Homework and Jerusalem Center life (Ashley)

Yesterday was a significant day in my life. For the First Time Ever,
I’m pretty sure, I awoke up early in the morning without an alarm!!!!!
That’s right! I have been awaking at 5:15 so I can get a workout out
in before classes and stuff. For some reason, yesterday morning my
alarm didn’t go off. But it didn’t matter! I woke up anyway! For
anyone who knows how difficult mornings are for me, you know that is
saying something

Yesterday we had the “informal talent show.” Wow, it was the greatest
talent show I have even been to. There was a ton of variety and a ton
of talent. You know when you go to talent shows how there are usually
one or two or three acts that usually steal the show? In this talent
show, each act would have stolen the show in any other show. It was
great. There was a lot of support for each person who performed. It
was really awesome. Many performers mentioned they had never felt
such support from the audience before. It was really fun to be a part
of.

Well, we made it through our papers and tests this week. I was really
excited to get out in the city after our 6 hours of classes today, but
after Friday prayers at the mosques there were some disturbances near
temple mount so they decided to keep us in. These disturbances stem
from frustrations and tensions created by the Jewish holiday Sukkot
(Feast of the Tabernacles) that has been going on this week. People
have gotten frustrated with the road closures, increased traffic, and
celebrations. Added to that, there is a radical group who has tried
for the last 20 years to place the corner stone for the 3rd Jewish
temple on Temple Mount- harem es-sharif. Police monitor for them and
they haven’t succeeded but it increases to people’s tensions. Those
monitoring the situation are quite hopeful that it’ll pass over and
we’ll be fine to get out tomorrow. I have realized through these 2
days they have kept us in, the day most likely for that to happen is
Friday. That is the day the Muslim world gathers in the mosques for
prayers and thus chances increase that emotions will ignite.

I got into the city yesterday or the day before, I’m loosing track of
time. We explore West Jerusalem, the Jewish dominated section of the
city, and visited an ultra-orthodox neighborhood. These guys are the
ones who wear black pants, dress shirt, kippah, and peyote curls at
all times. They also wear really large, furry hats. That’s the men.
The women wear long-sleaved shirts and skirts at least to the ankle
with thick tights. A bit like a very frumpy sister missionary. I
guess this branch of Judaism could be related to the Amish. As I was
wandering around, we stumbled upon a little shop with handmade crafts.
This shop provides meaningful work for elderly Jewish refugees. It
was a pretty neat place.

Two days ago, we squished a showing of the Presidential Debate between
classes. I don’t pretend to be any reputable critic but it seemed to
me that Governor Romney made a good showing. I was also pleased that
there didn’t seem to be much mudslinging. I think a watched a portion
of a presidential debate when I was 18 but couldn’t stand to listen
for very long because of the mudslinging.

Tomorrow morning I am going to wake up at 4:00 so I can watch the
BYU/USU football game. This will be the first one I will be able to
watch all of it. I’m excited and hoping for a great game.

Have a told you what my chore is at the JC? I work at the Shekel
Shack, which is the student snack bar. We use the proceeds to create
and purchase t-shirts for the group. I wasn’t super excited at the
first, especially because two of the guys in my group created this
whole business model which I thought was totally going over the top.
Now though, I’m impressed with their efforts. One of their ideas was
to create Gold Member accounts where people could put their purchases
on a tab and pay that off at the end of the week. Kids have found
that super convenient and in my opinion has increased the business of
the shack. It is good for business; I’m not sure its benefits for
those looking to save money or avoid the snacks My part of it is to
pick up supplies (sometimes) and man the shack for a couple of hours
in the evening, about once a week. I call it Shekel Shack Slavery bc
most of the other chores people have last about 15 minutes a week.
But it’s OK. I like it because it gives me opportunity to interact
with other people. And I try to remember that when I don’t want to do
it;)
Well, that’s about all. Tonight I am watching Kung Fu Panda I and II
with the 17 year old daughter of one of the faculty members. I hope I
don’t fall asleep because that is a definite possibility! Have a
great Friday!

Ashley: Turkey, reading, and speaking Romanian

I am so so so sorry I haven't been able to send you an email telling you about Turkey yet.  I really want to but I haven't even had time to write it down.  On Monday we had a field trip where we went to Jericho.  After that I looked at what I had going on this upcoming week and realized I have 2 papers and a test on the docket plus all my regular reading.  So I have been nose to the grindstone doing that.  Whoosh, we sure do have a lot of reading here.  Just to give you an idea, we are halfway through 1 Samuel, 400 pages of Old Testament reading, in one month.  50 pages/ class for Israel class, 50 pages/class for Palestine class (which are held 2 times/ week.)  And about the same for Ancient Near East Studies of which we have 3 hours/week.  I've stopped wearing my contacts.  Anyways, those aren't such great excuses to not write you for the past couple of days.

Say hello to everybody for me and give them hugs from me.  And pretend I'm giving you hugs right now too.  

I really enjoyed the Turkey trip.  Even though there were long hours on the bus, I quite enjoyed riding and watching out the window and seeing the scenery pass by.  Oft times I was reminded of Romania, but I've been saying that since I've got here, so I think really it is the foreign country feel.  But, I did run into 3 Romania girls.  We were in a resort type hotel in Ephesus and there were lots of people.  I ate dinner and all the students around me left and I was looking around for some of my friends in the group when I walked by a table and heard Romanian!  

As soon as my brain processed what I'd heard, I stopped mid-stride.  I debated going back, and decided to do it, turned around and approached them and said, "You speak Romanian!"  They were so surprised to find somebody else who speaks Romanian, and even more so because I'm not Romanian.  And they were so surprised how well I spoke.  (Somehow my ability to speak tripled in goodness since Sunday when I talked to the sister in the branch.)  They were really intrigued by how I'd come to learn Romanian and why I spent so long in Romania.   At the end of the conversation, they invited me to eat dinner with them the next evening so we could talk more. I met them the next night and we talked a bunch more.  Anyways, that was probably the best part of the trip.  There were some other really cool things too, and I hope to send you a more complete detail of the week soon.  It will probably have to wait until the Sabbath though.

Well, lunch is starting, has started, and I decided it would be good for me to get out of the Center with a few people before I get too stir crazy and grumpy doing all my homework stuff.  I've been throwing around a rampart walk idea to a few of the girls so maybe we'll do that.  And yes, I'll take pictures. I really am trying to take lots even though I have to constantly fight off the "sick of taking pictures" feeling which come mostly because everybody else is taking hundreds of thousands of pictures of the same thing.  Aahh, I'm looking forward to having a small adventure today.  

Ashley

First email from Shawn

Mom,

  We got into Jerusalem today very tired. I have slept for five hours in the last two days. I am going to bed soon. It is nice here in Jerusalem. The Center is very pretty and well cared for. It looks like there is a lot of homework and I am already doing it. I hope to stay on top of things. There are lots of girls here... We are happy and are doing fine.

-Shawn