September 14, 2000

Sitting outside to enjoy the cool evening air.

Our apartment building has become quite the ecumenical, international spot. The new Arab-American University that opens in October promises to bring in students from all over Palestine, and the administration and faculty are settling in to life in Zababdeh. Our building houses Americans, Palestinians, Germans, and Jordanians. Our landlord is a Pentecostal pastor, and some of the Americans are Utah Mormons. We knew life would be ecumenical and interfaith, but this...

It all brings an odd mix to this rural village - the SUVs share the same roads in town with the taxis, the tractors, and the donkeys.