Good morning from Jerusalem!
Ever since I fell deep into the well that is blogging in high school (Xanga, anyone? haha), I've been wary of how narcissistic and time-consuming it can get. Until now (besides the blog Seth and I kept in Korea, which he usually updated), I've avoided it.
But! I woke up with the birds singing at dawn, made coffee and toast, opened the balcony door, read Matthew 1, and turned on iTunes... and, well, you know how music can often color your whole worldview? I was overcome by joy and gratitude. Rather than just email a few people with updates and post the occasional Facebook status blurb, I figured I'd keep a blog with the hope that I can share some of my joy and gratitude with you.
I had the fortune of visiting Israel/Palestine this past March with a school travel seminar, which was truly remarkable (here are some of my reflections on it in case you're curious). However, I didn't really get to know the cities and its people at my own pace. I was also not as mindful as I could have been.
So. My heartfelt desire is to be more mindful this time.
And you know what's already struck me since arriving yesterday afternoon? How generous people can be. A classmate met me at the airport and helped me navigate the buses from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, all while insisting on carrying my bag for me. The people I'm subletting from met me at a light rail station and gave me a thorough introduction to my new neighborhood, circling points of interest on a map and encouraging me to call them if I need anything. My roommates are both med students and so kind. I've shared some smiles with folks on the street (especially people with children). This is good since I've learned to be guarded and cautious from other travel experiences (I've grown increasingly aware of a kind of vulnerability that comes from being an Asian female... a whole other blog post and/or conversation).
I met up with this classmate later to shop at the Mehane Yehuda Market (more photos later!) and make dinner at his hostel (which was giant and full of interesting people from all around). The produce here is so beautiful and cheap! We grabbed tomatoes on the vine, cucumbers, carrots, and beets for a salad; giant pita larger than my laptop; an assortment of olives; hummus; and a delicious sharp-nutty cheese with that crystalline bite to it. YUM.
We had a beer and shared stories. Funny how we were in the same Biblical Hebrew class all year and only got to know each other on this day.
::pulling off headphones::
I hear toddlers chattering in the way that they do. Delightful :)
Ever since I fell deep into the well that is blogging in high school (Xanga, anyone? haha), I've been wary of how narcissistic and time-consuming it can get. Until now (besides the blog Seth and I kept in Korea, which he usually updated), I've avoided it.
But! I woke up with the birds singing at dawn, made coffee and toast, opened the balcony door, read Matthew 1, and turned on iTunes... and, well, you know how music can often color your whole worldview? I was overcome by joy and gratitude. Rather than just email a few people with updates and post the occasional Facebook status blurb, I figured I'd keep a blog with the hope that I can share some of my joy and gratitude with you.
I had the fortune of visiting Israel/Palestine this past March with a school travel seminar, which was truly remarkable (here are some of my reflections on it in case you're curious). However, I didn't really get to know the cities and its people at my own pace. I was also not as mindful as I could have been.
So. My heartfelt desire is to be more mindful this time.
And you know what's already struck me since arriving yesterday afternoon? How generous people can be. A classmate met me at the airport and helped me navigate the buses from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, all while insisting on carrying my bag for me. The people I'm subletting from met me at a light rail station and gave me a thorough introduction to my new neighborhood, circling points of interest on a map and encouraging me to call them if I need anything. My roommates are both med students and so kind. I've shared some smiles with folks on the street (especially people with children). This is good since I've learned to be guarded and cautious from other travel experiences (I've grown increasingly aware of a kind of vulnerability that comes from being an Asian female... a whole other blog post and/or conversation).
I met up with this classmate later to shop at the Mehane Yehuda Market (more photos later!) and make dinner at his hostel (which was giant and full of interesting people from all around). The produce here is so beautiful and cheap! We grabbed tomatoes on the vine, cucumbers, carrots, and beets for a salad; giant pita larger than my laptop; an assortment of olives; hummus; and a delicious sharp-nutty cheese with that crystalline bite to it. YUM.
We had a beer and shared stories. Funny how we were in the same Biblical Hebrew class all year and only got to know each other on this day.
::pulling off headphones::
I hear toddlers chattering in the way that they do. Delightful :)
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