Recap of the weekend

Sorry I havent written in a bit, homework got to me forcing me to study and read instead of writing in my blog, man school can be demanding..
Well for dad I will mention how church was on Saturday...
we have church on saturday, which is actually lots of fun and kinda of different to get use to since all my life it was on Sunday. Our branch is pretty big for being located in Jerusalem, and there is variety of ages. I sat behind a cute family of four that had two really cute small girls who were about 4 and 5. Also we have a couple of students that attend Hebrew University that will join our Home Evening Group and they are pretty cool people. I met one named Rebecca and she did the Jerusalem program and has graduated college and decided to come and study Hebrew for two years here in Jerusalem. So I bet they may like a couple of more people their ages to be around in the ward. It is fun to look around and see how many people may be from all over the world, here for different reasons. I really enjoyed one ladies comment speaking to us students saying that " we are home and welcomed to be here". I loved it and it helped alot by feeling included in the church and here in this foreign land.
So I got to get to bed, so hopefully I will be able to post tomorrow..
Goodnight!

Wondering around the Old City

Today was a free day, meaning we can go and do anything we want here in Jerusalem. So my friends and I headed out to first get money exchanged at Aladins. When I was at Aladins I found Chelsi Funk’s note she left, and I was so excited to see it and it made me really miss her. Aladin is such a funny guy and really nice to talk with. I hope to get to know him a lot better with all the trips I may make to see him. Then we started our journey to a merchant recommended by the center. I forgot his name right now but will be sure to find it and will most defently be talking about him later on. His shop was a bit hard to find, but we did find it and I was really proud of us for being adventures and using our maps to find his place. The market is huge and packed with all cool stuff with merchants ready to sell it to you for a “very good price” because we are “students and don’t have much money”. Or even “ahh the Mormons, how are you today, come and look at my shop and I give you good price”. It is amazing what they will think of as reasons you should come buy from them.

I did find a lot of really fun stuff I would love to get, and this time I am being responsible and looking at the stuff then writing it down to purchase at a later time hopefully. It was a lot more enjoyable in the market this time because I am feeling a lot better, didn’t have to worry about staying up with my fast teacher and I am less jet lag then before.

We then decided that we wanted to go to the Jewish Quarter because we have spent a lot of time in the Christian quarter and wanted a change. So we just started walking south bound and would take random street alleys, that had a lot going on in them, and found a pathway that lead to the quarter. The Jewish quarter has a lot more space to move around and is a lot cleaner. For they provide lots of trash cans to dispose of trash and there is no sellers along the sides of the streets. We had lunch in front of a big building that I am not sure what it was and then got gelato. It was so good!! I love that stuff and will have to get more for sure. Then we just wanted to explore the city and look for cool stuff to take photos of. On our adventure I found a look out over the Western wall and could see the Dome of the Rock. So we decided to go to the Western wall.

In the western wall, which is the last remaining about of Solomon’s temple, the women and men are separated. As you get closer to the wall you see many women backing up slowly while still facing the wall because you never give your back to it. It was amazing to see the devotion these women have towards the wall and how reverent they were remaining as they were leaving. It made me think how after sacrament meeting, the most important part at church, is followed by socializing and many times I forget about what just happened in the building.

As I got closer to the way, I could see women just crying hard against the wall, hoping that it will support them as they just pour out their soul. Inside the cracks where hundreds of rolled up papers, all with prayer writing. It was amazing to see the women press and try to keep these prayers inside the wall.

After that we toured and got lost and found a school yard of children, but where finally able to find the place where we had gelato. Then we just traveled around and found the Christian quarter and headed back to the Center.

I am so tired, but feel a lot more comfortable in the city and feel like we saw a ton of stuff in one day and I am so excited to go back! Well I am starving so I am headed to dinner.

First Day of Classes

Today we started off the day with two of our classes Old Testament and Near Eastern History. Both classes were two hours long each, which was a bit hard to handle and stay focused during. It was fun though getting back to the lecture and being able to learn history. I am enjoying history more and able to understand it and appreciate the middle eastern history because instead of seeing the areas in pictures I am able to see it in person, which makes the learning and remembering alot more meaningful and lasting.
We were then able to go into the city after 3 but had to return from the Old city before 4:45 which is when the sunsets. So my three girl friends and I went to the local "7 eleven" which was fun to see. They have alot of the same logos of the food that we have but the writing is different. I needed shampoo and conditioner so I found Dove, problem was I didn't know which was shampoo or conditioner because of the Arabic writing.
We then traveled more in towards the city and were able to recognize the city a bit more and knew where to go. It is a great feeling knowing where to go for certain items and not have the fear of being lost.
Well I have to return to studies because the Sabbath day is tomorrow, weird it will be on Saturday instead of Sunday but I am excited for the experience.

Exploring East and West Jerusalem for the first time

Today we were able to visit and walk around East and West Jerusalem, to better know the city that we will be living in for the next four months. We started out early and the weather reminds me alot of San Diego's weather because it has a cool morning but by the afternoon it burns off and was a gorgeous day. For those who may not be really familiar with the layout of Jerusalem, here is a quick recap. The BYU center is on the mount of olives which is in East Jerusalem and many Muslims live in this part of Jerusalem. With the Muslims comes the call of prayer that has huge bells and songs that go off at 3 and 5 am I believe, not for sure because I was trying to get back to sleep but definitely heard them. This part of town is where the center has a very trusted money exchanger that has been used by the center since the 80's. It is a bit crowded at times and many people rushing by. Arab men love to whistle at the girls and get their attention, but I just ignore it. The West side has alot of Jews in it, and has a lot wider streets. Many more shops are a bit high quality and it has a coffee Bean, which i was really surprised to see. The streets are a bit more cleaner and there are alot more European tourists in the area then the East. We are able to stay out longer in the West then the East, which is nice because I will most likely be shopping in those areas.
During our adventure in the East, our group of 8 people were a bit lost and had to stop to look at directions again and the little map provided. While figuring out where to go, the group behind us came along and joined us. We then were looking for a bit and I started following the other group and then my group was gone. Three other guys and I got left behind and decided to stay with the other group that was leaving and didnt want to try to find our group in the busy market place. It was so chaotic and crazy that the decision made was fast with out really figuring out any other way. Well the group that we joined ended up getting lost and had to call the center for directions on where to get out and go to the next stop. Within 4 minutes one of the security men found us, and was a bit out of breath, and we were able to find our other group. We asked the group leader to call ours and he did and we were able to join up with the right group. I just found it interesting how I got lost with all the boys in our group, kinda tells what i was thinking during the time.
From then on, the security men would be everywhere and the only way i could recognize them were their glasses. So i started a game that is called "Where's Waldo", meaning where is the security guards in the city. It is a fun game and its amazing how they knew where all of us where just by knowing the city and what goes on in the city.
These last couple days have been hard because I am trying to fight jet lag, keep up with my studies, try to get to know everyone and know battling what started as a sore throat, to a congested and now a runny nose. I do not enjoy being sick but hope to get over it fast and be able to enjoy this adventure a bit more by being healthy.
Well in order to get better I have to get to bed, so good night!

I made it to the Holy Land

Hello family,

I made it safely to Jerusalem and it is so gorgeous! The buildings and city is unbelievable and I love the center. It is huge and lots of things to do in it, and many stairs to climb. My room is kinda of small to be sharing with three other girls, but I think I will be able to manage. We have a porch and it looks over the city, and I love it and hope to be spending a majority of my time there.

Today we had orientations and got to know our teachers and had a tour of the center. Surprisingly I know the center in one day and understand the format of the place. I give the credit to those crusises we have taken and being able to understand the layout of the ships. So we need take more cruises and be able to develop on this skill for future use to others.

I found out that the organ here has been in use for 25 years on Saturday and there will be a concert to celebrate it. The Mormon Tabernacle organist flew down for the concert and was here and we were able to hear him play. He was amazing and made that organ sound really good.

I mostly just unpacked today and tomorrow we will be touring the Old city. So I am heading off to bed and will hopefully be able to send this email off tomorrow morning after breakfast.

I love you guys and miss you,

Kelsey

Almost there!

Hey I am writing you from JFK airport and have about 4 hours left in my layover, so I thought I might as well write a blog to start this blogging process off strong!! I have been in the plane for about 4 hours flying from SLC and have a 12 hour flight waiting for me before I arrive in Tel Avi. Yesterday during the meeting I found out that the internet connection isn't that strong and I wont be able to post pictures on my blog, unless I go into the city. So this blog will mostly be a written blog, meaning not as exciting as pictures but I think it can serve as a journal as well.
I am getting more excited as we are getting closer to the center, and love the people I am meeting already. I have a really fun group, and everyone is super nice. There are about 50 women and 30 men on this group, which is very similar to BYUI's atmosphere, so nothing new to me. 11 of us in the group are from BYU-I and I am hoping to meet all of them soon. It is kinda of like a scavenger hunt and so far I have met 7 of the 11 including myself, so I am almost there.
As this blog continues I can guarantee you will see many grammar and spelling errors, so if you love me you will forgive and forget :) I will be having a lack of sleep I can tell, which will make these posts even more interesting. Well thats all I can think of writing about now, but please comment if you want to and feel free to email me at any time.
Oh and I wont be able to have access to facebook that much either, if I do go on I will have to be in the city.
So I will blog later!

Exactly 1 month from Today!!

I do have to admit that this semester's weather was great! Rexburg did get some snow, but none stayed for long, meaning I didn't have to stress as much when it comes to driving around the town, driving down to SLC for thanksgiving or even when I drive home in 2 weeks. Another bonus is I have not fallen, which is always super nice not to have a killer bruise on my legs or butt.
I am starting to get excited and anxious about my study abroad in Jerusalem and know I will love it there. So now I just need to figure out what clothes I am going to bring, and to make sure they are loose fitting. I am starting to have dreams about the program, and that is how I know that I will be in Jerusalem in 1 month from today!!
This semester was different, I didn't take alot of my major classes but focused on finishing foundations, but it was super nice having my classes start at 10am every morning and I could get us to that! I enjoyed my psychology class alot and most of all my prep for marriage class.
In preparing for my trip to Jerusalem, I wont have alot of access to my facebook page and sometimes internet at all. For those who like to be in contact of me, mostly my mom, this blog will allow who ever is interested to read on the many exciting adventures I will be having soon. Please feel free to leave any comments and I will try my best to keep updates as soon as they happen.