Made it safely!

Just a note to let everyone know I arrived safely in Jerusalem!

As we landed yesterday, I kept thinking.... so this... is what everyone is fighting about.

There is so much to take in, it is exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

The conflict is raging on in Gaza, but we feel very removed from it here. It hasn't affected life in Jerusalem.

There is security EVERYWHERE. I got through the airport security in Denver, Newark and Tel Aviv, but I couldn't get into a pharmacy yesterday to buy soap because there was something about my pants zipper that kept setting the metal detector off (exact same outfit I wore on the plane).

I live with 4 Israeli girls, two of whom eat only kosher, so I am required to keep a kosher kitchen while I am here. I don't even entirely know what that means yet, but I know I am not allowed to put yogurt on the same shelf as meat in the fridge and I'm not allowed to use their sponges to clean my dishes.

It is cold (of course no central heating), but my hot water bottle is saving my life.

No internet at my house yet. I am hoping that we beat South Africa's record (it took me 4 months to get my internet installed there), but we'll see. I am at Hebrew University right now where I will be taking courses starting in a couple of days. We are off to take a campus tour now, so I'm off.

Miss you all!