The Laughlins

If you get our email list, then this entry will sound a bit familiar, but I am doing it on behalf of any slacker that did not check their email or respond to our initial list set-up!
Mark and I are having a great time here. I know that when Modern Hebrew classes start, Mark (especially) will feel the burden of needing to achieve in order to enter his program in Fall 06, but I think he will do fine. Come the end of the summer, I will also be in a position of needing to find work of some sort, so that will be another transition at that point as well.
Moving into a more immediate context - we did laundry yesterday, and it was the first time that something here was definitely more expensive than the US (about $15 for three loads of laundry). Everything else here has been very comparable to prices in the US (or cheaper). We talked to a girl named Or (means “light” in Hebrew) who was born in Israel, but has lived in Canada since she was six. It was fun to ask her questions (she goes to Hebrew U as well). After we walked to the laundromat and back home again, we then walked to the Aroma Café (on the Hebrew U campus) and met Crystal (my 2nd, 3rd, removed cousin of sorts) for lunch. I think we figured out that our connection was that her grandmother married my great grandfather after there were deaths of previous spouses on both sides. Anyways, we’re “cousins.”
She gave us a thorough tour of the campus, and we were able to purchase basic things we would need, including textbooks, binders, a copy card, a printer card, etc. All of this was very good to do before our registration (in a week), because apparently the lines are extremely long to buy things (since everyone is doing it at once). We were very thankful for all of her help. We took some pictures from some amazing lookout points around campus too (on our website). Since it is on Mt. Scopus, it is reputed to have some of the best views of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. We finished by reading at Aroma for a while, and then walking home.
So far, we have walked long distances on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. Mark wore his pedometer on two of those three days, and our respective distances were 7.5 miles and 8 miles (rounding down). The day that he didn’t wear it was at least a 6-8 mile-day as well. Needless to say, my feet have been a bit sore, and I have blisters and shin splints a bit. It sure does feel good to be exercising though ☺
Below you will find a variety of pictures from our Hebrew U tour of sorts. All of the city overlook pictures (except for two) and the synagogue pictures are taken from the Hecht Synagogue on the Hebrew U campus. The other two overlooks are from the Hebrew U amphitheater. On a clear day, you can see past the desert, all the way to the Dead Sea from this location.
The best time to Skype with us is from 6am-noon or 9pm-11pm (Pacific Standard Time). Since there is a ten-hour difference, this is basically from 4pm-10pm and 7am-9am our time. We may not be on that whole time since classes will start soon and our schedule may change a bit, but try and give us a call!