After many weeks of lessons covering other parts of the world in my ‘Globalization and International Political Economy’ class, today’s lesson was on ‘The Rise of East Asia’. When I saw the lecture powerpoint slides, I was like “muhahahaha... this is my region, my turf, my home ground!” =D
Indeed, today’s lesson was such a great opportunity for me to offer my knowledge and opinions about East Asia, particularly on the facts and issues related to Singapore and Hong Kong. I have never participated in this class that much in the previous lessons, and I knew that my high level of class participation today has offered my classmates a better understanding of East Asia, aroused their interest in this region, and also corrected certain wrong information that they have learnt before in other parts of the world and in the foreign media. Yes! ;)
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
I met my ‘angel’ again, finally!
When I took the train from Ben Gurion International Airport on my first day in Israel, I met this Jewish girl from France at the Herzliya train station. We were the only passengers who alighted that train in that morning. After I alighted from the train, I used my camera to take a picture of the station (which was actually not allowed… oops. =P) and then walked towards the lift. To my surprise, that girl was actually waiting for me in the lift as she was expecting me to enter the lift on the way to leave the station. (Oops, I made a girl wait! ARGH!!!) As I thanked her and talked to her, to my surprise again, she was also a student of IDC! I was like, WOW! That was the destination I needed to reach after leaving the train station. She helped me get a taxi later on outside the train station, and helped me negotiate a reasonable fare to IDC with the taxi driver. I thanked her and we went our separate ways.
From that day onwards, I have been longing to meet her again, just wanting to say a big ‘Thank You’ to her for all the help she offered me that fateful morning. However, since the semester started in late October, I haven’t seen her face around on campus for more than a month, even though IDC has a small population and a small campus! I began to think that she might have been an angel from the Lord, who He has sent to help me that very morning. (Yes, I do believe in angels. ;) )
As I stood up in the lecture hall and stretched my body during the class break in my ‘The Arab-Israeli Conflict and the Peace Process’ lesson this morning, I saw this Jewish French girl again, after so long, in the lecture hall! Without delay I approached her, greeted her and thanked her again for the help she has offered me more than 1 1/2 months ago. She remembered me (which was not difficult since I was the only Chinese student around…) and was surprised that I actually remembered her. Haha! She has just transferred from the Hebrew programme to the English programme recently and therefore she was not in this course until this week. No wonder I couldn’t locate her all this while!
She might not be an angel sent from above, but I thanked God that He watched over me so closely that He has arranged us to meet in that morning so that I would arrive at IDC without hassle. Thank you, Lord! =D
From that day onwards, I have been longing to meet her again, just wanting to say a big ‘Thank You’ to her for all the help she offered me that fateful morning. However, since the semester started in late October, I haven’t seen her face around on campus for more than a month, even though IDC has a small population and a small campus! I began to think that she might have been an angel from the Lord, who He has sent to help me that very morning. (Yes, I do believe in angels. ;) )
As I stood up in the lecture hall and stretched my body during the class break in my ‘The Arab-Israeli Conflict and the Peace Process’ lesson this morning, I saw this Jewish French girl again, after so long, in the lecture hall! Without delay I approached her, greeted her and thanked her again for the help she has offered me more than 1 1/2 months ago. She remembered me (which was not difficult since I was the only Chinese student around…) and was surprised that I actually remembered her. Haha! She has just transferred from the Hebrew programme to the English programme recently and therefore she was not in this course until this week. No wonder I couldn’t locate her all this while!
She might not be an angel sent from above, but I thanked God that He watched over me so closely that He has arranged us to meet in that morning so that I would arrive at IDC without hassle. Thank you, Lord! =D
I bought and cooked rice today!
I have never remembered a time in the past when I was so focused in improving my cooking. I bought rice this evening, and this is very significant for me after my previous purchases of chicken meat and vegetables. I have been cooking pasta most of the time as it was so easy to prepare (Thanks to the instructions at the back of the packaging!), but I must say that I’m slowly getting sick of eating pasta and I really wanted to cook rice instead (I have been satisfying my love for rice in the school cafeteria all this while…) After Tal briefed me about the way to cook rice properly, I went ahead and cooked the rice I have just bought, and even added many small slices of onions into the pot to make the rice taste differently. I have never realised that cooking rice is so easy. I guess I have been too dependent on the rice-cooker I had in Singapore and therefore I never dared to take on the challenge to cook rice in the pot instead. Nevermind, now I know how to cook rice, and my first cooked rice was good! Yippie!!! =D
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Going for another haircut here...
If you noted when it was the last time I got my haircut here in Israel (which was on November 1, about 25 days ago), you would have realised that my hair grows pretty fast, the brilliant result of using a good shampoo, a good conditioner and constant head massages during my showers. =) Anyway, this morning was the second time I went to “SUPERKUT” to get my haircut, because my hair was growing out of shape and I desperately wanted to have it adjusted. Based on the ‘lesson’ I learnt last time round, this time I told the hairdresser that I would like to have a more regular haircut, and thankfully, I did get a more regular haircut, somewhere in between what I used to have in Singapore and the ‘creative’ hairstyle I had 25 days ago.
Intercultural communication is really an art, and it takes both sides to perfect it along the way! Hahaha! =D
Intercultural communication is really an art, and it takes both sides to perfect it along the way! Hahaha! =D
Saturday, November 25, 2006
‘Casino Royale’ – A new James Bond 007 in an old James Bond 007 movie
Like many cinema-goers around the world, I wanted to check out Daniel Craig, the new James Bond 007 in the latest James Bond 007 movie release—the remake of James Bond 007 classic ‘Casino Royale’. I watched the trailer online recently and I thought it would be a good movie to catch here. Hilla and I went to the cinema in the Shivat HaKokhavim Mall last night to watch this movie, and I would comment that this movie was really good in its action scenes, but fell short of the classic James Bond elements… I still felt that Craig couldn’t be compared with Pierce Brosnan in his charming factor (to the ladies of course). I also felt that the James Bond in this ‘Casino Royale’ was too much in gambling, and I couldn’t accept the outcome that he wasn’t the one who finished off the ‘bad guy’!!! (Well, there were many ‘bad guys’ in the movie, but of course I was talking about Bond’s opponent in the casino.)
Okay, enough of movie review/critic, I should highlight on an interesting part about watching my first movie here in Israel. Since the cinema still uses the old, film-rolling projection machines to show the movies, every movie will have an intercession and stop for about 15 minutes when the staff changes the film (most movies come in 2 rolls of films). During this time, the audience can go for their toilet break and buy more drinks, popcorns, snacks, etc.. What a way to earn more revenue for the food and beverage counters!!! Initially I thought it might spoil the movie with the intercession cutting it into two halves. However, I realised that there were significantly less movements to and return from the toilets during the movie and I thought this was actually good. Hmmm… I really wonder whether the people in Singapore or Hong Kong will accept these changes if they are implemented in the cinemas… =P
Okay, enough of movie review/critic, I should highlight on an interesting part about watching my first movie here in Israel. Since the cinema still uses the old, film-rolling projection machines to show the movies, every movie will have an intercession and stop for about 15 minutes when the staff changes the film (most movies come in 2 rolls of films). During this time, the audience can go for their toilet break and buy more drinks, popcorns, snacks, etc.. What a way to earn more revenue for the food and beverage counters!!! Initially I thought it might spoil the movie with the intercession cutting it into two halves. However, I realised that there were significantly less movements to and return from the toilets during the movie and I thought this was actually good. Hmmm… I really wonder whether the people in Singapore or Hong Kong will accept these changes if they are implemented in the cinemas… =P
I mistook onions as garlic! My goodness! =P
I went to the supermarket in the early afternoon today and bought vegetables, ginger and garlic. This is yet another remarkable step for me to improve my cooking and expand the variety of dishes I can cook. Also, I have missed the Chinese-style stir-fry green vegetables very much and I knew it wouldn’t be difficult for me to cook stir-fry vegetables here. As the sun set in the late afternoon, I laid out what I have bought and started to prepare for the dish. Wait a minute. Where was my garlic? I looked closer to what I have bought. My goodness! I actually mistook onions as garlic in the supermarket!!! Haha! Nevermind, onions were good as well, just that I couldn’t imagine how the stir-fry vegetables would taste like without garlic and with onions! =P
My first time cooking stir-fry vegetables was a resounding success. I felt so satisfied as I enjoyed the dish I have prepared myself. The good thing about using onions was that I could eat them, unlike garlic! I was so excited about my stir-fry vegetables that I actually asked Issac to come back from school early and I cooked for him another round for him to try. He loved it so much, and he said it was such an all-rounded experience eating my vegetables, with the senses of taste (obviously!), smell (the smell of ginger and onions saturated his nostrils…) and hearing (the vegetables I have cooked for him were apparently crunchy…) all activated! Yay!!! =D
My first time cooking stir-fry vegetables was a resounding success. I felt so satisfied as I enjoyed the dish I have prepared myself. The good thing about using onions was that I could eat them, unlike garlic! I was so excited about my stir-fry vegetables that I actually asked Issac to come back from school early and I cooked for him another round for him to try. He loved it so much, and he said it was such an all-rounded experience eating my vegetables, with the senses of taste (obviously!), smell (the smell of ginger and onions saturated his nostrils…) and hearing (the vegetables I have cooked for him were apparently crunchy…) all activated! Yay!!! =D
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
My iPod Video 80GB – i’m lovin’ it!
iPod has been around for quite some years, but I have been refusing to buy one because I felt it was priced way too high. Thanks to technological advancements and Apple’s constant efforts to improve its products, the company released its 80GB version of iPod Video shortly before the start of my international exchange. Besides the usual function of playing music files found in most mp3 players, it can also play video files, photo slideshows and be used as an external hard disk. Frankly speaking, the 80GB storage is simply too much for me to resist! I bought one the day before I left Singapore, and I must say that it is one of the best product purchases ever in my life! =)
You may ask why I said that… well, there are many reasons, and I will just list the top 3 here: (1) The huge storage means that I can store a huge amount of files into the player. I may have many video files which are pretty large in their sizes, but the 80GB storage of my iPod tells me they’re not a problem for the player. (2) The photo slideshow function makes it easier for me to share my stories and experiences with my friends. All I need to do is to show them the pictures on my iPod and I don’t need to refer back to my online PBase photo gallery all the time. Truly anytime, anywhere (as long as the battery is charged. ;) ). (3) The iPod works hand-in-hand with iTunes, my favourite programme to organise my music files. I can also download the latest sermon releases from various ministries around the world so that I can listen to them on the go, and the latest movie trailers listed in the Apple/QuickTime website so that I can watch and share them with my friends and talk about new movie releases! Haha!
My iPod Video 80GB – i’m lovin’ it! =D
You may ask why I said that… well, there are many reasons, and I will just list the top 3 here: (1) The huge storage means that I can store a huge amount of files into the player. I may have many video files which are pretty large in their sizes, but the 80GB storage of my iPod tells me they’re not a problem for the player. (2) The photo slideshow function makes it easier for me to share my stories and experiences with my friends. All I need to do is to show them the pictures on my iPod and I don’t need to refer back to my online PBase photo gallery all the time. Truly anytime, anywhere (as long as the battery is charged. ;) ). (3) The iPod works hand-in-hand with iTunes, my favourite programme to organise my music files. I can also download the latest sermon releases from various ministries around the world so that I can listen to them on the go, and the latest movie trailers listed in the Apple/QuickTime website so that I can watch and share them with my friends and talk about new movie releases! Haha!
My iPod Video 80GB – i’m lovin’ it! =D
Saturday, November 18, 2006
My family used Skype to call me!
I have introduced Skype to my family before I started my international exchange, and told my mum that calling me in Israel via Skype is much cheaper than using the IDD service (close to 10 times!), and it will be free if both sides are online at the same time. Today was the second IDC Hillel House Shabat dinner since the start of the academic year, and before I left my apartment for the dinner, I received a call from home and my family actually used Skype to call me! This was a surprise to me as my mum didn’t trust the online credit-card payment of buying Skype credits at first. I guess this much cheaper alternative is simply too attractive. Haha! After I came back from the dinner, I took some time to compare the Skype rates and my IsraelPhones rates. Gosh! It is also much cheaper for me to use Skype instead, obviously for international calls but also for international SMSes as well! Wow! To the person/team/company who invented Skype, thank you so much! Haha! =D
Friday, November 17, 2006
I bought chicken meat today!
In case if you wonder where the excitement of buying chicken meat came from, let me tell you: This is NEWS! Haha! =D
I have been avoiding cooking meat here in my apartment since I came here as I had literally no experience in cooking meat in my life, and I really didn't like to eat meat which is not properly cooked. Buying chicken meat is important to bring me closer to become a good cook by the end of my international exchange here, because I am going to learn how to cook chicken meat properly and ensure it tastes good. (I am very particular about food so I set high standards for my own cooking too!) The next Elvis’ cooking skills progress report should be coming soon. Stay tuned. =)
I have been avoiding cooking meat here in my apartment since I came here as I had literally no experience in cooking meat in my life, and I really didn't like to eat meat which is not properly cooked. Buying chicken meat is important to bring me closer to become a good cook by the end of my international exchange here, because I am going to learn how to cook chicken meat properly and ensure it tastes good. (I am very particular about food so I set high standards for my own cooking too!) The next Elvis’ cooking skills progress report should be coming soon. Stay tuned. =)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Updating my PBase gallery – COMPLETED, at last!
After I have finished reorganising the tonnes of data in my tablet PC and my removable hard drives about a week ago, the next reorganisation task I got myself into was to update my PBase gallery extensively, with the primary objective to upload the pictures I have taken since I left Singapore and embarked my international exchange so that my family and friends in HK and Singapore will get to see them. I am so happy that after many days of photo-editing and uploading, I have finally completed this round of updates… and I can now go to sleep… yawnz… zzz… -_-
You can now view the pictures I have taken so far during my international exchange experience at the following URLs: http://www.pbase.com/elvischiu/exchange/ and http://www.pbase.com/elvischiu/places/. Of course, you can continue to view other pictures I have uploaded in the past at http://www.pbase.com/elvischiu/. The link to my PBase gallery is also found under the ‘Favourite Links’ in this blog. Enjoy! =D
You can now view the pictures I have taken so far during my international exchange experience at the following URLs: http://www.pbase.com/elvischiu/exchange/ and http://www.pbase.com/elvischiu/places/. Of course, you can continue to view other pictures I have uploaded in the past at http://www.pbase.com/elvischiu/. The link to my PBase gallery is also found under the ‘Favourite Links’ in this blog. Enjoy! =D
W258, I Love You All! Thank You for the Surprise!
It was a normal evening in my apartment, when I was sitting in the living room, connected my tablet PC to the modem and was using the Internet. I was fiercely updating my PBase photo gallery by uploading tonnes of pictures online, and I was very glued to it. Tal came back quite close to midnight, and his return turned the whole evening to a very unusual yet memorable one…
When he entered the apartment, the first thing he said was “Hey Elvis. You have a letter.” I responded “Huh?” After receiving the ‘emergency’ package from Zing many weeks ago, I wasn’t expecting any mails at all. I looked at the stamp. Hey! It was from Singapore. When I opened the envelope, it was a very nicely designed birthday card sent by my cell group W258, thousands of miles away!!! OH MY GOODNESS! The front of the card was “Think We Forgot ‘Bout It?”, and inside the card were "Think Again!", and the personal messages and wishes written by my fellow cell group members!!! I dropped what I was doing on my tablet PC, and went to my room and read the messages one-by-one. Tears streamed down from my eyes… I was very emotional because I missed them so much here! I cried for quite a while before I headed back to my tablet PC, with my red eyes and a joy that really filled my entire being… =)
To Patrick, Sue Ann, Gerald, Jamie, Yewei, Paulus, Alex, Edwin, Jefri, Zhenni, Xinyi, Lishi, Nihara, Yang Qian and the rest (I hope I didn’t miss out anyone, but I think I did… Sorry!), THANK YOU so much for your pleasant surprise, for your prayers and wishes. I missed you all so much here and I really look forward to my return trip to Singapore in March/April next year, when I will get to worship with you all together again in church and in cell group meetings, and fellowship over food and drinks, filled with testimonies and laughter. I LOVE YOU ALL!!! =D
When he entered the apartment, the first thing he said was “Hey Elvis. You have a letter.” I responded “Huh?” After receiving the ‘emergency’ package from Zing many weeks ago, I wasn’t expecting any mails at all. I looked at the stamp. Hey! It was from Singapore. When I opened the envelope, it was a very nicely designed birthday card sent by my cell group W258, thousands of miles away!!! OH MY GOODNESS! The front of the card was “Think We Forgot ‘Bout It?”, and inside the card were "Think Again!", and the personal messages and wishes written by my fellow cell group members!!! I dropped what I was doing on my tablet PC, and went to my room and read the messages one-by-one. Tears streamed down from my eyes… I was very emotional because I missed them so much here! I cried for quite a while before I headed back to my tablet PC, with my red eyes and a joy that really filled my entire being… =)
To Patrick, Sue Ann, Gerald, Jamie, Yewei, Paulus, Alex, Edwin, Jefri, Zhenni, Xinyi, Lishi, Nihara, Yang Qian and the rest (I hope I didn’t miss out anyone, but I think I did… Sorry!), THANK YOU so much for your pleasant surprise, for your prayers and wishes. I missed you all so much here and I really look forward to my return trip to Singapore in March/April next year, when I will get to worship with you all together again in church and in cell group meetings, and fellowship over food and drinks, filled with testimonies and laughter. I LOVE YOU ALL!!! =D
Friday, November 10, 2006
Putting computer data into order – It was painful, but certainly fruitful!
My hard disks (both internal and external) are constantly filled with loads of document files, picture files, music files and video files. These files were often not organised properly, as a result of both my constant back-ups which often resulted loads of duplicate files, and my laziness which was reflected clearly by the many ‘Miscellaneous’ folders that basically became the dumping grounds of all types of files. However, as I continued to use my professional DSLR camera to take pictures, their huge sizes took up much space in my hard disks and started to slow down my Tablet PC. Recognising that this was not the way to go, I have decided to bite the bullet and started putting ALL the files in my hard disks into proper order close to a week ago. The process amazed me in many ways. For example, I deleted more than 25GB of data because of duplication of files! That was huge! Also, I realised I had disorganised files dated all the way back to my secondary school days, and they continued to snowball over the years…
The past few days have been painful (especially to my eyes) and tiring (especially for my mind), as I forced myself to stay in front of the computer for long hours to put every single files into proper order, to categorise them into the right folders and to name the folders with easy-to-identify folder titles. But I must say that it was also very rewarding. Not only I have managed to put everything into order and make my data retrieval easier and faster, I have also freed up lots of space in my hard disks for storage purposes, and that I would certainly call it ‘fruitful’! Haha! =D
The past few days have been painful (especially to my eyes) and tiring (especially for my mind), as I forced myself to stay in front of the computer for long hours to put every single files into proper order, to categorise them into the right folders and to name the folders with easy-to-identify folder titles. But I must say that it was also very rewarding. Not only I have managed to put everything into order and make my data retrieval easier and faster, I have also freed up lots of space in my hard disks for storage purposes, and that I would certainly call it ‘fruitful’! Haha! =D
1 month has passed…
Time flies so fast.
It has already been a month since I have arrived here in Israel for my international exchange.
Before I came to Israel I have set my return flight (out of Israel but not back to HK/Singapore) on February 26, 2007.
However, I am definitely changing it with the airline office in time to come so that I can stay for the festival of Purim in early March, and get to spend a bit more time to travel within Israel and some of the surrounding countries with some of the friends I have made in IDC.
Nevertheless, I will be staying in Israel for a period of approximately 5 months only, and knowing that 1 month has passed so fast is indeed frightening!
Israel is a small country, but it has so much to offer in many, many ways.
I really wonder if the 5 months are enough, even though I know this will not be my only visit to Israel in my life!
AHHH!!!!!!!!!!
It has already been a month since I have arrived here in Israel for my international exchange.
Before I came to Israel I have set my return flight (out of Israel but not back to HK/Singapore) on February 26, 2007.
However, I am definitely changing it with the airline office in time to come so that I can stay for the festival of Purim in early March, and get to spend a bit more time to travel within Israel and some of the surrounding countries with some of the friends I have made in IDC.
Nevertheless, I will be staying in Israel for a period of approximately 5 months only, and knowing that 1 month has passed so fast is indeed frightening!
Israel is a small country, but it has so much to offer in many, many ways.
I really wonder if the 5 months are enough, even though I know this will not be my only visit to Israel in my life!
AHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
My First Trip To Jerusalem
Click here to see where I went on the Map of Israel!
In Jerusalem, finally!
My first trip to Jerusalem took place over the weekend, and I will certainly remember the trip as one of the most memorable trips I have ever had in my life. What I have seen and experienced were far beyond what I have anticipated. I was thinking, I could possibly write a book just to document everything in these 2 days and 2 nights!
Roseanna, Hilla and I arrived in Jerusalem in the late evening, after taking 2 bus trips from Herzliya to Tel Aviv and then from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (By the way, those were the very first public bus trips I have ever taken here in Israel since my arrival.) The temperature there was much lower than Herzliya, as the city is at least 762m above sea level and much closer to the Judean Desert. We left the Central Bus Station and headed straight to Roseanna’s home in the Armon ha-Natsiv neighbourhood. We received a very warm welcome when we entered the apartment from Roseanna’s parents and their extremely hyperactive and lovely dog Shai. (There was also a cat is the apartment, but he was far more quiet than Shai. =P) After a late dinner at the balcony, we walked to the Haas Promenade, a vantage point atop a ridge overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City, and spent some time there with the magnificent view of Jerusalem at night. What a way to start my appreciation of the city! =)
(From Left) Hilla, Roseanna and I, with Yakov (the rubber duck!).
(Photo taken on Thursday, November 2, 2006. Copyright © 2006-2007 Lisa Bristol.)
Me taking pictures under the moon, which was shining very brightly that evening.
(Photo taken on Thursday, November 2, 2006. Copyright © 2006-2007 Lisa Bristol.)
Mahane Yehuda and The New City
The next morning we set off early to explore the city. Our first stop was Mahane Yehuda, the only Jewish food market in Jerusalem. It was really an eye-opener for me as this shuk (which means market in Hebrew) was the first shuk I have ever visited since I came to Israel, and it was so colourful there. The most tempting food there was undoubtedly the freshly-baked bread from the bakeries. I don’t know how I can describe about the smell of the bread in words… all I can say is that the smell was drawing my steps closer and closer to the bakery, and it was causing me to drool even though I have already had my breakfast earlier!!!
We had a short detour to the Anglican International School of Jerusalem, where Roseanna studied for her IB before joining IDC, before we went to Ben Yehuda Street (a pedestrianised street which has many shops selling souvenirs at reasonable prices). We continued to walk down the street to the Zion Square (a triangle formed by Jaffa Road, King George V Street and Ben Yehuda Street) and made our way to the City Hall, where you could find many colourful Statutes of The Lion of Jerusalem situated there, symbolises the city’s emblem. By now we were not very far away from the Old City of Jerusalem, with its recognisable Old City Wall built in the 16th century by the Ottoman Turks.
The Old City
The Old City Wall encompasses an area of barely 1 square km, but inside this Wall is like another country compared to Jerusalem outside the Wall. (As a matter of fact, Jerusalem itself is already like another country compared to the rest of Israel.) This one-square-km area is a gathering place of many cultures (as the Old City is divided into 4 Quarters: Jewish, Christian, Armenian and Muslim) and a large number of sights and attractions (due to its long history), but it is also a focal point of tensions and disputes, not only within Israel but also all over the world, between peoples, nations and religions. The State of Israel declared Jerusalem as an “eternal and indivisible” capital, after it took back East Jerusalem (the Old City included) from the Jordanian hands during the 1967 Six-Day War. Although the Jordanians have already withdrawn their claim of East Jerusalem in 1988, the Palestinians, however, insisted that East Jerusalem would become the capital of the future Palestinian state. Most countries around the world do not recognise Israel’s 'annexation' of East Jerusalem in 1967, and the UN Security Council Resolution 478 (United States abstained) declared that the Basic Law of Jerusalem passed by the Knesset in 1980 was “null and void and must be rescinded forthwith”, a violation of international law. Inside the Old City are some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Tensions and disputes are ever present between religions with their respective claims of the holy places, and between peoples with their different attitude towards other faiths and races.
We started our tour inside the Old City in the Christian Quarter after passing through the Jaffa Gate. All of us bought some products in the Christian Bookstore, the only one inside the Old City (Roseanna: a giraffe keychain; Hilla: a small plate with verses printed on it in Hebrew and English; Me: a small national flag of Israel which I can put on my desk). After that we walked through the alleys in the Armenian Quarter and reached the Jewish Quarter. We spent some time taking a look at the Third Temple Model in the Temple Institute, constructed according to the descriptions in the Book of Ezekiel. It looked really impressive as a model, and I was visualising in my mind how the Third Temple would eventually look like once it’s built in the future. We then went to the ruins of the Cardo Maximus, the main north-south street of the Roman Aelia Capitolina and, later, of the Byzantine Jerusalem, and were unearthed by archaeological excavations. Placed next to the Cardo Maximus was a golden Menorah, constructed by the Temple Institute and the first since the destruction of the Second Temple. After spending much time at the Cardo Maximus taking pictures (Ha!), we walked along the underground shopping arcade and I realised that there were many more excavations going on right now underneath the Jewish Quarter. They have even unearthed walls dated back to the First Temple period. The Old City today was built on layers and layers of ruins over thousands of years, and I couldn’t imagine how much more the archaeologists would manage to uncover in the years to come.
After chatting with a Torah scribe who has explained to us his profession and having a quick lunch, we set off to the Western Wall. The Western Wall is part of the Western supporting wall of the Temple Mount built by King Herod in 20BC which has still remained intact this very day. It is considered the most sacred to the Jews by virtue of its proximity to the Holy of Holies in the Second Temple, where the presence of God dwells. It is often referred as the “Wailing Wall”, implying the Jewish sorrow over the destruction of the Temple and wailing and moaning over the hardships they have endured through history. The Western Wall was THE highlight of my first trip to Jerusalem and the Old City, after I have heard many testimonies from my church friends about their experiences, encounters and feelings being there and praying at the Wall. We had to walk through many buildings within the Jewish Quarter before reaching the Wall, and I would never forget the moment when I caught the first glimpse of the Western Wall. The presence of God literally gushed towards me, and it was drawing my heart and my steps towards the Wall! We quickly took some pictures at the Observation Garden overlooking the Western Wall and Temple Mount, went through the strict security checks and reached the Western Wall Plaza which was constructed in front of the Wall and took even more pictures there. The presence of God was certainly in the air, and there was an indescribable feeling raging inside me which I couldn’t explain in words.
The Old City Wall near the Jaffa Gate.
The ruins of the Cardo Maximus excavated under the Jewish Quarter.
The Western Wall and the Western Wall Plaza, adjacent to the Temple Mount.
Rushing for Shabat
As the hour was drawing closer to the start of Shabat, our relaxed footsteps started to quicken and we began to rush. We passed through an Arab market and made our way out of the Old City. Both Hilla and I bought the popular ‘Israel Defence Forces’ souvenir tops along Ben Yehuda Street, and later all of us went back to Mahane Yehuda where Roseanna bought challah (the type of bread used by the Jews for traditional Shabat dinner) home. Unlike in the early morning, the shuk was very crowded and buzzing with life. Stall-owners were yelling their last-minute offers to the crowd to clear their stock, while most people were making their last-minute purchases before the shuk was closed for Shabat. We then took the bus (it was likely to be the last one before Shabat) and went back to Roseanna’s home.
Shabat Dinner
Roseanna’s family is a Christian family, but they do observe some of the Jewish traditions. An example would be the evening meal at the beginning of Shabat. The evening began with the lighting of Shabat candles by Roseanna’s mum Lisa. We followed through the Messianic liturgy with blessings, songs and prayers, and the sanctification of Shabat with the Holy Communion and the breaking of the bread. After that, Roseanna’s dad Richard shared with us the Word of God—the Parsha for that week (i.e. the assigned portion for the weekly Torah reading), before we started eating the food Lisa has prepared for all of us in the afternoon. The food was delicious, and we had a great time of fellowship over the dinner.
Birthday Celebration – I’m 23!
Towards the end of the dinner, Lisa and Roseanna suddenly started singing “Happy Birthday To You” to me, and brought a plate of many home-made chocolate cakes from the kitchen to the dining table! No wonder Roseanna asked me a few days ago if I liked chocolate or vanilla more. The family prepared a surprise for me as I celebrated my 23th birthday in the Holy City during my first trip here! Freshly baked by Lisa in the afternoon, the chocolate layer on the chocolate cakes was so thick and sinful and delicious! Yummy!!! (The celebration was actually a day early, but given the time difference between Jerusalem and HK, it became only a few hours early. =P)
My 23rd birthday celebration!
Fellowship in the Evening
The Shabat dinner was only the beginning of our fellowship in the whole evening. After the dinner, Richard took out 2 sets of 6-piece wooden puzzle for Hilla and me to try to solve it. We both kept trying, but still couldn’t solve it 15 minutes later. The wooden puzzle was made by the Arab Christians living in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, and the 6 pieces would eventually form the Star of David if they were put together properly. Hilla eventually solved it first before me, as I couldn’t get the clue until she put the pieces together and I followed suit. =P
Hilla and I attempting to solve the wooden puzzle.
Do note that we (Roseanna, Hilla and I) were all wearing the 'Israel Defence Forces' souvenir tops!
(Photo taken on Friday, November 3, 2006. Copyright © 2006-2007 Lisa Bristol.)
After that, we spent more than 2 hours in praise and worship. Richard took out a stack of music scores while Hilla took up the guitar in the apartment and started playing the songs. We sang and dance and cheered, and the tangible presence of God saturated the whole living room as we praised and worshipped Him with our voices. This was the first praise and worship I was involved in since I came to Israel, as I haven’t found a congregation to attend yet. Our fellowship only reluctantly came to an end when it was getting late in the night and time for all of us to go to bed. What an eye-opening, spiritually-fulfilling and joy-overflowing day! =)
The Morning Sunrise
Richard and I woke up very early the next morning (before 5am) to catch the sunrise over the city. It was really really cold in Jerusalem before the sunrise. It felt like it was lower than 10 deg C. I was wearing 3 layers of tops and 2 layers of bottoms, and added another thick jacket borrowed from Richard. We went to an observation point near the United Nations Observers’ Headquarter in the Armon ha-Natsiv neighbourhood. (The location is also known as the Mount of Evil Council, and it is rather ironic that the UN Observers’ Headquarter is located there.) When we reached there, we could still see the Israel-Jordan border checkpoint at the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein Bridge near Jericho and the Jordanian mountains inside Jordan. The sky has just started to change colour. From the observation point we could catch a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the South, stretching from the King David Hotel, the New City, Mount Zion, the Old City and Temple Mount, Mount of Olives, to the anti-terrorist security fence which separates Jerusalem from some of its suburbs in the East. Unlike most sunrises I have seen before, the sunrise I saw there was orange in colour. Interestingly, the city also changed its colour as the sun rose, and the view from that point was simply awesome and breath-taking.
The orange sunrise in Jerusalem.
Harvesting Olive Fruits
After the sunrise Richard and I took a stroll in the public park located next to the UN Observers’ Headquarter. Many olive trees were planted along the paths. Since October and November are the months for the harvesting of olive fruits, we could see many fruits on the branches of the olive trees. Richard showed me how to harvest the fruits, and explained to me the various practical and religious purposes of the olive oil. When I squeezed the olive fruit and pushed out the fresh olive oil using my fingers, the aroma was so soothing to the nostrils and there was a smooth, soapy feel on my skin. We continued to harvest more olive fruits from the trees, passed by the ruins of one of the ancient aqueducts built during the Hasmonean Period (1st Century BC), before we headed back to the apartment to wake Roseanna and Hilla up and had breakfast together.
Pledging for 2nd ‘Arise & Build’
The weekend was particularly special to me, and it was not only because my first trip to Jerusalem and my 23rd birthday took place in the same weekend. My church’s 2nd ‘Arise & Build’ also started this weekend and I took advantage of the internet connection available in the apartment to watch the service online in the morning and pledge for this round of Building Fund. I had the faith and confidence that I would be able to fulfill my pledge completely, and God would certainly multiply what I have given into many types of blessings in the next 6 months and beyond! =)
Praying at the Western Wall
Once I finished watching my church’s service online, I took my Bible and left the apartment for the Western Wall as I wanted to spend some time to pray there. As it was still within the hours of the Jewish Shabat, there were no buses available to take me from the Armon ha-Natsiv neighbourhood to the Old City and I had to take a taxi instead. Most Jewish taxi drivers wouldn’t be driving during Shabat and thus the taxi drivers in such hours were mostly Arabs. I got on the taxi that Roseanna called for me. Shortly after the start of the ride, the driver told me that he couldn’t bring me to the Western Wall using the main roads and had to take a detour. The driver drove through the Arab Muslim neighbourhood of Silwan, located south of the Old City. Unlike the parts of Jerusalem I have seen since Thursday, this neighbourhood looked very different—the streets were much dirtier and the buildings were poorly-maintained. The atmosphere was rather unfriendly and hostile, even to me as a non-Jew. At first I did have some concern over my safety going through this neighbourhood, but I knew my God would protect me and I put my trust both in Him and the Arab driver whom I sat next to in the taxi. Towards the end of the journey, the taxi passed by the City of David, before dropping me at the Dung Gate, the gate nearest to the Western Wall.
I spent about 1 1/2 hours praying at the Western Wall, for my family, friends, church, schools and myself and also went through the specific prayer requests many friends have sent me over the week via email and Windows Live Messenger. Since the Wall was facing the West direction (that’s why it’s called the Western Wall) and I was there in the afternoon, the sun was shining bright over me and I felt so warm standing there throughout the whole duration. (There’s not only a huge temperature difference between day and night, but also between light and shadows in Jerusalem.) Although I was disturbed quite a number of times in different ways, I was convinced that there’s nothing which could stop me from praying and the presence of God was with me. I felt a sense of indescribable joy and lightness after I finished praying, and if I wasn’t in the public, I would probably start to twirl and heap and dance there!!! =)
Return To Herzliya
Roseanna, Hilla and I left Jerusalem after a quick dinner with home-made pizzas. As we were on our way back to Herzliya, I kept on thinking about everything that has happened during the weekend in the Holy City. The word ‘memorable’ couldn’t summarise how I would like to describe about this trip. I would rather use the word ‘life-changing’ as I knew I left the city a different person from whom I was before the trip. It was a weekend well spent with great company, sights and food, and I couldn’t wait for my future trips to Jerusalem again!
In Jerusalem, finally!
My first trip to Jerusalem took place over the weekend, and I will certainly remember the trip as one of the most memorable trips I have ever had in my life. What I have seen and experienced were far beyond what I have anticipated. I was thinking, I could possibly write a book just to document everything in these 2 days and 2 nights!
Roseanna, Hilla and I arrived in Jerusalem in the late evening, after taking 2 bus trips from Herzliya to Tel Aviv and then from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (By the way, those were the very first public bus trips I have ever taken here in Israel since my arrival.) The temperature there was much lower than Herzliya, as the city is at least 762m above sea level and much closer to the Judean Desert. We left the Central Bus Station and headed straight to Roseanna’s home in the Armon ha-Natsiv neighbourhood. We received a very warm welcome when we entered the apartment from Roseanna’s parents and their extremely hyperactive and lovely dog Shai. (There was also a cat is the apartment, but he was far more quiet than Shai. =P) After a late dinner at the balcony, we walked to the Haas Promenade, a vantage point atop a ridge overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City, and spent some time there with the magnificent view of Jerusalem at night. What a way to start my appreciation of the city! =)
(From Left) Hilla, Roseanna and I, with Yakov (the rubber duck!).
(Photo taken on Thursday, November 2, 2006. Copyright © 2006-2007 Lisa Bristol.)
Me taking pictures under the moon, which was shining very brightly that evening.
(Photo taken on Thursday, November 2, 2006. Copyright © 2006-2007 Lisa Bristol.)
Mahane Yehuda and The New City
The next morning we set off early to explore the city. Our first stop was Mahane Yehuda, the only Jewish food market in Jerusalem. It was really an eye-opener for me as this shuk (which means market in Hebrew) was the first shuk I have ever visited since I came to Israel, and it was so colourful there. The most tempting food there was undoubtedly the freshly-baked bread from the bakeries. I don’t know how I can describe about the smell of the bread in words… all I can say is that the smell was drawing my steps closer and closer to the bakery, and it was causing me to drool even though I have already had my breakfast earlier!!!
We had a short detour to the Anglican International School of Jerusalem, where Roseanna studied for her IB before joining IDC, before we went to Ben Yehuda Street (a pedestrianised street which has many shops selling souvenirs at reasonable prices). We continued to walk down the street to the Zion Square (a triangle formed by Jaffa Road, King George V Street and Ben Yehuda Street) and made our way to the City Hall, where you could find many colourful Statutes of The Lion of Jerusalem situated there, symbolises the city’s emblem. By now we were not very far away from the Old City of Jerusalem, with its recognisable Old City Wall built in the 16th century by the Ottoman Turks.
The Old City
The Old City Wall encompasses an area of barely 1 square km, but inside this Wall is like another country compared to Jerusalem outside the Wall. (As a matter of fact, Jerusalem itself is already like another country compared to the rest of Israel.) This one-square-km area is a gathering place of many cultures (as the Old City is divided into 4 Quarters: Jewish, Christian, Armenian and Muslim) and a large number of sights and attractions (due to its long history), but it is also a focal point of tensions and disputes, not only within Israel but also all over the world, between peoples, nations and religions. The State of Israel declared Jerusalem as an “eternal and indivisible” capital, after it took back East Jerusalem (the Old City included) from the Jordanian hands during the 1967 Six-Day War. Although the Jordanians have already withdrawn their claim of East Jerusalem in 1988, the Palestinians, however, insisted that East Jerusalem would become the capital of the future Palestinian state. Most countries around the world do not recognise Israel’s 'annexation' of East Jerusalem in 1967, and the UN Security Council Resolution 478 (United States abstained) declared that the Basic Law of Jerusalem passed by the Knesset in 1980 was “null and void and must be rescinded forthwith”, a violation of international law. Inside the Old City are some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Tensions and disputes are ever present between religions with their respective claims of the holy places, and between peoples with their different attitude towards other faiths and races.
We started our tour inside the Old City in the Christian Quarter after passing through the Jaffa Gate. All of us bought some products in the Christian Bookstore, the only one inside the Old City (Roseanna: a giraffe keychain; Hilla: a small plate with verses printed on it in Hebrew and English; Me: a small national flag of Israel which I can put on my desk). After that we walked through the alleys in the Armenian Quarter and reached the Jewish Quarter. We spent some time taking a look at the Third Temple Model in the Temple Institute, constructed according to the descriptions in the Book of Ezekiel. It looked really impressive as a model, and I was visualising in my mind how the Third Temple would eventually look like once it’s built in the future. We then went to the ruins of the Cardo Maximus, the main north-south street of the Roman Aelia Capitolina and, later, of the Byzantine Jerusalem, and were unearthed by archaeological excavations. Placed next to the Cardo Maximus was a golden Menorah, constructed by the Temple Institute and the first since the destruction of the Second Temple. After spending much time at the Cardo Maximus taking pictures (Ha!), we walked along the underground shopping arcade and I realised that there were many more excavations going on right now underneath the Jewish Quarter. They have even unearthed walls dated back to the First Temple period. The Old City today was built on layers and layers of ruins over thousands of years, and I couldn’t imagine how much more the archaeologists would manage to uncover in the years to come.
After chatting with a Torah scribe who has explained to us his profession and having a quick lunch, we set off to the Western Wall. The Western Wall is part of the Western supporting wall of the Temple Mount built by King Herod in 20BC which has still remained intact this very day. It is considered the most sacred to the Jews by virtue of its proximity to the Holy of Holies in the Second Temple, where the presence of God dwells. It is often referred as the “Wailing Wall”, implying the Jewish sorrow over the destruction of the Temple and wailing and moaning over the hardships they have endured through history. The Western Wall was THE highlight of my first trip to Jerusalem and the Old City, after I have heard many testimonies from my church friends about their experiences, encounters and feelings being there and praying at the Wall. We had to walk through many buildings within the Jewish Quarter before reaching the Wall, and I would never forget the moment when I caught the first glimpse of the Western Wall. The presence of God literally gushed towards me, and it was drawing my heart and my steps towards the Wall! We quickly took some pictures at the Observation Garden overlooking the Western Wall and Temple Mount, went through the strict security checks and reached the Western Wall Plaza which was constructed in front of the Wall and took even more pictures there. The presence of God was certainly in the air, and there was an indescribable feeling raging inside me which I couldn’t explain in words.
The Old City Wall near the Jaffa Gate.
The ruins of the Cardo Maximus excavated under the Jewish Quarter.
The Western Wall and the Western Wall Plaza, adjacent to the Temple Mount.
Rushing for Shabat
As the hour was drawing closer to the start of Shabat, our relaxed footsteps started to quicken and we began to rush. We passed through an Arab market and made our way out of the Old City. Both Hilla and I bought the popular ‘Israel Defence Forces’ souvenir tops along Ben Yehuda Street, and later all of us went back to Mahane Yehuda where Roseanna bought challah (the type of bread used by the Jews for traditional Shabat dinner) home. Unlike in the early morning, the shuk was very crowded and buzzing with life. Stall-owners were yelling their last-minute offers to the crowd to clear their stock, while most people were making their last-minute purchases before the shuk was closed for Shabat. We then took the bus (it was likely to be the last one before Shabat) and went back to Roseanna’s home.
Shabat Dinner
Roseanna’s family is a Christian family, but they do observe some of the Jewish traditions. An example would be the evening meal at the beginning of Shabat. The evening began with the lighting of Shabat candles by Roseanna’s mum Lisa. We followed through the Messianic liturgy with blessings, songs and prayers, and the sanctification of Shabat with the Holy Communion and the breaking of the bread. After that, Roseanna’s dad Richard shared with us the Word of God—the Parsha for that week (i.e. the assigned portion for the weekly Torah reading), before we started eating the food Lisa has prepared for all of us in the afternoon. The food was delicious, and we had a great time of fellowship over the dinner.
Birthday Celebration – I’m 23!
Towards the end of the dinner, Lisa and Roseanna suddenly started singing “Happy Birthday To You” to me, and brought a plate of many home-made chocolate cakes from the kitchen to the dining table! No wonder Roseanna asked me a few days ago if I liked chocolate or vanilla more. The family prepared a surprise for me as I celebrated my 23th birthday in the Holy City during my first trip here! Freshly baked by Lisa in the afternoon, the chocolate layer on the chocolate cakes was so thick and sinful and delicious! Yummy!!! (The celebration was actually a day early, but given the time difference between Jerusalem and HK, it became only a few hours early. =P)
My 23rd birthday celebration!
Fellowship in the Evening
The Shabat dinner was only the beginning of our fellowship in the whole evening. After the dinner, Richard took out 2 sets of 6-piece wooden puzzle for Hilla and me to try to solve it. We both kept trying, but still couldn’t solve it 15 minutes later. The wooden puzzle was made by the Arab Christians living in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, and the 6 pieces would eventually form the Star of David if they were put together properly. Hilla eventually solved it first before me, as I couldn’t get the clue until she put the pieces together and I followed suit. =P
Hilla and I attempting to solve the wooden puzzle.
Do note that we (Roseanna, Hilla and I) were all wearing the 'Israel Defence Forces' souvenir tops!
(Photo taken on Friday, November 3, 2006. Copyright © 2006-2007 Lisa Bristol.)
After that, we spent more than 2 hours in praise and worship. Richard took out a stack of music scores while Hilla took up the guitar in the apartment and started playing the songs. We sang and dance and cheered, and the tangible presence of God saturated the whole living room as we praised and worshipped Him with our voices. This was the first praise and worship I was involved in since I came to Israel, as I haven’t found a congregation to attend yet. Our fellowship only reluctantly came to an end when it was getting late in the night and time for all of us to go to bed. What an eye-opening, spiritually-fulfilling and joy-overflowing day! =)
The Morning Sunrise
Richard and I woke up very early the next morning (before 5am) to catch the sunrise over the city. It was really really cold in Jerusalem before the sunrise. It felt like it was lower than 10 deg C. I was wearing 3 layers of tops and 2 layers of bottoms, and added another thick jacket borrowed from Richard. We went to an observation point near the United Nations Observers’ Headquarter in the Armon ha-Natsiv neighbourhood. (The location is also known as the Mount of Evil Council, and it is rather ironic that the UN Observers’ Headquarter is located there.) When we reached there, we could still see the Israel-Jordan border checkpoint at the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein Bridge near Jericho and the Jordanian mountains inside Jordan. The sky has just started to change colour. From the observation point we could catch a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the South, stretching from the King David Hotel, the New City, Mount Zion, the Old City and Temple Mount, Mount of Olives, to the anti-terrorist security fence which separates Jerusalem from some of its suburbs in the East. Unlike most sunrises I have seen before, the sunrise I saw there was orange in colour. Interestingly, the city also changed its colour as the sun rose, and the view from that point was simply awesome and breath-taking.
The orange sunrise in Jerusalem.
Harvesting Olive Fruits
After the sunrise Richard and I took a stroll in the public park located next to the UN Observers’ Headquarter. Many olive trees were planted along the paths. Since October and November are the months for the harvesting of olive fruits, we could see many fruits on the branches of the olive trees. Richard showed me how to harvest the fruits, and explained to me the various practical and religious purposes of the olive oil. When I squeezed the olive fruit and pushed out the fresh olive oil using my fingers, the aroma was so soothing to the nostrils and there was a smooth, soapy feel on my skin. We continued to harvest more olive fruits from the trees, passed by the ruins of one of the ancient aqueducts built during the Hasmonean Period (1st Century BC), before we headed back to the apartment to wake Roseanna and Hilla up and had breakfast together.
Pledging for 2nd ‘Arise & Build’
The weekend was particularly special to me, and it was not only because my first trip to Jerusalem and my 23rd birthday took place in the same weekend. My church’s 2nd ‘Arise & Build’ also started this weekend and I took advantage of the internet connection available in the apartment to watch the service online in the morning and pledge for this round of Building Fund. I had the faith and confidence that I would be able to fulfill my pledge completely, and God would certainly multiply what I have given into many types of blessings in the next 6 months and beyond! =)
Praying at the Western Wall
Once I finished watching my church’s service online, I took my Bible and left the apartment for the Western Wall as I wanted to spend some time to pray there. As it was still within the hours of the Jewish Shabat, there were no buses available to take me from the Armon ha-Natsiv neighbourhood to the Old City and I had to take a taxi instead. Most Jewish taxi drivers wouldn’t be driving during Shabat and thus the taxi drivers in such hours were mostly Arabs. I got on the taxi that Roseanna called for me. Shortly after the start of the ride, the driver told me that he couldn’t bring me to the Western Wall using the main roads and had to take a detour. The driver drove through the Arab Muslim neighbourhood of Silwan, located south of the Old City. Unlike the parts of Jerusalem I have seen since Thursday, this neighbourhood looked very different—the streets were much dirtier and the buildings were poorly-maintained. The atmosphere was rather unfriendly and hostile, even to me as a non-Jew. At first I did have some concern over my safety going through this neighbourhood, but I knew my God would protect me and I put my trust both in Him and the Arab driver whom I sat next to in the taxi. Towards the end of the journey, the taxi passed by the City of David, before dropping me at the Dung Gate, the gate nearest to the Western Wall.
I spent about 1 1/2 hours praying at the Western Wall, for my family, friends, church, schools and myself and also went through the specific prayer requests many friends have sent me over the week via email and Windows Live Messenger. Since the Wall was facing the West direction (that’s why it’s called the Western Wall) and I was there in the afternoon, the sun was shining bright over me and I felt so warm standing there throughout the whole duration. (There’s not only a huge temperature difference between day and night, but also between light and shadows in Jerusalem.) Although I was disturbed quite a number of times in different ways, I was convinced that there’s nothing which could stop me from praying and the presence of God was with me. I felt a sense of indescribable joy and lightness after I finished praying, and if I wasn’t in the public, I would probably start to twirl and heap and dance there!!! =)
Return To Herzliya
Roseanna, Hilla and I left Jerusalem after a quick dinner with home-made pizzas. As we were on our way back to Herzliya, I kept on thinking about everything that has happened during the weekend in the Holy City. The word ‘memorable’ couldn’t summarise how I would like to describe about this trip. I would rather use the word ‘life-changing’ as I knew I left the city a different person from whom I was before the trip. It was a weekend well spent with great company, sights and food, and I couldn’t wait for my future trips to Jerusalem again!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
The People of Israel and their Desire for Peace
This morning was certainly not a usual morning for the entire IDC. At 10:55am, all classes came to a halt. The offices were shut and the library was closed at the same moment. The entire IDC community who were on campus at that time gathered at the plaza outside the Radzyner School of Law, for a memorial ceremony in memory of the late Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin (1922-1995), who was assassinated by a Jewish right-wing extremist on November 4, 1995 when he was leaving a mass rally for peace held under the slogan “Yes to Peace, No to Violence” in Tel Aviv. It was a really solemn ceremony. There were no smiles. Almost everyone looked like they were engaging in some sort of self-reflection and soul-searching. (I decided not to take any pictures then to respect the solemnness of this ceremony.)
Indeed, Rabin’s assassination shocked and grieved the whole nation, as he was a symbol of Israel’s desire for peace in the country and around the world. The historic Oslo Agreements with the Palestinians and the Treaty of Peace with Jordan were signed during his term as the Prime Minister, and he ignited the nation’s hope for the normalisation of relations across the Arab world. Unfortunately and ironically, he was assassinated at a peace rally, right after delivering his speech emphasising Israel wanted peace and wanted to make peace, and more ironically, by his own countryman. 11 years later, despite of the fact that the country went to war against Hezbollah in Lebanon in July, constantly faced the terrorists’ threats and rockets from the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and was threatened to be wiped off the map by the current Iranian President, that desire for peace continues to live within the people. From my interaction with the people in Israel since I arrived here, all of them desire peace, no matter how grim the possibility of peace may seem. What I saw at the memorial ceremony was one people, one hope for that peace which Israel has been longing for. I think it will be impossible for me to ever forget what I saw and how I felt at that ceremony.
Indeed, Rabin’s assassination shocked and grieved the whole nation, as he was a symbol of Israel’s desire for peace in the country and around the world. The historic Oslo Agreements with the Palestinians and the Treaty of Peace with Jordan were signed during his term as the Prime Minister, and he ignited the nation’s hope for the normalisation of relations across the Arab world. Unfortunately and ironically, he was assassinated at a peace rally, right after delivering his speech emphasising Israel wanted peace and wanted to make peace, and more ironically, by his own countryman. 11 years later, despite of the fact that the country went to war against Hezbollah in Lebanon in July, constantly faced the terrorists’ threats and rockets from the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and was threatened to be wiped off the map by the current Iranian President, that desire for peace continues to live within the people. From my interaction with the people in Israel since I arrived here, all of them desire peace, no matter how grim the possibility of peace may seem. What I saw at the memorial ceremony was one people, one hope for that peace which Israel has been longing for. I think it will be impossible for me to ever forget what I saw and how I felt at that ceremony.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
My First Haircut in Israel
I have been going to the same hairdresser in Singapore since 2001, and one of the main purposes of doing so was to ensure that my hairstyle will be maintained more or less the same throughout. (I am very particular about this because I don’t want my hair to follow the shape of my head too much, and since I don’t like to keep my hair long, there aren’t many hairstyles available for me. =P) When I confirmed that I would be coming to Israel for international exchange, the question of getting proper haircuts did come to my mind from time to time, and I knew that I would need to ‘sacrifice’ my Singapore hairstyle and to ‘embrace’ whatever the hairdresser in Israel would be doing to my hair! Haha.
It was interesting that when I first met the Director of RRIS Mr. Uri Goldflam on campus he said that it would be a culture shock when I had my first haircut here. Indeed, it was a real culture shock, or rather, an interesting “intercultural communication episode” (I picked up this term when I was taking the course “Intercultural Communication” in SMU during Term 3B.). I went to this hairdresser “SUPERKUT” this morning, which was located about 10-min walk away from my apartment. It was certainly not a barber shop, as the interior design of this hairdresser shop was quite elegant. The owner and his assistant spoke English (thankfully!) so I knew we could communicate! Haha.
The owner of the hairdresser had more than 17 years of hairdressing experience, and he really seemed like the type that he liked to unleash his creativity when cutting the hair of his customers. The funny thing was I TOLD him that he could do whatever he liked to do with my hair, as long as the hair wouldn’t be too long and I would look good. That’s what I called ‘risk-taking’! Haha! The result of giving him the green-light was a haircut which looks quite Israeli (or Middle-Eastern like what my mum has described thenafter when she saw some pictures of me), and I was so so so not used to it! When I was walking back to my apartment after the haircut, I was like hmmm… hmmm… hmmm… I kept thinking that the hairstyle was a disaster. In the end I decided: “Hey, I did give him the green-light, so accept it man! Haha!” And this was the end of my first haircut experience here in Israel, and would be known as a classic episode of me taking indeterminable risks… with my hair, just before I was going to Jerusalem for the first time in my life!!!
It was interesting that when I first met the Director of RRIS Mr. Uri Goldflam on campus he said that it would be a culture shock when I had my first haircut here. Indeed, it was a real culture shock, or rather, an interesting “intercultural communication episode” (I picked up this term when I was taking the course “Intercultural Communication” in SMU during Term 3B.). I went to this hairdresser “SUPERKUT” this morning, which was located about 10-min walk away from my apartment. It was certainly not a barber shop, as the interior design of this hairdresser shop was quite elegant. The owner and his assistant spoke English (thankfully!) so I knew we could communicate! Haha.
The owner of the hairdresser had more than 17 years of hairdressing experience, and he really seemed like the type that he liked to unleash his creativity when cutting the hair of his customers. The funny thing was I TOLD him that he could do whatever he liked to do with my hair, as long as the hair wouldn’t be too long and I would look good. That’s what I called ‘risk-taking’! Haha! The result of giving him the green-light was a haircut which looks quite Israeli (or Middle-Eastern like what my mum has described thenafter when she saw some pictures of me), and I was so so so not used to it! When I was walking back to my apartment after the haircut, I was like hmmm… hmmm… hmmm… I kept thinking that the hairstyle was a disaster. In the end I decided: “Hey, I did give him the green-light, so accept it man! Haha!” And this was the end of my first haircut experience here in Israel, and would be known as a classic episode of me taking indeterminable risks… with my hair, just before I was going to Jerusalem for the first time in my life!!!
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