By: Chris Cly

The experience over the past two weeks has given me the best insight into the culture and society ‎of Palestine, far more than five years of university ever could. I have now a better understanding ‎of the people of Palestine – what they experience and suffer through colonization & ‎‎“confiscation” of their lands, the sight of the apartheid wall and the incursions of an occupying ‎army. Though I can never empathize as I have never experienced it and will be going back to ‎Scotland soon, I certainly have a better understanding and insight. ‎

The project has been a fantastic experience, the best $450 I have ever spent, and was ‎unbelievably fantastic value for money. The visits to Bethlehem, Hebron, Jerusalem, Kirbut Tana, ‎Al Aquaba village and Qalqilya city opened my eyes to what is really happening in Palestine. We ‎received lectures on the Apartheid Wall and what it represents and how the Israeli’s have ‎colonized parts of Palestine, the national dialogue and Arab culture. ‎

The workshop I led was English Conversation, it was not a teaching workshop in the traditional ‎sense just speaking and playing games that allowed people to practice speaking English in an ‎informal setting in the sun. Though there were varying level of abilities everyone took part and ‎made an effort. Over the course of the two week the group got larger and larger and larger. I can ‎honestly say I have enjoyed doing the workshops and would happily do them again.

The Israeli Army had a large and imposing presence in the area at this time, however we still ‎travelled to Hebron and other towns and villages in Palestine relatively unhindered. We were ‎stopped a couple of times and asked where we are from and after a few minutes were allowed to ‎carry on. On only one occasion we were not allowed to carry on and told to go in another ‎direction, and this was in Hebron which is a particularly odd place. Despite the unwelcome ‎presence of an occupying army and their actions against the Palestinians, they did not harass ‎myself or the group beyond checking passports and id’s. The presence of the Israeli army is clear ‎and visible throughout the country but they rarely interfered with the group.

The volunteers who escorted us around Palestine and between buildings were a fantastic ‎group of people, who despite the issues they face every day keep smiling and made us feel ‎very welcome and comfortable. We had about a dozen volunteers and they were all fantastic ‎friendly people. Wondering around town I was always told welcome to Palestine. People ‎would come up in the street and ask where I’m from and ask to take photos. Kids would ‎come up to me in the street and ask for a photo. The people in the shops and stalls were ‎helpful and everyone seems to know everyone else. I can honestly say it is the friendliest ‎place I have ever visited. I never received the slightest bit of bother from anyone. ‎

All in all I have met some fantastic new friends and my Facebook friends list has just got a lot ‎bigger. If anyone has any reservation about coming to Palestine, please put them to the side and ‎come to the country, it will be worth it and it’s not as scary as the western media makes it out to ‎be. It is a fantastic project, a great experience and one you will value for the rest of your life, I ‎know I will. I have every intention of coming back to Palestine in the near future and maybe will ‎bump into some of you in the future. Good luck and enjoy Palestine. ‎