Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Olive Pressing

Olive Juice after being pressed
On Monday we were able to work the Olive Press that we have here at the Jerusalem Center. Last week we picked all the olives. The top picture is a couple of us crushing the olives. We basically just walk in a circle as fast as we can and it was a lot harder than it looks. We have two tools to press the olives after they are crushed. One uses weights while the other is like a screw that you turn to press the crushed olives. The juice from the latter is pictured above. Once we have the juice, they take it somewhere where they have to let the oil separate from all the other stuff. So in case you are wondering, I tried one of the fresh olives. It was the most bitter taste ever! I had barely even bitten it and I couldn't stand it! But it really added to the symbolism of the Atonement. Overall, it was a really great experience and I can't wait to get my little vial of olive oil.
Also on Monday, a couple of us decided to try to go to the Knessed. However, we missed the English tour, so rather we went over the Whol Rose Garden. Too bad the roses are out of season... it was still really pretty though! We ended up finding the supreme court building though, so we got to go inside and sit in on a trial or hearing or something. I am not really sure what it was because they were speaking Hebrew, but it was fun to watch. All I could tell was that someone was trying to make a case or tell a story to three people sitting up on the stands. We then ended at the Israel Museum which was really cool and had way too much interesting things to see in two hours. Hopefully I will get to go back!
Me and Brooke at Elat - Moses parted it, we snorkeled it! - quoted by Brooke
Ok so this might not be the most flattering picture, but it's kind of fun! This last Sunday, almost all of the students went to Elat, the southern tip of Israel, where we were able to snorkel and go to an aquarium. It was a really fun day and a nice break after midterms. Now we get to start prepping for some finals next week. Us three associate students also start Kaplan this week. School is busy but I am loving it!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Sardis
Nicea
So I realized that we did a lot in Turkey. There are three more days that I could have done posts for, but it's too much. I will just finish with these pictures. We went to some amazing places, especially biblical. We were able to go to 5 of the 7 places that Paul wrote letters to in the New Testament. We went to places where councils were held to discuss the nature of God, like Nicea. Nicea was the last place we went before we headed to the airport to go home. I had an amazing experience there. We were taught about a council that was held there. I don't remember all of the details, but my professor compared it to what we understand God to be and to what we learned from Joseph Smith's experience. It was wonderful to learn such amazing this while looking at a beautiful sunset. I loved Turkey. The shopping was great, but the places we saw were pretty amazing. There is a great culture there and lots to be learned. I really hope I get to go there again someday!

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Turkey Day 4

Part of Athena Temple at Pergamum Acropolis
Pergamum Acropolis

Assos

Ephesus

Turkey Day 3

Gallipoli

Ruins at Troy


Turkey Day 2


Blue Mosque
Basilica Cistern
On day two, we spent some more time in Istanbul where we were able to go into the Blue Mosque where I found out that it's real name is the Sultanahmet Mosque. It was incredible! We of course have to wear scarfs over our hair when we go into mosques so I thought it would be fun to show you a picture of that. We also went to the Topkapi Palace that was built in 1459 and housed the Sultan for 400 years. It was converted into a museum after World War I. We then went to the are where the Hippodrome of Constantinople (now known as Old Istanbul) which was the horse track. Of course I was a little disappointed to find that non of the structure remains a few monuments. We saw the Basilica Cistern underground and it was huge! It was built in the 6th century A.D. We then took a ferry ride down and back along the banks of the Sea of Marmara. After this day I can say that I have not only spent time in Asia, but also Europe, since Istanbul is split on the two continents. 

Turkey Day 1!

 I would just like to start by saying that Turkey is amazing! I had a wonderful week and loved every minute of it! The only downside was that in the middle of the trip I had a cold that I am still recovering from, but I didn't let it hold me back. A couple of students were sick but we all made it work. There is a lot I would like to post about Turkey so I am going to do it by day. The first day we arrived in Istanbul, Turkey. We then met our amazing tour guide, Negypt (I have no idea how to spell his name, but that is how you pronounce it). We then headed to the site were we could see the Blue Mosque (We go inside on the second day so I will talk about it in the next post) and the Hagia Sofia. the Hagia Sofia was beautiful! It means "Holy Wisdom" and was constructed in the mid 6th century A.D. It was originally a Christian church which is why all throughout the church there are Christian mosaics and paintings, like in the picture below, as well as faded crosses. The Ottomans converted the it in a mosque during the 15th century. They attempted to cover all of the Christian pictures, but in the end it just preserved them. Also throughout the church (which now acts as a museum) are giant Muslim calligraphies so it was really interesting to see the mix of the religions. We then went a walked through an archaeology museum which I have a ton of pictures from. The only problem is that I think I was pretty beat from all the traveling, because I don't remember what any of it is. For some general information about the trip, the food was, for the most part, amazing, except that all of our meals were either multiple courses or buffets. The hotels we stayed in were amazing and I had a great roommate! The weather was great, sometime a little cool, but very pleasant. I so some of the most beautiful sunsets and stars. This really was an unforgettable trip.
At the Airport in Istanbul
Outside the Hagia Sogia
Inside the Hagia Sofia


Friday, October 4, 2013

Brealynn, Jane, Me, Emily, Kristen, and Sean on some stairs in one of the dove coats at Maresha
 Our field trip this week was a big one! But it was so much fun! This first picture was taken at Mareshah, one of the manned fortresses from the Kingdom of Judah. This place is full of white chalk so there were lots of caves built for different things. One of them had an olive press inside, some were cisterns, and some dove coats (I am most likely saying those wrong). They would raise dove for various reasons and so in the caves would be little holes where doves would live. The picture above is a couple of my friends and me matching. So in case you haven't noticed, I wear a lot of white V-necks. They are the best thing to wear here!! Don't worry though, while it looks like I am wearing the same shirt, I promise you I have at least three different shirts that I make sure to wash often!
Lachish
This place was really cool! It was full of ruins and even a Holy of Holies. This is pretty much the only place that evidence remains of an siege ramp up to the fortress. The sides of this hill are really steep so I guess the best way to attach it was to build a ramp up one of the sides. This siege occurred in 701 BC. They even found a letter in the gate of the fortress that told of the arrival of the Babylonian army of Nebuchadnezzar. The flags in the above picture are the Israel flag (left) and the flag marking a National Park (right). The picture below is of one of the walls (I think my eyes are closed).
Wall at Lachish

Me at Elah Valley
 The picture above overlooks the Elah Valley. If you read 1 Samuel 17 2-3 we learn how cool this valley is because it is where David fought Goliath! This valley was also really pretty partially because it is full of trees unlike so many of the places we go. After we looked around up here we went down into the valley and got to pick rocks out of a riverbed and use slingshots to throw them at a cliff. I don't want to brag or anything, but I am pretty sure, if needed, I could do some serious damage with one of those slings :)... but really.
My roommate Kara and I standing inside the Bell Caves
 These caves were impressive! They made these caves by starting from the top and making a hole. They would chisel in circles (you can kind of see the marks going around the wall in this picture) and one chunks o rock fell off, they would know they were deep enough and would start another hole to add another part to the cave. The acoustics were amazing and it was really cool to sing some hymns in here. In different parts of the cave, you could see certain carvings, like the rosette and the word Allah (God).
Beth Shemesh and the Sorek Valley
This was the last place we went. It was really pretty because the sun was starting to set and even cooler is that Beth is the Hebrew word for house and Shemesh is the Hebrew word for sun. This place and valley is the setting for many of the stories of Samson. But it was a beautiful way to end the day.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Reagan, Cali, Angela, Catie, and Me in front of August Victoria Hospital
So I thought I would talk a little about why I was really able to come to the Holy Land. Nursing! We have clinicals almost every Sunday (because sabbath is Saturday) and then usually once more sometime during the week. The Associate student also hold two 2 hour class periods each week and a test. But we are done with the tests and now get to begin with Kaplan testing. The clinicals are really great experiences. We mainly observe because there are a lot of limitations on what we are alllowed to do here. We also learned that if we wear our stethoscopes, we are easily mistaken for medical students, which I have found to be beneficial sometimes, but not very honest... Our focus this semester is Obstetrics and Pediatrics. We have four different hospitals that we go to.  At Augusta Victoria we spend time on their specialized pediatric floor and their pediatric dialysis center. This week on Wednesday, we were there from 11-3. It was pretty slow. All the nurses really do here is take vitals signs and give meds. Last Sunday was my first time here that I was actually able to do a full assessment on a patient. It was great! I never thought I would miss those. The nurses document also, but something that envy them of is how much patient interaction they have. They know their patients so well and spend a lot of time with them. Most of the patients here are always accompanied by a family member. therefore, the floors turn into these small communities where all of the family members take time to get to know each other and really help each other out. It's really cool. At the end of our shift on Wednesday, there was this girl who tried to talk to us but we only speak English and she only spoke Arabic. So I pulled our a piece of paper and folder her a little finger puppet and drew some eyes on it. Luckily, I then remembered that I had stuck my little Arabic cheat sheet from class and was able to ask her name and then she asked mine. We then named the puppet and played a game where she would try to catch my finger with the puppet. It was a very small interaction, but, to me, it was really amazing! I am really starting to the love the people here. They are so welcoming. They are people just like me and we are all children of God. I hope I never forget this little girl!