FEBRUARY 26, 2009
For the first time, my news may evoke a little envy from my PNG teaching buddies—they came around (we have no internet, no PA system, no method of communication except hand delivered slips—and remember it is up 2 levels from the office—more stairs than I can even count!) this afternoon and delivered a little message that said NO SCHOOL ON SATURDAY! So that means we have 3 days off—and we don’t have to go back until MONDAY! We were all hugging and laughing…like we had a real holiday! We usually all give quizzes on Saturday, so we had them prepared to give—so we were feeling really good because that means our plans were done for Monday too—UNTIL Ross came by and said we couldn’t give quizzes on Monday—the majority of the students will be back at AIS (American International School) to play in a big final tournament—basketball and soccer—and won’t get in until very late Sunday night… So after school, all the kids were coming by, “Miss…when is the test?” I said Tuesday—and they allllllllll began to object…No Miss…we have 2-3 or more other tests on Tuesday…TOO BAD! Now you have another one!
Three days off—and no wheels! I’m still hoping to go to Haifa Sunday with Chrissie—but she isn’t back from leading her tour yet. Hopefully, I’ll get to see Christine and Yousef—and maybe go to church with them Sunday night. If I do, I will get in late Sunday too—so all of us may be very tired Monday.
Tomorrow Kristen and I may venture in to the city—but we have to go early because everything starts to close about 2:00—and then isn’t even open on Saturday…everything is open early to late on Sunday…very different.
The reason they called off school: There are going to be strikes/ demonstrations by the Arabs on Saturday. I don’t know exactly where—but someplace in Jerusalem. The Israeli government has the authority to take homes and demolish them and build other homes for other people. Remember I told you about my friend Wally that I met in October on the Mount of Olives—there was a house by the side of the road that was in shambles—I asked about it…he said the owner (Arab) had tried for 6 years to get a permit to build it, and they never would give him one. So he built it anyway, and the first day it was done, the government destroyed it.
In this situation today, there are 80+ houses that are going to be demolished to form a new settlement for Jewish families. These houses legally belong to Arab families—but there is no law of eminent domain…like in the states when the government wants property for highways, etc., they pay the owner for the land. That isn’t what happens here…they tell the people to leave and find someplace else to live—and they give the land to Jewish families.
So there is going to be a big demonstration protesting this event. I don’t know if any of you remember one of my first blogs I was writing about the conversation between Shane (principal) and my 11th graders…it was during the Gaza War…and I was so taken by how well they expressed their feelings about living here…I remember hearing Zeina say, “They just don’t want us here—they tell us that all the time. They want us gone.” And it does seem that is true. What a way for young people to grow up.
I also learned today that two of my students Amir and Salim will be coming to Austin this summer to participate in some kind of international leadership conference. They will be staying at the Marriott, but I’m not sure where the conference will be. They will be there from June 22 until July 8…I am going to make every effort to go to Austin to see them…I’d love to bring a convoy of people to go meet them…so if you think you might be interested, let me know. They are just two of the most incredible kids you’d ever want to meet. I will tell you more about them when I get home, but I’d love to take some folks—young and old and go to Austin and meet them.
I appreciate hearing from so many of you very very much…I love knowing the stories of what is happening with you and your families…every email is a blessing. Thanks so much…I know it is trouble…my friend Pam Taylor even sent me a wonderfully long email that she had “thumbed on the Blackberry” because her internet was out! That’s a friend! I’ve had several say that they just didn’t have anything to say—not true…I wish I could find words to explain the stark disconnect that has happened to me—and to others who go on such an adventure as this. Anyway—I can tell you that every bit of news is wonderful—so thanks for writing any bit of news!
I even heard PNG has a new head football coach—and I was glad to know that bit of news! And Melissa sent me the news story about Jessie Burkle’s students getting Oxford American Dictionaries! That is just an incredible story.
Thanks for your prayers—for my family and Jerusalem School…I am looking forward to a few days at home in 11 days…but who’s counting? ME!
Love
Beth