I tots love to laugh.

Last summer when I came home from college, my brothers told me my laugh had changed. I didn't quite know what to make of their comment. I thought back to my roommates and wondered if some of their laughter could have rubbed off on mine. In the end, I decided I had simply acquired a new laugh. Because after all, don't we all have multiple laughs? A happy laugh. A silent laugh. A that's-not-really-that-funny laugh. A i'm-really-stressed-right-now-but-somehow-still-laughing laugh. A rolling-on-the-floor-dying-of-laughter laugh. Every time I laugh this hard, I remind myself of the exercise video I'm going to make based solely on laughing. It will be the best abs work out ever. Think of that part in Mary Poppins when that old guy can't stop laughing and he floats up to the ceiling and they sing that song "I love to laugh." That's the kind of laughter I'm talking about.

Anyway, this laugh story is really just background to the epiphany I had a couple of days ago. I feel like every time we change living situations, i.e. moving in to a new apartment with new roommates, we pick up the same mannerisms/ phrases/ rhetoric of the people we are constantly around. This explains my change in laugh a year ago. And here at the Jerusalem Center, surrounded by the same 90 or so people every day, it explains the phrases I have suddenly found in my rhetoric.

For example:

Tots. Sups. Probs. Awk. I have Danielle and Nicole to thank for these words. Basically, shortening words to the first syllable.
Clearly. I'm not sure where I picked this up, maybe my roommate Taylor.
What I am trying to say, my friends, is..., i.e., obviously, this is problematic, reductionist, and dangerous. These all come from my Islam teacher, Bashir Bashir. Yes, his first name is his last name. These are his classic phrases.

How long will these words continue in my language, post-Jerusalem? Probs until some of my peeps start giving me strange looks.

Bears, beets, battlestar galatica.

Try saying that 5 times fast. 

Well, dear blogger world (or whoever even reads this. hello? is anyone there?), it's been a good week. I know, it's only Wednesday, but there is no such thing as a weekend here at the JC. Seriously. Classes happen Tuesday through Friday. And lest you think that going to class 4 days out of the week sounds wonderful, let me clarify that each of those days usually consists of over 5 hours of class. Then there’s Saturday, which is technically Sunday. Wrap your brain around that. And Sunday and Monday are free days or field trips, which occur after Sabbath so they don’t really feel like the weekend. Basically, there are no weekends here so I never know when to start my week.

This has turned into a really long explanation as to why today is the start of anew week. But I kind of like shaking things up. Maybe we should think of each day as the star of a new week. Or each hour as the start of a new life. We definitely have the power to do so, to begin each day with a new determination to be a little better. Isn't that awesome?! I love how Anne of Green Gables put it. "Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it." 

This past Monday--or free day or whatever day-- I spent in the city. Hooray! In the morning I wandered through the Old City with Danielle and Nicole. In the Jewish Quarter we stumbled across a bunch of Bar Mitzvahs. I loved recognizing some of the songs the groups were singing after just learning them in Hebrew class. 

Bar Mitzvahs taking place at the Western Wall.

A Bar Mitzvah on the way to the Western Wall.

Next, we decided to go on the ramparts walk, which is basically walking around the walls of the Old City. We heard from some friends that there was a free part of the walk and one that cost a few shekels, so naturally we had to find the free version. While looking for the entrance, we stumbled across this dislodged park bench in a sketchy part of town. I made sure to squeeze in some quality reading time. 

We eventually found the free entrance to the ramparts walk, which may or may not have involved hopping a fence. The view of the city of David from the walls was spectacular. We also got a pretty nifty view of the Dome of the Rock. 

Walking along the ramparts.

Nicole and me sitting on the walls of the Old City.
The city of David is behind us.

Crevice in the city wall. 

This week is also the beginning of Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that the people celebrate by building sukkots, or booths, at the homes. These tent-like buildings range from wooden structures to simple tarps covered with palm fronds. We saw many people in the Jewish quarter building their sukkots. The Jews eat all their meals in the sukkot for one week to remember the children of Israel living in tents in the wilderness for 40 years. 

A sukkot in the Jewish quarter.

A Jewish boy carrying palm fronds to his family sukkot.
Thanks again to the Quist sists for their rad camera skillz.

Me and Nicole washing off palm fronds for the sukkot.

We spent the afternoon building our Judaism professor's sukkot at his house just south of the Old City. He was really kind to let us come and participate in the holiday and understand more about what it means to the Jewish people. He says that the Jewish holidays illustrate two main points. "God is great. Now let's eat!" I love this because it reminds me of LDS culture.

Danielle and I enjoying ourselves, maybe a little too much. :)

Danielle, me, and Nicole posing with the palm frowns. We cut down
and washed 12 of those huge palm fronds for the sukkot.

Me, Danielle, and Nicole inside the finished Sukkot!
Chag Sameach (Happy Holidays) !!!

Something brought you here. Fate. Destiny. A horse.

Wondering how I got here? -----> ------> ------>

On top of Tel Azekah, with Danielle and Suzy. Behind us
 is the valley of Elah, where David slew Goliath.

That would be on a bus. [Not a horse.] Which broke down for approximately 20 minutes at our second to last stop. The most exciting part was when we "borrowed" the other classes bus to see our last stop. But we only got 30 seconds down the road before our bus got fixed, so the other class never realized their bus was hijacked. Bummer. 

Our field trip this week was to the Shephelah, a series of mountains that served as a natural defensive border for the Israelites to defend themselves against the Philistines. The Shephelah is located between the coastal plains and Judean Hills. Our first stop was at Beth Shemesh, a fortified city in ancient times which means "house of the sun." The area surrounding this hill is where Samson grew up. 

Looking out from Beth Shemesh.

While we were busy learning about Samson and the geography of the area, Brother Harper's two sons started throwing rocks down the hill. I think we know who had the most fun at that site.

Observe the perfect release of the rock.
Next Olympic sport, anyone??

Another site we went to was Lachish, an archeological dig that archeologists say best fits with biblical texts. Three major battles occurred here: the conquest under the leadership of Joshua, a battle of the Israelites versus the Assyrians, and the Babylonian campaign. 

Me, Danielle, and AnnaLeah at Lachish. 

Our last stop was my favorite. We visited Tel Maresha where there are a bunch of underground caves. I thought it would be nice nice and cool underground, but it was surprisingly humid.

This is the Columbarium Cave, a place for raising doves.
There were over 2000 niches carved in the walls. 

One of the shafts of light in the caves.
(Me, Suzy, and Danielle). 

Me and Suzy turning the ancient olive press. 

At this same site we walked over to the bell caves. The area reminded of southern Utah, except whiter. The caves were very tall and really cool to walk around in. 

Sining hymns in one of the caves.

Danielle and me.

That is all. 

There's such a lot of world to see.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white. 
Bright blessed days and dark sacred nights. 

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. 

It's a beautiful day. Don't let it get away.

I'm in the middle of midterm week and the end is in sight.

That's right!
No more studying all night.
My backpack will once again feel light.
This rhyming might give you a fright.

[insert awkward pause here]

Hey, I've been stuck in the center for almost 3 whole days. That's 72 hours, people. Have you ever been in a single building for that long?
It's weird, because it feels like I've been outside with all the open areas and windows throughout the JC. And technically the hallway to my room is outdoors. But I still haven't set foot outside the building in quite some time. And I might be going a little crazy.

In other news, I have discovered a new tasty treat. It makes studying so much better.
Ahem, introducing... the happy hippo!

Yes, that's right. It's a hippopotamus-shaped wafer biscuit, filled with chocolate-hazelnut goodness. Perfectly designed for 3 delicious bites. The only problem is the tiny size. I want a hippopotamus for Christmas. Probably 50, if you catch my meaning. I will definitely be bringing some of these home, so family, get excited. :)

Our field trip this week was awesome. First, we stopped at a Bedouin village in Naqab. We got to hear the history of these nomadic Arab people from a Bedouin women association called Sidreh. Sidreh is an organization that helps Bedouin women develop their literacy and economic stability. We got to meet some of these women. They showed us the process of making yarn, dying it different colors, and then weaving it into rugs, pillows, and blankets. They have a business that allows them to sell these products. You can read more about Sidreh here. It was very encouraging and exciting to see these women proudly explain their jobs and the great contributions they make to their family and village because of the skills they have developed.

Bedouin woman weaving a rug.

Some of the colored yarns they have made.

Decorations under the tent where we sat.

Our group listening to one of the Bedouin women.

We also went out to an unrecognized Bedouin village in literally the middle of nowhere. I'm pretty sure our professors didn't even know where we were. The people there live in shelters with no air conditioning and dirt floors. While we were trekking through the dusty village, several helicopters flew overhead. I felt like I was in the middle of some movie. Also, I was wondering if there was some war going on that the Jerusalem Center had just failed to mention to us. :) Seriously though, for living in Israel it's surprising how sheltered we are from what's going on right outside our home.

Bedouin women walking up a hill.

3 helicopters that flew over the village.
P.S. Thanks to Danielle for taking pictures throughout the day.
1, her camera is better and B, I was too lazy to take any pictures!

Next, we went to Tel Arad, where an Israeli fortress has been excavated. The area is west of the Dead Sea. Arad was repeatedly settled throughout biblical times because of its strategic geographical location, positioned directly along routes coming from the east and southeast. We saw an ancient temple there, complete with the Holy of Holies.

The Israeli fortress on top of the Tel, taken from down
in the valley where the water would collect.

Awesome dust devil seen from atop the Tel.  

Me and Danielle in the temple ruins.

Observe the falling man. Peter and James, I thought you would
enjoy this! 

Danielle and me standing in the Holy of Holies. 

Our final stop was at Tel Beer Sheba. Go here for a sweet aerial view of the Tel. This is the place in the scriptures where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had encounters with God. It was amazing to explore this location after reading about its history in the Old Testament.

Awesome power line we saw on the bus to Tel Beer Sheba. 

Me, Maddy, and Danielle at the entrance of Beer Sheba.
Yes, that's a plum in Maddy's mouth.

A group of us on top the lookout tower at Beer Sheba.
We loved the hard hats. 

Going down to an underground cistern.  

The classic bathroom pic. I experience this on a daily basis. 

In my research of Tel Beer Sheba, I stumbled across a New Era article written in 1975 by a women who helped excavate the site. It is a very interesting and insightful article and you can read it here. The author, Janene Wolsey, said something that really struck me.

"When you are placed out in the middle of nowhere and denied most of the conveniences you are accustomed to, you become grateful for things you never realized you were blessed with before. It amazes me that I could be completely covered with dirt, have blisters on both hands, sore muscles, flies flying around my head, and an upset stomach, and yet feel so completely blessed for experiences in which physical discomfort teaches patience and gratitude. I started thinking past the physical and material things because I was living on so little and was amazed at how little I need materially and how much my whole life depends on my Father in heaven."


I experienced a little of what Janene went through as I visited these hot, dusty sites in the middle of the day. But this quote switched my paradigm, my point of view, and reminded me of all the incredible blessings I have. Often times you don't realize what you have until it's gone. 

Take time to be holy.

This weekend is general conference. I'm excited to hear the words of our great prophet and leaders of the church.

I'm going to miss cinnamon rolls and watching conference in my pjs and being with my family.

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.  ~Thomas Jefferson


Happy conference weekend!

Every generation gets a chance to change the world.

Coming back to Jerusalem after our week adventure in Turkey felt good. Like coming home. Despite the sudden inundation of classes and homework, I made sure to get out in the city. I love how I can finally find my way around most of the Old City.

Yesterday, I went out to the Old City with Eliza, Shalyn, Kristine, and Tiffany. We rushed over to the Dome of the Rock and barely made it before the guards' lunch break. It was my first time there and even though I've seen the Dome of the Rock in pictures, it still was a little unreal. I had never fully appreciated the blue decorated tiles all around the structure and the sun was shining perfectly on the golden dome. Also, there were very few people there, so it was very peaceful and quiet.

First time seeing the Dome.

I love the contrasting blues and golds. 

Me, Eliza, Tiffany, and Kristine. 

After the Dome of the Rock, we meandered through the Jewish Quarter. The Jews are currently celebrating Rosh Hashanah, their start to the New Year. Hey, this would be a perfect time to make some goals. You only have to keep them until January 1st! We stumbled across this sign at the entrance to a home close to the Western Wall. 

Yeah for Fiddler on the Roof. :) "Tradition!" has been stuck in my head ever since. You're welcome.

Our final stop was for some challah at a local bakery. This is bread that the Jews make on Shabbat and holidays. It is a specially braided sweet bread and tastes absolutely delicious. I will have to restrain myself from eating challah every Sabbath ;)

Me and Eliza outside the bakery.