Time for goodbye

Yesterday was a very hot day. Tried to do some work but only managed to check some information in the library. Also read parts of a book that I need.

The asthma is becoming such a problem, I think I need to go back on steroids to stop it. But I hate the side-effects. And I haven't still gone to see Dr ben Daniel - well the very thought of walking up the hill (1km) to see him just puts me off; and in this heat as well.

But there was a nice surprise yesterday morning - Fr Terence Crotty came to use our library. I met him at the Dominican Ecole Biblique when Fr Thomas Chui invited me over for dinner. Both he and Terence are students of Fr Adrian Schenker (the famous bible professor, remember? I invited them all for lunch at our monastery the day after.) Well Terence is leaving Israel soon and will be studying German this summer before going on to Fribourg (Switzerland) University to do his doctorate under Fr Schenker. Terence is very brilliant and very gentlemanly. He called my room a few minutes ago to say he's leaving and "I wanted to shake your hand". I went down to the library to oblige. I'm sure he'll do well.

Ooops William just called. Wants to pop by my room in 15 minutes. He's leaving Israel too by the end of the month. Will stop here with the blog and resume later when he leaves.

So William came and left. Another nice surprise today. He bought ice cream and we ate them in my room - we sat on my new stools...a little low but at least we can now sit! He's a very serious young friar with high ideals. That's good. If he's mediocre, then that's a problem. But he's very intense and he knows himself. I hope he'll be happy in Rome. We promised to catch up one last time after his exams and before he leaves Israel. Another goodbye.

So the exams are finishing and the summer holidays are beginning - time to say alot of goodbyes. In a way it's sad, but then again it's a new adventure for many: a new beginning.