2 posts tagged “family”

i'm in jerusalem for the weekend. its just lovely here. or at least the bits and pieces that i have seen are. it is still one of the few cities that i have visited where i feel completely foreign and out of place. it was quite the interesting experience getting out of gaza - i will definitely have to post on that later - but right now i just wanted to reflect on the lovely evening that i spent in the ambassador garden restaurant. sitting outside is so nice. its such a treat, which is really a bit sad. but watching all of the families on eid was the best. seeing everyone all dressed up, and whole families just sitting and spending the evening together, its wonderful to see and something that you don't see enough of in so many other places - i myself am guilty of not aiding in this cause....

but seeing everyone together, enjoying themselves, eating, having milkshakes and ice cream sundaes and smoking arguilla. its so nice, and a bit comforting. it really reminded me of lebanon. and oddly enough, it felt like home. sitting there with my mezze and arguilla, watching everyone, out in the evening - which was taking on just the bite of the changing season - it felt so right. and comfortable. rather like home should. maybe you have to get completely lost and be alone to actually find what you need. wouldn't that be a nice surprise?

kula 'am w entum bagher!

Sometimes its easy to forget that we’re living in a war zone. Mostly because we – as internationals – don’t have to bear the brunt of it. Apparently there’s an IDF – a term which I have issue with and prefer to simply refer to as ‘Israeli forces’ – incursion in Beit Hanoun. This is not an uncommon occurance. Our major problem? Trying to ensure that all of the children can get home safely. This is a bit difficult when you have upwards of about 50 schools in the area, each with several hundred children in them. The knock-on effects you ask? What parent is able to function in their job if they know that their child is in a school which is the immediate vicinity of such an incursion (which will typically involve a variety of troops on the ground, tanks, bulldozers and IAF air support)? Just some food for thought I suppose.