Friday, June 1, 2012

Field Trip to Jericho and Such


Monday
So this last week, we made some good progress in the sight-seeing department.  The day after we got back, we went on a field trip to Jericho.  I was really looking forward to this field trip because part of it was to go see the ruins of Herod's Winter Palace, which I did my site report on for my ANE class.  But first, we went to a mount that overlooks the Wadi Qilt and the Quruntul Roman Catholic monastery.  It was cool to see, but I just wanted to move on to Herod's Winter Palace!


Quruntul Monastery in the cliff side of the Wadi Qilt. 
We arrived at Herod's Winter Palace and well, it turned out to not be even close to as cool as I thought it would be.  In fact, it was actually pretty lame....  especially after just having seen Ephesus, Pergamum, and Assos.  One thing that I did find fascinating though, is how drastically the landscape changes with just a 20 minute drive out of Jerusalem. Jericho summed up is pretty much just one big desert.  Actually, the city itself is in a little Oasis, but everything is really barren.  It was a big change after spending the week in the lush, green country of Turkey.


Herod's Winter Palace site report buddies
Bathhouse in Herod's Winter Palace



Dry barrenness of the Land of Jericho
After Herod's Winter Palace, we went to tel-Jericho.  AKA the oldest city in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!  Pretty cool huh?  Well, it's pretty much just a big pile of dirt now, but hey, I've been to the oldest city in the world now!  Haha.  The Tel included remains of a tower, a wall, and what looked to be some buildings/houses.... but with the walls only being 2 ft. high, who knows.

Little fountain outside the Gate to the Oldest city of the World.

After spending time in the desert, we walked a little ways into the modern city of Jericho, aka the city of palm trees, and went to Elisha's spring.  This spring is very significant because it is the sole water source that enabled people to settle in Jericho.  The spot we went to was very pretty and refreshing after looking at so much barrenness.  It was food for the soul!








Tuesday
The next day, was a day full of classes.  Lots, and lots of classes!  One thing I've learned is that sitting on a bus, driving through Turkey for 6 hours is much more pleasant than sitting through 6 hours of classes.  But don't get me wrong, I am very glad to be learning more about Jerusalem, the people, and the issues that comes along with it.  Being here has greatly taught me that I have lived a very naive life. Don't think that you can assume that just because you listen to the news every night, that you know what's going on.  False!!!!!!!  We have had several news reporters come and speak to us.  (Some local and some from the U.S. or elsewhere)  And all of them have said themselves that the news does not tell the truth, or the whole truth.  Their goal is to write something that sells.  The news makes us think that there is always a good guy and a bad guy.   This was the perspective that I had coming here to Jerusalem.  But being here, I have learned that both sides of the conflict (people wise)  are really great.  The issue is how to best share the land, not who is the bad guy and needs to be defeated. The peoples that live here are wonderful, and they should both be winners at the end of this conflict.  There is no "one good guy"
Ok, back to Tuesday's events.  So after class, we had dinner.  I had to eat dinner really fast because at 6:30 was..... our first Activity Days!!!  Yay!  It was so much fun. :)  There are three girls:  Marissa, Melia, and Sophia.  They are so cute!  They remind me of my little sisters which is nice.  We did a little bit of "Get to Know You" games, made brownies, learned about charity, and then wrote thank you cards to people.  It was so great!  This was the perfect calling to get while being here. :)  I'm so lucky to get to have fun with these cute little girls. :)

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