JANUARY 19, 2009
Interesting day—as usual…after staying in all day on Sunday—still feels strange, even though every day seems like it isn’t the day it is…
I enjoy the students so much—the classes are only 50 minutes—and they go so fast, I am still talking when the bell rings. We had 90 minute classes at PNG for all those years—so I’m still going strong at 50 minutes. Of course, the classroom routine is quite different—the kids are very gregarious and enjoy the social aspect of school very much. We’re all adjusting to being in our desks when the bell rings!
I wrote about the stairs—56 up to the high school floor—and then at lunch 56 down! So I’m moving around quite a bit. I know that is good for me—and the walking is too. We all walk with someone going to and coming from school. Even though it is just a few blocks—the streets are very narrow—but cars pass…and when they do, there’s not much room for pedestrians! Mary and I were walking to school the other day, and a taxi van was turning around and brushed her—she jumped out of the way…I’m not sure he was sorry!
Today was our day to get the car! Such fun! Mary is the only one of the four of us who drives—and thank the Lord, she was driving! The traffic over here in this sector is quite different…you have to be very aggressive and know where you are going. Of course, we only go about 3 blocks down the hill and around the corner and we have to get in line for the check point. Tonight we started down the hill, and there was a line to get in the line—I thought to myself, “We’ll be here all night.” And we were in line almost 30 minutes…but we finally worked our way up to the soldiers…IDF—Israeli Defense Force. They (at least when I’ve been there) are all SO young…and tonight Mary was driving and Erin (young, darling girl who lives across the hall) was in the front seat—so this young IDF comes to the window and collects the passports and flirts up a storm with them! He asks them what we are doing over here—they say teaching at Jerusalem School and then he asked them if they would tutor him! He was barely 5 ft. tall and had this very manly, deep voice…so funny.
We zoomed on through and went to Jafars and did our little shopping! It is just like a 7/11 in America, but tiny aisles and crowded w/stuff and more stuff—in boxes in the aisles…and no meat that we would want to buy. The first time I was there, Elaine had helped me buy some cheese—and it was so good. So I went to the counter to buy some more. He asked me how much—in kilos—and I said a kilo. I have no idea what a kilo is…and I was standing there looking around, and finally turned back and saw that the stack of cheese slices was so tall it was about to topple off the scale! I said STOP! I had him bag it in 3 bags and gave two of them to the other 2 apartments of girls! Oh well—I’m learning. I bought some sliced smoked turkey—Mary had some and I had eaten it and it was good. I bought a small pkg of cottage cheese, some strange crackers, laundry detergent and toilet tissue—etc. The “no tissue in the toilet” rule is still a bit difficult for me…but surprisingly enough, I’ve forgotten very few times.
Then we went to a store called Academia—sorta similar to Mannings, but just a small narrow shop with stuff everywhere! I dug around and found pens, pencils, a pencil sharpener and tape dispenser, clips, notebook…just stuff that we all have about at home—with no thought. While I was digging around in there, Mary and Erin went to the vegetable market called “The Garden of Eden”…and got some tomatoes, etc…Mary’s friend brought her a huge package of bacon from home—the kind that doesn’t have to be kept cold until it is opened…there are 72 slices in it, so one night we all get a sandwich…and we bought tomatoes for a BLT! Imagine!
Then we stopped at the Golden Chicken—same place Elaine and I had eaten. We enjoyed some fried chicken and homemade fried potatoes…and came on home.
We don’t have to go through a check point to come home…they don’t care who goes in to the Arab sector, but they are very strict about who comes out.
I do hope to take some pictures…just haven’t had opportunity to take many yet. And I need a panorama camera to really get it.
Thank you for your interest and prayers—please continue to pray for my 3 girls, and the rest of my family—and friends and sweet little Honey…I miss that little fur ball so much! I love getting the emails—keep them coming…I’ll eventually respond. BUT please, please no forwards…I can’t do that…
I love ya’ll…Beth