflections and Rosh Hashanah

It hits me at odd times. Here, sitting, writing a paper, in a classroom whose windows look over a balcony and onto the entire beautiful city, with the golden light tracing the tops of skyscrapers to the west, dusking the hills to the south, and reflecting in the petals of the red roses on the terrace. My soul is glowing with a different kind of light, the glow of being here, the impossible joy of realization. I am here. I am living in Jerusalem, city of kings and histories, city of faith, city of conflict, city of the Source of peace. I am here in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem is sinking into me. I am beginning to build Jerusalem inside of myself, and it is made up stone by stone of the miraculous mundane.

One stone is the memory of Rosh Hashanah, and me, forehead pressed against the Western Wall, feeling the emotion of the city. Behind me a small crowd of women pray with intensity, eyes covered. Some even weep, with quiet sobs. The men are wrapped in wings of white, symbolic of purity and new beginnings, as their tallit or prayer shawls drape their shoulders. Women too bear some sort of white clothing, a hair scarf, a blouse, a jacket. In Jewish tradition, the Book of Life is written during Rosh Hashanah, and sealed on Yom Kippur. Those days are days to make all right with fellow men and with God, to atone for the past year so that one’s name may be written in the Book of Life before it is sealed.

I was surprised at the solemn mood when we arrived at the Wall, expecting a joyful celebration of the Head of the Year. Feeling the contemplative aura was at first a let-down, until further realization led me to understand a deeper beauty. The timbres of Shofar, Ram’s horns, reverberated in the air, resonating, echoing; humming. Their sound was more subtle than I imagined, as was the entire scene. Drawn close to the wall, actually laying my hand on it for the first time, I felt a kind of awe. The bricks are worn smooth from the touch of so many before me. With so many notes crammed into every hint of a crevice, the wall seemed to emanate language. And so with forehead pressed against the wall, arms supporting me against it, I listened.

Instead of words, I felt the intensity, of millennia of longing, of pilgrimages, and hopes, and sorrows beyond my comprehension. The skin of my forehead was warm as I leaned in more, pressing against the wall. And though my palms also pressed against the stone, I felt rather that the stone was holding me, the smoothness of the stone surprisingly soft, emanating an unexpected kind of warmth.  That place knows its people, and knows how to support those that come there with contemplative hearts. I may not have tucked my prayer of gratitude on a piece of paper into the wall, but I think it is there, with all the other millions-- integral parts of the wall as much as are the stone and mortar and determination that keep it standing.

Another building stone in my city goes to the dang pigeon that dropped a gift on my sleeve as I was thus in contemplation. Blasted bird. No wonder that section of the wall was open. It was right under a pigeon roost! So the wall left something with me too, I guess, but at least it has a good sense of humor!

Traversing Turkey

I wish pictures could really do justice to these beautiful places! From the night we drove into Istanbul, with these lit up, fantastic mosques scattering the hills, and ancient walls and old buildings mixed right in with the towering hotels and modern structures, I was in love with the city.

Two buildings especially in Istanbul vie for attention. To the left you see me standing with Rebecca, my roomate, in the Blue Mosque, built purposely to rival the famous Aya Sophia (which was originally a church). It's massive and the blue tile work inside is incredibly intricate. It was awe-inspiring for sure!






Here, in the backround (below) you can see the Aya Sophia (as well as my friends Thomas and Scott). The architechture here is crazy amazing!

The view from the Palace. (Lovely!)

Inside the circumcision room.... Interestingly, it's an incredibly beautiful room.

I feel like Mary, and other pictures from the first weeks here

A group of us at the magnificent Dome of the Rock.
Notice the long sleeves or scarfs! :-)
The calligraphy and tile work is just phenomenal and so beautiful! It's a must-see!
(Except inside, which is a "cannot-see"...)

Look! I'm on a donkey! So this Bedoin man just tosses me up onto
the poor animal's back... but it was nice for me! Saved me a lot of walking!
This is in the Jericho area, (after seeing Tel Jericho) which by the way is
in the Western Bank. In the background you can see a monastery built into
the cliffs that memorializes the temptations of Jesus.

This is us about to go on the "Under the Center" tour. 

The Jerusalem Center was built on pylons, which was 

a pretty big idea for the time it was built. This architecture has averted many problems, especially with renovation issues. But, the real point is, now we can walk under it, so they take us on a tour down there, and then there's a room where students for years have signed their names on the walls and pipes. (See my addition below!)

Catching up!

The next few posts will be a blog through pictures mostly. I figure those are more fun than words anyway! Quick shout-out to Grandad, who had a birthday yesterday! Love you a lot!

Life as Royalty!

I know I haven't updated since I've been here in Jerusalem! Such a sin! And now we're leaving for Turkey in about forty minutes, (Loading up in ten) so this will have to be short.

But, most importantly, I love it here! I feel like this is as close to living in a palace that I will ever come. There are 8 levels in the center, terracing down Mt. Scopus, which is a hill next to the Mount of Olives. Our back doors open onto patios/balconies that overlook the whole city. Such a view. And our front doors open into small courtyards and hallways open to the sky. It's so lovely!

And Jerusalem! I won't go into much detail now, but it is an amazing city. There is so much history here, and so many people have their center of faith in this place. It is both powerful and humbling to be living here among such people, around so much history.

Shout out to Todd, who's birthday I missed! Happy late birthday! Love you!

Ok, time to go. Sending my love to everyone back home, and everyone at BYU! (Ha, or the five people maybe who read this! But I'll be prideful and pretend it's more!)

Onward and Upward,
Cali

Almost There....

Ok, so I don't want to jinx myself. I'm not actually in Tel Aviv yet. But, I am checked in and at the Amsterdam airport! Reservations made! Boarding pass in hand! (figuratively.) Both bags checked... for free! (Each of those things was at least one wait in some line at some airport.... in other words, a lot of progress has been made just to get me to this point.) Phoenix was great and all, and I did get to do some cool stuff, and am really grateful to many people who made that stay actually enjoyable, but it feels really good to be this close. Steps left: Security (at gate), flight (which is delayed right now, but only by a few minutes), customs, bus ride, taking bags to room, and maybe a bit of sleep. Classes start tomorrow!

Today I arrived in Amsterdam at about 9 a.m., and I was determined to switch my body clock as quickly as possible. I'm going to sound like Ryan after this trip, "Ya, I haven't slept in like three days..." Ha, just kidding. Ok, enough boring. So, to keep myself awake, I adventured. (The proper verb right there would probably be "ventured", but I like being inventive.) Crazy fun! I traversed across all Amsterdam to get to the local ward. The thing was, the ward started at 10 am, and because of really confusing and convoluted directions, I didn't get there until 12 pm. I kept praying on the way over that it would be one of the wards that had Sacrament last, and that I would get to partake. I truly know that God is looking out for me. I know that all of this confusion with travel has all happened for a reason, or really, for many reasons. I know, because when I really need something to work out, it always does. Example: We got to go to the Mesa temple while in Phoenix. At first it was going to cost about $15 a person for transportation, but then the hotel shuttle driver offered to take us, despite the fact that it was far outside his obligatory 5 mile radius range. When we got to the temple, I had to wait, because not only was my recommend literally on the last day of being valid (This was August 31) but I also didn't have it. After a worker called around for about an hour, he finally got through, and I got ushered right through the baptisms. I've never been that much on my own before. It was so beautiful. And after all that waiting, and thinking I wouldnt be able to go (my group had already finished) it was miraculous to me to be able to perform those ordinances.

Anyway, my point is that I was able to attend Sacrament in Amsterdam. I've known few wards that meet with Sacrament last, but I am so grateful Amsterdam is one of them. Going to church turned out to fruit many more blessings. First, I encountered people all along the way who were necessary to get me to my destination, including a super awesome English-speaking teenage girl going to the same area who was able to guide me through an unlisted tram switch, and a Italian woman on the way who was going to a different church on the same street, and we were able to walk together, and help each other. Also, one of the members was on the same train back as I was, so he ended up giving me a tour of the central city. This was so generous, because it meant I had a translator as well as a guide. I saw so many amazing things! I spent over an hour in the Anne Frank museum, getting to see the actual house she hid in, and to learn about her and her family. Her sister Margo (?) seems amazing.

I also saw canals, and monuments, and incredibly beautiful old architecture - the old palace, old churches, places where Rembrandt supposedly did "_" in. (Lived, drank tea, paid debts, drank things other than tea...) Ahh! It was so beautiful! I never knew Amsterdam to be such a fascinating city! I wish I could write more, but I am hungry, and then need to get to my gate. Love you all! Bless the rest of my travel that it will be less hassle-y (see, inventiveness) and I pray you are all well also!

Much love,
Cali

PS I should edit this post, but for now, any rambling or misgrammars I'm going to blame on sleep deprivation, and obviously not an inborn tendency to write a novel in place of a paragraph.

PPS I didn't have my camera, but hopefully pictures will be en route.

City of Heat

Hello All! (or Any!)

It's been a long day of travel and airports, all to arrive in this hot desert city. I'm sure you want to hear all about Jerusalem, to know what my first impression is, to know what I think of the Center. Unfortunately, I want to know those things too! The warm city I am sleeping in tonight is not Jerusalem, but Phoenix, Arizona! One of our flights was cancelled, and so fifty or so of us are temporarily roosting here until flights can be found to move us on our way. So, until I can post about Jerusalem, I will highlight the best parts of living in a hotel on the airline's bill. (Two meals a day so far and all hotel costs are theirs, and not just for our group, but also for at least thirty other travelers, international and otherwise, who missed their connections as well.) 

But, so far everyone has been so kind, cheerful, and patient! It's amazing, but we're all pretty relaxed about what is happening, despite the fact that of course we all long to be in Jerusalem. It's awesome to be with this group, who all seem to be caring, easy-going people. At least we will have lots of bonding time! 

All is well, and I'll keep an update.

Onward and Upward,

Cali