August 13, 2003
Palestinian students gather for the Birzeit talent show.
Some of the students in our program have been working with the Birzeit student activities committee to prepare an event together at the end of our term. Marthame agreed to transform one of his funnier episodes learning Arabic into a short skit for the event.
The story goes like this: Marthame wanted to buy a garbage can, but didn't know the word for it. He assumed that, since people say "put it in the trash (zbaale)," that zbaale meant garbage can. So he went to Charlie's shop and asked to buy zbaale. Understandably, the shopkeeper was confused and amused.
After describing something plastic to put trash in, the shopkeeper said, "oh, you want plastic bags (kyaas)."
Marthame attempts to buy “zbaale” from Elizabeth (playing Im Charlie).
"OK, I want kyaas," he replied, assuming that kyaas was “garbage can”.
"Sorry, we don't have any. Go to Bassam's shop.”
On the way Marthame forgot the word kyaas, so when he got to Bassam's he said, "I want to buy zbaale."
"Take as much as you like for free," said a laughing Bassam.
Remembering the word kyaas, Marthame asked for those.
"Tall or short?"
"Tall, please."
When Bassam showed the plastic bags, Marthame was flustered. "No, I don't want kyaas, I want zbaale itself!"
"What?!"
"You know, something tall, plastic, black, which you put trash in."
Oh, you want a trash can (baramil)! We don't have any. Go to Charlie's."
The traditional Palestinian dance dabke.
It's a story that gets lots a laughs when we tell it here, so it was a good bet that it would go over well as a skit. At the last minute, however, our Charlie bagged, so Elizabeth stepped in as Im Charlie (Charlie's mother), with a real falahiyye accent (equivalent of "haawer yeeeew" for "how are you"). We got lots of laughs.
There was another skit, singing, violin playing, traditional Palestinian dabke dancing, and finally an open forum to discuss the political situation and students' roles in resisting occupation and building a nation.
Plaza Mall on the edge of Ramallah.
We left around four o'clock, and headed into Ramallah, to an appointment with the general manager of Plaza Mall, an enormous enterprise at the edge of town. We were impressed with the extent of the place. Usually not huge fans of malls, we did have to acknowledge that this project is aimed at not only making a profit for investors, but also at building an economic infrastructure for a fledgling nation, bringing wanted services and products, and creating jobs. We also had to appreciate the fact that we could find a variety of cheese and bread unlike most other places. They do carry Israeli products but highlight Palestinian ones with little "Made in Palestine" signs.
The Plaza Mall grocery store.
The whole enterprise is run by Sam Bahour, an Ohio-born Palestinian whom we have gotten to know through his periodic emails. He does a great job of describing the situation with humor and honesty and without resorting to being shrill - a skill that is needed. After an interesting discussion, we did a little shopping and headed back to Star Mountain.