Page 2 of trippin out Travel Blog Posts


Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Ramallah July 20th 2009

I don't have time for a comprehensive entry right now, but let's leave it at the following: 1) I was in a parade. 2) my brother got here, and I'm realizing that the level of ridiculousness of our conversations has increased. or is, at least, well outside the norm 3) we have been massively busy 4) we went to Ramallah and went to a bar with a swimming pool in it 5) we picked up my friend from Cairo and came back for an event of gladiatorial proportions 6) I was on Palestinian National TV. and not in a flattering light. 7) I am leaving soon and am realizing that I have not, until now, needed to use the words 'sad' or 'cry' in Arabic. So. Epic. (I'm sorry for the flurry of entries that is ... read more
Mini Parade
The Weirdest

Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Nablus July 9th 2009

These are scant entries, but I'm mad busy with work here. Water Issues Among other things, the Israeli consumption of water is four to five times the Palestinian consumption rate. The settlements are seven to eight times the Palestinian consumption About 25% of the local communities go completely without water. I read a statistic the other day, saying that the average consumption among the Palestinians is 10-15 liters a day. That, I think was the average 5 years ago- I am realistic enough, and know enough about the situation now, to assume that it’s worse. In any case, 10-15? I originally thought: not so bad. (basita) I mean, I try and finish 2 litres of water a day, and that leaves me sloshing around back home (and still dehydrated here. People weren’t meant to live at ... read more
Fara'a Interrogation Center
Water Problems
Wadi Kana

Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Nablus July 5th 2009

I don’t know exactly how much everyone out there knows about the history of what are now the occupied Palestinian territories. Whew… let me think about this. The Palestinian issue is so freaking complex, how to summarize it? …it’s kind of like, well, you know how every Christmas (and this is a universal thing, ha), you excitedly unpack your decorations; only to find your string of lights is now a giant undecipherable ball of tangled mess? Poor analogy, but that’s kind of you can perceive this conflict. All of us who just finished the workshop are all on this high, but then we realize that we are all going to run into a brick wall. Really, really quickly. But back on topic. The Israeli-Palestinian issue has a lot of different facets which frustratingly complicate the issue. ... read more
Old City
Wadi Kana
Refugee Camp

Middle East July 5th 2009

I am exhausted, mentally spent, and extremely, and utterly salty. I went to the Dead Sea and Jericho this weekend. (I still cannot get over how CLOSE everything is here.) I’m having a hard time trying to remember everything that happened this weekend. So. One thing at a time. Jericho was cool. We made our way through Ramallah and checkpoints, making sure to take advantage and pick up some booze when we go the opportunity. It’s truly odd being in other cities here- seeing people in shirts that nearly expose their shoulders (Shock, I know!) and, being able to buy alcohol? Unbelievable. Haha. In any case, our first night in Jericho was fun, and effectively proved that my alcohol tolerance is truly and utterly low, and I was giggling wildly off of my half beer. This ... read more
Monastery of Temptation
C'mon Baby
Alicia Springs

Middle East July 1st 2009

(Preface: Enjoy the rarity of this nonpolitical entry while it lasts- I've been taking a lot of notes from the workshop I've been doing, and am ready to bombard you with tales of tear gas, torture, and tearing down the Apartheid wall!) This time I didn’t even try to take my camera out. See how I’m adjusting to Palestinian culture! And I held a full on (well, kind of) conversation with this Palestinian cab driver. Well, my mind was in the game, because I spent all night basically in Arabic. My friend Akram invited me to his sister’s graduation party. I’m picturing like a little gathering, or something… I really didn’t know. Turns out that it’s a full on party with allll the extended family, where the girl dresses up in like 7 different outfits (I ... read more

Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Nablus June 21st 2009

An unfortunate, but ubiquitous, part of any school experience is the classic bully-loser situation. Guys might steal lunches, topple books, and/or physically assault the poor victim. Girls refine it to an even greater degree: backstabbing, gossiping, and/or completely ostracizing a person for no discernible reason. The victim is either left to defend themselves, which, upon seeing the effect of their torture, probably goads the bully on. Or they can suffer in silence, counting the days until there’s some sort of spontaneous conscience formed by the aggressor, or simply wait until graduation. I think of this situation, and the sheer frustration that ensues, because of a friend of my roommates’ that unfortunately has entered my world. You think that we get over bullying after high school, but, as many could point out, that is most unequivocally untrue. ... read more

Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Nablus June 18th 2009

Leadership Training Institute - Proposed Schedule Date Morning (10:00am-12:00pm) Afternoon (1:00pm-4:00pm) 21,june2009 Introduction to the Summer Training Program Welcome event to get to know each other 22,june2009 Presentation: Contemporary Political Geography of Palestine Guided tour of the Old City of Nablus and discussion on the 2nd Palestinian Intifada 23,june2009 Presentation: West Bank Land and Water Issues Visit to the village of Beit Furik and discussion on the effects of Israeli settlement activity in the region 24,june2009 Presentation: Palestinian Political Prisoners Visit to al Fara’a Prison and a discussion on the 1st Palestinian Intifada 25,june2009 Presentation: Legal, Environmental and Economic Lenses of the Apartheid Wall Visit to the village of Na’aleen and discussion about the popular resistance to the Wall 28,june2009 Workshop: Inter-c... read more

Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Nablus June 18th 2009

Chapter 2: The Actual Marriage Welcome to the longest. entry. ever. Its 1230am, and I just came back from my first Palestinian wedding. Good style be damned, I’m just trying to retain every little thing about it. First, the clothes. Sparkles, sequins, shiny fabric of every kind, embroidery, and elaborate coiffures. Even the hijab were arranged into little flowers, or bunches, as if hair. Apparently it’s become quite an industry in itself! And the makeup. I think the bride’s actual face was halfway down there. Pink eyeshadow is du jour, or basically a LOT of whatever matches the clothes that you are wearing. Heavy kohl in the eye creases, and eyebrows plucked and drawn in even when completely unneeded. Hair bows, bands, clips, and everything. There was one cousin (among the MANY MANY) that was wearing ... read more
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Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Nablus June 17th 2009

To perhaps counteract my verbosity on the last one: I'm really beginning to hate the fact that, on this blog, you have to select 'Israel' as the country in order to access the 'West Bank' region tab. Stacey... read more

Middle East » Israel » West Bank » Nablus June 17th 2009

(I'm sorry for how insanely long winded I was on this one) Chapter 1: Relationships (or lack thereof) I’ve tried, numerous times, to try and do justice to the life of a young Palestinian here. It’s very difficult- I mean, there are so many positive aspects, but I feel like it must be seen and experienced to properly appreciate. The social problems of the West have been described, but aren’t really acknowledged as problems per se: divorce, abuse, drugs and alcohol, violent crimes. These are, well, the former more than the latter, seen as part and parcel with the relative freedom that comes from living in a ‘developed, democratic’ society. The West also has an interesting idea of what Muslim society is like. Their world is decidedly misogynist; women are oppressed, women that wear the hijab ... read more




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