Blogs from West Bank, Israel, Middle East - page 9

En Territoire d'amitiés J'avoue que cet été nous ne savions pas vraiment à quoi nous attendre pour notre séjour à Jalazone. Deux données se corrélaient pour nous raviver un goût d'inconnu : nous arrivons pour l'entrée en mois de Ramadan et nous ne sommes plus deux mais trois, avec une française, chrétienne, dévoilée ... comment serions nous accueillis avec elle ... Nos petites inquiétudes, bien-sûr ont été dissipées dès notre arrivée sur la place centrale, on nous reconnait, on nous sourit joyeusement, on afflue des terrasses voisines pour nous saluer et nous mettre à l'aise, sans aucune gêne vis-vis de Cécile ... on se sent bien ridicule d'avoir imaginé que ça pourrait se passer différemment ! Rejoignant le centre pour enfant pour y retrouver Said, un de nos plus fidèle ami Inch'Allah, là-bas notre arrivée crée ... read more

I’m looking back on my past two months here in Nablus, and I am simply stunned by how quickly time passed. I look back on former doubts- I almost stayed in Canada, and then I almost got sent Back to Canada when I arrived- I have a hard time believing that I almost threw it all out the window. The minute I arrived in Nablus, I was completely embraced by the locals. The minute I arrived at the center, I was completely embraced by the staff. How to phrase this without going cliché or cheesy? I’m taking with me at least basic knowledge on how to research and prepare grant and project proposals. A much more in-depth understanding of the conflict here. Of conditions of life here. Some personal insights. A MUCH improved understanding of ... read more

So I woke up this morning, and took a service to work, as per the norm. The routine kind of subconsciously sinks in, making you feel incredibly settled and content. However, one should realize: Routine can be boring. Nablus, and the CSC for that matter, is far from boring. Thus, routine cannot exist in Nablus. To elaborate: I get into the center, and I’m met by the director’s daughter Fayrouz, who asks me if I ‘am coming, or not.’ Uh, I’m sorry, what? Well, I have learned that being completely unaware of what is happening sometimes leads to the best days. We show up, I get jazzed up in a CSC vest (very utilitarian chic, I might say), and I am left to my own devices while everyone is running around. I see: a bunch of ... read more

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

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