A Day In The Life

I feel like I spend a lot of time updating on the Field Trips that consume my Mondays, the sacred experiences of my Sabbaths, and the ambitious journeys on Sundays (free days).  However, I neglect to inform you what a typical day is like for me:

6:00am-Jessie, Chels, and I role out of bed, put on our Asics. Exhausted, we head up 7 flights of stairs to go work out. 

6:10am-We are rewarded with the most beautiful scenic run around the center.  (Perched on the side of Mt. Scopus, there is no flat terrain….so constant incline or decline trails.  Calves of steal, baby. Abs/ sprawling out on the grass to enjoy the breathtaking view of The Old City.  P.S. The Dome of the Rock gives off the most glorious glow as the sun rises. 

   

7:00am-Jamming out to music with the roommates as we get ready.  With only three outfits hanging up in the closet, we get creative. Study. Lose track of time.

7:30am-Book it up 4 flights of stairs to make it in time for Breakfast. Inhale Breakfast.

8:00am- Old Testament. We have Old Testament every morning.  I am in charge of getting the class started with a warm welcome and a solid devotional.  Each day I spend a few hours reading and studying the Bible.  One could find me with all of my notes, time-lines, and maps laid out in a classroom as I try to grasp the material. My Professor is one of the most intelligent teachers I have ever had in my entire life. I am learning insane amounts of information about this land, the Lord, His prophets, and my ancestors.

9-11am- Judaism Class with Professor Ophir.  Brilliant man. (I just learned yesterday that he added a word to the Hebrew language.)  Uses double-sided tape to keep his Kippah from falling off his bald head. I love having an assortment of professors with various religious beliefs and backgrounds. I have internalized significant amounts of information about Israel, Judaism, and the history of the Middle East.  I won’t lie, occasionally my eye-lids get extremely heavy. Two hours of pure lecture can get a wee bit tiring.  

12pm-3pm: THE PAST TWO WEEKS WERE CONSUMED WITH HOURS UPON HOURS OF STUDYING FOR MIDTERMS………Normally I ……Explore Jerusalem: This includes: Crossing off sites from our “List” (For MNE 349, Chadwick gave us a list of 80 sites we need to see in East and West Jerusalem before the end of the semester as an assignment), eat lunch in the Jewish Cemetery, try various foreign foods, venture inside Muslim's homes, scamper through the narrow streets of the Old City in attempts to discover secret treasures, buy candy, watch Orthodox Jews go on dates, find look-out spots to bask in the sun, eat crepes in West Jerusalem, talk to the people, go to the suks, shop, etc. I try to get out into the City EvEryDaY! It is gorgeous.

4-6pm: Palestinian Class.  Another two hours of straight lecture with Professor Mussallem.  T-H-I-C-K accent. Sweet man. Extreme teaching style. Insists on constantly snapping to keep our attention.  Repetition is key for him; I have three sets of notes, from three different days all expressing the exact same material. 

JUST COMPLETED A 23 PAGE MIDTERM. DID I MENTION IT WAS 23 PAGES?!!

I secretly loved every second. I learned more solely from this project than I did deciphering hours of lecture. Ask me about the Islamic religion, Muhammad, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Hamas, PLO, Fateh, the World’s response to the Middle East, 1948 War, Palestinian Refugees and I can to tell you. Fascinating information. 

6pm-Meditteraen Dinner in the Oasis 

6:45pm (on Tuesdays=CUB SCOUTS! We made snicker doodles last week with all of the kids. Lots of little hands and cups of sugar. DIVINE.

7:30pm-FORUMS-We have the opportunity to have a guest speaker each week: Journalists, Governmental leaders, and successful Professors from all over the Middle East.  One of my favorite things here!!!!!  BYU enables us to form our own opinions about all of the political controversies in the Middle East, by giving us the chance to hear and ask questions to these individuals with various opinions and positions. Egypt, Libya, and Israel/Palestine are common subject matters. Yesterday, I stayed for an hour after to talk to Brother Muhlestien about politics. I am so grateful to be surrounded by extremely intelligent individuals who educate me on any and all subjects. 

I have rediscovered my passion for learning. I am not learning for a grade. I am learning solely for me. I am thriving here. 

THESE FORUMS ENABLE ME TO TAKE OFF MY NARROW-VIEWED, WESTERNIZED GOGGLES TO SEE THE WORLD IN THE EYES OF MILLIONS OF OTHERS, A WORLD FOREIGN TO ME. I am grateful to be an American. Democracy is golden. 

9:00pm- Study. Get distracted and play sports in the gym. Socialize. Study. Do the Julianne Michael's Workout Video in the gym with other 20 girls blaring Beyonce, as the boys wait in anticipation to seize the gym again.  Study.  Socialize. Stay up late talking to my roommates.  Get ready for bed.

Once or twice a week we have fun events planned-Synagogue visits, Culture Nights, Seder Dinners, Israeli dances, Talent Shows, and other diverse activities 

12:00am- Fall asleep, with the light on, writing in my journal…exhausted from an amazing day.