Overlook Field Trip!

Today we went on a field trip to a bunch of good overlooks, hoping we would become more oriented with the city. Unfortunately, it did not really work for me, as we all know, I am pretty bad with directions and I am more confused than ever.

Beautiful shot, right? The city behind me is the Bethlehem. Just behind me are fields for sheep. They could have been the sheperd's fields from the nativity story. (Mom, remember when you were worried I wasn't going to wear those shoes and called me a zumba instructor?:) )

This was a mini field of olive trees. I love them.

This is a part of my group. We are sooo good at looking like American tourists. We were overlooking a huge cemetery that many Jews believe will be the place of the first resurrection. Then, there is the Old City, and on the left, the site of the Temple.

This is Heather and I in front of a mosque turned synagogue that could potentially be the place of the Prophet Samuel's tomb. I thought that the green door was pretty. 

Anyway, it was a great day and I feel like I learned a lot. Tomorrow will be a day of studying and classes, so it was nice to have a day in the sun. (I am sure you are worried, but I have yet to get sunburned, knock on wood.)

Love and miss everyone! 

Walking All the Way Around the City

Wow. Today was so great. I started off with breakfast in the Oasis, I sat with two new friends and we decided to go into the city together today. We started off at the Rockefeller Museum, which is on the way to the Old City from the center. We then stopped and got some money changed, which was an experience in of itself. The man we go to is where all of the Jerusalem center people always go and he loves the Mormons. It is also really funny that the currency exchange places here are literally called money changers. Straight from the bible. Then, we went through Damascus gate and looked around. We were close to getting lost when we got pulled in by a shopkeeper telling us that he had a "Mormon store" and we had to check it  out. His name was Nassir and he had a BYU lanyard, so obviously, it was a "Mormon store." Nassir was so sweet and let us come in and talk. He knows all about us and gave me a free scarf. Then, he went and taught me about the different skirts they sold and I bought one that is reversible can be wrapped like a bajillion different ways. It is so beautiful and will be a great things to bring back from Jerusalem. Nassir was so nice and told me to come back and ask him about any questions I had, he said he would tell me the prices that everything should be in shops and would even help me barter with other shopkeepers if they were trying to rip me off.

Next, we walked around the Jaffa gate area and ended up going on the Rampart's Walk. Which is basically walking around the whole city on top of the wall. It was unbelievable. And, walking around the whole city gave you such a different view from when you are down in there.

This is a super funny little sarcophagus. Look at the lil baby hands that are by the mouth.

This is Nassir and one of the many ways I can wear my new skirt. I think I will probably just stick with the normal wrap, but it is good to know that I have options. 

He also taught me the best way to wrap my scarf:

 And, I climbed the city wall today, no big deal.

Note: Check out my great neck purse. It is all the rage here.

All day, it felt so weird to be out and about on a Sunday. We kept referring to yesterday as Sunday and today as Saturday, which totally does not make sense. I bet it will get easier. I cannot believe I did all of this before three o'clock!

Happy Sabbath!

Sabbath on a Saturday is definitely something that will be difficult to get used to. We woke up today and went to breakfast and then I went to choir, which I know should be a shocker. We sang a really beautiful song called "The Spirit Sings in my Heart" or something like that. Then, we sang it in church.

            Church here is absolutely amazing. It is held in the big auditorium. The whole back wall is windows and looks over the whole city. The Dome of the Rock is on the left and the walls surrounding the Old City are visible from anywhere you sit. It is seriously breathtaking and becomes a little difficult to focus on speakers when you cannot look away from the grandeur of Jerusalem. Today, there were so many tourists that the whole auditorium was filled. I think the branch on its own is very small, mostly only American expatriates, but the center adds about a hundred more. It must be hard for them as we rotate through.

            Now we have to wait for a few more hours before dinner because they do not serve lunch on the Sabbath. I am pretty hungry and have learned my lesson that I should buy snacks on Fridays! Speaking of our food, I recently learned from the branch president's wife that our chef on his two week breaks in between the students coming and going goes to Turkey (or Jordan?) and cooks for the king. I guess the center stole him from one of the best restaurants in Israel and he is highly sought after. I can understand why. His food is so good and it will be a miracle if I do not gain a substantial amount of weight here.

I just got back from dinner- before my two roommates and I walked up to the Garden Tomb. It was an amazing experience. The first picture is in front of Golgatha (it seemed inappropriate to smile, but I am an American tourist, I guess). And, the second one is of me and Hailey, my roomate in front of the entrance of the Garden Tomb. Here are some pics!

There were so many tourists there today, but I have heard on quieter days kids go and sing Easter hymns. Sounds like a great place to do that! 

You Have to Get Lost Sometimes...

Today is the Sabbath for the Muslims and we are not allowed out of the center before three because Muslims gather for prayers in East Jerusalem (where we live) and I guess it can become a little contentious if they go into the Israeli's parts of town. Interesting fact: five times every day, throughout all west Jerusalem a call to prayer comes on loud speakers or something and it is heard throughout everywhere. The first one comes on at fourish in the morning and it totally wakes me up. I am sure it is just something that I will get used to.

So, I went into the Old City with four other really great kids. We went in through the Damascus Gate, through a bunch of merchanty places that are part of the Muslim quarter, then through the Armenian Quarter, then into the Jewish Quarter. We got a little lost, but it was really fun. At one point, we saw a sign and looked up and we were looking at the Western Wall. It was truly amazing. Then, we headed back up to the center and got some dinner. It is about a 25 minute walk to the Damascus gate from the center, and in the sun, it is pretty hot. I am sure it only gets hotter from here.

Mom, I met the really famous olive wood nativity guy, but you guys better start working on bartering because they are pretty expensive and I hear you can talk them down. 

I am really excited to start seeing things with my professors and have them explain the significance of important things; that will just be so cool. I still cannot believe that I just wandered in the Old City today. It is just so amazing, so many incredible things occurred there and I cannot wait to see it all.
This is the view from my back porch:
So great!

So excited!

Just waiting for my flight to JFK, and then off to Tel-Aviv! I am so excited for this wonderful experience and everything I am going to learn. I am feeling so grateful for my wonderful family and friends. Hopefully, I will keep this blog!