edyer's blog

[written by participant 'Schway']:

So I know I have not written in a while, my bad. Well this whole conflict is bad. I mean seriously, living and learning here changes things. I have been processing much of my experience in the last week. My perspective has changed a bit since my last post. It is difficult to explain the emotional and academic experience that has become a vital part of my journey here. But I will start with the trip we took to Hebron.

Hebron

[an article published on PNN by participant 'Schway'. Original article here: http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10329&Itemid=63]

[a post by participant AA]:

On the 3rd of July, PSE went to Hebron. It is the epitome of the occupation, of the apartheid system, of the hate that can be regenerated and encouraged.

After the intensity of Hebron, PSE had the final two private lectures with Mark Braverman, covering the importance of theology and where to from here.

The past week was a mix of emotion and placement. The first place was of beauty.

We went by bus through Beit Jala and across one of the Israeli roads that cut across the West Bank to get to the ancient village of Battir. It is a little piece of heaven, and a place under threat. To get a small sense of what it is like here, I found a great Youtube clip:

Our first group for the summer arrived in trickles and finally descended upon the little town of Bethlehem in time to orient to their adopted home for one, two or three months. The participants in this session hail from across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. They are students, professionals, ex pats and even include a retiree. They are living with families in Bethlehem, Beit Jala and in Beit Sahour, and have been exposed to the primacy of food here!