New Blog location

I have decided to change my blog location because I found one that appears to be easier to use. I know that in the past uploading pictures was a bit ponderous and this new location seems to be much easier.

Here is the new blog address:
http://adventureswithpam.webs.com/index.htm

Hope to see you all there.

Another step forward...

I got the news this afternoon. The Law School is going to allow me to continue on this journey toward Senegal. We are going to continue to work on the plan for how my work while I am gone. Its still not for sure, but I'm one step closer.

Next step: Get at least 10 people to sign up for the trip so it doesn't get canceled. Tomorrow we start recruiting.

I can't say that I am without reservations about this trip. It will be so different than anything I've experienced before. Mosquito nets, malaria, AFRICA!?!

Exciting news

I was notified this week that I have been selected to go to Senegal in January as a Study Abroad Colleague for the College of Liberal Arts. We are still ironing out some of the details about how to cover my work while I am out galavanting :), but I am hopeful that we can get them worked out so I will be able to go. As it stands right now, I will be leaving on January 9, 2010, and returning on January 27, 2010. While in West Africa, the students will be studying sub-Saharan African films in the St. Louis area of northern Senegal.

This will be so different from anything that I have ever done. I am going to start brushing up on my French and hopefully learning a bit of Wolof, the most common language in Senegal, before we leave. It is nice to have a bit of prep time. I only had a month to get ready for my trip to Israel last year. It feels less frantic, although I know the time will go VERY fast.

Ñu yendu ak jamm.
Bonne journee.
Have a good day!

pam

Good bye

I am sitting in the terminal. It is about 30 minutes until my flight starts boarding and just more than an hour until we take off. I am ready. One the drive here from Jerusalem I realized many of the things that have changed in the last 15 years or at least I didn't notice them then. THis has become a place of walls, fences, window bars, and machine guns. All of which made me feel safer while I was here, but that I feel no sadness at leaving behind. It makes me sad that those who live here, but live with these things day after day. I suppose you get used to them, like you get used to traffic and sirens and perhaps even the call to prayer. Perhaps this is another example of why I am a small town girl. When I was on the dig 15 years ago, we were in a samll town atmosphere and only went to the City on weekends, so maybe I just didn't notice before.

Natalie, my single female conscience, will be worried to know that St Paul, holds almost no fear for me anymore. (and you thought I was fearless before). :) I went where locals (Israelis) would not recommend and had no problems. Of course that was before I knew I was not recommended to go there.

I will miss sunset, toast, and Schwarma laffa. I am looking forward to cheeseburgers, my own bed, and St Paul. Only 20 more hours.

Final post from Israel...

I am about 12 hours from flying out. This week has gone so fast, but I have accomplished almost all of the things I wanted to. I stayed at the Austrian Hospice, attended services at the Lutheran Church, climbed the bell tower, walked the Old City both alone and with friends, and just drank in the atmosphere of Jerusalem.

Some final observations from last night...
I stand at my window watching the sun set on Jerusalem. A police siren wails. No different from St. Paul. But here the city begins to quiet slightly as families ready for Sabbath. Streets in parts of the city will be blocked off soon for Shabat.

Only one more sunset in Jersalem. This has become one of my favorites. There's something very different about watching the sunset here - a city built on hills and valleys. Especially from the vantage point I have.

About quarter to 5 the call to prayer echoes out over the city adding another layer of sound to the city. The colors continue to darken as the sun moves lower. City lights begin to dot the landscape. It was 15 years ago that I first visited this city. It will not be another 15 years before I return.

Another Safety update...

We heard about the bombing from Lebanon in to the north of Israel. We have been forbidden from travelling to the upper Galilee. Just a clarification, the town that was hit with the rocket was Nahariya (on the Med Coast just south of Lebanon). Going back to my Minnesota analogy, this would be like someone in Canada shooting a rocket at Hallock or Crookston, MN. Keep in mind that I am still in (metaphorically) in the Twin CIties. :)

I am planning to stay in the Jerusalem this weekend. I want to spend more time in the Old City and finish my shopping! Several of the students are headed to Tiberius (lower Galilee). (Mom and Dad, that means I am saving money!) :) It also means I am staying far away from the violence. We will need to be vigilant for demonstrations over the weekend, but that is not new.

I saw an absolutely incredible movie last night. I attended a film series highlighting Israeli women as film makers and was privileged to view the film, "Noodle." It was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. It was, at least in part, about the Israeli response to illegal foreign workers. Sound familiar? It had many correlations to the issues the US is dealing with in terms of immigration. So far, it is not possible to get this movie in the US, but I am hopeful that it will come soon. :) I may have to purchase it as a souvenir.

Today something happened that I have never seen in Israel! It rained and it actually hit the ground! When I was here 15 years ago, we heard the rain hit the roof of our tent, but when we went outside, only a few drops even made it to our outstretched hands and very few, if any, drops hit the ground because it was evaporating as it was falling. I remember learning about this occurance during my meteorology class, but until I was in Israel and later in Idaho, I could not fathom it. In Minnesota, it either rains, or it doesn't. The sun is now out again and it looks like it will be another gorgeous day. I'll add some more pictures, including of the rain, tonight.

A new and glorious day!

Just a few observations about safety and security (Mom, this part is especially for you!) :)

The pastor on Sunday mentioned some of the unrest near his home. I do not know what part of the city he lived in, but a couple of our students saw some demonstrations (tire burning) on their first night in the city (Saturday). Mom and Dad will be pleased (?) to know that my excursion to the Old City on Saturday night would have been greatly discouraged by the people at Hebrew University, BUT I had NO issues aside from the challenge of lugging my heavy suitcase through the Old City and up and down stairs. :) We have have seen a couple of plumes of smoke in the valley in East Jerusalem (the Arab section). We guess that they are part of demonstrations which we are told have been including the burning of tires. Although we have seen these fires, they have been a distance from us. Here on campus at Hebrew University IDs and bags are checked upon re-entry to campus. There is security checking bags at most doors, especially to eating places. Throughout of the city, the police and military are very evident. In places where I remember soldiers when I was here before (15 years ago) there are larger groups of soldiers. Places where I don't remember soldiers and police now have a presence.

I feel very safe, although still vigilant. :)