I was so excited to start my 2009 year in JERUSALEM!! I have always wanted to do a study abroad, and I definitely would recommend this one in a heart beat.
I left January 6th and met some of my new friends at 5 am in the airport. I knew from the start that this was going to be life-changing! The flights were long and so when we eventually pulled up to the Jerusalem Center on Mt. Scopus, it couldn't have felt better! I can remember hearing the sound of suitcases rolling across the white washed stones as we entered. The adorable service missionaries and teachers were all there to greet our tired faces and we headed in with wide eyes trying to take in the beauty of where we would be living for the next few months.
To try and avoid giving into jet lag we were thrown into a million orientations and tours. As painful as that was it was for the better. My roommates for the semester were Kelsey Mordue, Jennifer Stacy (coco), and Andrea Morris, they were all very fun and spiritually uplifting girls. I might be prejudice but I really think I had the best room. We instantly clicked and even set apartment goals and tried to stick with apartment prayer and scripture study for the entire semester!!
Besides going on field trips and having free days we were taking Old Testament, New Testament, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Modern Near Eastern Studies (with an Islam and Judaism narrative), and our field trip course. I grew to love our teachers very much even though these classes were the hardest I have ever taken. I loved being in an environment where I saw my religion teachers in, "normal life." I saw them barely woken up in the morning, with their families, interacting with the locals, and even in their bathing suits. I think any student would agree with me when I say, we really grew to know them on a personal level.
There were 80 students and out of the 80, there were 17 guys. It made for interesting dynamics but I wouldn't have changed it. I think it made it easier for the girls to concentrate on other things;) We all became great friends and I know that I instantly had a love for everyone. I specifically remember when we met in the chapel the first night to hear Bro. Squires play the gorgeous organ. The spirit overwhelmed me as I looked at the panoramic view of the Holy Land for several reasons. One being, I knew we were all there for a specific reason at that exact time. Even though we probably came wanting something different out of this experience, we all had one thing in common and that was to grow closer to our Savior. Not only did that happen, so many other lessons were learned along the way that I was surprised and grateful for!
4 comments:
Wow Ali, thanks so much for sharing some of your experience. I'm sure it is one you will never forget. I hope someday you end up being able to go back again and visit :-) I hope there are more pictures to come! Love you!
cute cute cute! i love this! thanks for the update. it really helps me understan your perspective and i loved hearing about it. :) i bet you miss it so much...ugh i miss china :(
Ali, I am so proud of you and i love you so much. You are such an amazing woman...i hope all my beehives turn out just like you : ) I can't wait to be re-united with you and hear more about your trip in person. Until then, keep the posts coming!!! I love that you are blogging, it's a great way to stay updated on loved ones! I especially love pictures : ) As I write this, Marshall is just hangin' out on the floor next to me!! We love having him here, he's so funny...
Love you hon, shar
thats so cool ali im glad it was a learning and spiritual experience for you. im sort of jealous. but in good time im sure i will get my turn. i love you, thanks for always being an example to me :)
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