WOO HOO Finals are over!

Now that finals are over, it is time to party like its 1989. A group of us went to dinner at Emek Refaim street (the German Colony) and ate this delicious italian food. The Jerusalem Center has great food and all, but like any cafeteria...the food is all starting to taste the same. It was time to break out and eat some good food.

 Linds and I split the Mushroom pizza, mmmmm

The dinner was a little pricey so we decided to round up our talents and hit the streets. Luckily we have a few talented musicians in our group who played the guitar, harmonica, and sang. I was put on interpretive dancing. Lets just say...I was the money maker of the group. 

This was our little band. The locals didn't really know how to handle us and I think they were creeped out by my dancing so we didn't get too much money but that's ok it was worth the experience.

It was just nice to get out of the center and go into the city. 

This picture is of matabaq (the picture that I promised like forever ago.....)

On Monday we had a field trip to Yad Veshem, the Holocaust museum and cemetery. I have been to a few Holocaust museums but this was probably the hardest one yet. I am not sure if it is because I have learned a lot about the Jewish history and culture lately but it was emotionally exhausting walking through it. They were really trying to prove a point for the state of Israel so it was very blunt. But before walking through we did manage to snap one photo.

Well life is going great and I hope that all of you are enjoying your summer break :)
Thanks for reading my blog
I have a video of me dancing in the streets so hopefully I will find time tomorrow to upload it

mmmmm.....Tasty

JORDANIAN FOOD

Best Pita Bread yet

Buttery Rice

Delicious hummus

Vegetables doused in oil and butter

curried chicken

Bread

 

 While walking through the city of Ammon I was fortunate to almost get run over by the four dead...... I don't even know what animal.

I know I never eat KFC but they provided it for our last day in Ammon and I am not going to lie that it was a little slice of America and I enjoy every last finger lickin bite. 

 JERUSALEM

Falafel

Schwarma

Motabaq (I will put up a picture of this tomorrow but this is the best dessert)

Pita, hummus

some fruits and veggies

Gummies everywhere

The pita man

Falafel

Matisyahu

The night that we arrived back from Jordan Matisyahu was performing in West Jerusalem so naturally we had to hear him sing his "Jerusalem, if I forget you" song in Jerusalem. We were exhausted but we pushed through and it turned out to be a great night.

Matisyahu is a Jewish Rabbi who sings Reggae, not gong to lie majority of the time he was high but it is all part of the experience, right? No worries all of us stayed away and we did not suffer from second hand smoke. 

Concerts in a foreign country are an interesting experience. 

But bigger news, our bball team (MO' MONEY MO' PROBLEMS) won their first game tonight! We had lost the first two but we redeemed ourselves tonight

We are starting to have a following because we are THAT bad. like seriously it is hilarious to watch. We laugh at ourselves but we have a great time. The other teams love playing us because we are an easy win. But lets just say that on our team we have a Jimmer (me), Rudy (Emily) and Radio (Lindsey).

Jordan Part 2

Shabbot Shalom!

(Happy, Peaceful Sabbath)

DAY FOUR

On this day we started off by going to the Amman Citadel which is the location of the Temple of Hercules. Biblically speaking it is where Uriah the Hittite was sent into battle and was killed. King David had already "spied" on Bathsheba and was trying to kill Uriah so he could marry her. 

 Hercules Pose

The Wall Uriah was killed at

Afterwards we went to the Jabbok River where Jacob had his wrestle with the Lord and received his new name, Israel. We had a devotional here and then naturally re-enacted the wrestling scene but not in a sacrilegious way.

 

Right afterwards we walked around this ancient city called Jerash. It was more spectacular than Ephesus! There was two theaters, a few temples, and multiple columned streets. The only bad part was that we were drained from Petra. It was over 100 degrees with zero shade. But I am not complaining, it was worth it.

 The nightlife in Amman Jordan was pretty hip, hop and happenin. We would walk down the main drag, Rainbow Street. We would grab ice cream and then go and hang out with the locals. There was this main square where a bunch of locals would meet together and play music. Since we were there they would play American music so we could dance and sing a long. The only weird part is that we were the only girls in the square. In the Muslim culture they don't associate or hang out together before marriage. They discussed how in Jordan honor killings still occur. 

DAY FOUR

We started off with a walking tour to downtown Amman and stopping at the largest theater in the Middle East. Quite Impressive. At one point everyone was chanting my name to go down and sing a rendition of "The Phantom of the Opera." They have finally found my hidden singing ability.

Afterwards we ended with what was a highlight, the Jordan River. We hiked down to the traditional  location where Christ was baptized. We had a class spiritual devotional and then we were allowed to get into the river.

Jordan Part 1

Hey! So how was all of your week? To sum up  Jordan was a great experience, I loved it. But here is a summary of what has happened the past week.

Day One

We took a bus across the border which let me tell you is the biggest hassle. We all had to get out and wait in line then we had to switch buses. But after that we arrived at Mt. Nebo, it is the location where Moses saw the promise land but not allowed to go. 

Afterwards we stopped at St. John Church in Madabba. This is where a famous mosaic of the land of Palestine.  This is just a random picture from inside the church. I would expound but it wasn't that cool.

  The next stop was a highlight, it was at Mt. Machaerus. This is the location where John the Baptist was beheaded. He condemned the marriage between Herod and Herodias (probably because she was his niece and sister-in-law) and this angered Herodias so they out him to death.

 here is the start for funny friday....

 that night we drove to Wadi Musa or the location of the Petra

DAY TWO: PETRA

So Petra was so amazing, I thought it was just that one location that was in the Indiana Jones movie but it was so much more. There was like 20 of them!

 Here we are at the Treasury opening. It is as magnificent as you can imagine

 So Petra is a full town, there is tons of tombs, temples, monasteries, and also houses that are all built inside the cliffs. So we hiked up the monastery which was a mile long hike in 102 degree heat, woo it was HOT. But worth every minute. If you couldn't tell we are spelling out P-E-T-R-A

 This is Linds and I in front of the Monastery

On the way back down there was a bunch of bedoiun women selling cheap jewelry so I bought a few bracelets from this wonderful lady, had to get a picture with her. 

 This is what the hiked looked like,  reminded me a lot of Lake Powell

 These are just a few houses, around 30,000 thousand people lived here

 Highlight: Getting to ride a camel! 

So, Since it is funny friday I will show you the new photos that we have taken in Jordan, we now are taking "urban photos." If you don't know know what that means just google urban outfitters and that is what we are re-enacted. Here are a few shots from the whole trip:

Tomorrow I will finish with the last two days. Right now I am watching Never Say Never- Justin Bieber. So inspirational. no joke

Hold me lIke the River Jordan

Hey guys! I just arrived home from my trip in Jordan! It was such an a amazing trip and the Petra is in the top 5, top 3 coolest things I have ever seen in my life. WOW! I don't have much time today to give you the run down on the trip but here is a preview for my post tomorrow......

jordan river