Another week

Alright...so this week has been hectic-ly and stressfully CRAZY. On Monday I studied really hard for my Judaism and Islam finals for the following day. Me and my roommates went to Saladin street for lunch and I had a delicious schwarma from a place that Chadwick loves...we tried it and it was great! They grilled the tortilla or something, instead of using a pita, and the sauces were really good and there was lots of meat. The food in the JC has been kinda gross the past week...I don't know if it's because we're all just really getting tired of it or if it was just especially gross. But those sack lunches especially...yeah...whenever we get them on free days lots of people go out to the city to eat haha. After we ate lunch we looked for candy for the children! For our Halloween party that I will explain...oh my goodness I found those Danish butter cookies that I remember having at home when I was younger and I love them and I found some and I bought them!!! SOOOOO GOOD!!! Then I studied the rest of the day....laaaaaaame. It was such an exhausting day for my brain...there are so many dates and details to remember for Jewish and Islamic history. WOW. Of course it's all interesting, its just A LOT.

On Tuesday we took our Judaism final at 9am, and it was really hard. I felt pretty prepared for it but it didn't go as well as I was hoping. Especially because my midterm had gone really well a few weeks before. Oh well, lots of people had the same reaction as me, so I didn't feel too bad. Immediately after my test I went into Islam mode...I studied for about 4 hours straight, and because I had only really studied for Judaism the day before it was  hectic and crunch time. There were a lot of dates and names and events and agreements and mandates and accords to remember...but I think I did a pretty decent job on the final...I hope? I was really sad that he did not ask the names of the Islamic months though, because I have them memorized!!!

Muharram, Saphar, Rabia I, Rabia II, Jamada I, Jamada II, Rajab, Shabaan, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dulkaaida, Dulheggia! Yes, I can say them with an Arabic accent too!! Possibly my favorite moments of that class: when Brandt and Charles have asked Dr. Musallam if they can read the Islamic months. Yeah, it's hilarious.

I am extremely happy that these 2 civilization classes are over. I really enjoyed the classes. I did NOT enjoy GOING to class though. Does that make any sense? I learned a lot from them but it was a lot of time and I did not do a lot of the reading assignments. No one did...that's the problem. My issue with the classes was how much work they were for 2 credits. I put in less work for my 4 credit Physiology class back home. That's a problem...but it's over. I loved my teachers and appreciate them and their history and their viewpoints and for their opinions. They have helped me form my own opinions about this place.

Right after our finals it was HALLOWEEN PARTY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you figure out what I am? Think Middle East geography...and those are skulls/crossbones on my face. 

DEAD SEA!!!

I thought it was very cultural :) Though kind of disturbing. Hahaha I must have a trend of gothic costumes because this is what I was last year...

HAHAHAHA. I am not very creative it seems. Or I just really like dark things...NOT.

The Halloween Party/Carnival was so much fun because EVERYONE WAS SO CREATIVE. We have very limited resources here, and so the fact that everybody dressed up as something was wonderful. It made me really  happy. 

And Tuesday was also my Mommy's birthday!!!

I love my family :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

After the Halloween party we had a mini-dance party. WE WERE DONE WITH FINALS!!!! It was a glorious feeling to the extreme. Then we watched Hocus Pocus as a big group on a Wednesday night in celebration that we did not have any homework really...well we did, we just decided to not do it then haha. 

Wednesday - Friday - We have had New Testament and ANE every morning, class for 3 hours. Wednesday there was a blood drive and I was going to donate but they wouldn't let me because my foot is still swollen. Yeah, that was lame. But then I went into the city. We went to an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in West Jerusalem and it was really interesting to see propaganda...Zionism and and being Jewish are not the same thing. It's true. Then we went to the Shuk and that was so much fun! It was like a market with lots of colorful foods and such, and I've never seen anything quite like it. I loved it :) It was nice to not have to go back to the JC when it got dark because we were in West. So we just took a taxi back and life was good.

Thursday we had class and then a field trip in the afternoon. We went to the Separation Wall and had an Israeli Peace activist talk to us the whole time. It was interesting...I had a new awareness of the wall and the separation that it really does cause. It reminded us all of the Berlin Wall...that's basically what it is. It was a good opportunity to think about how lucky I am, and how I wish that peace could come to this land.

Part of the wall.

Last night I went to West Jeru for the weekly dinner group. I ate legit Italian food and gelato! It was an Italian night for me...celebration to my future bro-in-law I guess!!! Can't wait for this lasagna cook-off that hopefully will happen someday :) Hahaha. 

Today there is Humanitarian project, then I'm going to a Jewish synagogue for the Sabbath service! It will be fun times. And c'est la weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!