Free Day in the City

Holy Cow. What a busy 24 hrs I may say. First may I congratulate BYU on actually beating OU Saturday evening (morning here). About 10 of us here at the JC watched the game...which happened to start at 2am here because of time difference. It was pretty crazy! (embarrassing for the big 12...but I was pretty impressed with BYU) By the time that the game finished it was around 5:30am here...and breakfast started in 1 1/2 hrs...so i took a 1 hr nap and got up for breakfast. Sundays here are our free days because we have the sabbath on Saturdays, like the Jewish and Muslim people here.

After breakfast I left with a good sized group to explore more of the old city. I was really questioning how much I would be able to survive today living on 1 hr of sleep...but I just returned at 5:30pm! And I am very exhausted and looking forward to going to bed very early tonight.

We began with the Rampart Walk at Jaffa gate in West Jerusalem. Basically it is a path that walks along the walls that surround the Old City. There were so many beautiful outlooks from being so high up! That only took about an hr or so. The steps were pretty steep at times and narrow, which was a little scary. It is so nice to see Jerusalem in a different perspective, instead of one of many in a jumbled crowd.

After we finished the Rampart Walk, we made our way to a restaurant in the Muslim quarter off the road that enters Damascus Gate. It was a little hole-in-the-wall place, but delicious. Ashkabars..or something like that. It was a difficult name. The 8 of us shared 2 chips (french fry baskets) 3 different kinds of humis with pita bread, folofal balls and coke in an arabic can. Yum Yum Yum. I was completely full afterwards. And it only cost us like...17 shekels apiece. ( so like...$4)

Several of us have been dying to visit the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock, but have never been able to thus far. The visiting times are all scrambled because they are celebrating Ramadan. I was able to hang out in the Jewish quarter, which is very clean and nice, but also more expensive.

There is a shopkeeper in off Chrisitian Quarter that has a special relationship with BYU or "Mormon University" students. Shaban at Ali Baba gives us good deals...and doesn't rip off the students like many vendors will do...so we finally found his shop today and I bought some Jesus sandals! A pretty dress and a sling over purse to haul all my touristy things I take while on our field trips. All of this cost me 95 shekels..or like $25. It's great not being ripped off.

And finally after the shopping I went over to the Tower of David Museum in west Jerusalem by Jaffa gate. We are required to go there for one of our classes, so that's one assignment partially out of the way. It was basically a citadel...that was built by the many people that invaded, conquered and ruled Jerusalem over the past several thousand or so years. The history gets so complicated.

I am officially give out after a fairly insane day. Hope everyone is enjoying the Labor Day Weekend. (which is obviously not celebrated in the Holy Land)

Shalom Jerusalem

I am officially a pilgrim. After a horrid long flight, I am finally in the Holy Land! It is so incredible to be here. We arrived Wednesday night at sundown, with sounds of the city filling our ears (mostly in celebration of Ramadan) Christmas lights were strung from buildings, twinkling everywhere. The city is much more modern than I expected.

The Jerusalem Center is beautiful. We are so lucky to actually be living here! It is like a temple. I awoke this morning to the blaring of the Call to Prayer aroud 4a.m. Since we live in East Jerusalem it consists of Palestinians, Muslims, & Arabs. The speakers sit right across from the center, so it sounds as if it is someone outisde on our balconies. (Needless to say...my first night in the Holy Land was a restless one.)

If I had to leave after spending only today here, it would have been worth it. What an experience. After an early breakfast & more orientation we walked through many parts of Jerusalem & the Old City. From the Jerusalem Center we walked all the way to the Old City and entered through Domascus Gate. The vendors crowded nearly every space. The smell of foreign spices filled the air to the point my nose burned with its scent. Trash, spoiled fruit, and cardboard boxes littered the alleyways and streets...adding to the ocassional smell of urine. (understandable though, I suppose since buildings are just stacked upon each other in so close quarters)
We were able to stop at an Austrian hospice and use their decent bathrooms. It was tucked away on a corner almost, with a fairly small door which we buzzed and it was opened...which led to another gate inside (almost like "The Sound of Music" when the children visit Maria" It was strange how such a nice little place surrounded by flowers and plants on the inside was amongst the clutter and bustle in the muslim quarter.

We followed the Via Delarosa to the Church of the Holy Seplechure (or the Church of the Reedemer). There were only a couple other large tourist groups there. While many believe this to be the place were Christ was crucified and burried, there is also the Garden Tomb which is thought to be the place as well. The controversy that has risen out of the Church of the Holy Seplechure is extensive and (in my opinion...the opposite of being Christlike) It is amazing how different churches will fight...even literally for a larger piece of the church. I have quickly discovered that many of the disagreements, fighting, and violence in Jerusalem can be linked to desire for political power. West Jerusalem is so different from East Jerusalem. It is so modern and developed compared to the small buildings and shacks in the East.

There is so much more I could say about my first day exploring Israel, but just as I will never be able to see everything here, I think it would be impossible for me to also write everything I am feeling and have experienced in just one day.

Texas...Israel

So I've just got back from my 3 week stint in Texas. It flew by very quick. And I left wishing I still had weeks left to spend there. I came down on Aug. 6th for Kara's wedding. She was so beautiful. I had very little sleep, but it was all very worth it. We ran around fixing things for the reception and finding ties. I am so happy for her and Tommy. It was nice to be able to see old faces, and hang out with Jenna & Maria. love them.

I spent the rest of my time in East Texas...at my grandparents. Their farm is completely relaxing. I spent my time with Bryce, Maggie, Ryles sitting out by the pool and going on nightly walks. We went camping at Tyler State Park for several days, surviving the heat thanks to the RV with air conditioning. It was also there where Holly discovered Skinny Cows at the little store. So began our family's obsession (or maybe just mine) with them. (Skinny Cows are ice cream treats...that happen to be ridiculously healthy for you! hallelujah. thank you to whoever invented them, I can now eat ice cream guiltlessly.)

We also shopped a lot in Tyler. I finally found some decent skirts for Israel that met the qualifications. (And now that I'm getting ready to pack...it seems I have less clothes to take than I imagined...problem? I'm not sure.) I got to hang out with Lori, Paul & Bryce in Longview. He got his braces on while I was there. Poor kid. So glad those years are over. (5 to be precise).

We saw Time Traveler's Wife, which ended up being very sad I thought, but good. Nothing like GI Joe, we saw the week before, haha.

So now that im back in good 'ole Nebraska (cough) im frantically trying to pack everything I need, do all the last minute stuff I procrastinated on, and squeeze in some time with the family. I leave on Monday for SLC, then Tuesday on Delta Flight 1672.
I'm going to really try to be vigilant about writing in this blog while I'm gone, since I will not have a cell phone.

Kauai...and other such

Well we got back from Kauai last Friday night after traveling for 24 hours straight! It was absolutely beautiful there. A perfect description of paradise. We saw over 5 waterfalls...hiked 16 miles of trails...and went to so many beaches...many which were secluded. I don't think we've ever snorkeled as much in our lives either. Any chance we got, I made them stop for shave ice, which I decided is my most favorite thing in the world. Seriously. It beats out cotton candy. One shave ice can make me pour over with joy for the rest of the day. We also went to a pretty cool luau. The food was new & a little different, but delicious none the less. The dancers amaze me. I just wish I could move my body like that. Really. I might even try. It was so nice to have Meme & Holly come with us. Our condo was perfect & had every luxury.

Now I am back in Omaha, I will start my nanny job next week. I am looking forward to having something to do everyday. My parents are still demanding I get a second job, waitressing or something. I went to my first CWS (College World Series) game yesterday with Candace. It was lots of fun.

New News

I have decided to become more diligent in my blogging, especially now that I have been accepted to study in Israel, Jordan, & Egypt this fall! I had my final acceptance interview this past week, so it is official. I be living & studying there from Sept. 1st to Dec. 17th. I feel so blessed to receive this opportunity to see the world and study other cultures. While it leaves a hefty fee on my student financial account, I know it will be a worthwhile experience. I will not have my cell phone with me to text or communicate with friends & family while I between those dates unfortunately, which is why I believe I will use this to let family, etc know of my happenings.

The winter semester ended fine. I got through finals, still recovering from being sick. I did not do as well as I would have liked, but it was a difficult semester overall, so to come out surviving was sufficient. My RA duties are officially over for life. It was a good job & I am so glad to have met and talked with all of the girls in Fox Hall. They were so wonderful. I really lucked out in having the best building ever to look after. I miss all my friends & the girls in our hall so much! It is so much quieter & empty at my family's home.

We are leaving for Hawaii (Kauai actually) soon. I am excited, though I haven't even packed yet. Probably because I feel like somebody is going to walk up to me in the next 24 hours and tell me it was all a joke or something went wrong. Meme (grandmother) & Aunt Holly are coming with us too! I love them so much, so it will be amazing to share this with them! I miss them even though I just saw them in February.

It has been torturing me that I have not been able to visit Texas this summer....at least until the beginning of August. There are just so many people I would love to visit...old friends...newer friends...family. It is funny how things work out....I move away and still all the new friends I make are from Tx too. And I am still not there. I guess i just need to keep reminding myself, like the past 4 years, that there is a reason why Heavenly Father has put me here...even if I cannot see why. At least I am guaranteed to go because my bff Kara is getting married in August...which still seems so surreal to me. He is so lucky to have her; I have been so lucky to have her as a best friend these past...15 years!

So much is changing it's hard to keep up sometimes, especially when my life seems so unorderly right now & my future undefinite. Needless to say I am not close to "settling down" anytime soon. Though I am happy for many of my friends that have already. Who knows what I'll be doing a year from now...studying...working...preparing for a mission...I have no idea. And I am okay with that.

Old Friend

I am so looking forward to this weekend. It is so busy I feel like I will not have time to actually relax. Yesterday I spent most of the day with Tyler. We went to my BOM class with Brother Merrill, whom we both had our freshman year. He took me out to lunch at Cafe Rio.

I hung out at his sister's apartment, Ashley and Tara and we watched Grey's. It was just like last year. So much fun. I forget how much fun I have when I get outside the dorms.

Today has been slow. I got lots of sleep, which is a first for this week. I went to my one class and ate some leftovers. Now I'm just basically waiting until we go to SLC tonight. It should be really fun.

I'm still procrastinating my essays. Oh well.

So it is snowing...again. I'm a little tired of the cold...though I don't mind wearing my rain boots. I just splash through all the puddles on campus. At least it's not sticking so I don't have to shovel our building's sidewalks.

I worked last night...so it was another late night...with less sleep. :/

Our apartment's shower has been fixed...courtesy of me. My roommates don't call maintenance. Supposedly it flooded our bathroom yesterday morning when one of them was showering. They thought it was because of the caulking...but really it was because it was sooo clogged...courtesy of one of my roommates who has the ability to clog a bathtub in like...2 days? I'm excited to go home when I"ll be the only one clogging our shower...haha.

I wrote yesterday...which was refreshing. Not like for my journal or anything. It was for a class, but we had creative free reign. I just sat and mulled over 2 pages for an hour or so. I wish I had time to do that more often. I can't wait for my journalism classes to start then I'll be doing it all the time!

Fun fact of the week: The grocery store forgot to put some of my stuff in my bag this week when I checked out...so i've basically been living off a package of hot dogs. It's disgusting I know. I'm such a college student.