School school

After Egypt it seems like nothing can be spectacular anymore. That might be a blessing because we have started to get into a little more intense school work. Next week we will have midterms in all of our classes. Yes, every single one of them. It seems like I diligently work to finish one assignment and then feel like I should take a break and run around the city or read a good book from our library. Then I realize that there is another 100 pages due for the next day so I better not take too long a break. I just finished a seven page paper that is due in two hours. I confess it is fun being in the same classes as everyone else. It’s entertaining to watch all the different methods people have to accomplish the same task. Everyone here is a scholar but we still have different means whereby we have achieved success.

We can’t see the Dome of the Rock anymore. A dust storm or fire or something has completely blocked it from view. It doesn’t smell like smoke (well it always smells a little like smoke) so I think it might just be wind over the desert. I think they have one or two of those nearby. Actually the desert is just over the eastern mountains. There is an interesting association in the old testament that pestilence comes from the east wind. I can see why. And taste why. It is also interesting that the same phrase is used in Mosiah by Abinadi. Curious. The native American’s also had a similar tradition. They set their lodges up with the hole towards the east. In part because it recognizes the rising sun but also because the wind was very unlikely to blow from the east and thus on the weakest portion of the lodge. Now that can be altered by all kinds of local ridges or canyons but that’s the general idea. Beware the East.

Yesterday the University of Utah Singers performed at our concert hall. We invited them to have dinner with us as well. It was quite the experience. I confess I’ve built up my own prejudices against them in I think just the last few months. Even jokes can affect you if they are intense enough and last long enough. They had a fantastic choir and it was nice to see Americans. The President of the University of Utah was also there. Anyway, I am determined not to let school get away from me too much so I had better get on with the next project. It looks like I will have to do a little studying. Oh well,

Oh, the wild cat at the center had a kitten. I saw it walking around today, very cute little black thing. The mother is orange so go figure on that one. Maybe the Pope’s cat next door was visiting. (did I mention that the pope’s Jerusalem residence is next door? I don’t think he visits very often)