A local engineer shared our walk, talking about his nearly twenty years living, studying, and working in Texas and West Virginia. Like so many others, he returned to his homeland with the onset of Oslo, believing that finally peace and independence were on the way to Palestine. Now, he and his wife and kids are stuck here, with little work and little hope.
Read MoreEvery incursion brings some more destruction - sometimes it seems rather arbitrary, like the busted up pedestrian crossing sign. And every departure means more straightening up.
Read MoreWe were hoping to visit a student in Qabatiya who is moving back to Romania next week, but tanks parked on the road make our visit unlikely.
Read MoreAll eyes were on the skies and the constant flares fluttering off to the West. The Israeli army had re-entered Jenin and had also gone to the nearby village of Jaba. The talk in the streets was that they would come to Zababdeh tonight, but fear has a way of multiplying itself beyond reality.
Read MoreBecause of the Israel re-incursion into Jenin, the two busses from there and beyond (and the students and teachers therein) didn’t come. We continued with exams for the rest of the kids - the Jenin students will have to catch up when it opens up again.
Read MorePeople here are tired of the violence, tired of the coming and going of the Israeli army, tired of being unemployed and poor, tired of having no freedom of movement.
Read MoreWe shared some Damascus sweets and Iraqi dates with our fellow teachers who were both glad to see us and jealous of our mobility and ability to travel places they cannot go.
Read MoreThings are relatively peaceful now - news is much more about the World Cup than about the situation...
Read MoreWe encounter a lot of bemused security in this part of the world.
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Elizabeth headed off with a small group to look for rugs and gold in the Old City's markets.
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