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. :)

A few observations before bed

Church on Sunday-
My last visit to Israel included an a-ha moment at the Dome of the Rock, when it hit me that I was really in Israel. (Sometimes I am a bit slow!!) As I have described it several times since and my Concordia friends may understand, "I was in a Fiala photo." Dr. Fiala was one of my professors at Concordia and he would put together slideshows from his travels that pertained to whatever unit we had just covered in his class. He had shown several photos of the Dome of the Rock through the three years I took his classes. It was a startling realization to me when I found myself standing pretty much where he had taken the picture from. (I now have several of my own Dome of the Rock photos).

My a-ha moment this trip was while sitting in worship in St. John's Chapel at the Church of the Redeemer. The first hymn was "Angels from the Realms of Glory." I love singing that hymn and was singing along when we came to the part about the shepherds in the fields abiding and was struck by the thought that I was where I was singing about. Or rather less than 10 miles from Bethlehem. I was singing Christmas music in the land where CHristmas began! I almost had to sit down the thought was so staggering. The Christmas tree stood to the right of the alter with its lights blinking. The light shining through the windows from the palm and flower filled courtyard, and I was here, really here.

I also had a small world moment at church as I sat in a Lutheran Church in Jerusalem and discovered that the majority of the people around me were from Minnesota! The Pastor and his wife were from Minneapolis. There were many other who were just visiting and happened to be from Minnesota as well. Not only was worship in the familiar liturgy, but it was also in a familiar accent!

Impressions from my walk through the Old City on Sunday morning.
My friend, Patrick, commented on my facebook page about his memories of walking through the Old City in the early morning and how much he enjoyed and recommended it. I too had that opportunity on Sunday. I had walked the streets of the Old City before, but never that early or alone. My mom won't want to hear this, but I wasn't scared. Vigilant, but not scared. The birds were singing. The City was awakening for a new week. Shopkeepers were opening their shops. In some areas, fresh bread and pastries steamed with just from the oven warmth. The air hung heavy with their smells. The sun shone bright and WARM. (A big deal having just arrived from Minnesota!) In one darker area, a stack of pastries were lit from the inside of the stack and glowed into the darkness. A group of Israeli soldiers congregated in fron tof a pizzeria! As I walked along the street, I passed in and out of the sunlight. Bells from the Christian Churches peel out their call to worship. Voices call to one another in languages I can not understand, but with emotion and meaning I can guess. Familiar, vaguely remembered, landmarks appear. The street climbs a hill and passes through an arch. Children scurry through the streets. Doors of various colors and sizes cut into the high walls on either side of the street. Suddenly rounding a corner and looking up, the bell tower of the Lutheran Church appears above the buildings. I stop (to catch my breathe as well as to enjoy) to breathe in the sights, sounds, smells, and everything around me and to smile.

Enough observations for now. I will write more in the morning. Shalom!

Tuesday Morning...

Welcome to Tuesday morning. It's almost 9 am and class with Rabbi Daniel Sinclair is in full swing. Today we will learn about Jewish Law historically as well as at present.

Yesterday was a day to explore the familiar with new eyes. In class, Daniel Rossing introduced us to the various Christian denominations present in Jerusalem and the challenges of resolving disputes among those groups. It was interesting to see the differences in the various groups as well as some of the disputes that had arisen. We had the pleasure of meeting with one of the secretaries to the archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He was able to spend a few minutes speaking with us. It was their December 23rd so he was very busy getting ready for Christmas. I remember what my dad was like getting ready for Christmas and he didnt' have to worry about how to get safe passage for the members of the patriarchate and large groups of pilgrims to safely traverse the West Bank to Bethlehem for services on Christmas.

We then were led to the roof of the Patriarchate building to view Jerusalem. It was an uncommon view of the city. We had the city spread out below us almost like a map. The various church groups with their churches, schools, and other organizations dotted the city. It helped illustrate some of the reasons for the disputes among Christians in Jerusalem. We also visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and saw how some of those disputes are dealt with. Daniel Rossing was for many years the person responsible for resolving disputes between Christian groups in Jerusalem. Sometimes the stories were about petty disputes, like changing the light bulb in the Chapel of St. Stephanus to the need to add drapes to the Mormon school. Many of the stories had great situational irony. FOr example, the Mormon school that built their building into the hillside and have great windowed arches in rows on each level facing the Old City. Their class rooms and study areas were on the 2nd level and the stair wells were in the center of the building. The effect after dark was that when the stairwells and classroom level were lit, it formed what looked like a 7 story tall cross. The Jews and the Muslims were very upset. Eventually the resolution was to add curtains to the windows so that it would not look like cross. The irony is that Mormons do not use the cross as a religious symbol, but it did not matter to the Jews or Muslims. It was still a cross!

We were able to do a bit of wandering in the Christian Quarter of the Old City as well as West Jerusalem.

Photos

I dont' know if this will work, but this is a link to my photos from my gtrip. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=52972&id=766129612&ref=mf

View from my window

I believe, if I am orientated correctly, that the tower near the center of the second picture is the Bell tower of the Church of the Redeemer (Lutheran Church of the Holy Land).










The Dome of the Rock as seen from my window. Is the brightly light shape on the left side.

Pam has arrived!

I am sitting on a small balcony near my room at the Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family on the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) in the Old City of Jerusalem. Shabatt (Sabbath) ended a few hours ago and although it is a little cool, the streets are alive with sound. Although I do not understand what is being said, the young men sound like they are having fun. One of the young men hanging out in front of the Pizzeria across the street just started singing. Many of you know how much I LOVE the sounds of the city, but somehow its different here.

As I walked down from the Damascus Gate to the Hospice many in the adjoining Muslim Quarter were closing up shop for the evening. A few more blocks would have taken me to Western Wall of the Temple and the Dome of the Rock above it. I can see the Dome of the Rock from my windows, although you have to stand on one foot and angle your body just right so you don't fall out the window. :)

The high tomorrow is supposed to be 52 and sunny. Gotta love it! I believe the Midwest is getting hit with another snowstorm and is a good 25 degrees cooler! I think I'll enjoy this weather while I can.

Let's see, so far I met a group from Bemidji who are here for 2 weeks, a couple from Costa Rica who are visiting Haifa, a Bible college group from Kentucky, and a Arab grad student from Jerusalem, but is studying in California. Oh, and a really fun bunch of military personel on their way back to Basic and Advanced training after Christmas Break. I also got to spend several hours in Atlanta with Scott and Holly and the kids. I even learned?!?! to play Wii, but very badly. :)

In all I have been gone, just more than 24 hours. At the moment, I am exceedingly thankful for a bed and a shower, which are both calling my name at the moment. It is now 9:30 in Jersalem and I need to get on their time so I will give in to the siren call of the shower and then head for bed. I will do a better job of describing and storytelling tomorrow (after a shower and a good night's sleep)!

Signing off for now,
pam