Dear Searching (Day 74),

So Sarah Barlow and I may or may not have had a life epiphany today.

WHAT USE IS LEARNING IF YOU DON'T APPLY IT IN YOUR LIFE?!?!?!?!?

Think about it. It's deep.

Natalie and I studied "the Woman at the Well" story from John 4 today. I cannot get enough of the New Testament.

Went to crepes to celebrate Alicia's birthday...turns out our renowned store is closed...turns out life is great and things work out wonderfully sometimes. The store owner was there, despite the tradition of vacant streets before Sabbat. So he opened his shop just to give us gelato. Coconut and Raspberry. Yup: life is good.

i personally love that i caught the happy couple in the background

Took Sarah to the Shuk for the first time...and my last time. I decided I can't spend all my fridays in open air markets. I was so happy to be in one of my favorite places, yet mixed with a heavy burden of sadness for trying to move on to other things. *Sigh* There is more Israel to explore.

Dilly-dallied home. I don't know where on earth that expression came from, but it perfectly describes my attitude on the way back to the center. I wanted to soak everything in. And you know what I found? BEAUTY! I love the homes here. I love the streets. I love the sound in my heart when Jerusalem is quiet. How can I ever leave this?

"lighter than pillows"....made of concrete.
if you are asking yourself, "what the random?!" you are not alone.

Tonight was girls night. Apparently, when girls live in Jerusalem, they have nothing better to do than paint their nails as they watch chick-flicks. I am morally opposed to lame movies when I have precious and few moments living in this land. Then again, all Luke and I did instead was laugh at things on the internet...so I don't know if that's any better...except I think it is. :) I would take laughing with someone who you think is wonderful over unnecessarily pouring your heart out into a love story that isn't even yours ANY DAY. (Although I'm not opposed to good movies at the end of a long day when I have absolutely no homework to do......which has been, like, once in the last 3 months. Just so you think I'm not entirely insane. Also, I did watch for like 20 minutes, just to be somewhat a part of my girls.)

brielle blue!!!! love and miss you, girl!

I love weekends in Jerusalem. Search for beauty and you can find it. Sincerely, Chloé Michelle

Dear People (Day 73),

Learned a lot today...and not just education wise. Right now I'm a nerd for the New Testament and addicted to antiquity. Having two classes is just perfect.

I had a lot of reflecting moments about why I am here. The answer seems obvious...or at least it did to me before I came. I pictured myself using every single second of this trip to either be seeing sights or learning lessons.

I've kept this view for pretty much the whole time here. I figure I talk to these people enough when we are out or at meals, that I don't feel a strong desire to see them in the evenings. Usually I play all daylight hours and seclude myself after dinner to actually get some studying done.

That's why I was unsettled at a few circumstances that I witnessed today:

#1 There was a blood drive in the center and I was fascinated at the number of people willing to face their fears and would put themselves through an uncomfortable next few months for the well being of complete strangers. I, however, did not donate, owing to the memory of the awful feeling I had for more than 3 months my senior year of high school. My body felt awful and slow and...I just didn't like it at all. I'm struggling for strength as it is, I thought. Which to me, that is understandable. But also kind of selfish in a way.

#2 Bad situation: 8 of us were sitting in the van, waiting for Geoff and Dana in order to leave for the Knesset tour at 2:00. Geoff comes out and says, "Rachel Mesek and Amy just donated blood but they are coming." "Geoff," we respond, "we're late enough as it is and we don't have room for all 4 of you. Call a cab." And we left. Little did we know, Geoff and Dana had been running around for like 15 minutes trying to get the two sickliness all ready for leaving the center. I felt horrible. Why were sites given more importance then helping others? Was there anything I could have done? At the time, it was understandable. But also kind of selfish in a way.

#3 I got all my homework done early because really wanted to go to this concert tonight. It was supposed to be this great cultural experience. And besides, it was free and there is nothing to do at the center at night. People kept bailing out and I started getting really frustrated: I would have just gone by myself if security would have allowed me to. But in a moment of Luke and Rachel Mackay's pleading faces, I took a deep breath and stayed in tonight. We read the actual story of "al-adin" (Aladin) as a bed time story. And you know what? It was kind of wonderful. I remembered how great it was to just be with the people I love, even when we aren't on some grand adventure...or perhaps this is just me justifying my decision. But I think I'm beginning to understand. I guess I was kinda unselfish in a way.

Maybe, just maybe, I'm here for more than just sites and learning. Perhaps I'm here to learn to just be happy with the people I love.

Speaking of which: I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE! The people I am growing closer to in the center, as well as the local people I now hold close to my heart. Today we went to the legislative government building (the Knesset) and to an exhibition detailing the life of Hasidic Jews (the Israel Museum). I'm sure many people have had experiences like this, but I really want to connect with them. I feel like being here has given me such a better understanding for these people. I love my Israeli life. -Chloé Michelle

The Knesset:

beautiful symbolism on the wall of "heavenly" and "earthy" Jerusalem
picture of the "visionary of the State": Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl
Plenum seats shaped like a menorah

Chagall Hall. that's right, mom. know and love him.
the past, present, and future of Jeru. very personal. very moving.

JERUSALEM! and king david

at the time Chagall did this mosaic, you could not get to the
Western Wall. how beautiful is this symbolism?
photo credit: google images search

7 species of Israel menorah

12 tribes of Israel gold door

the eternal flame

go yis-ry-el!

The Israel Museum:

why don't i have more calligraphy in my life?

old yeshiva

family tree of Ba'al Shem Tov

they are not so different from me, you know.
they teach their kids past rebbes. we teach ours past prophets.

:) Aladin bedtime story time:

Dear Home (Day 72),

Shalom Y'all! Samaech Fourth of July! Here's my little ode to the irony of this day.

Today was my first Independence Day outside the good old U.S.ofA. Quite a different experience for me, although all of the guys were used to it. haha I did miss my family traditions, but being here was actually more special than I thought it would be. Appreciating your country's celebration of nationality more when you leave it? Point #1 for irony.

Thanks to my excellent and thoughtful mother, the center felt festive with a little bit of decoration.

We had class...which was weird... :) but then I headed off to the Rockefeller Museum with my Hannah and my Natalie. Great fun; a pretty tiled courtyard fit for a princess; ancient rocks. Not exactly in the spirit of anything American...but the title of the museum is pretty deceiving, eh? At least we didn't go to the government building like we were contemplating...
          We wondered, as we ventured away from our little mooring, what situation we might be putting ourselves in by wearing outfits of red, white, and blue into a city seeping with politically and socially intense culture. Then, a women passed us and said, "Happy 4th! That is...if you're American.." Hannah's first reaction was: "An esoteric passerby!" I love my life.
          My favorite item there was an ancient 5th century mosiac with a "peace into Israel" blessing from Psalms 125 & 128. O Jerusalem and all your complexity...
         Also: a resurgence of love for Hannah welled inside me today. She's simple: meaning she doesn't need a lot of fluff in her world: she is happy and that's what is important to her. I love what she thinks of when she lets her mind wander, and also the instantaneous happy-thoughts she jumps into in the midst of my sentence. I love her attitude and unselfishness. I love that when I complain/contemplate that artifacts from certain sites are scattered all over the world, her first thought is, "Yeah, so everyone gets to see them even if they can't come all the way here!" Oh how much I still have to learn...

The three of us were going to be so productive in the realm of homework............until we found the Ludlows. (Shout out to Nat for her unselfish-volunteering-example. :) Thanks, girl!) Amazing people. Like always. Today was my second time into their apartment and I loved it because it feels like home.  The pictures of their family and church-things all over the place. Michael Buble playing while we chatted. Hannah harmonizing to "Homeward Bound" as we cooked. I love the Ludlows for their willingness to hangout with us and their welcoming attitude. It's still so cool to me to be so close to my professors and their families. Their two little girls are the cutest things ever. Gotta love my Luds-bonding time.

Next was our very own Fourth-of-July-BBQ! Last time Achman made us burgers, they were.................more like Israeli burgers then American burgers, so we were all a bit nervous. But the kitchen staff pulled through with tasty hamburgers, potatoes, apple pie, and ice cream. :) It was comforting to have our American food again, and picnic-style nonetheless.

:) We couldn't resist the great photo opp...

attempting to spell "USA" on the grass

John entertaining us.
Brianne...well...I'm not exactly sure what she's doing...

solids

stripes.
...and david being david

 Then it was time for some truly American fun: Minute to Win It game night. :) I loved great, crazy faces and willing, silly actions that game nights bring out. I think that classiness means getting your hands dirty on account of good, clean fun. :) 

To wrap up the night, we ate the cakes that Sister Ludlow made us. We sang the national anthem and for the first time....like...ever, I was hit very powerfully with a sense of awe in relation to that song. Why me? Why am I allowed to be here celebrating with this group of collage-aged kids in this little haven of the world? Why was I born in the land of the free and the home of the brave? Why was my government SO organized and wonderful? Why was my life so peaceful? I walked away with a true sense of gratitude for my homeland. And as much as I love this place, I'm proud to be called an American. It's very interesting that I came all the way here to feel that.

NEVERTHELESS, the most intense irony that weighed upon me today was the thought that this is home. And home is home. And I'm leaving home to come home soon. And I'll miss my home when I do.

Hannah and Alicia and I waited for the usual, nightly fireworks to be heard from the city. We were guessing that of course this would be the one night people didn't light them...but I think I heard one big boom as I made my way to our deep life discussion, before sleep overwhelmed us.

God bless America.......and pray for the people in this ארץ הקודש.   -Chloé

Dear Emmy (Day 71),

Emily! I freaking miss you. Knowing I will be rooming with you in the fall is a glorious idea that makes me smile when I get homesick for my favorite times with the girls in Lafayette 18. I'll be home soon enough, my dear.

Remember the birthday present you gave me? My favoritest necklace clock? Yeah, well I decided today that you and I need to time travel to the 1800's. This post is dedicated to you because of my adventure today:

me pretending I lived in the 1800s

This afternoon I went to the Islamic Art Museum. Wondrous. It's kinda like the exhibit at the BYU MOA right now...but cooler because it's here. :) Here are some cool things I discovered:

• I think. ALL THE TIME. And I've started recording my thoughts cuz I think they are kinda cool. Obviously, or else I wouldn't think them. If I thought something was uninteresting, I wouldn't pay too much attention to it, now, would I? Anyways: I love thinking and I thought lots today.
• One conclusion was that my mother is AWESOME! I was reminded of this fact two times today: The first being that my mother has taught me to love museums. I feel like I have a love for history mainly due to her pure excitement in museums. And I love her for it. Cuz I've learned a lot of history, and I've learned a lot about how to love history. #2--My mother has taught me to love photography. In the moment, sometimes we all say, "Aww, Mom! Do we really need a picture here? Come on!" But looking back, we have documentation of so many great adventures. I have grown to really have a hobby for capturing moments while on this trip. So when the security guard told me I couldn't take pictures in the museum, I felt like he had just asked me to leave a part of my heart at the entrance. (Love you Mommy!)
• "If conquering was socially acceptable...would we all be as crazy as these historical figures?"
• Tradition survives. Because somethings are priceless.
• depicted and described and central across SO many years: the Kaaba
• turns the simple into complex and detailed: sketches
• beauty: gardens (Sassanians take from Iran/Persians)
• doesn't get any better than beautiful words in beautiful writing: calligraphy
• since the beginning of civilization: personalized pottery
• every women should feel regal: jewelry
• bringing it all to the home: beauty in it's most intimate form
• Sarah Barlow and I had one of my favorite discussions of the trip today. She is WONDERFUL. We got talking about all the fancy things in the museum. All the cabinets, tiles, gold, and overly-ornate items that filled the majority of the museum. "This can't be representative," we stated. "This can't be what the average Ottoman's home looked like. All this stuff; all this fancy, intricate items: they are just stuff. And the truth of the matter is that most people don't live like this." So why are we here? Why do I get to enjoy the spoils of having money. Or being above the common's income. Why do we need it? Can't we have pretty stuff for cheap? Can't be decorate our future homes in beauty but not overly-expensive things? Can we change the world? Or is it enough to just change the worlds of our precious children? Can we be the ones to teach them? Can they learn the importance of history and news and books and reading instead of the flippant things that money can buy? Isn't that enough? To be a mother than changes her family's lives? Will we be enough to take that responsibility????
• Then my world CONTINUED to be blown as I walked into the "Sir David Salomons Collection of Watches and Clocks." IN.TENSE. Only the people I was with today could testify of how wonderstruck I was. Each clock was simply a masterpiece. The whole time I was in the exhibit, I was thinking, "How can something so simple be so beautiful? And yet, how come something like the art of timekeeping be taken so lightly? Of all the precious things to adorn, what better representation than that of the passing of time?" Emily, I wish you could be here to share this with me. http://www.islamicart.co.il/en/catalogue.asp 
• Good to be here. The adventure is still alive.

this tile is actually from St. Andrew's church...but it's a testament to the style of Islamic tiles

 We then went to the Monastery of the Cross. Seemed kinda like any other olden-awesome-church...until we found out this place had some of the best acoustics I've heard on this trip (see video). Which is saying something: we sing everywhere.

 Relief Society activity. I love the joy we can find in a simple game of musical chairs. I love my sisters.

Sometimes (Rachel M and I decided in our bonding talk on the way home), we wear the same outfits in the same places and wrong camera dates throw us off. Such is life in Jerusalem. I love it here. I love that everyday is an adventure. I love that finals are over and we finally have so much FREE TIME!!!! Alicia and I pinned this trip and myself pretty accurately this morning: "You WOULD have a bad experience here because this trip is too good and you can't do everything." hahahaha I love Jerusalem.


And you! See you soon, EmHales! Thanks again for letting me feel classy with our matching-favorite-necklace-clocks. Your FAVORITE roommate, Chloe'