Welcome to the DEAAAAAAD SEA!

This weekend we didnt go to the Dead Sea as the title might lead you to believe. Okay, we actually did go there. We also went to ol' Mt. Nebo where the Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) got to see the Land of Milk and Honey. Sorry for the wierd last line, but thats how they all talk about it, it gets into your head. Anyway, saw that, then attempted to go the Baptism site in Jordan. Didnt get to go since it was about to close, but they said we'll go next weekend. My favorite dirty Catholic, the last Pope visited the area in 2000 confirmed the site was the legit one, instead of the fake one the Israeli's have been passing off for a number of years. Those Jews, always tricky.

So then we made our way to the Dead Sea, which I couldnt stop saying it like a old horror movie, you know, "thats Draaaaacula's Castle! Muhahaha". The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, which every single Jordanian will tell you. It reminds me of when people talk about New Orleans around Mardi Gras, every single person doing the story has to make sure you have heard that N.O. is actually below sea level atleast 10,000 times. They also like to inform you that nothing can live in the Dead Sea, which hence, the name comes from. And I always thought it was a trick, that it was actually the most fish teeming sea in the world, like the whole Greenland/Iceland thing. Dang it, you Arabs fooled me once again.

Hence, the Dead Sea is freaky, I though that you'd kinda be floating, instead almost more of your body is out of the water than in. I think it spoiled me, since I doubt I'll agree to swim in water that doesnt keep me up automatically. A few people may know of my knack for starting something without fully thinking through whats going to happen. Well, I decided as long as I was covering my body in the mud (which is supposed to be healthy or magic, or something) I would give myself an awesome mud helmet. About half way through of completing said helmet the water in the mud made its way down to my eyes, which then blinds you with its 33% salt concentration blinding abilities. I was then forced to sit there and think about what I had just done, and how Ive even lived this long with that being on the low end of retarded things. Sitting there in the water trying to open my eyes I ended up having to call out to my fellow students and got to hold hands while a guy led me up to the showers to wash out my head. You think I would remember I dont like picking sand out of my ears or hair, you would think.

Then we spent 30 minutes digging for salt crystals, which after moving around a bit we realized that what some parts we thought were rocks or sand were actually gaint salt rocks streching on like roads. Our guide said in the sea there is literally mountians of salt underneath the water. If mermaids or something made castles out of those and fought each other, that'd be so cool.

In an earlier post I was saying how the Arabs have really taken on the identity of whatever country they are from. Its generally accepted that everyone hates the Saudi's and Kuwati's, but even Jordanians, Palestians, Egyptians, etc. will make a point to say where their moms and dads are from, that a certain food or whatever is X's traditional thing. Even the Jordanians say the Syrians over charge them when they go to Syria ( which Im not sure if it matters if your in Syria since everything is apparently ridiculously cheap).

Im really thinking about going back to Jerusalem next weekend right after school is out. Yeah, I might have to do that.

Bathtub's are for cleanin'

Tonight I finally broke down and washed my, and some of my dear hilarious roommate that I torture, Gary's clothes. We had been suspicious that the hotel would charge us for doing are laundary, we were right. Im not sure if they charge you if they lose it as it seems has happened to more than a few people. So with the hotel explaining to us that they send it to someone who will give us a "discount rate" everyone has 1) stopped wearing clean clothes, and 2) when 1 fails wash them in the bathtub.

Hearing someone here say theyre giving you a discounted rate for whatever, by now makes you automatically ask how exactly, EXACTLY what the price will be. This will be followed by mumbles and non-answering.

Before I left for Europe I didnt mind wearing the same jeans for a week, a shirt for 2-3 days, and freshly clean boxers and socks. Slowly through Europe all these time frames began to extend. Where am I now? Well, today I decided to put on "new" old boxers cuase when you cant remember that last time you werent wearing them, you one day decide to change (after the day you realize you cant remember how long theyve been on your body). Some people might think this would cause you to stink, trust me, I blend in well with the other students.

Washing the clothes in the tub is one of those activities you just know your wasting your time. Fill up tub, add detergent (optional!) and start swirling. How long do you swirl? Well if the machine takes something like 20 min to do it on the washing cycle, I figure my strength puts me swirling to Arabic music videos until I get bored to be equal. Even though your laughing at yourself trying to swirl away your fine collection of dust, the water turns a nice disgusting brown color. Then, futily attempt to wash detergent out with shower head and let dry. The drying turns your room into a gaint clothes line as were kinda short on stuff to hang stuff on. I just know I'll be wearing a pair of slightly cleaner jeans in no more than three days. HA.

Other than that, earlier at the internet cafe I talked to a Saudi guy whose dad worked for Aramco Oil Co. He had lived in the US and Canada, along with other oil type places. He was going to a university in Jordan for med school, and mentioned how the Jordanian doctors were racist and everything (cuase he wasnt Jordanian).

That statement is funny, becuase I had thought, and now here its pretty apparent that the Arabs have nicely assumed the nationalities placed upon them. The idea of the Arab nation has been replaced with looking down on Arab Saudi's or whoever, from whatever Arab country you live in. Its kinda strange that an ethnicity that was divided has began to form their own subsets of ethnicities (if you can do that). But I guess, being from OK, I do look down on those poor, stupid Texans (and RI'ers).

Thats kinda the summed up version of that, otherwise Ive slowly kept trying to figure out the Arabs, and if there is anything to really figure out. Except the Saudi guy did seem to not like Jordanians or Egyptians (not sure why-he said the thing about no order).

Sometime I might get back to Islam and the headscarf (which I dont think is that bad actually).

Oh, got another convert for the Movientcian cause. Keep the Five Virtues in your heart and on your tongue.

Sweet air, sweet air

Well, its good to know the summer edition of suicide bombings has finally gotten into high gear. Here in Jordan nothing really has changed, or mentioned by anyone. We just take a different way home through a residential district when, you know, 3-4 people blow themselves up in a Western country.

In other equally un-nerving news, a new trend has started on our floor. See, about every other day theres a wedding that shows up at the hotel. They all get there, have a band and dance. They do a "we got to the hotel" dance outside, then they slowly move inside a do a few "we are in the lobby" dances, then they crowd around the elevator and send off the bride and groom with more dancing and band playing. Then, since they're always on the 6th or 7th floor, and we're on the 5th, we get to hear more "this is a wedding" dancing and band playing. Ive also noticed that 2 younger girls always jump in the elevator with the bride and groom. I can assure the Mid East (or atleast Amman) isnt going to run out of Arabs in the near future.

But anyway, the last 2 days for some reason the various weddings children have found us. They first come with 2-3 boys followed by girls and younger boys, you then are engaged in a spastic conversation where niether party can really speak the others language, so you fill it with starring, and starring. After a random point in time, they either get tired of you or want more candy and run away. Dont worry, they then come back around 3-10,000 times.

The first wedding was neat to see, the 25th it got old not being able to use the elevator for an hour, but the million-th I just wonder why, why, why this hotel.

I have a test in 2 days, Im screwed. Unless I can smuggle a small wedding child in my bag to help me.

I heart sand

Today we got a surprize announcement that we'll get to attend a session of the Jordanian Pariliment (I really need to learn how to spell). The session seems it will be pretty cool as they are voting to accept or not the cabinet positions I believe. I guess this year its more of a controversy than others, so hopefully there will be fireworks, and some good ol' mop swingin'. I actually think the real reason Im really excited is one, no school tomorrow, two, full free weekend, and three, tomorrow we dont leave until 1030! I'll get to stay in my warm little bed waaaaaay past 730. And my roommate Gary wont give me a mean look when I tell him its time again to learn Arabic.

I didnt plan to say anything about ol' Gary, but heres a good chance as any. Gary is 19, and Im 23. Gary has a girlfriend, and I dont. Gary is short and sort of quite and likes Harry Potter. To help him read another guy who had bought a drum and I made up a song for Gary. Its saying Gary over and over to a tune for about 10 minutes. Other peoples names didnt fit as well, and now the Gary song can be heard from various people humming ever since. Im not sure how entertaining that is to anyone, but you try and make a song saying Gary for 10 minutes. But you wont have Gary starring at you, trying to figure out if theres any way possible he can defenestrate (sp) 2 guys that are bigger than him.

Anyway, I dont think I want to go back to America. Im kinda pissed off they only had this program for a weak 6 weeks, we need to be here for 10 to even get a start. The more Im over here, the more the thought of bitching that I know I'll hear when I go back digs into me. Im not going on a self righteous streak (well, I geuss so) but most of the problems that people focus on in the States is largely stupid and pointless. The people crammed into rotting buildings in Cairo have it bad, we dont. I dont think I really need to rant on this, the point is pretty obivious, and so is what I would say. People here seem alot more content with what they have, and more silent about what they want (well, if it doesnt involve seeing a graduation). Maybe I just dont know b/c I dont hang out with Jordanians all the time, but I hope not.

I think my brain is too jumbled from the video games to make a clear statement, but the last thing I'll say is: Nearly everyone Ive met has either been to Am, has family there, or wants to live there. It seems it would be alot easier to just institute American stuff in your country, then things wouldnt be crappy. Im thinking more of Egypt than Jordan (this place is like going to Alaska or something). Egypt theres a tax worth the car you buy, buy a 30,000 pound car, pay an equal tax. Nasser placed rent ceilings in the 50's, so no one bothers to keep a building nice if you can only charge so much, thus the city has been rotting, and getting bigger, for around 50 years. Maybe I'll just stay here teaching basic economics.

The Arabs arent bad or scarey, they just need our freshmen econ books.

I promise someday I'll make a fluid point, someday.

Ninja attack!

So after my early ramblings about how the crap the Arab mind works, I was referred to by Keaton to Prof. Lucas who teaches at OU and is in Syria right now. Thinking I didnt have much to lose to wrote the most jumbly and trying-way-too-hard-to-pretend-to-be-intellectual email ever. Actually it had less pretention to it and just was a raving mass of words trying to ask about a complicated subject as short as possible which makes you sound retarded. Politely, he responded quickly back and said he thought the issue was less Islam and more about corruption, and theres little point to be a good person with so much of it. And I got his cell # and link to his syriacomment.com blog.

I think the words I should have used in the blog though were "order breaks down very quickly" rather than "resistance to order". Slowly, but surely I'll crack the Arabs, then promptly write a overly simplistic book that the public will be able to grasp and sell millions and be an "expert" on MSNBC or somewhere.

This weekend though was a nuclear blast of fun. Despite taking away the only 2 days I have to sleep in past 7, we left for Petra (place where they carved buildings into the sandstone-it was in Mortal Kombat Annihilation, or if you've seen Indiana Jones, which is far less likely), Wadi Rum (a desert camp out place thats 3 nuclear blasts of fun), and Aqaba (Jordans only sea outlet to the sea).

Petra was cool and I rented a donkey to ride back to the front gate, they brought me the smallest donkey they could. My feet were maybe 6 in off the ground, and the guy walking next to me actually had to slow down to keep pace. Donkeys I should note are a blast, I used to think having a Llama farm would be great, but donkeys win. If I could ride a donkey to school every year, Id never not want to go. Actually, I probably would spend time riding it else where other than going to school.

That night we went to Wadi Rum, its in the middle of the desert. The desert has sand, and alot of it. Trying out my ninja skills another guy and I snuck up on a person in our group who had gone out into the desert to talk. We got no less than 10 yards away. That accomplishment started to sour when she notified him of her having a boyfriend status. Note to dude, that means give up, not spend 40 min trying to convince her that she should like you. The dude apparently did not get the message and spent 40 min. trying to talk into liking him, and with great lines like "whats the chances of us two, meeting eachother all the way over here, blah blah blaaaaaaaaaah". As I became tired of him going on and on I realized our great position made it greatly hard to turn around (we were on our bellies) and leave. DANG IT. So, we had to lay there, and lay there, and not laugh. I kinda felt bad about easedropping, but not that I could sneak up on someone. If only people went into the desert to actually look at the stars, harass beetles, and rub sand in your hair like me.

To make up for easedropping, we ran into some other guys in our group who convinced us to pull out the central support for another guys tent. Mission succesful, only they didnt wake up. You dont laugh as hard when someone just keeps sleeping rather than them failing and cussing the air.

Then Aqaba, I didnt go for someone else touching me with sunscreen since I hate putting it on myself. I was rewarded with 2 weird shaped spots on my back, where yeah, I didnt get any there. When putting my clothes back on in Aqaba the small dust cloud from my jeans being lifted reminded me my crawling for an hour had turned whites to yellow/browns, and my black shirt to a nice off-white dusty color. I could make clothes for Abercrombie.

As Ive been sitting here, I realized, that continuing from the weekend I didnt apply trusty Right Guard. So you do actually sweat more without it. Awesome.

Livin' it up at the Foduq Balmara

Thinking about the last post, I have reread it, but Im pretty sure it was a jumbled mess of attempting how to explain how Islam contributes to the Arab mind. Im pretty sure alot of it may have drifted into the ranting zone, but no, I wont edit. Not becuase Im not excalty sure how to but, who cares. Theres a point in there somewhere. I think when Ive learned alittle more, and watched more people I can more correctly comment on how Islam affects people here, in the mean time, dont take that as gospel (snicker at thinking someone would).

Anyway, I was bored of Arabic last night and wandered into the German girl's room. Previously in the night I had stayed away b/c another guy and her, or just the guy was discussing German grammar. I dont like English or Arabic grammar, and I cant speak German, so you'll forgive me for being less than social.

Okay, anyway (I need a new word for 'anyway'), when I came back the next time, I forgot what they were talking about, but the subject of the chicks organization came up. Now Ive been in the Mid East for around 3? weeks and Im already jumping into trying to figure out the Arabs. To be able to talk to someone thats been here for months, and lived with families, thats a gold mine. Anyway, I asked her about my theory on Islam being more of a identity than a practiced and loved religion. She actually agreed. Thats good news since the corner stone of my theory wasnt immediately destroyed.

And on and on (no 'anyway'-wait...HENCE), Hence, being a girl and hanging out with Muslim Arab girls she gave me an insight to the other half of the world I havent been able to see, or know about. Varying from country to country, the Mid East is largely a boys club. If your a guy its pretty great except for the dowery thing. We got on the subject of salon's, there being a mens barber in the hotel. I wrongly assumed the covered women just cut their hair with siscors (sp? sigh). Totally wrong, apparently at girl only parties all the women who wish will unveil and cloak, revealing colored and styled hair. She also said alot of them would wear "sexy" clothes at the parties. It seems like a underground world, where on the surface, the guys rule. In the freedom of walls though, the women still dress Western, whether in front or not of men. She also told stories how the women gossip and joke with each other, and yup, its a apparently dirty too. Too dirty for my ears to ear anyway.

The other big thing Ive noticed about the Arabs is the seemingly lack of, or resistance to order. This one I cant really figure out, and I dont know if I'll figure it out in the short 5 or so weeks I have left. I dont know if its the governments that make them this way, but you could argue the gov's have to have control to control the mobs. It could the the limited chances to think or spak freely, I really dont know. I have to watch and talk to alot more people to even get the tip of the iceberg on this one.

And finally apparently from the emails I got someone is reading (atleast the first few lines), so I have redoubled my efforts to post. I promise even if theres nothing to say, those of you who have been in the wrong place at the wrong time know my ablility to recount historical excitings.

Opps, theres the call to prayer, its dinner time. Speaking of which I found out its a recording (lame sauce covering a lame baked chicken), and its seems they just kinda pick when to blow the horns. Its always kinda close, but sometimes they surprize you with an early one.

Masalamma'

Probably somewhere in the middle...

Sincw Sunday the summer session started at good ol' Hashemite U. That means were suddenly not the only people on campus. That also means the attention like in Egypt is back, except somehow even more. Atleast their not trying to sale me anything, but we're regarded either as a walking tourist attraction or a freak show by the Jordanian students. More times than not every time I look up in class at one of the door windows there are people (usually girls) starring. Not kinda looking, but unashamed starring. During our break I was standing outside with the German girl that has joined the class and another guy. A very Western dressed girl approached us and said "Are you the Americans everyone is talking about?" Ummm, I guess? Yesterday two guys in our group got asked out by two girls, they said they got to hold their hands for like 20 seconds at one point. I think Im starting to know how Europeans might feel when all the girls think theyre so cool in the States, except it looks like some of the people might think I can shoot lighting out of my hands.

Thats the wierd thing about being born into the global empire known as America. Theres something special about you, and everyone here knows it. America is powerful, America is rich, America is the alabaster City on a Hill which you can every get out of its light. In America, the girls can talk and dance with you, you can do and say generally anything you want, without the kings picture hanging inside and out every car, office, and building. America looks upon the rest of the world, and by high tech military weapons only America has, they can destroy you. They can take everything you've built to try to have an American easy lifestyle and burn it into the ground. Or America can befriend you, give you economic bonuses and help and make you succeed. Having people look at you with a rainbow of awe, resentment, and fear is a strange feeling. I think Im begining to know how Cortez felt when he fired the first gun in front of Indians, except with less thoughts of genocide.

As a introduction to my path on trying to understand the Arabs, you have to stand back and understand they're not all turban wearing farmers with a big onion domed palace in the city. I started to consider the thing you can ignore here, well if you ever leave the hotel you cant, Islam. My entire time in the Mid East Ive seen people pray at the call to pray exaclty....twice. Ive noticed the vast majority of people seem to be far more on the secular side. From here, Ive started to come to conclusion that Islam is almost more of an Arab identity than really something embraced by people. All Muslim countries have prothestising (sp) laws, that means its illegal to even try to convert a Muslim to a non-Mulsim religion. So, with every state controlled church, or vice versa, the religion begins to stagnate. Not that religions must evolve to survive, but the meaning of it loses itself in its control over you. Islam is demanding, Islam doesnt make much for free will. InSha'Allah (God willing, if God wills it), thats what you say. You have zero control over anything, its already been decided by God, and no, theres no Calvinist-esk theories running around, so why make waves.


Becuase of the jail time facing people on even looking around for something different, people seem to just settle into being Muslim, wether or not they can read the Quran. Attack it, youre attacking who they are though, its reminensent of people in America Ive met that know what they think they belive, but no deeper investigation is needed. Just keep towing the line and say a pray, and hope it gets to where you hope its going. I had a bigger point on the Arabs in here somewhere I promise. Hopefully I can be more articulate next time.

P.S. On the date they saw War of the Worlds (I saw it on a bootleg copy from the street, not a bad movie) and ate KFC. Soft empire, gives you the warm fuzzies.

Moontazz

So the last post I left it at i didnt really like the Arabs. The thing I was really confused about is I think everyone Ive met has been atleast nice, and at best great. What the disconnect is then, how do I not like the Arabs as a whole? Luckily, a guy had some books (I dont know why-he doesnt seem like would have read them) but I started reading-yes-The Arabs. The book is a little simplistic but it offered some insights I hadnt put my finger quite on yet. Its been my quest in my free time to figure out what exactly shapes Arab people and their society. Wish me good luck on that one.

On a more personal note, and by that only I would care about this cuase Im the only one here, is that luckily, our hall is the cool hall. Or atleast the guys that line it with me seem to share the same thinking. When Im not spending the total 7-8 hours on the bus or at school, and not eating, I spend most of the time in the hotel sitting in the hall. I have a perfectly clean bed in my room, but sitting on the floor listening to ipods doesnt seem to have the same notion of some sort of production. Actually, I think a part of it is that the business center we were studying in is now occupied by Europeans, and the hall is actually on of the places where everyone would have a fair amount of light (since half the rooms have a ceiling light-if you combined everyones-it would be a fantastic totally complete and working room).

Sad news also, is that sickness has crept upon me. I thought I had really beaten it, but as soon as the words slipped out of my mouth that I thought I was in the clear, slap! Luckily, Im not leaning over puking in the beduea (sp bad) while sitting on the toliet as one guy told me happened to him one time over here. But I do feel sick every time after I eat. So i went from being hungary all the time to now feeling sick most of the time, add homework into that and its going to be an awesome 6 weeks. Thinking of a survey of the people I known of that have gotten sick I'd say Ive gotten it pretty easy if this is my adjusting sickness, a big InSha'Allah on that one.

Besides taking my song writing ability to the newly cool hallmates we've also began to assign people hilarious nicknames to avoid actually ever speaking in Arabic to eachother. My favorite is Mammy, which is a guy, the teachers turned his name into "bresst" so we tinkered with that.

Also, a bit of trivia, its really hard to get married here. In the ol' States the parents fork it over largely, in Jordan the guy has to pay a dowery. Talking to our minder he said for his family status, after you add up, wedding clothes, wedding party, and furniture to furnish an apartment and other stuff, he was looking at around 15,000 to maybe 20,000 Jordanian Dinars. And no, he does not get paid 100,000 JD a year or anything.

Whats kinda funny about the group here Ive noticed, except for dinner the guys and girls largely dont hang out with each other, I think its becuase the guys spend most of the time trying to learn Arabic and the girls keep their books open and chat.

Does anyone even read this anymore? I cant remember when the last time I posted was or what I ever talk about. No wonder I hated blogs.

Opps, I did it again (sigh)

So Im in Jordan, finished day 4 of class, which there are 6 people in (better than the 2 i originally thought). It may that were stuck in Jordan, but everyone seems to have made friends with each other pretty quickly (it feels like we've been here for weeks-thats not a good thing).

The bad thing is though, the guys showed me this cheap internet place close to the hotel, which is good. The bad part is we go to play games for a few hours after class. I thought i was over video games, but theres something about having Arabic to do that makes learning how to place Command and Conquer Generals: Zero Hour very appealing. I guess on the plus side Ive learned quickly and arent too bad, the down side is Im getting good in the few hours before dinner when I could have got my homework done.

The Hashemite University people seem to really like us being here, and/or are trying to impress us by inviting us to everything they have. The first day was just hours of orentation which didnt really do anything except show us the school and subject us to 3 hours of speeches and presentations. The next day we went to the graduation, which has sparked alot of talk between the group. First off, they reserve front row seats for us, then while we had just walked in an hour before with seats (the place was already filled) they give us bottled water and coffee, yes, in front of everyone sitting behind us. The gym filled up but there were tons of people still REALLY REALLy wanting to get in. So they closed the gate which started a mini riot of sorts. People are pushing, trying to climb over the gate, gaurds are yelling at people. How there never was a real fight I have no idea. The graduates walked in and largely just kept talking on their phones or to each other, through speeches, Qu'ran recitations, etc. etc. Being in Cairo, Jerusalem and now here it wasnt that big of a surprise to me. But alot of the group was kinda shocked at the grad scene as a whole. I made a joke that the Arabs need about a spoonful (the little worthless spoons that make up half of the spoons at my house-not a big spoon) of reason to get excited and start yelling and fighting. Usually my jokes dont have the every-joke-is-50%-true thing, but this one did. More like 90%. So yeah, I guess I might want to say I dont really like the Arabs, and I havent for about 2 years. The people we meet are great, but somehow they form mob mentalities with about 3 people standing next to each other.

I'll try to update the blog more often for the 2 people that read it, but the connection at this place gets super laggy if alot of people are here. Thus, then that happens i cant post.

Oh man, only like a billion more days of class left. Croquet and some Unicorns dont sound too bad right now.

Jerusalem, Navel of the World

So Ive been hanging out in the Old City of Jerusalem for a few days. I can see the Dome of the Rock from my hotel roof. The Muslim quarter is busy (where the hotel is), the Christian and Armenian quarters are filled with souvenoir stores and the Jewish quarter is kind of snooty if your not Jewish. Ive been hanging out more by the Jaffa Gate (Xian quarter cause there are benches to watch people). Tomorrow I go back to Jordan and the next day start school. Yeah, Ive been speaking alittle with people, but largely, Im SOL.

I dont think I explained how awesome the Ukranian, Sergey, was. The Russians picked a Ukranian to be in the Speltna's. Thats something in itself, I remember reading about their training and its typical rough Russian style. Alot of mental torture-at one point they twist the recruits arm back and apply a knife to his chest. You now have a choice, a broken arm or a deep cut-theres no door No. 3 on that one. He was there in Afghanistan chasing the Mujahadeen through the mountains, he fought the Paki's. He said he was wanted by the Greeks for security but he wanted to go back home and buy a car.

Anyway, concerning Jerusalem. Once you find a small and rare moment in the day where a shopkeeper isnt trying to get you "to come in a get a business card" (which no one has actually ever given me) Jerusalem is a place like no other. Its hard to explain. The more Im here and the more people I talk to the more the idea of peace flies away. For Christians, Jerusalem is the central hinge in Xianty. The Via Dolorosa where Jesus dragged the cross to execution and the church of the Holy Seplucere (excution site-they think). Outside the city he resurrected. For Jews, its the site of the Temples, the remaining Wailing Wall. For Muslims, the Dome of the Rock (Mohammad made his trip to Heaven) and the Al Aqsa Mosque. You cant just make a trade with someone for all these things. To make it more complicated than it already is-the Dome of the Rock actaully sits on top of the old temple, and the former Holy of Holies? Inside. Another interesting thing is near the DotR (thats a little WarCraft 3 forum slang for you guys-D.ome o.f t.he R.ock) is the Golden Gate, which is sealed. Whats the big deal about that one? Its where the Messiah will re-enter the city according to the OT. You cant just divide up a place like this, and at the same time no one wants to share either.

One thing being over here you realize how calm the US is. Race takes a totally new level in this part of the world. In America when you hear about Jesus (Jewish) taking to Gentiles you dont thing much about it. Over here, I can definately understand how that would make waves. People dont like talking about religion in the US, over here its on your ID card. Sometimes I almost forget the problems here and then you see armed IDF standing around or armed civilian officers. Monks and tourist walking throught the Via D are escorted by police. I was walking throught the Jewish q and a few girls are haning out by a cafe, one of them with a rifle. And all those whiny people (they drive me crazy)at OU who always bitch about preachers or people trying to hand them stuff, theyd absolutely die trying to get through the streets with the shopkeepers.

In Jerusalem Ive seen Jews really cry at the Wailing Wall (only remaining part of the second temple and time of the start of the large diaspora by the Romans), and Ive seen Xians cry on the Via D and CotHS (Indian Xians!? dot kind). I imagine someone is crying at the DotR, but the police wouldnt let me in today(Friday-Muslim Sunday).

Its hard to grasp your in a city thats 5000 yrs old, and esp all the events here. Then I look over to the next comp and kids are playing GTA San Andreas for hours.

Welcome to Jerusalem. Im going to get some more fresh mashed OJ.