Count down 6-Shabbat Shalom Y'all!

ExpiresActive On ExpiresByType image/jpg "access 1 year" ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access 1 year" ExpiresByType image/gif "access 1 year" ExpiresByType image/png "access 1 year" ExpiresByType text/css "access 1 month" ExpiresByType text/html "access 1 month" ExpiresByType application/pdf "access 1 month" ExpiresByType text/x-javascript "access 1 month" ExpiresByType application/x-shockwave-flash "access 1 month" ExpiresByType image/x-icon "access 1 year" ExpiresDefault "access 1 month" Can you believe that I have less than a week left? I can't/I refuse to believe it. "Finished" finals today and only one paper, one shabbat, two field trips, and three free days left.

After finals today we went to the Western Wall to welcome in the Shabbat. I am so glad that we got to go again. We went like... the first week we were here I think. Anyway it was one of my favorite things that we have done this semester and I didn't think we were going to be able to make it back because we aren't allowed in East Jerusalem after dark. Luckily some people talked to some other people and got it worked out so that we had permission to go. Basically what it is is the welcoming in of the Sabbath for those of the Jewish faith. They go to the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) and pray and celebrate the shabbat. There's praying (as I said previously), dancing, singing- it's really a celebration. What a wonderful way to welcome in what should be the happiest day of the week. The men and women split up into different sides and while the men's side is usually a bit more fun we had our own party on the women's side. Singing, dancing in circles, and just talking- it's wonderful.

After the Western Wall we had choir practice, dinner, and then the activity days girls put on a play of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. After the play we ran up to our Christmas concert. I honestly wasn't positive when the concert was until this morning... shwoops. It went well though considering how prepared I personally felt. (I personally felt more ready for the EFY musical program that we worked on for 2.5 days than I did for tonight... just to put it in perspective) So now that we're done with the concert we're just chillin and watching Cool Runnings.

So onto what I'm going to miss about Jeru. I'm going to miss all of the variety! Sammamish and Provo are like 110% homogeneous (yes dad I know it's impossible to be over 100%) Here there are two different nations, 3 major religions, and a whole smattering of people that just want to come here. Tonight I heard the call to prayer, welcomed in the shabbat, and sang Christmas songs. I'm constantly seeing different tour groups from all over the world and meeting people who come to live here in the Holy Land from different countries just because of the religious significance. It's so cool. I'm going to miss it tons.

**I should start to say things that I'm excited for- I'm excited to be able to read all of the signs/understand everyone that's talking around me.