A Journey's End

Hello everyone,

I apologize again for the delay between this post and the previous ones.  As you all may or may not know, my phone was stolen towards the beginning of my time here.  Thus, I was not able to post new pictures as I was without a decent and portable camera.  However, I have been making a lot of new friends and meeting many new people in the meantime.  Recently I was able to visit Jerusalem with an acquaintance from the university, and was able to secure some photos to share with you all.  I hope you enjoy the pictures, and I will see you all very soon.

Enjoying a nice cappuccino in a Jerusalem cafe.   

Having a good time even though the weather outside was rainy and miserable (and has been for the most part since then).

Candid photo taken by my friend as we walk through the Jerusalem mall.

In front of the Old Wall in Jerusalem.  The architecture was beautiful.

Photo taken in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, this was apparently the cross Jesus was crucified on. 

My friend and I in the Church.  The architecture was beautiful, with a plethora of large columns and old stone walls.

I don't exactly know the name of this, but it was in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  Apparently it is a site where believers kneel down and smell this stone, as well as kiss the stone.  I am assuming it is a form of prayer.

Outside of the Old City market.  The whole area had so much history which I very much enjoyed.

University and My Surroundings

Hello all.  I apologize for the delay in this blog post, as I have been going to classes for the past week and have tried to focus as much of my energy on my classes as possible.  Fortunately I have found some time to take some pictures of my university, as well as some of the surroundings in Birzeit.  All of my classes are quite interesting, especially my Modern and Contemporary Arab Thought class in which I gave a 40+ minute presentation today on the origins of the Islamic State (not ISIS, but the concept of the Islamic State originating from the time of Muhammad).  The colloquial Arabic class I am in is helping me immensely in improving my conversation skills and day-to-day communication.  My final class is called the Palestine Question, and is taught by the same professor who teaches my Modern and Contemporary Thought Class.  What I found surprising was that my professor actually spent around seven years in prison for being an outspoken demonstrator against the Israeli occupation.  I thought this was extremely interesting, as this man picked himself up after such a long imprisonment and went on to get a degree and begin teaching.  Included in this post are pictures of my university (which is teeming with life right now as this is the official first week of classes for the other Palestinian students), and some photos of the area in which I live (Birzeit).  I am quite busy with my classes and making new friends, but I will be determined in keeping this blog updated at least weekly.  In the program this semester, we will also be visiting a number of interesting locations, including the Jordan Valley.  I will of course update the blog with pictures of these trips after they occur.  For now, I hope you enjoy the pictures, and stay tuned for the next post!

The main road of the university.

My favorite super market! Super market Al-Tawfeeq.  The owner is a very nice man, and he speaks to me in English while I speak to him in Arabic.  He has all the necessities in his little, but stocked shop.

A lot of construction is going on in Birzeit and on the university campus.  I believe this building is a theater being built for the performing arts.

Many buildings are under construction in the area, which is great news.

The main building in which my classes are taking place, officially it is the building of Women's Studies, but it also houses the international students' programs.

A street view of the Al-Tawfeeq super market.

Today (9/8) was an incredibly strange day for weather, as a mild sandstorm swept over the city.  The sky was shrouded in dust the whole day, and the sun was completely blocked.

A better view of just how dusty the air was.  Thankfully the weather should change by this Friday, and should be less severe each passing day.  Apparently this weather phenomenon is strange for this time of year.

Palestine! (Birzeit)

Hello everyone,

I arrived safe and sound in Palestine a few days ago, and I am now posting this blog update from the town of Birzeit.  So far I am surprised as to how beautiful the whole area is.  The people are very friendly and quite curious as to why I am here.  When I mention the fact that I am a student at the university, the locals react quite favorably as apparently the number of international students has steadily declined over the years due to the conflict.  In fact, this semester around three other international students were barred entry into Israel and could not attend the current semester at the school due to being rejected by Israeli authorities.  While it is a shame, I am just happy to actually be here.  I have included several photos of the house in which I am residing this semester, and I must say the living situation is excellent as I have my own room and kitchen to experiment with.  The landlady is incredibly friendly and has made sure I am very comfortable in my abode.  I hope you enjoy the pictures of my residence, some views of the countryside, and my first attempts at making meals in my new home for the semester.  Thank you, and stay tuned!

My first attempt at breakfast! While not exactly Palestinian, it certainly reminds me of home, and that's always nice.

Exterior of the house I'm staying at.  There are quite a few trees including a fig tree and a lemon tree.

Countryside near the property.

View of the distant landscape at evening time.

Birzeit University.  I was surprised as to how modern and good looking the campus was, so much so that it could be a college from the U.S.

My first "dinner" which turned out O.K. despite the fact I had no cheese for the pasta.  The wine helped wash it all down, though.

Another view of the countryside.

Exterior of the house.

My room!  Cozy and comfy.

Living room/dining area.

Kitchen.

Entrance to the house.  I absolutely love the living situation, it's like my own little home!

Tel Aviv

Hello everyone, greetings from Tel Aviv!  I have been enjoying the city for the past several days, and I must say the weather is miles better than in Amman.  While it is a bit humid, the proximity to the Mediterranean is wonderful as one can easily take a nice dip in the water.  The city is quite modern, and the people seemed very friendly during my stay.  I had the chance to dine at several restaurants while I was here, including the House of Hummus which had some of the best hummus I have had in my life.  I am taking off for Birzeit tomorrow in the West Bank, which hopefully should not be too much of a headache as I plan on taking a cab to Jerusalem, and from there another cab into the territory.  I plan on uploading many photos of the campus and the surrounding area, as we have many tours scheduled during my stay at the university.  For now, I hope you enjoy the pictures from Tel Aviv, and stay tuned for more updates soon.

The traditional Israeli breakfast: Shakshouka!  Traditionally this dish is not made within bread, but I thought it was delicious.  Within that red tomato deliciousness are a couple poached eggs.  The sauce on the side made the whole thing terrific, 10/10 would devour again.

A view of Tel Aviv's coastline, beautiful!

Selfie!

A flea market on Carmel street which spans several blocks, in which one can purchase all sorts of knick knacks and food!

Part of my trip to the famous site of "Old Jaffa" this clock tower is one of the highlights of the area and it is gorgeous.

More shots of Old Jaffa.

Jaffa.

A view of the city from another angle, each day was this beautiful.

Another selfie!

The House of Hummus.  Self-declared the "second best hummus" in Tel Aviv because apparently everyone says their hummus is the best.  I told them I respect their humble attitude because this stuff was amazing!  That pita bread was some of the best I have ever had, and the hummus had a boiled egg cut up with whole garbanzo beans, all for a very cheap price.  No wonder this place is on the top 10 restaurant list of Tel Aviv!  Washed it all down with a 1/2 liter of some draft German beer.  10/10 would devour this again.

Royal Automobile Museum and the Jordan Museum

Hello everyone,

My apologies for the delay in this post, the internet in Jordan was very spotty the last few days I was there.  Fortunately, I am in Tel Aviv now and the connection here is excellent, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to update the blog with some really cool pictures I took of my adventures to the Royal Automobile Museum and the Jordan Museum.  If you're a  car nut, this post will drive you crazy, as I was practically salivating over some of these classic cars.  Among the large collection were a "Tron" replica "light bike" made by BMW which is literally one of a kind.  Another interesting addition to the collection was an amphibious vehicle dating back to the 1960's.  Needless to say, I was stunned at the sheer variety and class of the vehicles presented.  As for my more recent travels, I just arrived in Tel Aviv today, and so far the city seems quite modern and friendly.  There was a bit of trouble crossing the border from Jordan to Israel, as I was questioned thoroughly concerning my intentions in visiting Israel.  Thankfully, the delay was not too long and I arrived here without much headache.  I hope you enjoy the photos, and stay tuned for the next update from Tel Aviv!

Tron bike.

The "amphib" (notice the propeller in the mirror below the car).  Apparently the car topped out at 7 knots in the water.

A Lamborghini bike, modeled after the Aventador. One of a kind.

A cool stone written in ancient script, I believe it was Aramaic.

The evolution of language.

Ancient coins used in the Roman and other ancient empires.

This room of the Jordan museum contained bronzed Dead Sea Scrolls

And the actual paper scrolls themselves.

My first meal in Tel Aviv, a 300g (!) burger cooked medium-rare served with a side of mashed potatoes (and a Heineken of course).