January 26, 2001 — Mudeif Productions

*The landscape is far greener than we had anticipated.*

*Elizabeth with the lush backdrop of Palestine behind her.*

*Our neighbor showing off some of Palestine’s greenery.*

A much-anticipated walk today. We have been meaning to wander around the new Arab-American University up on the hill, but every time we walk there, we're too tired to do any real exploring! Today we drove there with our neighbors and exhausted ourselves around the campus. Now is a wonderful time to see the land, if a bit nippy. Not unlike our impression of Ireland - green, wet, and rocky. Beautiful land anyway, but particularly now with all of the winter rain-induced greenery (did we mention it's green here now?). Wonderful views of many of the nearby villages - Zababdeh, Raba', Mesilya, 'Aqaba, Jalqamus...Those who own the land near the university have done some landscaping in an effort to woo professors and administrators to buy and build. There are groves of almond trees, bitter almonds with different grafts, rubber plants, olive trees, all growing here.