6 October 2004 - Bethlehem
Well, it took a couple days and some calls/notes from friends, but I've recovered emotionally from the not-so-peaceful events surrounding the peaceful demonstration last week in Budrus. Things go at their own pace here. Unfortunately, this means that things I was hoping to accomplish this week will have to wait until next week. The penpals in Bethlehem are going to be with two schools (one boy's, one girl's) in the Ayda refugee camp. These schools are public/government schools and as we all know, where there is government, there is beauracracy. Turns out I need an official letter from some reputable organization that endorses/supports this penpal exchange. I'm working on getting that letter. The sister city meeting in Bethlehem is delayed until room appears in the mayor's schedule. Hopefully some time next week. The weekend here is actually 3 days - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday is the holy day of the Muslims, Saturday the Jews, and Sunday the Christians. I mention this because, last Friday when I was strolling around the old city, I noticed a huge amount of soldiers and police at the Muslim gates. There are always soldiers and police everywhere, but this was noteworthy because there were at least 100 at each of the Muslim gates. Only a handful at the other gates. The Israeli army's enormous presence at the Muslim gates on the Muslim holy day was yet another sign of harassment. Real classy. Earlier this week, I met some kids at the Alrowwad Cultural Center which is located in the Ayda refugee camp. Refugee camps are basically slums, but cleaner. People that live in a refugee camp have had their homes either stolen or destroyed by the occupying Israelis. Anyway, the cultural center is like a breath of fresh air here. Kids have a place to practice dance, art, song, and theater and just hang out with their friends. The cultural center's building is much like every other building in the camp with one big exception. There are murals and beautiful artwork on the walls inside, outside, and in the immediate surroundings. Pictures of scenes with trees, lakes, animals, and generally uplifting things. Very touching. Kids from this theatre troupe are planning to come to the states next summer for a month long tour assuming enough funds can be raised in the US to bring them over. Monday night I "slept" in the Ayda camp. People were talking and running around until at least midnight. At 4am, there was a call to prayer. This is where someone chants verses of the Koran over a loudspeaker. At 4am!! Throughout the night, I heard harsh voices from a moving loudspeaker. This was the Israeli army patrolling the camp and yelling things at all hours of the night. Turns out that a 17-year-old boy was arrested that night and his home was exploded from the inside. I didn't hear the explosion, thankfully. Not a memory I want imprinted. So, hopefully the penpals and sister city visits will be accomplished by the end of next week. After that is olive harvest. Still not sure where or if I'll be doing it. The original choices of Jenin, Tulkarum, and Nablus are way beyond the risk level that my body, mind, and spirit can accept. Some other locations (Salfit and Jayyus) are possibilities, though. I need to learn more before I decide. I've had ice cream just about every day that I've been here. Nice compliment to the fast food of falafel and shwerma (gyro) that I've been eating. Peace. Joe _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! hthttp://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/MknplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VTJP/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
