flights and our new home

Well- we are here in the Holy Land! This post is going to be uber long and maybe boring (?) it won't let me load pics so i just tried to describe everything. so sorry if it goes on forever haha. hopefully we can get some pics up soon.

We made it after 4 flights. there was 20 kids that got only 2 flights but for the rest of lucky kids we started in SLC, to Chicago, to D.C., then Vienna and finally to Tel Aviv. we rode on austrian air and it was pretty nice. all the stewardesses had the best uniforms! imagine- a perfect blonde woman with a delightful german accent dressed in bright cherry red head to toe. i am talkin about dress pant suit, tights and shoes. then a sky blue scarf tied around the neck. i just loved it!

in the dc airport we were getting on a shuttle and alyssa was one of the last to get on. the doors were about to close on her when lizzy jumps in the way! haha she just lunches and sacrifices her body for alys. on that flight i sat next to an american who lives/flies all over the world creating temp air ports in undeveloped areas. he let me take his window seat because he didn't want it. he was super nice, lives in vienna with austrian wife and baby. there were 2 old ladies in front of me who were friendly and wanted to know what i was up to. they were best friends off to climb a mountain in turkey. awesome!

at the vienna airport i spotted a store with shelves and shelves of MILKA CHOCOLATE BARS! haha i have no idea why but i started to get a little teary eyed. i really love chocolate and i hadn't seen my fav kind in ssuucchh a long time. and i was tired, messed up on time and it was something i knew. haha no clue why but i cried over chocolate. of course i had to buy some and made lizzy get some too. it was her first time and i took of picture of her first bite.

the other great things in the vienna airport: saw my first muslim praying towards Mecca (check!) saw my first orthodox jew with side curls, prayer shawl, beard and black hat (check!)
and saw my first Israeli military teen-ager with a machine gun (check!). the jewish man was with his wife and baby, i fell in love with them. the mom was super classy and the baby was wearing old fashioned white baby clothes, bonnet and all.

we finally got to Tel Aviv and the last jump in the road to Jerusalem was customs. there were all these things i had to remember to tell them. i was a tourist, not a student. go through the green dot because i am not declaring anything, i am staying for only 3 months. i was feelin the pressure. so the group of us get there and see mulitple lines. we choose one and the first guy goes. he looks like he is having trouble and calls the girl behind for help. the employee looked confused and upset. they take forever. i am getting nervous that i won't answer the questions right and i don't want a mean worker. so i hope lines to another woman. its my turn and i just hand her my passport. she doesn't look at me, stamps my passport, doesn't say a word and gives it back. phew!

i was so happy to see one of my professors holding a BYU sign. finally someone to take care of us! haha we loaded onto the buses and drove an hour to J-town. on the way we saw the valley where joshua tells the moon to stop, war momunents and wound our way up the hills. i was at the front of the bus and saw the first look of Jerusalem. it was breathtaking. white buildings everywhere, nestled into the hills with the Dome of the Rock blazing out in the sun. it just suddenly appeared without warning. great moment.

i was also the first to see the Jerusalem Center! i was very proud to spot it before the prof announced it. i was just washed over with relief that i had made it. i jumped off the bus and walked/jogged to the front doors. all the service couples, directors, workers were inside waiting for us. the director said "welcome home!" and i just felt overwhelmed with happiness. they gave us hugs and kisses and took our bags for us. they had everything ready. cookies, punch, a tour, our clean rooms. it was perfect.

the moment i stepped into the center i felt at home. it didn't seem new or strange- almost like i had been here before. it feels completely normal to be living here, but i still take a long time walking anywhere so i can take in the view. every window over looks the city with the Dome of the Rock as the main landmark. the center is gorgeous. stone floors everywhere, mosaics on the walls, lush gardens, beautiful rooms with comfortable funishings. hilarious security men that are my new best friends. (one played a joke on me. i was going to the top floor to study outside and he sternly asked where i was going. i told him and he said "NO! closed till after dinner!" i said sorry and turned around when he started to laugh. "hahaha you are new. i can tease you and you believe everything." they are all bald, huge and funny haha)

our rooms overlook the city and has private balconies. i was unpacking when i heard The Call to Prayer for the Muslims. i went out onto the balcony, leaned against my pomengrante tree, watched the sunset and listened. best moment!!! then i showered and fell right asleep. but then at 4 am i heard another Call to Prayer. it was an extra one to walk up the Muslims so they can eat an early breakfast, because they are in the middle of Ramadan. lizzy and i said we are lucky mormons only fast for 2 meals once a month, instead of no eating aaallllll ddaayyy for a whole month. then we heard readings from the Koran. classic Jeru event.

haha if you made it to the end- congrats and thanks for sticking with me. more to come!