Tuesday 12 August 2014 People and places at the Jerusalem Center

If you haven't guessed by now, our favorite part of our assignment here is the people we've gotten to know.  Below is Mohannd Qara'in  and Bashar, both are security staff and do everything and anything for us.  I tell them the two things I'm going to miss the most are them and the laundry where I can do four loads at once.

Tues. evening was the student farewell dinner at the Oasis.  From L to R: Brent Jones (who is taking John Clayton's assignment), Linda, Mary Beth Jones (replacing Jan Clayton as organist) Jan Clayton, and John Clayton.  We will miss the Claytons terribly.



After dinner we had a memories video night.  There were lots of happy memories captured in pictures.  They even did a separate slide show of the faculty and service couples and gave us each posters with notes from the students.

 

This is the hallway we walk to our offices.  Blaine's office is on the right and mine is on the left.



Bassam Abu Ghannam is one of the security men who have been here since the JC opened in 1987.  He told me once that his marriage had been arranged by his parents.  I asked him if he was happy and he said he is very happy and has 5 children.  He also said the JC is his life and he loves it here.
Since we came home, Bassam passed away.
 

Rana Hallek is one of the office managers.  She is so friendly and fun to be around. She has a quick smile and laugh and is a good friend.



Avital Channa  also is in the office.  She is a lawyer, has a great sense of style, has 2 children, is very efficient, and is a great help as well as dear friend.



Tawfic Alawi is assistant director and is who we directly report to.  He is very fun and easy to work with and you can always count on his support.  He handles all of our humanitarian work.

Blaine and Ranna



Blaine and Avital

 

Ghalib Nubani is the accountant.  He is very accurate and friendly. He likes beef boullion  and Mexican seasonings from the US.
 

Linda,  Blaine, and Ghalib



Our friends from the Ansari Library Association, Namati Ansari (next to Linda) brought a wedding invitation for her daughter and future son-in-law.  The invitation is one of the prettiest I've ever seen.  Her daughter met her to-be husband at her father's funeral 2 years ago.  He is her third cousin.  They are a darling couple and will come back to the JC on their wedding day for pictures.