With mixed emotions, I am back home in the US. My heart remains in Palestine, and I hope to return again soon. The kindness, warmth, and steadfastness of the Palestinian people I met reminds me what it is to be human - to care for others, to find joy, to seek freedom.
I have more stories to share, so I’ll continue to send Postcards, and I hope you’ll still want to read them. Here are links and brief descriptions of each Postcard so far, below.
Please reach out to me anytime - with questions, concerns, suggestions, or anything else. You can reply to any Postcard, or send an email to stern.nancy@gmail.com. I’ll be happy to hear from you.
1. First postcard from Palestine: About the Dead Sea in Jordan, and my travels across the King Hussein/Allenby/Dignity Bridge to the West Bank2. Scenes from Ramallah: Some of the beautiful food and other sights of the city, along with a description of segregated roads in the West Bank. Those strawberries are as delicious as they look.3. Lavender Boutique Hotel: A wonderful small hotel in Ramallah with a rich family history4. Why am I here?: I’ve come to Palestine to continue learning and to unlearn the mythology that I grew up with. I dedicate this trip to my family, who taught me that never again means never again for anyone.5. Do I feel safe?: Yes. Palestinian people are exceptionally kind and always available to help - which I saw whenever I was lost, which happened often6. Just a nice day: Enjoying myself at Coffee Lab and Nelson Mandela Square7. Gaza’s Riviera?: Local reactions to the orange man’s plans8. Haya: A story about a young woman from Jerusalem9. Majdal: Love in the West Bank10. The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music: Bringing music to Palestinians everywhere, with a special focus on the steadfast people of Gaza11. Defense and celebration of scholarship: Serving on the thesis committee for a master’s student at the Arab American University of Palestine12. The Palestinian Museum: This museum celebrates Palestinian culture - past, present, and future. The current very moving exhibition features works from Palestinian artists in Gaza.13. The Palestine Museum of Natural History: An oasis of hope under occupation; children and adults learn about and connect with the beauty and importance of the natural world14. Bethlehem: The separation wall (also known as the apartheid wall) snakes through the city, towering above streets and separating people from their own land, from neighbors and family members, from schools, and even from hospitals15. Easter in Bethlehem: I attended a beautiful and very moving service here in the birthplace of Jesus. From the pastor, Rev. Munther Isaac: “If Jesus were to be born today, he would be born under the rubble in Gaza.”16. Dinner with a family in Bethlehem: a lovely evening, with delicious Palestinian food, warm company, and eye-opening conversationThank you to everyone who has been reading along. My cat Zara is back home too, but she certainly misses being spoiled by Angela and Maureen in my absence!
Salaam,
Nancy
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