update.

hey guys, i found out today that you should address letters to me like this:

Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies
Jenna Carson
P.O. Box 19604
Jerusalem, 91196 ISRAEL

Also, packages have to be sent to a different address:


Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies
Jenna Carson
Located on Mt. Scopus
Near Augusta Victoria Hospital
Jerusalem, 91196 ISRAEL

contact info.

I know I said I was going to keep my blog updated while in the Holy Land, but I've changed my mind for personal reasons.  Basically I'm just tired of the internet/social networking, so I'm choosing to remove it from my life for a while.  You can send me snail mail to this address:

P.O. Box 19604
Jerusalem, 91196 ISRAEL 

Letters take about two weeks to get there; packages take 3-4 weeks. 

I'll be home December 17th and I'm sure I'll have lots to blog about then. :)  I hope you all have an amazing next few months, filled with wonder and curiosity, adventure and courage, love and gratitude, and freedom to be whoever you want to be, with no reservations or regrets.  God bless!

Invictus.

William Ernest Henley

1849–1903

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

fohawk!

All summer I've been wanting to cut my hair short enough to do a fohawk, but I figured I should wait until AFTER the study abroad.  Wednesday night I had a hair appt scheduled just to do a regular cut and color before I leave, but that whole day I couldn't get that darn fohawk off my mind! I kept telling myself, "Don't do it, Jenna, don't do it!!!"  But I'm glad I didn't listen, because isn't it AMAZING?

angels.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the luckiest girl alive, because there are so many angels in my life!  All you family and friends who support and love me--thank you for being my "angels".  

I keep thinking how I hope I can give back as much as I have received from the people in this world.  There will be chaos throughout life, but there will always be good people to lean on.  Comforting, isn't it?  <3  

Frabjous day is on the way!

I'm leaving for my Jerusalem study abroad on Tuesday!  I'll be staying in the BYU Jerusalem Center until December 16th.


I *think* there are about 90 students going this semester.  We're all taking 15 credit hours.  Here are my classes:

Jerusalem Center Field Trips
Ancient Near Eastern Studies
New Testament Studies
Old Testament Studies
Arab and Islamic Civilization
Jewish Civilization
Intro to Arabic 

I'm not going to have my cell phone or be on facebook after Monday, but I will be updating this blog so you can see what I'm up to!  I'll be able to explore Israel, Jordan, and Egypt so hopefully there will be some really SWEET(!) posts coming up :) Shalom!

tablerock.

after living in idaho for 6 years, i still hadn't hiked tablerock!! soooo on wednesday, lyndi, krista, taletha, shayna, sammy, and i had a girls day and hiked it.  it was so fun!! we went up the face and down huckleberry trail.  look at this amazing view of the tetons :)

annie griffiths, photographer.

annie griffiths has spent years traveling the world while working for national geographic.  she's taken some of the most beautiful, emotional pictures i've ever seen.  i admire her work and i admire that she didn't let her career stop her from having a family.  what an inspiring, talented woman.  i'm in love with these photos: (see more of annie's work here)