The Land of Living Stones

Today has been a very educational experience, all of my insight coming from outside of work. First, though, I should note that I was able to put some photos up on Facebook, but I don’t know yet if I can put them on this site. Everyone can see my photos here. They depict some things from orientation in Pennsylvania, from Jerusalem, and a few sights in Bethlehem. Unfortunately, the most important aspects of life are the hardest to capture on camera, because it is silly and perhaps rude to take pictures of my ordinary day, and I feel like it is a bad idea to post photos of Palestinians who could be endangered by the exposure. Stay tuned, and more will come.

The best ones I’ve got so far involve our trip to the tourist site Hezekiah’s Tunnel (accessed through Warren’s Shaft) in the City of David, Jerusalem. This is a favorite spot for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF soldiers) to visit as well as Christians and Jews from around the world. It’s a small, deep cavern with a lot of water along the bottom that was dug way back in the day. Pretty cool, really. I went with fellow SALTer Peter, a Lutheran intern Tyler, another American working in Bethlehem Anna, and the daughters of the MCC Jerusalem Representatives.

So, on the subject of today. After class I went home to wait for the mechanic who might fix our washer. He did not come (or couldn’t find us). This means maybe he’ll come tomorrow, or maybe not. This is a part of society that is frustrating for those of us used to immediate service and certain luxuries, like washing machines. But I felt ashamed of my impatience later on when I went to my Arabic lesson at the Bethlehem Bible College. My studies were interrupted by a loud commotion outside. When we investigated, I saw angry crowds on the streets outside, demonstrating and burning garbage in the dumpsters. Palestinian police were working to dispel the people brandishing batons and guns. This scene was a bit unnerving and I asked my teacher what was going on. She said “they are protesting because we don’t have water.” For weeks, many families in the area have been going without running water because there is a really bad shortage. They cannot buy enough from Israel, and there are a lot of political issues involved with water rights. But it was enough to remind me that there are a lot of bigger problems in the area than my lack of a washer.

After class I broke the Ramadan fast (I was not fasting) with Ibrahim and his extended family that all lives in close proximity. Tasty dinner and great dessert. The company was very fun and I love to play with all the kids. They are teaching me about Arabic and about culture here. Ibrahim’s sister-in-law who lives downstairs gave me an interesting perspective on women and the veil, saying that she thinks it should be and mostly is an issue of personal preference or familial desire. She did not grow up wearing it, but decided to don a headcover about two years ago. Yet she realizes that in many places, including Hebron, this is a standard expectation of all women starting in middle school. She said her reasoning was to develop a closer relationship with God, and not any outside pressure.

I have really enjoyed beginning to develop these relationships with the people around me and I have great hope that these will continue to grow throughout the year. As always, keep in touch and feel free to ask about other things I didn’t mention.

Today I have found the most astonishing chocolate bar. Its secret? It’s filled with pop rocks candy, so the milk chocolate will, literally, explode in your mouth. There are a lot of inappropriate remarks I could make about this phenomenon, but I will let you wonder about this popular Israeli confection that is sold around the Palestinian territories. Interestingly, this is not the first time that I have encountered this surprising tingling sensation on my tastebuds here. In Jerusalem, I tried a delicious ice-cream pop (the ones on sticks, widely available here) shaped like a star with a candy coating filled with sherbet. And…you guessed it! Every bite included some popping candy to overload the senses. I think this is one of my favorite new food discoveries so far.

On Thursday I met up with some friends I met here last year who are also from the States, Eastern University students. It is great to have them around, and I’m sure we will have some good times. The internationals I’ve met in Bethlehem are very friendly and helpful. I’ve even encountered a few English speakers in need of assistance. I am not too useful yet, but I am proud to be more familiar with the area than the tourists! Hopefully I’ll learn my Arabic well and learn more about getting around so that people who come to visit will have a decent tour guide

Tomorrow is church: I attend the Lutheran Redeemer Church in the Old City Christian Quarter, Jerusalem. They’re having a special commissioning for us Americans from many organizations who’ve arrived for the year. Because of the time change, I’ll have to get up at like 6:30 so we can get there by Israeli start time. I really, really enjoy this congregation of like-minded service workers who gather at different things during the week, and I wish I could get there more–to hang out with the Jerusalemites. There are also good people in Bethlehem, so I will be glad to get to know them better.

Please keep communicating with me: emails, letters, etc!