I'm pretty sure all of you know already...but...yeah. I am going to live in Jerusalem this Winter/Spring!! I know, I know I just went on a study abroad...but hey, this is the time to do it right? My mind set for the Caribbean was "wait a minute...all of my friends are gone on missions...I want to do something too! This'll show 'em." And I had a blast, learned a lot, and it did change my life in some aspects.
Well...The Caribbean will look like NOTHING compared to the Jerusalem program! Serious....I'm about to change my life. :)
It's funny actually because I had to apply for the Jerusalem Program the week after I got home from the Caribbean. I felt so so spoiled and like I probably didn't even deserve to give it a try. But...my justification is that I apply for these things- so it can't make you spoiled if you earn it right? ...ok I kind of sound like a brat. Next?
Alright, so in order to apply I had to fill out a bunch of papers, get ecclesiastical endorsements from my bishop and someone from my stake presidency, get papers signed by a notary, and write a couple of short essays. WOW it was stressful! Mainly because I put it off until it was crunch time - I was working on my paintings and final from my Caribbean study abroad all that week. I am SO lucky I have family and church leaders that were so willing to help me out.
I honestly had the mind set that I wouldn't get in. Lets be honest- so did my mom. haha It's a pretty intense program. So, the plan was to apply for Winter semester...probably not get it, and just keep trying.
When I applied I didn't know what my address would be down in Provo, so I just put my home address in my information. I knew I was supposed to find out on a certain day because I would get a letter sent in the mail. So the fateful day was here and I called my mom a few times to see if the mail came... and there was NOTHIN! I won't lie right now- I was pretty upset. Later that day I met up with a bunch of different friends down here from Murray and found out that Marissa Purser (she's a year older than I am) got into the Jerusalem Program! No one but my roommates knew that I had applied- so I just sat there thinking... oh..I didn't get anything in the mail...guess I didn't get it... I was pretty bummed, but WAY excited for Marissa!
Well, I should have thought this through before - but because my letter was sent to Murray it took longer. I got a phone call from Rob the next day and he started reading "Dear Lindsay, Congratulations! You have been given initial placement on the 2010 Winter Semester Program at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near easter Studies..."
I honestly couldn't believe it. I kept saying "stop...you're serious right now.. wait really? Don't even joke!" I think I literally went into shock. haha I later got the big white envelope from home that had my acceptance letter and more paperwork I need/ed to fill out along with a handbook. I also had to have an interview, but that was very relaxed and basically they just needed to ask more health related questions, and allowed me to ask questions about the program.
I guess I should say that I will be there from Jan. 5 - April 22. I get to be there for EASTER! AH I am just so so excited!
I am studying Old and New Testament, Jewish and Arab and Islamic Civilization, Ancient Near Eastern Studies and Hebrew! Sure, school is going to kick me in the pants...but wow I'm stoked for it!
The only bummer about this whole thing is that i'm leaving again. I'm really sad to leave my roommates and my awesome ward down here. It's sort of a topic that's off limits because it kinda makes us sad that i'm leaving. BUT - Marissa's roommate is another girl from Murray - CC er..Jaclyn Cowley - who is going to take my spot in the apartment! Which is awesome for me, but more importantly, awesome for Christie because they are way good friends.
We're just living right over here.
I'm also sad because Brooke will be coming home from China a week before I leave. It could have been worse world- she almost came home the day before...death. Thank goodness she's the best and is coming home in time to play with me.
Oh and another downer...Right when boys are coming home from missions I leave... Well, they can get out of the weird stage while i'm gone - right? Here's hoping anyway
I obviously don't have to say that I'll miss my family... that goes without saying.
I don't know if you can see if very well, (it's a picture of a picture- sorry) but this picture says "Be virtuous, Be wise, Be ready" I have it on my bedside table and it just gets me so excited to go!
I'm ready....now I just have to work on the other two...
Corina and me looking at the city from Orson Hyde Park
The private Garden of Gethsemane that I think they only let us students go into
This is from the Mount of Olives (I live down the street) looking at some Olive Trees and the Old City as the sun started setting. LOVE IT!
This is Marissa Purser and I looking at the view of the Old City. Marissa is also from Murray and is a year above me in school - so we knew of each other and have the same groups of Murray friends...but I didn't really know her that well before. It has been fun to have at least one person I know here!
This is the road right as you walk through Damascus gate, the gate we go through most often. 
This is a HUGE pile of different seasonings/spices with a little Dome of the Rock thing on top - can you believe that!? I've only had this stuff called Zatar on my bread...tasty stuff!
On our first free day (Sunday) we went on the Ramparts Walk, which is where you can walk on top of the wall surrounding the Old City. It really helped me figure out how the city is divided up into the different quarters. It took a while to walk around it all, but it is fascinating to see the city and everything surrounding it from up above.
This was just a hallway outside of the temple mount...neat
I'm sort of obsessed with the Dome of the Rock.
haha Peace in the middle east!
haha these guys were intense!
In front of the Western Wall
And these beauties were in West Jerusalem - the more modern area. haha Too bad they are both right feet...
The beautiful building with the arches is where I eat, sleep, go to school, church, fhe, forums - everything! Isn't that gorgeous!? Sorry the picture isn't fantastic...it was taken at night. But really though.
Here is the main entrance. They built the Center to be like temple quality - so true. It feels amazing in there and is gorgeous!
Room 411 - home sweet home.
This is our view of the Old City from our porch :)
The Jerusalem Center
Sunset and the view of the Old City from the Center
My roommates Corina and Emma - They are SO great. We get along really well and they are always making me laugh. They are so fun to be with and are way easy to talk to. I'm really excited to get to know them more!
haha no big deal right? Just a street sign where I live. Hebrew, Arabic and English :)
I'm pretty sure all of you know already...but...yeah. I am going to live in Jerusalem this Winter/Spring!! I know, I know I just went on a study abroad...but hey, this is the time to do it right? My mind set for the Caribbean was "wait a minute...all of my friends are gone on missions...I want to do something too! This'll show 'em." And I had a blast, learned a lot, and it did change my life in some aspects.
It's funny actually because I had to apply for the Jerusalem Program the week after I got home from the Caribbean. I felt so so spoiled and like I probably didn't even deserve to give it a try. But...my justification is that I apply for these things- so it can't make you spoiled if you earn it right? ...ok I kind of sound like a brat. Next?
When I applied I didn't know what my address would be down in Provo, so I just put my home address in my information. I knew I was supposed to find out on a certain day because I would get a letter sent in the mail. So the fateful day was here and I called my mom a few times to see if the mail came... and there was NOTHIN! I won't lie right now- I was pretty upset. Later that day I met up with a bunch of different friends down here from Murray and found out that Marissa Purser (she's a year older than I am) got into the Jerusalem Program! No one but my roommates knew that I had applied- so I just sat there thinking... oh..I didn't get anything in the mail...guess I didn't get it... I was pretty bummed, but WAY excited for Marissa!
Well, I should have thought this through before - but because my letter was sent to Murray it took longer. I got a phone call from Rob the next day and he started reading "Dear Lindsay, Congratulations! You have been given initial placement on the 2010 Winter Semester Program at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near easter Studies..."
I guess I should say that I will be there from Jan. 5 - April 22. I get to be there for EASTER! AH I am just so so excited!
I don't know if you can see if very well, (it's a picture of a picture- sorry) but this picture says "Be virtuous, Be wise, Be ready" I have it on my bedside table and it just gets me so excited to go!
I'd like to publicly apologize for my lack of posting for all of my readers. All I have done is take, take, take from the blogging world. This is not fair to anyone involved. I will do better. Cross my heart and hope to die.
This set is just random stuff...obviously
Then I had to collect things and make a set of collages. This actually saved my bacon because they are a lot faster than painting. I'm obsessed with detail so painting took me FOREVER!
