My first night in Jerusalem

The last jot on the plane from Vienna to Tel Aviv was 3 hours and went by quickly. From there I made it through customs and borrowed a cell phone from an Israeli girl in exchange for helping her with her luggage so that I could call Keleigh, my ride. I found Keleigh and we left the airport without incident. It almost seemed anti-climactic how it happened because it was so casual and businesslike, after months of preparation and a long journey there was no fanfare and we left unceremoniously.

On the trip to Jerusalem we picked up Erica from the main hospital we work with in Tel Aviv who was needed to translate for one of the Iraqi mothers. As far as I know Erica was the first Palestinian resident I had met, hailing from Bethlehem in the West Bank. Before taking me to Shevet Achim we traveled to Bethlehem to drop Erica off at her home. Everything seemed eerily normal as Keleigh and I stopped for a pizza in a Bethlehem pizzeria on the way back. Erica, seemed perfectly normal and fun to talk to, the pizzeria was more normal than the ones in Azusa, and the other patrons and waiter seemed perfectly normal and congenial as well. There was even a Christmas tree and a Santa Claus in the window! The layout and look of the city was reminiscent of Mexico (based on my very limited travels) but that was about it. The only clue to any hostility was a metallic clock above our table that bore an embossed cartoonish assault rifle with a Palestinian flag extending out of the wall.

On our way back to Jerusalem we were checked by security at the border and arrived at Shevet Achim a short time later. On the way I caught glimpses of the Dome of the Rock, and some other significant features but was too exhausted to take any of it in. Once we arrived I carted in my things to the 150 year old cobblestone building and met the two other volunteers staying there at the time. I was given a quick tour by Keleigh and met all the Iraqi mothers and children who were as cute as can be. A room had been prepared for me however 2 Iraqi mothers returned to Jerusalem unexpectedly and they needed the room. So for the time being I am staying in Donna's room (another worker who is out of town for a few weeks). I took a long awaited and much needed shower and retired for the night at around 8pm local time.

I will try to upload pictures soon.