Olives for Hope

November 5, 2011

Headed back to Ramallah we drove through heavy rain and a hail storm. I am finally back in the apartment. This bed never looked so inviting!

November 6, 2011

Met two friends in Jerusalem for lunch. Today the Muslim Eid holiday begins - I have never experienced the old city without crowds before. It is very eerie. Kind of proud of myself - had to haggle with the taxi driver that thought he would overcharge the tourist! (and I did it in Arabic).

November 4, 2011

Yesterday we picked olives with one of the fair trade association farmers. The sky broke open in the afternoon - a very cold down pour. The hotel tonight is a welcome chance for a hot shower and a nap before going to the harvest festival.

November 2, 2011

The family we stayed with last night have been so welcoming. After an amazing breakfast of taboon bread with egg, cheese and za'atar, we head to Jenin.

Cat Walking in Palestine - Journal 2011

I will use this space to post daily or semi-daily updates of my time in Palestine - daily life kind of stuff. The weekly blog will continue under the Reflections link.

November 1, 2011

On the way to Taybeh and Nablus today. The old city in Nablus is always fascinating. We stopped at the only remaining Turkish bath for a tour and then lunch at a cafe where the locals eat (the best places are), followed by Kanafe.

October 31,2011

It is Halloween and I got a trick and a treat. On the way to Ramallah, I ended up being the last passenger on the service (shared taxi). The driver (it seems) decided he didn't want to go all the way to the City and dropped me and my bag on the side of the road! Another service did stop, and then after haggling with a taxi in the city (they will try to charge way too much if they can)I made to the hotel and a nice h-o-t shower.

October 29, 2001

Luke and Rachel (volunteers) made mac and cheese tonight - a nice treat. We finally got the washer in the girls apartment working so I may actually have clean clothes to take to Jenin! Today I also received an invite to visit a Bedouin camp. That sounds very interesting.

October 28, 2011

It is looking more and more like it is unrealistic to think I can get to Eilaboun Sunday. Everyone that would help is out of town.

October 26, 2011

Still no water and now I am not feeling well. I shut the windows for the first time tonight. Mostly trying to block the howling of the wild dogs. It did rain for a little bit today.

October 25, 2011

I am certifiable! Majnooneh! Trying to get homework done plus get ready to be gone to Jenin next week and do everything I need to at the office! - must get on task! (and I still want to go north on Sunday....)

October 24, 2011

Trying to figure out how to get north on Sunday - I may have to rent a car. Maybe I can find another adventurous soul to share. We still don't have water and Luke is not feeling well.

October 23, 2011

The girls apartment has water! Was able to wash my hair and I feel better! On my way to the the other apartment the neighbor asked me for water, I don't think she believed me when I said we didn't have any. I brought her some on my way back :)

October 21, 2011

It was a full day of olive picking. The path was pretty steep and narrow - of course I took a tumble - not once, but twice (the second time because my sprained knee decided I was being unreasonable). They asked if I could walk - I said "I have to - I can't stay on the side of the mountain until my visa runs out!" The funny thing was, as I recuperated under an olive tree - I could check my email on my Kindle; but when I got home i could not take a much needed shower as there was no water! It certainly is a strange mix of 1st and 3rd world living....

October 20, 2011

Picking olives today in an area squeezed by settlements. The family made us an amazing lunch!

October 19 2011

Tried to find the post office in Jerusalem today. Very frustrating - terrible directions and the phone was not working. My new friend Abed got me to my friends home - my hero!

October 17, 2011

First day of olive picking. It looks like a decent harvest this year. Prisoners were released today - a parade went by my office. People will be up late tonight!

October 15, 2011

Went to Aida camp today.Lajee Center has done an amazing job cleaning up a rubbish dump and turning it into a beautiful park and community space. Now the land owner is hiking up the price on them.

October 14, 2011

Went grocery shopping today. The store is really trying to import the grocery store concept - they have have four shopping carts and even one car style cart for the kids! But holy cow 170 shekels for a fifth of Seagram's whiskey (about $47). Guess that is off the shopping list =)