Well, I am back in Provo, now. I think tomorrow is going to be weird, back to work and back to school. Part of me wants to go back, part of me wishes that I didn't have to. I hate duality of feeling. I wish it was always the same. It gets confusing when I have two contradictory feelings because I don't always know which one to listen to. In this case, the choice is obvious, I need to go back to school, but that is not always true. Often the choice is not so clear cut.
Anyway, now for the sort of good news. I have been "assigned a position on the 2008 Winter Semester Program at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Easter Studies!" Here comes the contradictory feelings again. Part of me is very glad (all I have to do for official acceptance is have a final admission interview) because this is something I have wanted to do for a very long time. But at the same time, I kind of wish I would have known what was going to happen this semester before I applied, maybe then I wouldn't have applied. Then again, maybe that is exactly why things happened the way they did. Its so hard to tell sometimes.
Studying in Jerusalem has been my dream since I heard that the center was reopening. But the desire to go to Jerusalem started a long time before that. It was actually one of the last things that my brother and I were planning on doing. On a whim, I asked him if he would go see Jerusalem with me. He, like always, readily agreed, and we began "planning" our trip, though we knew it would not happen for a few more years in the future. We, nonetheless, knew that it would happen someday. Just as we planned to go to Nauvoo for the temple dedication, and made it happen, we would make this happen. Unfortunately, we never got that chance. When I first thought of studying in Jerusalem, I felt like this would be a way to fulfill our dream. Now I have another reason. My mom was fully supportive of my decision to study in Jerusalem. In fact, I think you could say that since it was my dream, it was her dream, too.
The only real problem, besides my contradictory emotions, is finding the money to actually do it. The first installment is due Oct. 16 and the rest of the money is due by Nov. 26. That's quite a bit of time, and I only hope it will give me enough time to find the money. I am waiting for a student loan to go through, but I have been waiting for a long time and don't know how much longer I have to wait.
So, here is my plug. If you feel so inclined to contribute to my "Send Rachel to Study in Jerusalem" Fund, feel free to help! I am currently accepting check or money order, but am unable to accept credit cards! :) Ok, I am joking, but if you would like to help, I'm not too proud to take it.
Currently Reading:
The Queen of Spades
by Aleksandr Pushkin
1 comment:
Gosh, that is amazing! I am so happy you are able to go to Jerusalem! My brother-in-law just returned from there the end of June! We were talking to him on the phone while he was still there and I asked him... "so, do you like it more than your mission!?" and he said, "I feel bad saying this, but, yes, I loved it more than my mission!" He served in Argentina! He is at BYU right now... you should look him up, his name is Caleb Hiller. He is also on my Facebook friends! Good luck... If I weren't buying a house in 2 weeks, I would totally try to help you financially!
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