Snowy Jerusalem!

We were really excited this morning to wake up to snow falling in Jerusalem. We have been told it only happens every few years, so we are blessed it decided to fall while we are here. What fun!

It was quite a trek to school though. We aren't exactly equipped with the shoes and clothes for this kind of weather. I practically brought and entire change of clothes with me---and was so happy I did. The snow/slush was ankle deep in most places! And drivers here....lets just say they aren't used to snow....and they don't slow down - so often walkers get showered with walls of water when they go speeding past. Ugh.

It was all worth it though - to see snow in this beautiful city. Here are some pics!

Looking up towards Jaffa gate from school....

The Temple Mount...

The Western Wall... More of the Old City... Campus...

Meet Mr. Mouse

Yesterday morning we had a visitor. A large mouse came strolling down the hall as if he owned the place. He looked really well fed and not too worried about us. Hmmmm....not sure how I feel about that.

Anyhoo, Vernon caught the little guy without much trouble. We put him out by the dumpster---where there are plenty of good eats---if he can survive the competition. This country is swarming with stray cats. (I love cats, mind you - but these aren't the ones you can pet or play with. Ew.)

Of course we had to document the capture.

Hebrew, Hebrew and more Hebrew...

Ahhhh......2008. It has started off well. Earlier this month, six of us began a three-week intensive Hebrew class. The classes are held in our apartment, which is great. It's four hours a day, plus homework...so in a way---its been like trying to drink from a firehose---but the teaching format is so great --- it is actually working! It's all in Hebrew (okay, 90%), which wears out my little brain (and causes many after-class naps) but I feel like I FINALLY have a basis to learn this language....both Biblical and modern. This is our last week of class. It's bittersweet...I couldn't keep up this pace much longer, but I want to keep building on what I have already learned! It's great that my roommates are all in the class, so we can practice things we have learned around the house. Here are some pics of us acting out some dialog from the book of Jonah.

Next week regular classes at JUC begin again. It will be fun to meet all the new students!. I also look forward to my classes this semester. Here's the plan:

Cultural Backgrounds of the Bible

Historical Geography of the Bible

History of the Church in the East

Jewish Thought and Practice

Political and Social Setting in the Modern Middle East

I am also (ambitiously) thinking I can continue in a Hebrew class two nights a week...we'll see. :)

When we aren't working on Hebrew, my roommates and I have spent our time cooking, hosting Shabbat dinners on Friday nights (what fun!) and learning our way around the neighborhood (best places to shop, etc). Groceries here are EXPENSIVE, and we have found that our best bet is the Shouk (a.k.a. crazy Middle Eastern outdoor market). Its about a 45 minute walk, but sometimes we get lucky and get a ride with someone. It is truly an experience to shop there. It can be SO crowded (especially just before Shabbat), noisy, and hard to navigate. And with the language barrier....well....let's just say things can be 2 to 3 times more expensive if you can't speak Hebrew...know what I mean??? Here are some pics...(they don't quite do it justice-its too hard to take pics on a crowded day--but you get the idea).

When I actually start thinking about the way we live here...all the crazy appliances, little or no heat, waiting for hot water to shower, shopping at the shouk, walking everywhere we go...wow----It's crazy the things that have become normal to me. Reminds me of how much my life has changed this past year. What a blessing to have this experience!