First full day in Jerusalem

Today has been a very long day for me. It is my first full day in Jerusalem. This morning I woke up in time to get ready and eat breakfast. There was a huge selection of food and it was very good. After breakfast, we had yet another orientation meeting. Then we had pictures taken for our security passes to get in and out of the center before heading out on our walking tour of Jerusalem. We were asked not to bring our cameras because we had a very small amount of time to see a lot of things, so I don't have any pictures to show you what I saw.
The Jerusalem Center is situated in between Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives, on the very southern edge of Mount Scopus. We walked down the mountain and in to the Palestinian part of the city. It looks very old and run down and very Middle Eastern. We saw some important places where we might need to go, and also one place that we are to avoid. Then we went into Old Jerusalem by way of Damascus gate. That leads directly into the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. There are shops every where and many merchants who love us BYU students, but love our money more. We also stopped at the Austrian Hospice there. They have a nice view of the city, and I wished we had been able to bring our cameras.
We also walked through the Christian quarter. There I heard Russians signing (which is very odd because Russians don't sing on the street like that). We saw and walked down Via Dolorosa, the route that by tradition, Jesus walked during his last hours. It is so amazing to be among so much history, especially history that means a lot to me as a Christian.
We left by way of Joffa Gate and entered West Jerusalem, the Israeli part of the city. That half of the city is very different from the Palestinian half. It looks newer and much more European. It was amazing to see such a strong contrast. We saw there the King David Hotel, where President Bush is staying while here in Jerusalem. It is a nice building, but I think the Jerusalem Center is much nicer, and we definitely have a better view.
We walked around West Jerusalem before getting a shrut (well what do you know, they have a shortened form of the Russian name for them - маршрутка aka marshrutka to shrut) back to the center. A shrut is similar to the Russian form (also called Gazelles in Russia) which is basically a large van. Though here these are used more as taxis. I don't know if they have some that follow a specific route. I guess I'll find out.
Once we got back to the center, we had lunch, and then a little time before our final orientation meeting. Our final orientation meeting finished and then we were given the headsets that we will be using while on our field trips so we can hear the instructor. We have a little free time before dinner, so I thought I would take the opportunity to update my blog since I don't know how much time I will have once classes start. I am very excited to be here.
Oh, I also took time to get a better shot of the view from our balcony. I've inserted one of those pictures here, as well as a view of the entrance to our apartment. It is beautiful.

I have FINALLY arrived!

Well, if you hadn’t already figured it out, I am in JERUSALEM!!!! I am so excited and I can’t really believe that this has finally happened. It is a dream, come true. The flight from Vienna to Tel Aviv wasn’t too long (Left - A view of Tel Aviv from the air as we were landing). I slept a little but the meal wasn’t as good as on the flight to Vienna. One thing that was interesting, I was surprised out how many Russians I have already come in contact with (in the form of eavesdropping). Not counting the Ukrainian woman I met in Chicago, while waiting to board in Vienna, I heard several people conversing in Russian, and then again when we arrived in Tel Aviv. I wanted to start talking with them, but then they would have realized that I was eavesdropping. It was really nice, though. I haven’t heard that much Russian in a long time.
Arriving in Tel Aviv was exciting. I had a window seat on the flight (though just behind the wing so it could have been better), and I took pictures as we took off and as we landed. I don’t think it has all really sunk in yet. Even as we went through customs, got our passports stamped, and went to meet our welcome party. That was my first time ever being greeted at an airport by a sign (Right - Derek Ostler holding our welcoming sign). It was very fun. We had our names checked off a list and then waited for everyone else to get through customs (See left - waiting in the Tel Aviv airport). There were a few girls who were stopped and interrogated. Sounds like they had an interesting experience, but I had no problems.
Finally we were able to get on the bus after loading our suitcases (Right - On the bus ready to go to Jerusalem). Then we headed out of the airport and on to the road to Jerusalem (Below - Brother Ostler as our tour guide on the ride to Jerusalem). I sat by the window and looked out, taking pictures and trying to take in as much as I could. It is only about an hour drive from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Along the way, we heard a few stories of things that we were seeing. I guess in the 40s when there was a major conflict in Israel, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem armored cars were sent, and often blown up. Bombed shells of these armored cars still remain on the side of the road as a sort of monument (See right). We also heard about a place called Modiin (I don’t know how to spell that) where the Maccabees are from. I’m sure I will see it better later.
As we pulled up to the Jerusalem Center, I was amazed at the beauty. We have the best view here from the Jerusalem Center and the building is amazing. The architecture has won awards and everything is still the original from when it was built so long ago. Some of the boys unloaded the luggage while we went into the Oasis (the cafeteria) to wait for dinner. We had to wait quite a while, so we went out on the balcony to see the view of the city. We can see the Dome of the Rock very well, and much of Old Jerusalem (See left - the picture is kind of dark, but I hope you can see the Dome of the Rock). One thing that is interesting, President Bush flew into Israel today, but I know that wherever he is staying, we have the better view. I tried to take pictures, but it was already dark and I couldn’t hold the camera still enough. What an amazing day today has been, and it is only the first among several.
After dinner, we had another orientation meeting (Right - my first meal in the Jerusalem Center. It was very interesting. The rice and chicken were good, but there was a potato salad made of sweet potatoes in teriyaki sauce. That was interesting). We met some of the staff, and our professors. We also had short meetings with two of our professors before taking a tour of the center. It really is amazing here. The apartments are small, but nice, and the front entrance looks amazing. We have a balcony that looks out on Old Jerusalem and the view is only rivaled from the top floor of the center. Our orientation meeting was held in the auditorium, which is also where we meet for church. The seats face Old Jerusalem and behind the podium are huge glass walls that leave us with the best view in the world.
(Left - most of our luggage. Some of it was hidden from camera view).
Tomorrow, we have a long, but quick walking tour of Jerusalem in the morning. After lunch we have another orientation meeting, and I guess we have some free time before a concert that night. I’m sure it will be an exciting day, too. The first day of classes is Friday, but we only have two before we go on another tour. Saturday we have church meetings! That will definitely be interesting. I’ll write more later, though I doubt I will have time to blog every day, especially since we don’t have internet access in our apartments. Anyway, so far I am having a GREAT time, and I am so pumped full of adrenaline that I can’t sleep even though it is almost midnight here. But I’m sure if I actually let me body rest, I will fall fast asleep. Oh, one more thing, I guess it is possible that we will be woken up at 5 in the morning by the Muslim’s first call to prayer. I think that would actually be an interesting way to wake up in the morning. We will see what happens.

VIENNA!

After a 9 hour and 35 minute flight, I have safely arrived in Vienna, Austria. Unfortunately, we don't have a long enough layover to explore the city, but I was stunned by a beautiful view of the Alps as we flew into Vienna.
The flight was excruciatingly long. I couldn't sleep at all. (Left, taxiing into the Vienna airport). I watched several movies, finished reading my homework assignment, wrote in my journal, and just sat there bored out of my mind. At the beginning of the flight, I talked with the girl sitting next to me. She is from Slovakia. It was very interesting because I knew nothing about Slovakia before that. Oh, I forgot to mention that a woman from Ukraine was on our flight, too. I was able to talk with her for a while in Chicago in Russian. That was really nice.
Anyway, now I am waiting for the flight to Tel Aviv (See right - waiting to go through security at the gate for Tel Aviv). That flight is a 3 hour flight so it should go quickly. Soon I will be in Israel! Soon I will be in Jerusalem! I can hardly believe that this day is here! It still doesn't feel quite real, but I am getting more excited by the minute.

Getting there

Here I am in the Chicago airport, waiting for my flight to Vienna, Austria. I arrived at the airport this morning around 4:30 and had to stand in line for a long time until we finally were able to check-in. (Right - train ride to terminal 5 in the Chicago airport). I didn’t have too long to wait, and most of that time was spent getting to know some of the people going to Jerusalem. That was nice. Our flight left a little late because the flight was super full, but we left. (Left - view from the Chicago International Airport). I slept through most of the flight, but very poorly.

We arrived and had a hard time finding the way to get to our terminal where our flight was to leave. We had to go through security again, but first we stopped to get some lunch. When we got to the gate, I decided to begin reading my assignment for Jerusalem, Genesis 1-20 (see right). Oops, now we are boarding our flight to Vienna. Got to go!!!

Almost on my way!!!

Well, today is the day before I leave for Jerusalem. I have to be to the airport at 4:45 tomorrow morning and my flight leaves around 7:15. But I’ll get to that a little later.
I’ve had quite an adventure today, beginning with trying to get to my orientation meeting down in Provo. I left my car at my grandma’s house while I was up in Bismarck, so I asked my sister to give me a ride to my grandma’s house so I could get my car. Check-in for the orientation meeting was to begin at 11:30 and I figured I should leave around 10:00 to give myself enough time to get there. Plus, I wanted to take the recycling that I had to leave in my car, so if I got down there early, I would have time to do so. We left the house around 9am, stopping at the distribution center, and arriving at my grandma’s house a little before 10. I got out and said my good-byes, expecting my sister to drive away. It is a good thing she didn’t and I’ll get to why later. (Picture to the left – Me feeling overwhelmed and stressed). I tried starting my car, but it wouldn’t start. I decided to give it a rest while I cleared my car. I started scraping my car, and soon my sister got out of her car with her scraper to help. While cleaning off my car, I tried several more times to start my car, but it just wouldn’t start. That is what happens with my car, though, it doesn’t like cold weather. If I had had a few more hours of the car sitting in the sun, I’m sure I would have been able to get it started, but I didn’t have time. By 10:08 (I remember the time exactly), I knew that my car was not going to start in time for me to make it to my orientation meeting on time. Becky offered to drive me down to Provo, but I had no way of getting back. She could have gone with me, but she had to work from 2 until 10 and I was not looking forward to waiting in Provo until 11pm when she could have come to get me. I had no way of contacting anyone else, since I didn’t have my cell phone, so even if my aunt or uncle, or even cousin could have driven down to get me, I would have had no idea what time they were coming. I thought of my dad, so Becky called to see if he had left for Bismarck yet. She told him the situation, and I explained where and when my meeting would be over. Then we headed out. Since we were at my grandma’s house, we got on I-215, expecting to connect to I-15, but either we missed it, or there was no connection because before we knew it, we were headed north. We got off, and headed back south, but soon we got off again, deciding to take our chances with the city streets. After a little while, we arrived at the I-15 entrance ramp, and we headed south. By this time it was 11:07 and I thought there was no way I would make it to BYU in time, especially the way my sister drives. But, miraculously, I made it to my meeting on time. I didn’t get there at 11:30, but check-in was until noon, and I had several minutes to spare.
She dropped me off at the building, and as I was walking in, I saw my Polynesian dance professor from last semester. I talked to her as I walked into the building and then headed to the conference room. I stopped to check-in and got a Jerusalem Center bag, and my books, and then I went into the conference room and sat down. In a few minutes, the meeting began. We got a lot of information about travel, classes, cultural sensitivity, safety, living in the Holy Land, and other important information to know before we leave. I really wish we would have had this meeting two weeks ago, because I left feeling like my clothing may not be acceptable. My dad was there waiting when the meeting finished; we grabbed refreshments and headed out. We stopped at the bank and the distribution center before heading back to Salt Lake City. When I arrived at the house, I was wishing I had taken my key, because no one was home. My dad was going to take me back with them, but luckily, before we got out of the development, we saw my aunt in her car. We turned around and headed back.
When I arrived, after driving with my aunt to buy one of my cousin’s textbooks, I began going through my suitcase and trying on all my clothes. Luckily, I don’t have to leave too many behind, but hopefully the ones that I am taking with me are acceptable. I do need to buy a new pair of dress shoes, and maybe a few men’s t-shirts, but that is about all. I also realized that I forgot my plug adapter, so I have to get something so I can plug my laptop in while in the Holy Land. I will go to the DI soon to see what I can find, and make a stop at Wal-mart for the adapter. What a nightmare! Then, hopefully I will get enough rest tonight so I won’t be completely wiped out tomorrow morning when I arrive at the airport at 4:45am. I also hope my luggage won’t be over-weight because we only get one suitcase with no more than 50 lbs. It will cost $50 if I go even 1 lb over. I can’t believe I’m actually going!!!! I’m so excited and at the same time very stressed. But everything will work out . . . I hope. (Picture above and to the right – me feeling a little more hopeful about my luggage).