Another weekend

Antipasto at home on
my feastday

Friday passed very peacefully here in Jerusalem except for a 5 min demonstration that quickly ended when police fired 3 stun grenades. It took place at Damascus Gate. Everyone was surprised how peaceful the whole day was. The lesson learnt was: don't restrict entry to the mosque ... when everyone could enter the mosque to pray, there was no demonstration and rioting.

But everywhere else in Israel seems to be on fire. Large scale demonstrations in Cana, and also in Palestinian towns like Umm el Fahm and Hebron. Qalandya which is one of the usual hotbeds saw clashes with police at the checkpoint. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Palestinian-activists-breech-separation-barrier-protesting-Israel-381826 

I didn't go to work yesterday because I was waiting for an interview with the rector of the university. We all have to have this interview once in 3 yrs. It's the usual giving a report kind of stuff.

My students and their surprise party

Several days ago was the feast of St. Leo the Great, the pope who stopped the huns from attacking Europe ... among many other achievements which made him great. Back home the cooks prepared a very nice lunch to celebrate, with special antipasto followed by lasagna, chicken and an apple crumble. It was great but of course I didn't eat any of it ... except for a small piece of crumble. My IBS will just ruin everything .... And anyway I had to rush off from lunch to school. Am teaching english to the seminarians. They stopped class after the first half hour and surprised me with a small celebration. It was very nice of them. It made me very happy.