Ramallah, Anata, Jericho

It's been so long since my last post I don't know where to begin. I think this is the time for a list:

Lost in Ramallah (July 24 was my first time in Ramallah and we were greeted by the Qalandia Checkpoint on the way in and re-greeted on the way out).

I used my D-plus level Arabic to ask a woman on out bus whether there was a bigger road to Ramallah from Jerusalem than the one we were on (one that wound around parking lots and private homes and not paved in many areas). A logical question in most places, after all, Ramallah and Al Quds are only about 1/2 hour away from each other and they are two major cities. But no way, not here. Anyhow, you know the answer but my question opened a door and soon enough quite a few people on the bus were educating us about the Occupation (al Ikhtilal) and the Wall.

Then we arrived, and since we were 7 people we divided up, my buddies were Karin (my Italian roommate) and Salim (my Spanish historical opposite.. if you want to look at it that way). We got lost but we found Arafat's Tomb.

Earlier in the week, I follwed another Italian to observe a meeting between Israelis and Palestinians in Anata. We got lost and came home.

Yesterday, our teachers planned a trip to the Dead Sea and Jericho. But after Jericho, they tried to convince us to go swimming in a chlorinated swimming pool instead. A mini-uprising broke out and in the end, we lost and the teachers won. I guess the Palestinians are allowed to win a few battles. At least we didn't get lost.