ode to finals

I wish I could be playing in this beautiful city right now. Instead, I have to study for a field trip final. I want to be spending my last week playing and taking it all in...instead i'm getting ready for tests! The only thing getting me through is the final 5 days of FREEDOM I will have after school is all done. High five for the first person who can spot the Jerusalem center in this picture!

i love my life

I love my life. Plain and simple. This past week has been crazy. We’ve had field trips, adventures, and a little bit too much studying. It was finals week here, so a lot of days were spent inside the center studying. It’s hard to study when Jerusalem is right outside your window. Now, finals are finished (except one paper….) and the stress level in the center is a lot lower. I think we tend to make each other more stressed out than is really necessary. Some finals were failed, others we’re barely passed…but they’re over and we’re happy. Now we only have two classes for the rest of the time here, so we are going to live it up every minute. The best part about finals week was getting a little too silly and also having a lot of deep conversations.

On Monday we went to Hezekiah’s tunnel! It was definitely my favorite field trip so far. We saw some ruins around the City of David and then got ready for the tunnel! We saw a movie in 3D and it was super cool because I already learned a lot about the reasons for the tunnel so I felt way smart. Then we went underground and walked in some freezing cold water (FELT SO GOOD!). We turned off our headlamps and tried to go without light, but we kept bumping into the walls and each other and it was so great. At the end of the tunnel we got out to the Pools of Siloam. This was the place that Christ healed the blind man. On our way out we walked up another tunnel (without water), which had some original steps that Christ would have walked on. I walked where Jesus walked!

On Tuesday I took and failed an Israel test. YAY! and studied forever and ever for old testament. Wednesday I took an old testament test. Thursday...I can't remember what I did, probably studied. and on Friday I took another test. 

Tel-Aviv tomorrow and Jordan on Monday!!!!! 

me and the roomies missing annie :( in front of al-aqsa mosque!

me, nate, and maddie gettin ready for hezekiah's tunnel!

maddie, beccca and me rocking the head lamps inside Hezekiah's

maddie, nate, and me at the pools of siloam!

these pants and this fence are my favorite colors.

welcome to my world. this is right inside Damascus gate. I walk this everyday! love love love it.

a few quality pictures

just because its finals and i havent been doing anything of interest (sleeping and studying), I figured I would add some old pictures because my mom LOVES pictures. 

me and kenz under the center signing our names! this was before we were bff's.

the roomies at arab night. we are so funny.

me and dev have kinda matching dresses! 

I LOVE DEVERY AMUNDSEN

cherries in turkey

annie is the best part of this pic

john schmidt concert with ian, dwight, dev, me, melinda, and aj

maybe i'll do something fun once i write a final paper and take my last test.

passover, parties, and pictures

i have a feeling finals are going to be unsuccessful......

It's probably because I live in THE most incredible place in the world. Naturally it takes all of my energy to do something fabulous and exciting during the day. So when it comes time to do homework after my adventures, all I can do is sleep. and oh do I sleep. The best way to tell if it's going to be a good day is if you take one or more naps before 8:00 AM. The third and fourth naps usually happen after class and again after a trip to the city. Although the after city naps are a little uncomfortable because you have to walk up heck hill to get home, in the 100 degree weather. They're a little hot, but necessary so your eyes can stay open to see what curry flavored meat and potatoes you'll be eating at dinner. The best is when you get to dinner and find ice cream and non-curry chicken. Those are the best kind of meals.

On Thursday we finished our Israel class forever! (besides a final tomorrow..i should study for that). We had a Passover meal where our professor taught us all of the Jewish traditions. It was really cool, and interesting.

the oasis got a little fancy for the night.

josh ludlow and i

dev, bekah, me

me and jamie are woods cross wildcats together, even though we didn't know each other in high school (notice the red, white, and blue, go cats)!

On Friday, we found a block party for all the college aged kids in Israel...we didn't stay long.

Yesterday we went to the zoo! It was a good break from really important sights...but it was real hot. 

i'm a bird whisperer. 

the birdies loved me. washing my hands purely for a picture with the birds.  

bears love us

we love bears

and i'm afraid of animals. 

Bottoms up

This week has been CRAZY! We had midterms last week and this next week is finals. Dont ask how that makes any sense because it doesn't. So last week was full of studying and paper writing. And this week will be full midterms and finals and good stuff like that.

This is what happens when you study too much.

can't you tell that dwight was REALLY sick of studying?

twins. this is analise. she's great. 

me and nathan jellen are sick of writing papers.

really sick of homework

taking breaks from studying

some say we're a threesome and that we both love dwight. the truth is we just all love each other. 

We had a few fun adventures this weekend though! but i'm tired. and going to bed. so maybe tomorrow you'll be lucky enough to hear about Eliat and Monday's field trip.

On Friday our "fashion committee" had us all wear khaki's and white t-shirts. hence the cute matching.