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.