First Days in Jerusalem

I feel like I could write a book about my first week in Jerusalem: but I won’t. After debating about what should show up on this blog, I plan to just keep it simple for now. Maybe later I’ll add some more personal reflections, but I think the real pearls will develop in time. If you are interested in the more personal things, just email me and ask for specifics. ;)

Monday, June 22: I took off from Dulles International at 11pm, hoping I didn’t forget to do anything too important. This Virgin Atlantic flight was heading for London, and I first noticed the zany outfits the flight crew was wearing. Only later did they announce that Virgin Atlantic was celebrating its 25th birthday that day and this would at least account for the bunny ears and the googley eyes. Still, it didn’t explain VA’s colors: purple and red?
The flight was full and stuffy. I ended up sitting next to a guy from London who had been to Israel before. That was a treat! He gave me lots of pointers for my eleven hour layover in London, and the preacher even recommended a church in Israel.

Tuesday, June 23: With my new English friend’s recommendations (along with those I got from my cousins, Jordan, Dani, and Jessie), I decided to play London a little bit by ear. I had a great experience from the start. Even the customs lady (who at fist appeared as intimidating and unapproachable as any customs official) gave me tips for getting around. The best part about all of this of course, was that in this foreign country everyone speaks English and they say words that we Americans don’t use nearly enough, like “lovely” and “quite” in fabulous accents.

Wednesday, June 24: I arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport at 5am in the morning. Since I was fairly close to the university, I waited in the airport for a while until it might make any sense to try to go somewhere. I ended up taking a group taxi from Ben-Gurion to Jerusalem. I expected to find a van full of a bunch of Hebrew banter, but instead the other ten customers were speaking Russian! Ha! I can only hope that I remember more of that language now. One funny thing that happened on the taxi ride: a babushka who sat in the back with me was, in true babushka fashion, attempted to figure out the taxi driver’s route for him. She would point to me and say, “the university,” and do the same with every other customer’s intended drop-off point. She continued to refer to one elderly lady as “diplomat,” it seemed. I was absolutely in awe, attempting to figure out with what type of diplomatic affairs this other Russian speaking lady involved herself. And what a spartan! Riding the group taxi! At about the third drop-off point, I realized those affairs. The “diplomat” was in fact dropped off at a retirement community on “Diplomat” street. So much for thinking I spoke some of the language.
The group taxi allowed me to see much of Jerusalem I would not yet have seen otherwise. The hills (or mountains?) were what immediately caught me off guard. Jesus apparently went on some serious hikes. Once I was dropped off at the university, I was basically lost, trekking through a new place with all of my luggage, hoping to find the international center. I did. Things went smoothly from there, except that I hadn’t slept since Sunday night and I continued to snap my head back and forth during orientation to stay a wake.
The best part of the day: once I finally arrived at my new living quarters in the Student Village, I walked into my 9th story room, opened my window, and wow! My view of Jerusalem is AMAZING. In fact, it matches the picture on the cover of my Jerusalem guidebook. As I write, looking out my window, with a cool dry breeze coming through as the sun is setting to end Shabbat, I hardly believe this experience is mine to relive and enjoy.

Thursday, June 24: I started my first day of Biblical Hebrew, and once again worked with every bone in my body to combat the jetlag. Thankfully, this intensive course covers things I have at least looked at before and starts with the very basics. Whew.

Friday, June 25: A roommate and I met my former Hebrew professor in the Israeli market. This day will prove pivotal, I’m sure. It was my first experience navigating the city via the public transportation. Like my teacher’s little baby, I felt the market was a positively overstimulation to my senses. The city was in a rush trying to prepare for Shabbat. Certainly, I will get used to this.

Saturday, June 26: My roommate (who has since left) and I ventured out to the Old City through the Damascus gate and to the Western (or “Wailing”) Wall. Once we came out, we found “Charlie,” a guide who brought us to the Mount of Olives, where we saw a great view of the city. After that, we went to Bethlehem. Truly, it was too much to soak up in a day, and I will need to do these things at a slower pace, but I have a while to do that.