It's a NEW BLOG!

Shalom!
Here I am, sitting in the computer lab (my laptop is being silly) on the 6th floor of the Jerusalem Center in JERUSALEM. Yes, it is rather exciting... I got here yesterday after a long long flight full of layovers, delays, cancelations, and hotel vouchers. A number of us were stranded after our flight was canceled in Phoenix, AZ. The airport paid for our dinner and hotel rooms until they figured out what other flight plan we could do. They ended up splitting us up into smaller groups. The first group left Thursday at 4 am...and we made it here Friday night around 6:30. I was beginning to wonder if we would ever make it here, but walking inside the Jerusalem Center for the first time and looking over the beautiful city of Jerusalem just made every moment of waiting SO worth it. I don't even know how to describe how wonderful this city is. Every classroom has an incredible view with a balcony, as well as every apartment. I was surprised to see a pomogranite tree on my balcony with some pretty big pomogranites almost ready and ripe to eat! It just keeps getting better. I especially loved having Sacrament Meeting overlooking the whole city. The view is just amazing. I can't get enough of it!
 I got to play the piano for the primary today, which was fantastic. The children here are so smart and very sweet. They are all children of these great scholars and professors... and it shows! They know so much! Oh, and I can't forget about the food... I have only had two meals here so far, and let me just tell you... everything is delicious! The fruit especially. I love eating outside with that great view of the Old City every time.
Today we got to walk around the city for the first time. We got to see how it is kind of split up with the Arabs in one area, the Christians in another area, and then the Jews in another. It was so interesting. I can't wait to learn more about the different cultures and religions here. There is so many cool things to see...I keep wondering how I will ever see it all! I have met some wonderful people here....(still waiting for the rest of the group to arrive!) and I'm looking forward to having one of the most exciting semesters of my life.