People

Regardless of being obnoxious Americans, the people of Jerusalem really like the BYU students! It is probably because we do such a good job of keeping the shopkeepers in business. They welcome us wherever we go and treat us like friends. There are a few faces in particular that I am sure every student will remember after they leave.

This is Shaban. All of the students go to him for most of their souvenirs. Every time we are in the Old City, and happen to walk by his shop, he invites us in for juice. "You don't drink coffee," he says, "so I give you juice instead!" Once he gave us hot pitas too. It is seldom that you find that kind of hospitality in the US! It is just part of the culture here.

This is Jimmy and his two boys- also very well known by the students. Olive wood is a really big thing in the Holy Land, and he sells all kinds of carvings. He assures us that he gives us the best student prices...then again so do all of the other shop keepers! We all visit his shop frequently though, because he is a good friend of ours. At the beginning of the semester, he even invited some of the students to brunch!

Aladdin is the money changer that all the students use. He is a funny old man who likes to tease us about being Mormon, but he really likes us. Opposite of the small counter where the workers exchange our money is a long wall filled with notes and wedding announcements from BYU students. He also has a "Book of Mormons" which is his book that he has all the Mormons sign when they visit him. He takes groups of students out for hummus every once in a while. We like Aladdin!

Raghad is a really sweet girl that I see often when I walk into the city. I think she is in 7th grade or something close to that. I met her at the beginning of the semester, and as soon as she found out that I was friends with students from the last semester who she met, she instantly became my friend. After I had only talked to her twice, she gave me a pair of earrings! Each time I see her, she gives me a great big hug and tells me she missed me. Just yesterday she gave me yet another gift- a woven bracelet with beads.