Day 1

The flights here were crazy: Salt Lake to Denver to Dulles to Vienna to Tel Aviv. It was really fun though because I got to know the people on my flights really well, and it was nice not to have to be on a plane for 12 hours straight like the other group.

Today was the first full day in Jerusalem! We walked around and toured the city, got to see a couple of different buildings and go inside the Temple of the Holy Sepulcher. It was amazing! So much to see that it seems like 4 months will hardly be enough. We start classes tomorrow morning, and we already have a bunch of reading that we have to do beforehand. All of you will be surprised and impressed to hear that I have finished all of them already. Whether or not that enthusiasm will continue throughout the semester is still yet to be determined.

The coolest thing about the walk we did was going into the old city. Everything is so old, but then with hundreds of years of stuff built over and around it. It is all made of white stone, and there are hills and stairs everywhere. The ladies are all covered up in scarves and long coats. We saw some Israeli guards all decked out with big guns... definitely don't want to get on their bad side.

The Center is amazing- breathtaking view right off the patios outside our rooms, good food and great people. The staff are so great, all of the professors and service couples are so nice and friendly and they help us get really excited about all the things we get to do and see.

Miss you all, lots of love!