The last few days have been another snapshot of some of the many realities that make up Israel/Palestine. The army experience was interesting to me I was listening to some of the young soldiers talk about how during the gulf war how they had to carry a box around with their air mask in it in case of a chemical attack. They told us how they use to put stickers on their boxes and had to carry it everywhere as they were only aged 9 and 11 back then. They use to paint them and make them look colourful.
As I looked around the army base it was a strange feeling. It was more like a school camp then an army base. Very casual. Young soldiers eating ice cream, flirting with each other and some were so small the gun they were carrying looked really out of place and way to big for them.
At the beginning of the session we were shown a film by a commander about terrorists. This was a bit more what I had imagined and it surprised me that it was not far from what I imagined it would be like. It really seemed a bit over the top to me but I also wondered if I had been that young girl growing up with my air mask and stories of fear could it just as easily be me standing as a soldier totally unaware of what this actually means to me especially at the age of 18.
Later that night I spoke with Einav who worked as an officer in the airforce she was explaining how much power you receive as a young person in the IDF but how young people are not really listened to when they are back in the civilian population. I enjoyed talking with Einav she was not apologising for who she was or what she is perceived to represents at the same time she acknowledges and accepts that Israel is injust in many ways and the complexities and issues are so deep and entrenched it is suffocating for all involved. Along with sharing this with us she took the time to show us her everyday reality she took the group to a friends party, showed us around telaviv and hung out with us at the beach. It is really difficult when you are hanging out casually with young Israeli people that are the same as the young people we saw on checkpoints. They are just like you and me faced with a different reality. Can we, can they as young people create a new one?
Saturday, October 17, 2009
What impact has YPMM had so far on participants??
When young people travel they often return home saying they had a "life changing experience" however it is always hard to pinpoint the moments that define change within us. Over the next few months the impact of this experience will be explored with the international participants and the local communities.
Here is one story that defines a moment that impacted positively on one of the international participants.
I am a marketing student back home and this year I am an intern with an organisation that mainly deals with image, creation and advertising. As a result I am required to talk alot of the time. Being a salesman (sort of) the idea is to sell the product but most of the time people don't actually buy the salt they buy the person so the person has to be good. I get involved in alot of films and events that often involve me ordering people around. I did alot of the talking
It had got to a point where I actually did a lot of hearing but less listening as I tuned out to what other people were talking about.
For the past ten days of YPMM I had been really listening to other people. I have understood a lot. But I also realised a change had occurred within me on the 7th October in a session that was run in the sports centre.
We did an exercise where we stuck some paper on our backs and everyone had to write something positive about our feelings or thoughts of each person on their sheet of paper.
When we were finished and I looked at the paper on my back someone had written. You are an ok guy but too quiet. Wow this was a first for me. I was shocked. When I thought about it I realised how true it was. I had been really quiet. Not because I was shy but the chance to get away and have some time out had been really significant for me. For the first time in a long time I had started to listen again. A meditation at the Tent of Nations also reinforced the fact that you can learn so much through silence and you do not just have to talk to communicate.
For me this signifies a personal growth I am tuning into people more often and having more meaningful conversations. I am learning to be in the moment and to understand and be comfortable in silence. I also feel people will understand me better when I talk because I am more clear on why I choose to talk when I do.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Our last day of YPMM, but the journey continues (October 16th)
Today started with a visit to a Gay and Lesbian organisation in the heart of Tel Aviv. It was situated within a beautiful park and our two hosts shared with us about the work the organisation does, including with young people. We also learnt that the centre is funded by the government and that the laws in Israel prevent any form of discrimination against people because of sexuality. It was sad for us to hear, however, of a hate crime that occurred in August where a gunman killed and wounded young gay and lesbian people at another centre in Tel Aviv. This incident showed us the importance of the support that the organisation we visited provides and the need for such organisations.
The afternoon was time for some free time and some hit the shops while others hit the beach. Walking around Tel Aviv was a culture shock for some of us, having been away from big cities for most of our time here.
And then this evening it was time for our final reflection and for the official goodbyes to start. What was evident in the reflection is the bond that has been created between us through our shared experiences on this journey. We need to keep reminding ourselves that this is just the beginning of a personal journey for each of us, and to continue supporting each other once we say goodbye tomorrow.
Everyone is now frantically packing their bags and sharing photos as the first group leave early in the morning. Rumour has it there will be one last game of ‘mafia’ at midnight tonight…
Tel Aviv Beach
Cherie leads us through our last reflection session
Einav talks to us about her experiences over dinner
The afternoon was time for some free time and some hit the shops while others hit the beach. Walking around Tel Aviv was a culture shock for some of us, having been away from big cities for most of our time here.
And then this evening it was time for our final reflection and for the official goodbyes to start. What was evident in the reflection is the bond that has been created between us through our shared experiences on this journey. We need to keep reminding ourselves that this is just the beginning of a personal journey for each of us, and to continue supporting each other once we say goodbye tomorrow.
Everyone is now frantically packing their bags and sharing photos as the first group leave early in the morning. Rumour has it there will be one last game of ‘mafia’ at midnight tonight…
Tel Aviv Beach
Cherie leads us through our last reflection session
Einav talks to us about her experiences over dinner
We’re in Tel Aviv! (October 15th)
This morning we left Nazareth and went to visit an Israeli army base near Tel Aviv. We were hosted by the Home Front Command, who explained to us how they protect and support civilians in different types of emergencies, including natural disasters and conflicts. Einav, a 2004 Action Partner had organised the visit for us and for people to show us around. We also bumped into Daniel, a 2007 Action Partner, while we were there (I think he possibly might have been tipped off about our visit?!).
From the army base we travelled on to Tel Aviv, where we are staying at a really cool hotel which features the work of different Israeli artists on each level. Our rooms even have coloured pencils in them in case we are feeling creative.
This evening we were hosted by the Australian Embassy, who organised a function and invited diplomats from other embassies in Israel. Cherie spoke to the group about OIYP and the YPMM program and Robson represented the participants and shared some of his personal experiences throughout the program. We also listened to presentations from the Australian Ambassador and the Egyptian Ambassador – both of whom were very enthusiastic about the program and inspired by the Action Partners they had spoken to.
After the function the night was still young so we ventured to the Harbour where Einav had organised dinner at a beachside restaurant with lots and lots of yummy food. Those of us who still had some energy left went to a party with Einav and her friends that was at an art gallery.
We have one more day all together tomorrow. Some of us are feeling a bit weird about going home and trying to explain to our family and friends about our experiences here. Hopefully this blog and the photos will help a little and we recognise that some things are difficult to explain – please be patient with us! :)
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Party at an art gallery
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Dinner by the beach
Mingling at the Australian Embassy
From the army base we travelled on to Tel Aviv, where we are staying at a really cool hotel which features the work of different Israeli artists on each level. Our rooms even have coloured pencils in them in case we are feeling creative.
This evening we were hosted by the Australian Embassy, who organised a function and invited diplomats from other embassies in Israel. Cherie spoke to the group about OIYP and the YPMM program and Robson represented the participants and shared some of his personal experiences throughout the program. We also listened to presentations from the Australian Ambassador and the Egyptian Ambassador – both of whom were very enthusiastic about the program and inspired by the Action Partners they had spoken to.
After the function the night was still young so we ventured to the Harbour where Einav had organised dinner at a beachside restaurant with lots and lots of yummy food. Those of us who still had some energy left went to a party with Einav and her friends that was at an art gallery.
We have one more day all together tomorrow. Some of us are feeling a bit weird about going home and trying to explain to our family and friends about our experiences here. Hopefully this blog and the photos will help a little and we recognise that some things are difficult to explain – please be patient with us! :)
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Party at an art gallery
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Dinner by the beach
Mingling at the Australian Embassy
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Where borders meet (14th October)
We spent most of our day today at Golan Heights, on the border of Israel, Syria and Lebanon. It felt kind of weird to look across over a hill and know that we were looking at a different country. It was crazy to learn how the people of Golan Heights, who consider themselves Syrian, are unable to cross over the valley we were looking at, into Syria. Many of them have family across the border that they are not able to visit. The area between the two ‘countries’ is full of land mines, as is much of the area in Golan Heights. You can be certain that we were very careful where we walked!!
From Golan Heights we travelled to the Sea of Galilee, where we had planned to go on a boat cruise. Unfortunately the boat company messed us around and we had to cancel. This allowed for some shopping time and time in the Old City of Nazareth.
We are having an early night tonight as we prepare for our last two days, which will be in Tel Aviv. Einav, a 2004 Action Partner, has planned lots of activities for us – should be interesting!
The Sea of Galilee
Mary, Mussa and Eric - picking apples
Looking at Syria across the border
Landmine sign
From Golan Heights we travelled to the Sea of Galilee, where we had planned to go on a boat cruise. Unfortunately the boat company messed us around and we had to cancel. This allowed for some shopping time and time in the Old City of Nazareth.
We are having an early night tonight as we prepare for our last two days, which will be in Tel Aviv. Einav, a 2004 Action Partner, has planned lots of activities for us – should be interesting!
The Sea of Galilee
Mary, Mussa and Eric - picking apples
Looking at Syria across the border
Landmine sign
Exploring diversity in Nazareth (13th October)
After saying goodbye to our Palestinian friends last night, most of us are feeling a bit flat and tired today. Normally our bus trips are filled with lots of chatter, but today most were taking the opportunity to catch up on some shut eye and there was definitely lots of energy missing from our group. We needed Mohsen to make us laugh or all of the Palestinian guys to break out in song at random times – their absence in our group was deeply felt today.
Our activities today included visiting a Kibbutz, where one of the community members shared how the members of the Kibbutz have worked together with their Arab neighbours and refused to engage in conflict with each other. We also had the opportunity to visit a miniature Nazareth, a replica of what it was like here 2000 years ago. In the afternoon, we visited a Suffi community, a form of Islam and also learned of the projects they are doing in the aim of creating peace.
We took some time out together tonight to reflect on where we are at and how we are feeling now that we have left Bethlehem. For many of us, it was hard to go back into ‘tourist’ mode today and not have the same opportunities for conversations that we have had in the last eight days. There is a lot for each of us to process and the prospect of explaining our experiences to our friends and family back home is going to be tough. Below, Mary shares how she is feeling and planning for when she returns home:
“After leaving the Palestinian friends, like most of us feeling so tired and so sad to leave the Palestinian friends. When we are in bus normally people won’t feel sleepy, but what i experience during our travel to Nazareth now is that all of us were feel sleepy. I think that all of us were missed our friends the Palestinians in Bethlehem.
And during our visit to Kibbutz, where their spoke man talked about how the life of the community’s people and I am so interest to hear that and he also talk about they were independent from Israel. Why i am interest to hear hem talking about their community, because like in my country we were also, and what he talk about is true, like in Solomon, there is no good Education. We are so lucky to have opportunities to visit Nazareth village, because we hear a lot from the Bible story and also in church that so amazing for me after 2000 years ago now. Later in the afternoon we visit the suffi community, one of their spoke man about the difference between the Islam and muslim people and he also talk about who their project work.
I think for me, when I return back home, I will try to stay in connect with each other, because it quite hard for me to access to email, it’s too expensive to check email in internet café. If people had a job with the computer they were lucky , because they will access to check email.”
PS. Having trouble uploading photos - will try again tomorrow.
Our activities today included visiting a Kibbutz, where one of the community members shared how the members of the Kibbutz have worked together with their Arab neighbours and refused to engage in conflict with each other. We also had the opportunity to visit a miniature Nazareth, a replica of what it was like here 2000 years ago. In the afternoon, we visited a Suffi community, a form of Islam and also learned of the projects they are doing in the aim of creating peace.
We took some time out together tonight to reflect on where we are at and how we are feeling now that we have left Bethlehem. For many of us, it was hard to go back into ‘tourist’ mode today and not have the same opportunities for conversations that we have had in the last eight days. There is a lot for each of us to process and the prospect of explaining our experiences to our friends and family back home is going to be tough. Below, Mary shares how she is feeling and planning for when she returns home:
“After leaving the Palestinian friends, like most of us feeling so tired and so sad to leave the Palestinian friends. When we are in bus normally people won’t feel sleepy, but what i experience during our travel to Nazareth now is that all of us were feel sleepy. I think that all of us were missed our friends the Palestinians in Bethlehem.
And during our visit to Kibbutz, where their spoke man talked about how the life of the community’s people and I am so interest to hear that and he also talk about they were independent from Israel. Why i am interest to hear hem talking about their community, because like in my country we were also, and what he talk about is true, like in Solomon, there is no good Education. We are so lucky to have opportunities to visit Nazareth village, because we hear a lot from the Bible story and also in church that so amazing for me after 2000 years ago now. Later in the afternoon we visit the suffi community, one of their spoke man about the difference between the Islam and muslim people and he also talk about who their project work.
I think for me, when I return back home, I will try to stay in connect with each other, because it quite hard for me to access to email, it’s too expensive to check email in internet café. If people had a job with the computer they were lucky , because they will access to check email.”
PS. Having trouble uploading photos - will try again tomorrow.
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