Palestinian Culture and a Tough Goodbye

Palestinian Culture and a Tough Goodbye
[June 20, 2006]

We began our morning by cleaning the Orthodox Christian cemetery in Beit Jala. The scouts met up with us bringing brooms and garden tools. We worked hard while creating fellowship between the Palestinian community and American community. Even through the heat of the sun, we found time to enjoy ourselves by singing Christian songs and watching Karen dance the cha cha slide.

After the strenuous but fun work, we left to hang out with the scouts. Some of us sat and talked with them while others of us were humiliated in ping pong. We then went back to our rooms to clean up. Later that night, we had a taste of Palestinian culture. The scouts danced the debka for us and Lindsey and I sang songs in Arabic. The scouts also played Middle Eastern instruments and sang different songs for us, including their "scout song." After their song, they presented us with calendars with pictures of the troop, a CD of the scouts playing bagpipes, and a CD of Arabic music for Easter. They were so gracious and giving, even when it seemed like they didn't have much to give.

That evening, we also went out to eat at The Tent, a restaurant in Beit Sahour near Shepherd's Field. The relationships we built with the scouts grew stronger through each conversation, meal, or game that we played. It was very hard to leave them at the end of the night, but many exchanged e-mail addresses to continue the friendship overseas. -Katie