the jc

Can't believe today is my third full day in jerusalem! I love this place already. I woke up bright at early Thursday morning. Really, my roommates and I were all wide awake by about 2:30am. Then as we were finally falling back asleep the call to prayer began. I think that was when I realized that i'm in JERUSALEM. Later that morning we went on a field trip walk around the Old City. I was so tired that I honestly can't even remember what happened. I just remember thinking that it was so pretty! All I could think about on Thursday was how I wanted to go to sleep, but I had to make myself stay awake to avoid the jet lag! I tried to do some reading for my classes but I kept falling asleep, so I gave up and went to sleep. Thursday is one big blur, i was so tired. I almost slept through the night on Thursday night, I just woke up for a second for the call to prayer...that was a success. (If you haven't heard it, you should look it up on youtube. It's the weirdest thing, but i'm already falling in love with it). One of speakers is in a little neighborhood right outside my window, so it is VERY loud.

rachel and I on the first night

view from my balcony!

my roomie stephanie! our first pic hahahaha. were so weird.

Friday was a lot better! Getting up early here isn't hard at all. Breakfast is at 7 and i'm always on time (haha all three days....dad better be super proud). Then we started classes at 8. First I had Old Testament and then Ancient Near Eastern studies. My Old T teacher is super funny and passionate. (his blog is huntsmansintheholyland.blogspot.com....he updates with a lot of pics and details). I love my professor for ANE, he's really cool...but his kids are even greater. They just live here in the center with us and hang out with us all the time! The boys are 17 and 14 and just act like college students, its great. (and thanks to rachel bennett they already know me around here). Finally last night we were allowed to leave and explore the city on our own! I went out with Dwight, Melinda, and Robin and it was super great. We walked through Damascus gate and explored all the shops. The walk from the center to the old city is uphill both ways...super great. But its a quick walk. I love looking towards the center from the old city, you can always see it and it already feels like home! While you walk down the street, so many people yell at us. Its definitely a self esteem booster because everyone says "oh you so pretty" or "we love the mormons, what you eat that make you so beautiful?" They also whistle and honk at us all the time. Feels pretty great. I think they're fans of my blonde hairs. We found this shopkeeper named Shaban who sells shirts and sweatshirts that say BYU Jerusalem, as well as leather scripture cases, ctr rings in hebrew, and lots of other "stuff for the mormons." Seriously, they love us. We have to be out of the old city by sundown because i guess it gets kind of dangerous. We can be in West J but all the shops were closing for their sabbath that starts on Friday's at sundown. Last night we played games, listened to music, played volleyball, and watch a movie. I think Friday's are going to be party times around here.

walking to the city!

crazy spice tower in the old city!

Robin and I in the old city. I guess the painted walls mean they just went to Mecca!

the JC! (home)

Saturday's in Jerusalem is really sunday....haha we have church on saturdays because the Jewish observe their sabbath then. It's called shabbat. So today was our first day of church. It was really great. Sacrament meeting is in this room that has a huge window that faces the old city. It was hard to focus on the speakers because i kept getting lost looking out the window! Then we went into the Garden Tomb! It was really interesting because it didn't feel sacred or anything. There were so many tourists and a lot of preaching and singing in different languages so it was hard to focus!!! Tonight we made cookies with the Ludlow's (my professors family!)

I love this place already and its going to take lots of convincing to make me come home! My roommates are great and i'm making some really great friends already. Love it here.