One of the common questions I get after returning from a trip is “How was the food?” JUC does a great job with the food. Not having to worry about cooking for a few months made it all the better. Here is a tiny taste of my culinary journey through Israel. But the fabulous food wasn’t limited to just on campus. There were other memorable meals on the road. While there were certainly memorable meals throughout the semester, what I remember most fondly is I where I ate it or who I was with.
Tag Archives: Jerusalem University College
All Things End
After spending nearly a week in Jordan learning about Bedouin life (more on that in later posts), the semester has officially come to a close. My classmates are leaving. I’m staying in Jerusalem with some friends for a few more days, but this JUC tale is complete. Saying good-bye is difficult. But which is worse: to cry because you’re leaving someone you’ve grown close to or not cry because there isn’t anyone you’ll miss? I would rather be in the former camp. My life is at a crossroads. I’m heading back home soon. Or am I leaving home? Such lines […]
Cable Car
JUC, where I’m attending, is situated on the slope of the Hinnom Valley on Mount Zion. In 1948-1967, the West Bank was controlled by Jordan and the green line (the border between Israel and the West Bank) went around Mount Zion, leaving it in Israel but the territory around it in Jordan. This was a problem for Mount Zion, leaving it in a vulnerable position. The Israeli military positioned some troops on the campus (this is before JUC moved in), keeping an eye on the Jordanians. There was a trench to slowly crawl through that went down the valley and […]
In the Classroom
Just like my last semester here, I’m taking a full load of classes. The goal is to learn more but this time I’ll have a 1-year graduate certificate saying I accomplished something. Visit here for what I took last time. I have the same professors as before. Here are the classes I’m taking: Cultural Backgrounds of the Bible looks at the culture of the Bible (hence the name). How did these ancient people view the world? At the end of the semester we will go to Jordan for a few days and spend some of that time living with the […]
An Early Spring
I began this blog 6.5 years ago because I was attending Jerusalem University College (JUC). It’s a small American Christian school situated on Mount Zion just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. Ever since I attended a short-term program at JUC in 2005, I fell in love with the land and the school. A short-term trip was no longer good enough. Thus I took a leave of absence from work and spent the fall semester of 2011 studying the ancient world of the Bible at JUC. That should be enough, right? Not quite. I heard how the spring semester is […]
A Brief History of the University
It’s hard to believe, but it was one year ago today that I arrived in Jerusalem to study at Jerusalem University College for a semester. A new group is already there now, following in the same footsteps that I did a year ago. Amidst all my studies, I had the chance to learn a little of the history of the little plot that the school sits on, which makes for an interesting story in itself. I mentioned before that what is called the Old City is the section of Jerusalem that is walled. This is about 225 acres, of which […]
And that’s Final
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” The Apostle Paul speaking in Acts 20:24 Finals week has come and gone. All my papers are turned in. All my exams are completed. Things are packed for Egypt. The first students have packed up and flown home. More will soon follow. That hasn’t kept me from enjoying some time around Jerusalem or kicking back and relaxing around JUC. For instance, last Saturday I hiked […]
Scavengers
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. Psalm 122:1-3 Saturday was orientation day. The president of JUC, Dr. Paul Wright, opened with this thought: Psalms 120-134 are called Psalms of Ascent, sung when pilgrims would go up to Jerusalem (Jerusalem is at a local high point, so you always go up to Jerusalem). Today, when Jews immigrate to Israel, they say they make Aliyah, or more literally, […]