1) snorkeling in Eilat; we took a bus early in the morning down to the Gulf of Aqaba and spent the day swimming! There was music, gorgeous blue water, lots of fun people to chill with, and funny experiences to laugh about. Oh yes, and we went to a kibbutz for dinner. No, it's not the German word for chocolate--it's a Jewish community that lives independently. we had chicken and fries there! I love french fries, and I miss them desperately. Thus they tasted wonderful! I also walked along a weird (and long!) line of stores with Jake, Jocelyn, and Stephanie, they're some of my favorite people in the world. Thanks guys =)
2) Passover Celebration! Ok ok, that wasn't this last week but we did it the week before. Bitter herbs and unleavened bread, not to mention Charles' Jewish rap! Our Jewish Civilization teacher came and conducted it. To make it even better it was like a date because I sat by myself with Alyssa (we had a good time though!), and of course the grape juice bottles looked like wine so I automatically felt more sophisticated. Oh, and in the middle of the song our group did we forgot which words we were singing and all awkwardly stopped. Talk about classy!
3) The Un-talent show--easily the best event of my entire life. A variety show hosted by the JC's two greatest MCs EVER: Brant Peacock and Andrew Hardman. Nobody else would really get half the jokes because they're all from our experiences this semester, but it was pretty dang funny. I picked out the piano part for "My Little Buttercup" and did that with them, Tessa sang "I don't wanna be alone this Christmas" and it was basically my favorite, Jake walked out just before his number without his shirt on, James and Co. did the Waka Waka (Brant called out Dr. Chadwick as the one man that "kept peace from the world"... :S ), and my roommate Robert sang "The Marvelous Toy" =) I can die a happy man.
I have to throw in a random note: everyone has been working on Dr. Musallam's midterm this week, which was basically a 15 pg. single-spaced document covering a whole bunch of topics connected to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Barf.
Last but not least: our trip to Bethlehem today. I wasn't in the greatest mood but it was a great trip! James started the morning by having us listen to "Take a Walk Through Bethlehem" to boost yuletide spirit, then we spent the morning listening to a professor talk about Israeli settlement projections and then went over to Bethlehem University to interact with the students there and see the campus (it was really neat!) About 700 out of 3000 students are Catholic and 2300 are Muslim, but they get along just fine :) I'm glad someone has figured life out. Wow it's is tough for people here! (Bethlehem is in the West Bank area, by the way) Robert and I had fun watching some guys play basketball, I wish I could've played. We had lunch at a great place called "The Tent" (yes, it was a tent!), then vamoosed over to the church built on the traditional nativity site of the Savior's birth. We stood in line for quite a long time and then we had to move really quickly through the grotto, but it was fun and it was nice and cool inside :) Afterwards we sang Christmas hymns in a Catholic Cathedral (probably the best part) and then drove back home. I'm really sad because today was our last field trip with our OT teacher (Father Judd), I'm really gonna miss him. Oh, and my deepest thanks to Jocelyn, Andrew, Ann, Justin, Jake, Tarah and Megan Gygi today for talking with me and putting up with my unfiltered personality today. I really appreciate it, and I really needed it--thank you :)
For those who don't want to read a bit of a depressing deal just skip this paragraph. I had a sad realization today: I was sitting by my buddy Tarah on the bus, and we weren't talking much so I asked "do you find it hard to keep a conversation going with me?" (an awkward question, to be sure). The answer was affirmative, and I got thinking about social dynamics (another James quote: "I respect your honesty, but it still hurts"). Unfortunately I feel like I'm not very close friends with many here, that a significant portion of the "79 new friends" I have are merely surface (almost political) friendships. Some are friends when it's convenient, some never are, some are friends when they want help with something, and some try to be good friends even though they may not really want to. In short, it's not necessarily because of the person himself or herself like it is in natural friendships. I wouldn't bring it up in a blog that's supposed to be full of good experiences and inspiring stories, but it has been weighing unbearably heavily on my mind for the past while (to the point of tears some days). I try so hard but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference sometimes. I'm not the only one that has struggled with this issue, either. Sigh...I think I need to get outside of myself and serve people more, then I won't spend so much time thinking about myself. Thankfully the Savior is always there, and He knows better than anyone what it feels like to be deserted by those whom He called His friends. In any event, here's another shout-out to all my friends (including my family!) that care about me--the ones that look for me to talk to, ask to sit by me, talk me through my hard days, and care about my happiness enough to push past my defense mechanisms. You're literally heaven-sent and I desperately need your support, even more than all the times that I express it to you. A thousand thanks and God bless you! ='')
Some friends got me into XKCD, sometimes inappropriate but usually hilarious. I found one that describes me to the t:
Quote of the Day Award goes to James. We were asking if anyone had gotten divorced that had gotten engaged here in the JC, someone jokingly asked if any of the older service couples had, and James said "oh but some have probably died by now!" Oops. Obviously I laughed heartily (what a great word).
Bedtime. 'night!
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