A Hebrew Tinged Sleep

Hebrew is really an interesting langauge. They don't seem to have many connecting verbs (except et). This seems a little odd, or perhaps childish if translated directly to english. But it makes sense in Hebrew (well except for my occasional confusion about words like shel, which i still don't fully comprehend). The langauge is apparently very apt for singing worship songs, although many would bemoan a hebrew love song. As a singer in a club here told one of the girls in the OSP program, "I would sing you a love song, but it would sound like I was clearing my throat."

Overall I haven't done to many new things for the weekend, there is nothing new under the sun. But sleep is really an amazing thing. After studying so much physics, and not sleeping near enough I believe my body is rebelling. It always wants sleep, then I feel fine, but still sleep is good.

There have been many books that I have started reading. These are whole events in and of themselves, as they exist in a very real way in my mind. To many a book may not seem much, but they can tinge my whole way of thinking and enliven my heart. The world is out there and we can interpret it as we want but we get what we put in. Sometimes I forget that I can and should actually do things. The people here are mostly friendly, and usually very open for discussions. Sometimes a little bit too much.

Well the time is quickly passing midnight so I should take leave for now. I will try to post more, but not to much has happened of late. Or did I talk about Heather's trip up here? Maybe I forgot... Anyways Heather seems reticent to post online, so maybe this will be a one person ordeal afterall. Oh lamentations, ;(

Shalom!

As I promised, pictures! These are from a friend of mines on our Jerusalem trip. He has a digital camera, so here they are. I don't have time to write very much. I could make up some kind of good story, but hey. Hebrew is interesting, lots of gender specific cases and forms of words. I never though about how little of that english has as a language.

Well, Shalom!
laila tov!

God promised this land, and it is a land of Miracles

Shalom,

So, Israel is getting more interesting. I found the non-american parts of things, and they are good. Cheap vegetables and fruits, and great pitas and hummus. Also, with my vast lack of knowledge in French, I have decided Hebrew has way to much in common with French. I know, nothing really, but everyone who speaks French here pronounces Hebrew like a native.

My program took a field trip to Jerusalem.

Must go again, I have found it amazing, and fascinating in so many ways. To walk on grounds that are two thousand years old. Where the second temple was built, and Yoshua walked. But its the spirit of the city, heavy with so much rife and strife, yet still spiritual and longing to God in a way. Maybe the whole myth about The world being founded from there is true.

The city is still very human, but very beautiful stone everywhere and narrow streets and ... I almost keep longing that I had applied ot go there instead, it just seems so much more interesting for a persone of my tastes and inclinations. Parties and beaches are fun for a week with me (maybe that long). Is it possible to transfer study abraod programs, ;) ?

But Tel Aviv is getting much more interesting, especially as I meet more people. Jewish people are different. Friendly and warm almost all. More secular people seem to goto Tel Aviv though, so thats a different culture in and of itself.

The description of Israeli's as "prickly pairs" is apt. I got yelled at by a Russian or Jewish lady and thoroughly frightened. Also, I was sitting in a coffee shop early in the morning when I group of Israeli women came in and setup a video camera and started what seemed an interview seesion. Then they started arguing about clothes or soemthing, next time I looked up one of them was just finishing putting back on her shirt. I guess its normal to change shirts at the coffee shop. Hmmm?

Hebrew is an interesting langauge. I just started learning it, must go now, so now see you later!
Shalom!

Everyone speaks Hebrew ... in Israel

So,

After much weariness and much searching my plane landed in Tel Aviv Israel! The searching, other than the soul seaking kind, was mostly through my bags. Trying to tell my story to or explain my circumstance has always been interesting, but talking to the custom agent was particularly interesting. They ask a lot of questions, the most difficult being "Why did you choose to study in Israel?", apparenly "on a lark" isn't a very good answer. Therefore I have decided that my new definition of brave would be going through Israeli customs for fun... especially if you aren't jewish, don't know hebrew and have no real reason to study here.

So the dorms ... are also very interesting. The air conditioning requires special mention, or the lack thereof. Everything is in Hebrew, but most road signs are in English and menus can be had in english. The language seems quite interesting in itself, although I still have not reason to be studying it. I might be able to read some of the Old Testament (though I don't mean old in the depracated sense of the word... just older, like a wise granfather).

Some things are a little more expensive, especially fans... I neeed a fan. And there are no Walmarts... as much as I rag on Walmart, it is very nice to have one place with decently priced goods for a normal life... such as that fan, then the bedsheats and all of that.

I have been lucky to meet some great people so far. Everyone is friendly. So, that is cool. It is quite interesting being a "born again" christian, even a new one, in a Jewish land. Things are different, as in the US almost everything has a Christian basis (though doesn't seem to many of us follow through on what is said, I'll leave you to find what Jesus said about doing what you say).

Shalom,
Jaremy
Tel Aviv,
Israel