February 25, 2003

Marthame caught the morning Arab bus from Shefa'amer to Nazareth. On the way, Elizabeth called - school was canceled in Zababdeh due to the unrelenting rain. Even the "good" roads (pretty rare things in the West Bank, other than settler roads) were flooded too deep for our buses from Jenin or Qabatia, and some kids even in Zababdeh were stuck at home, some without electricity. Even the road between the university and Zababdeh and the bordering wheat fields were submerged under a new lake. There's no doubt the road from Jalame to Zababdeh is impossible. A quick assessment of the situation suggested that staying in Nazareth an extra day was advisable. With the wet forecast of the next few days, though, it may be longer.

A quiet moment at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

With regional war looming, people are readying their gas masks.

Marthame paid an early morning visit to the Church of the Annunciation, which he had to himself (apart from the cleaning lady) before making his way to Jaffa-Nazareth to borrow a friends' couch for the night. He also got to help them try on their gas masks.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth gathered with the internationals at the University for a delicious supper and a conversation about contingency plans.