Leesh inti hoon?
Why are you here? It is a rather complicated question to answer in Arabic, as I discovered during my first lesson in the language this week. It’s also a complicated question to answer in English, as I am slowly realizing through my struggles to find a place here at Hope Flowers School and Center in Bethlehem.
This was my first week ‘on the job’ so to speak. School began Monday and I followed around the English teachers for most of the time, observing classes and guaging what skill level the students are at. On Tuesday, they were short-staffed and asked me to stand in for classes without teachers. That was a riot! Literally. I could say nothing and some of the kids got quite out of hand when they discovered this. The day runs from about 8 until 1 but it is quite exhausting and requires a nap afterwards.
I live with the director of the school and center so it is convenient to ride with them every day. My flat is simple but nice, and I get my own room. There is another volunteer living there named Femke, from Holland, and she is very sweet. I am so glad to have another person to talk to at home. Hopefully I will get some pictures up eventually.
Monday I expect to meet with Ibrahim and find out more concretely what I will be able to do to assist them here. Besides the school for students in first through seventh grades, there is also a separate center to train teachers from many area schools in different things, like counseling, and working with learning difficulties. This is where Femke spends her time, and I’d like to help with that work also. At the moment, though, everything is up in the air.
The strain of adjusting to life in Palestine has taken its toll and now I have contracted a cold, which is no fun at all, but it is pretty typical of me (getting sick right away.) Some things are trying: like not having a microwave, or the internet, but most things are very pleasant: like picking pomegranates from the tree in the yard, and being able to walk to the store or to my tutor. Yesterday we went to Ramallah and I saw some Friends there. Today I’m going to learn how to get a bus from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Woo hoo!
