Dear all,
Sorry I haven't written in so long; things have been really crazy around here. Classes are still going really well. My "Books of the Bible" class is interesting but similar to other classes I've taken before. I'm not really learning any new information but more a new perspective. It's really interesting. My "Role of the Bible in Early Judaism and Christianity" is fascinating. We're learning a lot about the Misna and the Midrash and all these rabbinical commentaries and their take on the Bible. Both classes are great though. These past few days have been so busy. Fourth of July we all went to American place for a BBQ which was fun, but definitely not the same. Thursday morning I had to wake up at 4:30am for our 5am field trip. We started at the Biblical Land Reserve at Ne'ot Qeddumim where we herded sheep and goats, learned about the role of wells and marriages (Issac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Moses and Zipporah.....), the biblical farming seasons, and how threashing is done and more about Ruth and Boaz, from a harvest timing perspective.... It was early, but all really cool. After that, we went to Gezer (see I Kings 9) and picninced and I stood where Solomon stood! There was an active acheological dig going on their too which was cool. After that, we went to a gas station looking over the Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath (I Samuel 17)!!! We even got to go down to the valley and I took the stone that David killed Goliath with! There was even Philistine blood on it! =) After that we went to Lachish a biblical city sieged by the Assyrians (Isaiah 36). After that I came home and went to bed because I had to wake up at 2am the next morning! The Office of Student Activites put on a trip where we left at 2:30am, slept on the bus (kindof) and then climbed up to Masada, a huge hill/fort in the middle of the desert. It was really cool! From there, we swam in the Dead Sea!! It was really mineraly and painful but totally cool. I can't believe I was at this place that I've heard about my whole life! After the Sea, we hiked and swam in the springs of En Gedi, and drove home. I showered and took a little nap, then me and some of the boys all went to Tel Aviv! All in all, it was 24 hours of tons of fun! After all those adventures, today was a day of relaxing and catching up on my sleep! Though tonight we did go to Domino's and had OSTRICH pizza which was.....an experience. And now it's back to classes and perhaps my friend Mike and I are going to Mt. Sinai on Monday!
I love studying abroad!!!
Ben and I going through Hezekiah's water tunnel (a 45 minute Cave hike/exploration in a foot of water). SO fun!!
Me at Masada in my super cool hat
Me and my friends at the Dead Sea!!
Eating OSTRICH Pizza!!!