Friday adventure

Yesterday was still cold - it fact it felt colder than before. Went off with the Caveros to see a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives, then went down to the garden of Gethsemani. Fr Gabriel (NO not the one YOU guys are so fond of ...... OUR Fr Gabriel is very kind and gentle and accomodating. he's an italian who previously worked in the Holy Sepulchre). was kind enough to let us enter the sanctuary where the altar and stone is preserved, and we celebrated Mass there since no one booked for that hour. After Mass (and lots and lots of photos!!!!!!!) we went to St. Peter Gallicantu. It has an elevator so it was easier on Daniel. Then they went back to the hotel to rest and we met up again at 7pm for dinner.

Well it was the beginning of Sabbath, so you can imagine how crowded the hotel restaurents were. Mr & Mrs Afifi came all the way from Nazareth for dinner too. They are the owners of Nazarene Tours and Transport, the largest public transport company in Galilee. Being the Sabbath, we had to have the Sabbath menu - which was very nice. I had potato soup (the rest had consomme'), and pate' before a beef steak very nicely done. (The cooks and waiters are arabs so they know we're not jews and cooked our food differently - this is as diplomatic as I can get in this phraseology) And for dessert there was an apple pastry thingo which was on the sweet tangy side. (*Note: Charlyn, "thingo" is not real english but "tangy" is) The Afifis had to leave earlier as they have to drive home (almost 2 hrs), and I wanted to go to sleep - very tired.

And I'm awake now at 4am (slept at 12 midnight) to fix the video conferencing connection with HK. Have been awake since 2am in contact with Nathan and Teresa at our HK centre to co-ordinate our video-conferencing system. Looks like I'm not getting any sleep today! Later I'll bring the Caveros to Bethlehem and Shepherds' Field (most of you guys have never been there! envy envy). And oh, I heard some people have asked to have my room photo taken - well fat chance! Cecilia took many photos inside the churches (not the decorations but of us), but you know our churches are all very dark - and she insisted NOT to use the flash. "It looks better without the flash". And of course each time the photo came out as one black blotch, and she retried and retried taking the same photo till I finally convinced her to use the flash (like 45 minutes of hardsell convincing) - and voila! you could see everything once the flash lit up! The magic is in one tiny bulb! The spirit is willing but the "flash" is weak! Or in this case, the "flash" is willing but the spirit is weak.

The weather should be fine today but cold - so the trip to Bethlehem should be enjoyable (unless the soldiers at the check-point gives us trouble). But I'll really have to sleep early tonight as this early morning work with the video-conferencing is sapping all my energy now. Oops the muzzein is singing now. OK will go off to continue working with the internet line.

St Cecilia & Thanksgiving

I set up the video-conferencing machine yesterday and technically it functions. My only problem is the internet line - it's jammed with other users from the house and there's not enough bandwidth for a proper communicaiton to take place with HK. Will try another line once Shukri our internet guy is available - but you know local time ........

Went off to see the Caveros in the afternoon; Fr Marco the mexican 2nd yr student wanted to go jogging (in the cold? and in the pollution?) so he said he'd accompany me to King David hotel. Boy, he took the longest and most complicated way to get there, and I kept telling him he needs the exercise but not me. Anyway reached the hotel almost in one piece.

Daniel is looking well. We had tea (actually I had a grapefruit juice to quench my thirst after walking 2 kms up and down so many stairs) and chatted. And Cecilia reminded us that it was her feastday yesterday - St Cecilia the patron saint of singers and choirs (She got her head chopped not quite nearly off and was still alive for a day with her head dangling from her body). So a little later we had dinner in the hotel restaurent. Being Thanksgiving day as well, we each had the thanksgiving menu. Soup (pumpkin with ginger and honey - I had to reject that as I'm allergic), then a nice salad (also with honey dressing so I got a different type of dressing with balsamic vinegar), then came the turkey which I believe is the most photographed turkey in the whole of Israel - Cecilia took shots of it from every angle, and turkey with different people (the chef, the head waiter, the waitress who was exasperated with my rejecting honey, and of course me and daniel). She said it's for her daughters to see - so I said "poor girls, they haven't seen a turkey" Anyway Daniel and I had a good laugh. So you 4 girls better take an educational tour and see a live turkey, a dead turkey, a frozen turkey and a cooked turkey. Leave the dogs aside!

Also found out that Cecilia once taught the piano, so I tried convincing her to play the organ at our HK chapel during Mass. Now its up to the rest of you guys to convince her! (OK just reread that 1st phase and thought it a little odd - "she once taught the piano", nooooo pianos do not need teaching, I mean "she once gave piano lessons". I know you kids out there are picking on my english! In greek philology, the phrase in question would have been a problem of the objective genitive and subjective genitive, but who cares?........ or better still, "piano" would be in the accusative if it needed teaching; and "piano" would be in the dative if "piano lessons" was meant. Kath Malone, pls check if this is correct!)

I'll accompany the Caveros to visit Peter Gallicantu church and Gethsemani because they're pretty flat land with no stairs to climb. And the sun is up - which is good because the stone pavements are not slippery. Downside is it's crazy day again - the roads will be jammed pack with muslim, christian and jewish people going to pray. We'll see how things go. Like I said, this is Jerusalem; you can't planned too far ahead because things happen.

cats and dogs

The rains stopped yesterday afternoon so I could walk up to Notre Dame Centre slowly (very slippery these stone pavements) to wait for the shurut (minivan). I booked it for 3.45pm but knowing local time you need to give an hour leeway. So I went up to Notre Dame at 2.45pm. It was very cold and I still had that splitting headache. As things would have it, the driver called me to say he's going to pick me up at 3.20pm so lucky me, being already at the Notre Dame gates, I managed to catch this shurut for the airport. The shurut usually takes 10 people to and from the airport. I was the 2nd person so the driver had to drive around the whole of Jerusalem picking up other people - only 5 in all. By the time it reached the airport it was 5pm. And it started to rain - real rain, with thunder and lightening. It was the storm we were waiting for. Luckily I was nice and dry in the airport by then.

The Caveros had a bumpy ride because their plane came in at the height of the storm. But they arrived safely and happily. We drove straight to King David's hotel, by which time it was almost 8pm. I was very worried because I had to walk home in the storm without a raincoat or umbrella (1 and a half kms away). And my ankle still hurts quite badly. Luckily the driver was kind enough to send me all the way to Damascus gate, so I had a shorter distance to walk (about 15 minutes). Oh it was COLD! I think it was 4 degrees or less. And my headache stopped because the airport doctor gave me 2 paracetamols.

Today the sun is shining again and the storm has passed. Most of the students are on excursion to the Neghev desert south of Judah, towards Egypt. I'll be doing some studies in the morning and then later in the afternoon I'll go to visit the Caveros.

I was meaning to write about this but never got round to it - the muzzein who calls the muslims to prayer from the mosques. In summer the muzzein starts singing between 2am and 3am, but now that it's winter, he sings at 4am or 4.30am. It's pretty loud when the whole of Jerusalem is asleep. But they get the best singers at that time. The muzzein of the early morning has a beautiful voice and these few mornings I realised it's a new guy - very much better than the rest. It sounds mournful, and eerie as he recites verses from the Koran and then calls the muslims to wake up and pray - but it is very very beautiful. Only those of us who've lived here long enough can appreciate it. Most newcomers still find it irritating to be awaken so early in the morning. Mind you, our monastery is directly opposite the minaret where the loud speakers are attached - so when I say it's loud, believe me, it's loud. We have double windows but it doesn't stop the sound. But like I said, it's very nice to hear a good voice early in the morning. And to be fair, I'm sure the muslims find it irritating as well when all our church bells ring at once - and the bells in the Holy Sepulchre are huge. I guess that's why the friars in the Holy Sepulchre are changed frequently - otherwise they'll go deaf!

And Sr Geronima was late for Mass again ....... watch this space for the latest ........

It's raining!

Yes finally the long-awaited rains came. It started at about 4pm when I was cleaning out the sacristy garden. Just a few drops. Didn't disturb my work. But after dinner, Jobi (an Indian student, 2nd year, who likes watching Jackie Chan movies) and I went out to the terrace to see if it was still raining - and it was. Not rain as you know it - it's that silent type of rain I told you, you don't feel it but the ground is all wet - nothing like a fog or mist, mind you - it's too dry for that. But it became heavier throughout the night. This morning I opened the chapel doors and monastery gate (I was the first one this morning in the chapel) and found it was still raining - not heavy; you know the kind - too little to use an umbrella but enough to get you wet. The kids at the Omariyya School opposite our monastery are very noisy this morning - all excited over the rain. In fact they're giving me a headache - have to close my windows.

I had only 40 minutes to clean the sacristy garden yesterday not because of the rain but because it was getting very dark and cold. But managed to do quite alot. Then celebrated Mass at the Condemnation Chapel at 5.30pm. Yesterday we remembered all the dead franciscans - part of All Souls day, but for our Franciscan Order. This morning was the Presentation of Mary. Not a feastday, just a memorial.

I've been following the news of the Bangladeshi typhoon. It's terrible. And I've been thinking here I am moaning about not having a table or bed and there are the Bangladeshis with no homes or food. Time to shut up and be thankful for what I have. And of course all of you should also say a little prayer for them.

One of my professors directed me to check out the library catalogue of the Ecole Biblique (Dominican Bible institute here in jerusalem) regarding books for my thesis. Thought it shouldn't be much of a problem. Turned out the librarian keeps the catalogue on a shelf 10 feet up, and its 10 volumes. And the amount of books on my subject is so large, I think I'll have to take 3 days to go through them all. But of course knowing what books are available is only one side of the story - next is I have to get permission to use the Dominican library. Hmmmm not too keen to walk out of Damascus Gate to the Ecole in the rain. Will put it off for another day.

Am going to stay high and dry today - except later this evening when I go to the airport to pick up Daniel and Cecilia. Hope they're prepared for this cold, wet weather.

busy busy busy

Had a hectic afternoon yesterday and this morning. Yesterday I was at the Missionaries of Charity to give a bible talk from 3-4pm. They have a house near Damascus Gate, but they have no work. They only visit families and sometimes allow children to play in their little hall. Most of the time they're praying in the Holy Sepulchre nearby.

Rushed home to help Sr Veronica with the garden but she said it was too dark and there was another group coming for Mass - she has to prepare the chapel for them. So we'll do the garden today. Then I cleaned out the birdcage - cold and dark, at 5pm. Was exhausted by then. Managed to do some reading before I slept though. Was so tired I didn't know what was happening around me during dinner (which is at 8pm, pretty late considering we have lunch at 12.30pm) - total braindead. People were talking with me but I just couldn't understand. Switched off.

This morning I was running around to St. Saviour's Monastery, Telepace and the tailor. The wind was very cold and people were wearing thick woollen clothes. The rains didn't come becuase the west wind was too strong and blew all the clouds away. However everyone was saying (in this land everything goes by hearsay; unfortunately they take it as more important than the truth) it will rain by this evening or tomorrow. Some other parts of Israel had rain though, yesterday. But I doubt it'll rain today, the sky is bright and blue. And awefully dry.

I'll be doing some reading before going down to the sacristy garden to work. The sisters have Eucharistic adoration everyday from 2.45-3.45pm and recite the chaplet of mercy (remember they're St. Faustina's congregation, famous for their devotion to the Divine Mercy) so Sr. veronica will be free only after that. Sr Geronima was late for Mass yesterday morning and she knew I'd make fun of that, so everytime she saw me yesterday she started talking and talking so that I had no chance to say anything. Smart move. Penguins have brains!

Tomorrow Daniel and Cecilia Cavero are coming from Spain for a short visit. I'll go pick them up at the airport. But a Singapore group also arrived and called me because they wanted to see me one of these days. And someone else from HK has arrived and has generously agreed to carry some stuff for me, so I have to be at home waiting for him. Gosh this is a busy week - I'll have to juggle my time. But that's the good side isn't it? It means I've got my visa and I'm still around to meet them all! Jerusalem is going to be filled with familiar footsteps this week!!!!!!

maybe it'll rain.

Everyone is talking about rain - apparently the local news announced that the weather will change and it will rain again. That is good. I can see from my window that the weather is changing. It's colder, the sky is dark and birds are not around - a sure sign rain is coming. Hopefully the west wind won't blow the clouds away. We need rain desparately this year.

I'll have to give a 1 hr talk to the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa) this afternoon, then help Sr. Veronica with her garden (the one behind the sacristy) after that. And I still have to clean out the birdcage because yesterday i couldn't find the old newspapers.

Today is Fr Niccacci's feastday - but we're not sure if ther'es a saint called "Alviero". Anyway there's going to be a cake!!!! Little joys in a monastery. By the way St. Elizabeth of Hungary didn't get a cake last Saturday.

Anyway I'm still working out how to get the photos from my camera into the blog site. Some gadget is missing. Got to figure out what.

OK back to studies now - unless the rains come. I want to go to the terrace and see the Mt. of Olives in the rain.

pork and shrimps!!!!

Well I just got back from a 2 hour walk - just about 4 km. Started from Salahaddin Street where I helped Fr Carmelo buy his stuff. He and I arrived in Israel together in 1992; he was then a seminarian. Now he's my professor. From East Jerusalem I crossed the no-man's land into West Jerusalem, walked up Prophets' street where the Ethiopic Orthodox Church has its cathedral and school (besides many other buildings of course), turned left a side street and reached Ben Yehuda, the pedastrian mall. I had to buy a puncher because my notes could not be put in the files without first punching a hole. Also got a couple of plastic folders.And all that walking is killing my feet.

On my way back, I stopped by 3 pet shops. Thought of Rex and Regis. Wonder how they are. Anyway next to the pet shops I found a non-kosher shop selling pork, ham, bacon and sea-food. A packet of shelled/peeled shrimps cost HK$100 - 25 to 30 shrimps, medium size. Is that expensive? Need your advice here, ok? Also a large bottle of sesame oil is HK$88 and a small soya sauce is HK$24. Instant noodles single pack (smaller than the ones we get in HK) - 5 for HK$36. A can of sugar cane drink is HK$10. Give me an idea if its expensive compared to HK, please!

OK now its back to work.