The Weekend and Beyond

Last weekend was very relaxing for some and quite a lot of driving for others. As you've seen in the pictures that Scott has put up on the blog, a number of students headed to Petra, which was quite a trek. But, they all say it was worth the sights and adventures they experienced. The other contingent of students went to the Sea of Galilee and had a very relaxing and restful time on the shore and in the water. A small group of us stayed at the kibbutz and went swimming in the pool here on Saturday and then visited the Sahne Pools down the road on Sunday. They are a number of pools fed by natural springs, banked by grass, palm trees and other trees to make for a very refreshing afternoon pastime. We floated, we swam, and we sat by the side of the pool while the tiny fish nibbled our feet, relieving us of dead skin that needed sloughing off! Doesn't that sound inviting??!!

We are back into the excavation portion of our trip. Most of the students are enjoying it; others, not so much. It is very dirty and very labor-intensive. And some of us have not had the joy of discovery that others have had. There are definitely discoveries being made: intact small juglets, larger jars, loom weights galore, walls (as Scott has shown in his pictures), figurines, and one small mold of a figurine which was possibly used to make those figurines that have been found. But, it does take stamina and a willingness to endure great physical activity without much promise of any reward. So...yesterday I decided I'd rather stay in an air-conditioned room back at the kibbutz instead of sifting buckets of dirt, checking it for artifacts, and hauling the sifted dirt in wheelbarrows to the dumpsite. So, today I found myself sleeping in, having to show up at the excavation office at 8:00 a.m., working with others, tagging artifacts as they come in from the field and chatting amiably. It was great!

I will probably get one more blog out before we head to Tel Aviv on Saturday to fly home. This has truly been a trip of a lifetime. But, we are winding down and thinking of home and loved ones. Those are such wonderful words!

Shalom.

Bev