One great joy here was interacting with BYU students. Each term had about 80 students ( 2:1 female to male ratio). They came for terms of nearly 4 months each in January (Winter), April (Spring/Summer) and September (Fall). We met over 400 students during our 18 months. Besides advising the student Hosting & Humanitarian Committees, we happily joined students for classes, field trips and many other activities.
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Classes & Research. Students were serious about their studies. Each class was very well taught -- by 4 local non-LDS professors for Hebrew, Arabic and Modern Near East History. Also, by 4 BYU professors for Ancient Near East History, Field Trips, Hebrew Bible and New Testament. We took Bible classes most days at 8 am. Also on the 6th floor, this large room with several rows of modern computers was where they did most of their research and writing.
Adjoining the computer room were several smaller group study rooms -- and the Snack Bar or lounge for relaxation and watching TV or videos.
Library. On Level 8 was this space for more book research (7,000 volumes) -- and quiet! The Library ante-room also had good wi-fi for individual or group study.
Group study was also good for socializing.
They met and interacted with fascinating new friends & colleagues-- both both young and old, American and local.
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The Forum. All combined courses (e.g., both Modern and Ancient Near Eastern History) were taught in this large hall -- built without windows as a darkened space. Also, weekly Forums were held there. Local experts lectured on diverse political and cultural topics. One of the most popular was Khaled Abu Toameh, a TV/journalist now with the Jerusalem Post. He was an Israeli-Arab-Muslim who had previoiusly worked with the PLO and Al Jazeera and saw both sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He famously said: "I'd rather be a 2nd class citizen in Israel than a 1st class citizen in any Arab country."
Another was Bernard Sabella -- a committed Palestinian Parliament member. Trying to steer a neutral course on the U.S. - Israeli relationship was Jan Levine (U.S. Embassy). She impressively detailed some possible solutions to existing Israeli conflicts.
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Informal Talent Shows. These and other fun activities were also held there -- on a very ample stage.
On 6/9/11, virtually all spring/summer students got onstage for creative acts.
This was a whistling duet by Ann Killian and Charles Wilson on 10/21/10.
On 6/9/11, our wives got into the act, with their "Waking Up Is Hard To Do."
It went over so well that they did a reprise on 10/13/11 -- with the new faculty wives.
Dr. Val Chapman was a hit with his creative stop-action, fast-motion rescue act. And Thomas Kelly was an amazing rubber/pretzel man!
The Ludlow girls (faculty children, ages 6 & 8 ) stole that show -- with help from Koryl Wadsworth. Little Melia did a solo from The Wizard of Oz: "If I Only Had a Brain."
.Formal Talent Shows. These were held in the Auditorium each term. On 7/28/11 Marilyn finally came onstage -- not to solo, as some students and leaders had begged her to do, but to accompany Becca Winters. They played Karl Bloch's Nigun -- just like Becky Douglas taught Becca in Atlanta. (Marilyn had also played it with Becky in Laguna Beach.) On 8/20/11, Marilyn also did a Sacrament Mtg. solo: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
The Spring/Summer 2011 group performed a true variety show, ranging from Ariel Petersen's Rhapsody in Blue to the ukelele boys.
Our Home Teachers even got into the act. Jarom Smith sang On the Street Where You Live -- and Jarrett Lever sang Lean on Me. [Some later took him literally.]
Sharla Kjar (Marilyn's YW assistant and a returned missionary) also sang, beautifully. Ashley Wilkinson did well on the guitar.
After Joni Johnson's Arabian Nights dance with scarves, all "felt the love."
Another wonderful pianist was Marianne Owen (rt. below, doing Rachmaninoff's Prelude). Allyson Reeves (behind) was the MC.
Scott Walker & Thomas Kelly seemed like Master & Commander -- with a violin-cello duet. Marissa Ludlow (age 10) did O Holy Night). She only took flute for 6 mos.!
Other excelling soloists were Rivkah Steele (operatic, O Holy Night) and Eliza Sallstrom (violin).
These Fall '11 students had a great time doing a superb Christmas program. Prof. Eric Huntsman was superb -- had sung with the Tab Choir but hadn't conducted a choir. Marilyn accompanied both him and the student choir. (See our volume, Our Holidays).
Our last talent show was with the Winter 2012 students. On 2/23/12, Marilyn accompanied Rachel Huntsman (age 14) -- singing Sally DeFord's "Miracles."
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Dome Theatre. This held over 100. It was used mainly for Church meetings, small assemblies and hosting large public tour groups.
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Humanitarian Service. This was our main active interface with students. We made hygiene kits, visited Old City seniors, painted murals and taught young Arab school kids. [See our volume, Humanitarian Service.] We had some great student committees. On 7/10/11, this one planned our support of two charities' summer camps.
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Hosting at Concerts. We also oversaw the students' Hosting Committee. Students enjoyed greeting, taking tickets and attending the doors at concerts.
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Oasis Cafeteria. All JC meals were eaten at the Oasis cafeteria (6th floor) -- also good for parties, games, crafts and other fun activities.
Students cemented friendships in many ways -- like singing farewell to senior couples when they left Jerusalem (Ted & Rae Okiishi on 9/9/10).
July 4th BBQ. Many special events were held at the Oasis. After celebrating in the Forum with a video of the BYU fireworks show on Friday 7/8/11, the Oasis served up a full spread of All-American food!
We ate on the Level 6 balcony with Ray & Bobbe Graham (new senior couple in the Galilee) and the Ohmans.
Students also bonded with the faculty children..
That event became a carnival -- with face painting, fishing games, etc. Everyone had a great time -- especially the children.
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Thanksgiving Feasts. On 11/24/11, students returned from their 2-week Galilee trip to find a turkey feast. Then they rendered their own version of a Michael Jackson tune.
They also celebrated Kristine Jolley's 21st birthday with 21 chair lifts. Not to be outdone, Matty Crandall (from Anaheim) got 25 lifts on 12/3/11.
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Student dorms were small and slept four each in single beds. There was a tiny bathroom but no kitchen.. All rooms (even dorms) had great views!
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Gymnasium. The students enjoyed sports, dancing & other activities there.
JC teams played some spirited intramural games. Our Fall '11 men played a top local Palestinian basketball team. The first one on 10/20/11 was a heart stopper. Michael-Sean Covey hit a free throw to go into overtime, 65 to 65 -- but missed the 2nd one to win. Down by 6 points, he next hit two 3-pointers to go into 2nd overtime. As time ran out, he hit another 3-pointer (total of 8 all night) to tie at the end. So they left all even ... and still friends. Front: Michael-Sean Covey, Andrew Zenger (HT), Izak Rock, Jeff Nuckles. Rear: Jared Ludlow, Jeff Perry, Taylor Crane, Adam Petersen (HT)
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Mission Calls: Every term, students received or submitted papers for mission calls. During the Fall 2011 term, two students received theirs -- Jared Ludlow (to Boston MA) and Kristine Jolley (to Croatia).
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Students with the Bentleys. Each term, Marilyn had new student advisors with her YW. Also, I took students on most District speaking visits. We always had fine monthly Home Teachers. [See volume, "Our Church Service"]. Once, we gave a fireside for the students in Galilee (March '11). Sometimes students also reciprocated with us.
These students came to our apartment for cookies and Home Evening on 3/1/11.
Winter '11 students gave us a "heart attack" on Valentine's Day 2/14/11 and Spring/Summer students on Marilyn's birthday, 5/12/11. Jill Judd baked her a birthday cake and I supplied the ice cream.
When I returned from a District visit to Galilee on Father's Day (6/18/11), Joni Johnson, Erica Clark, Jenny Montgomery & Katie Buhler brought me cookies. Later, a surprise doorstep "heart attack" yielded an even larger platter.
Our Kitchen. Fall '11 students often enjoyed baking cookies there. Marilyn with Katherine Redd did some for Friday kit project days -- and several times after that. On Thursday 12/8/11, Lauren Heyland and 3 roommates (Katie Robison, Elyse Barnes & Andrea Nelson) made cookies for all faculty & senior couples.
We really loved these students -- and it seemed mutual.
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Students Arrivals. Getting over 82 students there was often an adventure. Due to Hurricane Irene (East Coast) and many plane cancellations, the 82 BYU Fall Term 2011 students came on 9 different flights -- arriving over 5 days (9/1 to 9/5/11). That marathon schedule broke the prior record of 7 arrivals when our own Melissa came in 2007. We helped to bring some of them from the airport -- including Cali McMurtry, the last to arrive (all alone) from Amsterdam, at 3 am on 9/5/11. That was really early! Two sets of siblings also came in that group -- the Cunningham boys (Carter and Caleb, chair of our Humanitarian Committee) and the Quist girls (Nicole & Danielle -- who toured the JC with their parents the prior summer).
BYU Arabic Students from Jordan. One hour after all Fall 2011 students departed, 52 students and their leaders (Drs. Dilworth Parkinson, Kirk Belnap + wives & others) came to spend a week in Jerusalem after an intensive semester in Amman. There, they gained language proficiency and understanding of Arabic culture and history. We gave them a short version of our JC tour, as they did not hold any classes there.
Winter Term '12 Students. It took 9 flights for the Fall 2011 group; but only one flight for 82 students to arrive on 1/4/12. (Bryson Toth, on standby, came the next day.) I went with the BYU faculty to escort them by bus to the JC. This time, no luggage was lost! After an orientation session conducted by Kent Jackson (JC Academic Dir.), we organized student walking tours of the JC in 9 groups.
My group included (L-R): Vlade Falk, Alec Park, Maddie McCann, Danielle Crossley, Trav Richardson, Dan Edmunds & Cameron Pappenfuss.
At the assembly, they sang Israel, Israel God Is Calling -- accompanied by Rick Elliott, Tabernacle Organist. The Auditorium curtains were opened -- just as the sun was setting over the Old City. What a way to begin their JC experience!
After retrieving their luggage, they all had an Oasis welcome dinner. At our table was Claire Larson -- a Lutheran student, who later joined the Church in USA.
The next morning, we all did a city orientation walk -- also in small groups. [See our volume, "Jerusalem Today."] The sun set again after another splendid day. These were the last students we knew before leaving 3/1/12. They got off to a great start.
In my group were: Letty Wursten, Madison Smith, Janae Davis, Annalise Harker, Boone Parkinson, Jen Farrell, Amy Penn & Tucker Davis.
They students were open and friendly -- but generally not as loud -- as some other groups. We loved them all.
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Student Farewells. At the end of each semester, there was a farewell dinner for each group that we came to love.
On 8/12/11 the Spring/Summer students left. Fall '11 students started coming on 9/1/11 -- exactly one year after our own arrival.
We grew especially close to the Fall '11 group, taking many local field trips plus Turkey and Masada / Dead Sea with them. Leaving on 12/15/11 for a land of snow, they decorated the JC with snowflakes.
Their delicious farewell dinner also had a Christmas motif.
After their evening Memories slide show on 12/15/11, they had a paper "snowball fight." We were glad they stayed to pick up the mess.
This group bonded with all new faculty families and our 3 senior service couples as one big, happy family.
The joy of new friendships was balanced by tearful farewells.
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Excess Clothing. When students returned home, they left behind clothing exceeding their weight limit due to Holy Land purchases. We sorted it out & bagged it by size & type -- then donated it to deserving charities, JC workers or LDS members living there.
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Our Homecoming. On Easter Sunday, 4/9/12, look who we met after our Sacr. Mtg. -- Piers Tueller & Kelsey Hutchinson -- just married in Feb. '12. On 8/3/12 we saw Stacey Forsyth & Brock Wright at the wedding reception for Lani Livingston & John Jones. They said that Susie Robison & Lawrence Stubbs and Kelsey McIntyre & Josh Steele had also married -- all from the 2011 Winter Term.
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