I want to share all the creative names people contributed when I was stressing about making a blog - they're pretty good.
The Hummus Among Us
From Y'all to the Wall
Hailing from the Wailing Wall
From the Prairie to Petra
There's No Place Like Dome
When in Dome
Call me Israel
Scopus Out
I apologize if I forgot any, there were a lot of funny ones.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
First Night
I AM IN ISRAEL!!!
I finally made it to Jerusalem. We traveled for 24 hours straight, but we're here. Israel is amazing. Driving through to Jerusalem from Tel-Aviv looks more familiar than I imagined. I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but in some parts it looks a lot like Utah or even Texas with all the trees. But the cities are all white stone, and the rocks and hills really highlight where we are. It's beautiful. Jerusalem is beautiful. And the Jerusalem Center is more beautiful than the pictures. It has just the right architecture of arches and open glass walls, and it's made of white stone, to fit within the city, but it is still the most beautiful building. You can see the Dome of the Rock from the front, so every student balcony overlooks the most breathtaking skyline you can imagine. The center sits on the Islamic side of the city, so we have the privilege of hearing the call to prayer over loud speakers to everyone. It was so cool! We were all standing outside enjoying our first sunset in the Holy Land when we heard it the first time. This place is a complete center of faith, and you can just feel it. I feel so much peace here in the center.
The students that are here are all so great, really. I love that everyone here is so genuinely excited to be here and make the most of it! I already feel really close to a couple friends here, and I'm looking forward to spending time with everyone for the next 3 and 1/2 months. I'm also looking forward to the classes, even though I know I'm going to have to study when I'd like to be out exploring. But everything is so great here: I love where I am and who I am with and everything that is to come.
I finally made it to Jerusalem. We traveled for 24 hours straight, but we're here. Israel is amazing. Driving through to Jerusalem from Tel-Aviv looks more familiar than I imagined. I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but in some parts it looks a lot like Utah or even Texas with all the trees. But the cities are all white stone, and the rocks and hills really highlight where we are. It's beautiful. Jerusalem is beautiful. And the Jerusalem Center is more beautiful than the pictures. It has just the right architecture of arches and open glass walls, and it's made of white stone, to fit within the city, but it is still the most beautiful building. You can see the Dome of the Rock from the front, so every student balcony overlooks the most breathtaking skyline you can imagine. The center sits on the Islamic side of the city, so we have the privilege of hearing the call to prayer over loud speakers to everyone. It was so cool! We were all standing outside enjoying our first sunset in the Holy Land when we heard it the first time. This place is a complete center of faith, and you can just feel it. I feel so much peace here in the center.
The students that are here are all so great, really. I love that everyone here is so genuinely excited to be here and make the most of it! I already feel really close to a couple friends here, and I'm looking forward to spending time with everyone for the next 3 and 1/2 months. I'm also looking forward to the classes, even though I know I'm going to have to study when I'd like to be out exploring. But everything is so great here: I love where I am and who I am with and everything that is to come.
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