In about a minute, a large group of students leave for a night on the shore of the Dead Sea and a hike around the En Gedi area tomorrow. I’m quite certain that they’ll have a miserable time, but because they’re creating their own misery, they’ll think it’s the best trip of the semester.
I spent the afternoon in/around the Old City today with Mark. While sitting outside the Damascus Gate and eating a shwarma, I pulled out the telephoto and shot a few. Here’s one of them: the teaman waiting for his next sale. He did quite a brisk business on this hot day. Notice too the Herodian stones in the background (albeit in secondary usage).
“Notice too the Herodian stones in the background (albeit in secondary usage).” This is why we love you, Todd.
Not leading the “death hike” around Nahal David and Arugot this semester?
You’re definitely right about “creating our own misery” but it was great fun none the less. I’m sure some of the students will see it as one of the best trips and a great way to get to know each other.
I don’t know about it being a miserable trip. For me it was definitely a miserable night’s sleep. Between the howling wind, the clouds of flies, and the chaffing from the late night dip in the Dead Sea…but there I go getting nostalgic again.
Hey, we went to Nahal David, but not Nahal Arugot! Why didn’t you take us there? I feel jipped! We didn’t get to sleep on the shore of the Dead Sea either! How come?
Well, Ilena, to increase your feeling of getting cheated – today I took the students to Bethlehem, Herodium, the route to En Gedi in the wilderness, and Solomon’s Pools. I don’t think you got to do any of that. I guess you can go back and revise your evaluation of the semester – what once was great is now lousy because of what you didn’t do :-). But if you think again you’ll remember that your semester was absolutely packed with great things, and if there’s a great thing we do another semester that we didn’t do yours, that means there’s a great thing we did your semester that we aren’t doing now. :-) There are various reasons for why we mix it up. One is political realities (which is why you didn’t go to Bethlehem plus); another is courses offered (which is why you didn’t do the En Gedi campout and hike); another is that us teachers are human too and we don’t always like to do the same things :-). Fortunately this country is big and amazing enough that we can have lots of variety and always a great semester!!
Thanks for humbling me Todd!! I didn’t mean to complain…it was a great semester that I will never forget…and someday may just have to supliment :)