February 20, 2002 — Mudeif Productions

*The Latin School faculty and staff picnic.*

*Picking flowers in the hills above Zababdeh.*

Today was the last day of school before the Muslim feast of 'Eid al-Adha which marks the end of the Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca. School let out early so that the teachers could enjoy some fun and fellowship together. We headed off into the olive groves for a picnic. Eating kababs and Arabic salads, we played cards and told jokes until the coffee and tea were ready. Since the teachers are stretched so thin in the school (the average class load is 28 periods a week), it was a good chance to just visit with each other.

*All hands on deck, prepping salad for the picnic.*

The two of us then headed off to the Arab-American University of Jenin to meet up with the new teachers - four of them - and share a ride up to Nazareth. It's still a two taxi ride, which it was the first time we went there. The difference is that we used to take a taxi from Zababdeh to Jenin (fifteen minutes, 3 shekels) then Jenin across the Green Line to Nazareth (half an hour, 5 shekels). Now, the taxis head off the side road and then onto roads meant for tractors to travel to their fields. An hour and fifteen shekels each later, we arrived at the village of Jalame's gas station. That's as far as the Palestinian taxi is allowed to go. From there it's a short walk to the Israeli checkpoint. The bypass road is now bordered by guardrails, and the mark of tank treads (from the periodic incursions into Jenin) has made its permanent mark in the concrete. The soldiers are usually just bemused by the insane foreigners who are choosing to live in the West Bank, and we are usually given a superficial security check (passports, a question or two).

*Making our way across the Green Line on foot.*

*Tank treads scar the pavement leading out of Jenin.*

Our Zababdeh driver arranged for us to be picked up on the other side by an Arab Israeli who took us to our various destinations "inside" (as West Bankers refer to Israel) for 20 shekels each. We got a rental car for the holiday and met up with our usual stopping grounds in Jaffa-Nazareth, falling asleep to the sound of the festive 'Eid fireworks.