29 July 2007
I have seen the wall several times now but only through the windows of a car. It's kind of still a surreal experience to stare out the square opening as the huge concrete monstrosity materializes. I have only ever traveled along it for a few moments before the car turns back onto another street. I have seen what exists on the other side of the wall yet when I am riding beneath it, it seems to block out everything. The graffiti scrawled on its lower stone pieces is surprisingly in English much of the time, the influence of the international presence. What does it mean for Palestinians to look out their windows and see English?In a way, it all doesn’t seem to exist yet. I can’t believe I am here. It seems like a dream I haven’t woken up from yet as I stare out the window and see the water tanks crowded onto the tops of the assorted houses. Ibrahim told me yesterday as we traveled out into Bethlehem to run errands that his house has been without water for 3 days and that many in the camp have been without water for longer...
I live in a small little room here on the second floor of Ibdaa; I share the room with Chris who was my Resident Advisor in Graduate School. There are 2 bunk beds in the room but it would be a stretch to put any more people in there. We have our own bathroom with a small shower. The window has bars over it, a massive curtain and looks out on one of the United Nations buildings in the area. I wake up every morning around 6 and bide my time till the restaurant opens at 9ish to go up and get a cup of coffee or tea with Abu Mashdee, the caretaker of the restaurant. The hours here vary but usually we end up with something going on till 1 or 2 in the morning.
Ibdaa won its semi-final basketball game today 103-91 I believe over Beit Jala. It looked like it was going to be an easy victory in the beginning since they were up by 11 after the first quarter but then they decided to stop playing defense and led by only 1 at half time. After an earful from Asam, the coach at half-time, the team came out and played very well in the second half, inciting the Ibdaa cheering squad that numbers around 50 usually to drum led chants and cheers. I have noticed that the referees don’t actually know the game. Some of the calls that they make drive the players and coaches mad. I had to restrain Asam from charging the referee after a terrible foul call on Yusef in the backcourt. Amazingly he didn’t get a technical foul.
The new week starts and with it comes my first real week of work. They gave me a week to settle in and though I have been antsy at times, it was important to try and settle my mind and body into this place. Monday night is the championship versus Al Amal, a team that has “avoided” playing Ibdaa for 4 years…