Cancel That- THIS has been the week of studies

 

Haven't written in forever. Here ya go:

Thurs 11th- School

Fri. 12th- School

Sat. 13th- church and primary dinner

Sun. 14th- RED SEA!! So stinkin fun. We got up real early and drove down to Eilat to spend a day at the beach. One of my favorite days for sure. I could've snorkeled there for days! So I have a new plan- Red Sea: Patch family 2013!! Maybe both Turkey AND Red Sea?? Eh? EH? 

This may be the only picture I got at the red sea. I was a little too busy snorkeling ok?

Mon. 15th- We went on a field trip to Yad Veshem, which is the Holocaust museum here. It was really an incredible experience. It was super interesting to see the historical perspective from Israeli Jews.

Super neat memorial to the Jewish Children killed in the Holocaust. Unfinished pillars stand as a remembrance to unfinished lives.

Tues. 16th- crazy school forever and studying

Wed. 17th- ANE midterm and slacklining

Thurs. 18th- Arab Dinner- Very much fun! Got to learn about the call to prayer and Koran reading in mosques. Ate some yummy food. Danced funny step dances. Studied. 

Don't be alarmed. He's just the only one who takes pictures of me. I am forgetful enough to never bring my camera.

Friday 19^th- studying and class.

Saturday 20^th- primary program! And then… two more glorious hours of trying to control the crazy kids AFTER the primary program. Geeze it was a major test of my patience. But the primary program went really well! So that was good. Of course my sunbeams were the ones everyone was laughing at as the pulled their skirts over their heads, hopped around to each song, did handstands, etc… I gotta be honest, at that point there’s nothing much you can do as a teacher that’s not just as distracting, so I wasn’t as restrictive as I could’ve been. And because I love watching the crazy little ones when I’m in the audience, so I let them have their show.  Man primary programs are the best.

21^st (Sunday) free day!! We got up and went to… guess parents?

Yup! YMCA! 

Look familiar Mom and Dad?

We got to go up in the bell tower and play the carolon (Sp?) Essentially, the bells. We played the bells in West Jerusalem to thousands of people! I played little purple pansies and another one I can’t remember. But man it was fun! I got pretty nervous and pulled some crazy faces that of course were caught on camera…

Oops. But whatever! At least west Jerusalem can’t see your face as you’re playing! Then we went to the Israel Museum, which was really cool as well! They have the dead sea scrolls. So nuts to see. So many other cool things too! But too many to truly appreciate, which is the greatest shame about places like that. But it was sweet! After that- just went home and slacklined I think? Been doin that quite a bit. A super good stress reliever, that’s for sure.

I'm getting better!

22^nd (Monday)-

Neot Kedumim field trip! So this place is kinda like the biblical version of this is the place park or whatever it’s called. We got to heard sheep, make biblical food for lunch, watched a torah scribe do his calligraphy thing- which was incredible. Made his own supplies- ink and everything- from kosher material. Takes them a couple years simply to write one Torah which is the five books of Moses I believe? So nuts how they dedicate their life to that. And finally- we walked through the biblical gardens learning about the plants specifically mentioned in the bible and their significance. We also got to crush some grapes and squish some oil really fast. Not tons- but still really cool! Lots of fun. Then, back to the center to study more! Yay! :P NOT!

23^rd (tues) Studying and tests

24^th(wed) studying

25^th(Thurs) studying and tests

26^th (Friday) LAST test. Hallelujah. It has been so nuts. I am very excited to get in to the second half of this semester so I can relax a bit. Different experience with school here. Family- I already made that pretty clear on the phone as I raged for too long. Thanks for the open ears.

Sabbath was pretty uneventful. Really chill- except for crazy primary of course. Lots of violin playing actually. Be proud parents.

And that brings us to today!! Yipee!! Today was a beautiful day. We went out, went on a rampart walk- which is a walk around the walls of the old city- really fun! Pretty. Then we meandered around the Old City for a bit, bought some schwarma!! (yes- my FIRST schwarma. Wasn’t all that exciting. I’ll give it another try, but I think I like felafal better.) Then- we set up the slickline just outside of the city wall on the grass and had a hayday! Oh it was so fun. Everyone was so intrigued by it. Tons of Arab boys were all trying and laughing and having fun. It was a lot of fun. Lots of interaction with the locals, tons of fun! I need to get pictures from Jed so you can see- but it was a lot of fun! Then came home to our Halloween party! The little kids in the center and from the branch came by and trick-or-treated and we had a fun little costume party. Everyone ended up dressing like everyone else. I was our Palestine teacher- because we have the same plaid wardrobe… weird… and it was just funny! 

This is me and my Palestine teacher Bashir Bashir. Yup. All my clothes. Sad truth that I have the wardrobe of a middle-aged Arab man.
Paul and I being our director. Of waaay too funny.

This is my main man Michael Barlow. I thought his costume was way funny! He ruffled some feathers at dinner with the security guards though. hahah

These are my awesome roommates!! Sara is a G. Liz is a safari girl! Too cute. I am doing air quotes. Bashir does that far too often.

Then- went to the concert that was tonight for the community held here. The auditorium is FINALLY finished! But it was a mandolin quartet, and it was amazing. Just so much fun to be here overlooking the night lights of the beautiful city listening to such incredible music. It was just a fun experience! Life is looking up now that finals are over! Also- headed to Jordan in a mere five hours. Still got packing to do. Still haven’t slept at all. Oops. But I told ya I would blog- even if it blew. So… here it is! I will add pictures later so it is more fun. But I love you family! Thank you for your support and prayers and tolerance of me. I know I’m a pill sometimes. Hope everything is going well back home. Happy Halloween!! 

 Random Pictures:

Hey! Look! The Old school romans wore chacos too!

Rampart walk. Really fun!

Hezekiahs tunnel from a bit ago.

In the city of David overlooking East Jerusalem. I thought it was really cool!

Love ya family!