So I've gotten to the busy point where I blog only about big things and field trips.
So I thought I'd do a little post about everyday things and little stories from the city.
The other day we went and visited the Tomb of the Kings. Its this tomb site that belonged to a Queen who was not originally born in Jerusalem and her family. It was more of a play site than a learning site. A big group of us met down there and all played in the tombs together. We had to enter through this small whole in a wall, which opened into a larger room with 3 more holes to other rooms, which had another hole in the floor for another room. It was just like it sounds, jungle gym for college students. Only a couple of us remembered to bring our flashlights so it was a real adventure feeling our way around. We took silly pictures in the tombs and then later realized that we laid in someone's grave, where dead bodies have been for a long long time. Gross. Thank goodness Jess brought hand sanitizer.
The courtyard in front of the tomb was a fun place to explore too. There was a giant stone wall with an archway in the middle, opening up to a smaller courtyard and a bunch of stairs. The grass was growing and flowers were starting to bloom, it was a really pretty day to be outside.
After that we traveled down to the post office where we waited about 15 min for stamps. We were hot, tired, and dirty, but we had fun just chatting and looking at cute babies. A favorite pastime of ours. We decided to wait on stamps so we could make it back to lunch on time. On our way out we met a sweet older man who offered to walk back with us because his house was on the way. I know what you are thinking, and no it wasn't sketchy at all. Its surprising how well you can read people here, our palestinian teachers always say "we don't hide anything, we are not fake, if we like you... you will know" and it is so true. Anyways, we started walking back and he told us all about his family and the people he knows in America, he told us about what the people are like here, and about the BYU student he met in the past. Cati and Michael, he has been waiting for your letter for about 5 moths now... get on that. He was very interesting to talk to, and was nice enough to invite us over for another day. Everyone here is like that, they all want to serve you or feed you or help you in some way. I absolutely love it.
Dead body juice. Gross.
More dead body juice.
The entrance into the tomb
Senior Pictures? Lame?
Ohh hey there big boy
Showing off the TOMS Paige painted for me
I heart Jessica Bassett
Cute Babies in yellow jumpers
Another day this week we ventured into the Old City to find this pizza place that Taylor was telling us about. He gave very clear directions "In Damascus gate, turn left at the fork, before the Armenian Hospice, close by where the Via Dolorosa meets.. its calls the Green Door". I could picture in my head exactly where he was talking about. When we had walked up and down that street a couple times, still not being able to find it, we asked for directions. No one knew where the Green Door was or that it even existed. We found about 3 other pizza places that wanted to charge 30 sheks for a pizza! We weren't having that... we wanted to find the 10 shek pizza that Taylor had been raving about. Finally, after about an hour (not even joking) a man who owned a small shop pointed it out to us. It was literally right around the corner. The door was not green, way to throw us off. But there was a sign. We went in and walked down into this small cave like room where we met and old man and his legit old style pizza oven.
He only makes two kinds of pizza, meet or just cheese. He had these little pan style pizzas that he filled with: beef, eggs, mystery cheese, sauce, and spices. It reminded me of quiche. We sat and laughed while he made the pizzas and I took lots of pictures. I love the days where you can just be in the city. You feel like you belong here. Today Dr. Chadwick said "no matter where else you live in your life, Jerusalem will always be your home" I feel that way already. I'm so sad knowing we are more than half way done. We have less days here than we have already had. It is going by way to quickly. My roommates and I were tearing up today just talking about it. Jerusalem really has become our home. I am making a promise to myself that I will come back, someday somehow... even if I am 99 years old and I just get one look of the temple mount.
Making some pizza
These are my friends
GQ?
YUMM
This little boy saw I had a camera and started striking poses, foot up in the wall and everything. Probably the cutest thing i've ever seen.
Josh carried ALL the girls purses up the hill to the center. What a gent.
Bassett Candy.
Our favorite candy shop. 3 Sheks for Bueno Bars!
On a lighter note, we have also been having a ton of fun in the center. Today I got to help out with Lisa Judd's birthday party! She just turned ten and had a bunch of friends from school and church come to the center to celebrate. About 13 of us girls signed up to help paint nails and do hair at the party and it was a blast. Emily and Amanda Judd offered to do my nails, and boy do they look lovely! Pink and peach with sparkles.
Happy Birthday Lisa!
Emily and Ami doing my nails. They are pro.
Why I should not adopt a black girl... I would have no idea how to do her hair.
Tonight we did Israeli Folk Dancing.
What a party.
Most of the students here LOVE to dance.
I think it has been some of our best bonding time.
We dance and sing and sweat like there is no tomorrow.
Its way fun learning big group dances that we can all do together, from holding hands, running in circles, under bridges, and even a jewish macarena. I love the people here.
We spend a lot of our nights watching movies, doing homework, playing games.... the usual. I feel like I've known them all my whole lives. We were laughing joking that we were going to get all the JC crew to do Israeli folk dancing at each others weddings. We also did a funny "Karaoke Night" where we took turns putting our ipods in and turning it up as load as possible and singing as loud as we can. So. Funny. If you came to watch you HAD to sing.
We got caught in a rain/wind storm!
We had the amazing opportunity to have a Seder dinner the other night with our Jewish teacher Ophir... but that deserves its own post so I'm going to make you wait on that...
Thats All Folks!
I want to know what you want to hear about? What have been some of your favorite posts? Do you like the friend focus idea? Is there anything you are curious about? I'm thinking about doing a Q & A post... so if you have questions feel free to e-mail me at kaitlinmariephotography(at)gmail(dot)com
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