First Impressions

-Jerusalem is very hilly and kinda looks like Bend Oregon, kinda

-mmmm, we get the best humus I have ever eaten twice every day

-as a woman, I'm not supposed to look any man here in the eye, so us girls do a lot of looking at the ground

-the water here taste kinda like moth balls (-; but it's so hot that we drink and drink and drink all day long

-i have yet to experience air conditioning

-the mix and tension of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all co-existing in this one great city has been simply fascinating to observe (for example, Muslims actually own church of the holy sepulcher and lock/unlock it every morning for the hundreds of "christian" pilgrims)

-I'm living off the fourth floor, right off the roof of our school. It looks out into the city of Jerusalem and is seriously the best place to hang out with Jesus

-so far I have taken an average of 100 pictures every day...and, no, I am not a tourists (-;

-grapes, olives, and pomegranates are all growing in my yard

-i discovered this morning that unripe olives fresh off the tree are not good. no, that's an understatement, they are not only not good, they are the worst thing I have ever tasted in my entire life. Think of the nastiest, most bitter thing you have ever eaten, multiply that by 15, and then picture that sickness snaking over your tongue and overpowering your senses with sickening glee. i am not exaggerating people. yeah, just know that you have been warned

-so far, this is my favorite country I have ever visited. i love it here! come visit

-oh, and fyi, no toilet paper is allowed in the toilet :-D