i've been in Gaza for a week now, well like 10 days. seems alot longer.
the idea of doing a chronological list of what i've done does not appeal 'cos it seems like so much has happened.
Settled into the apartment and all, the food here is great. no bowel problems of note yet mom. Finished up the exams for the streaming of my English classes so next week (monday) they will start divide into 2 levels.
My Ararbic is still really weak, gotta sort out a tutor. I can do taxi talk, as in I know my address, hello, goodbye, thank you etc.
I've met so many people here, struggling with all of the names, looking to join a football team. There are loads of oppertunities to help here which is cool. Visited a refugee camp just south of Gaza city, pretty extreme stuff. Conditions are so harsh, huge extended families crammed into tiny hut/houses, loads of them have huge holes for windows and it is so cold here at night.
Starting to get my head around the flags here, they really love their flags, the green of Hamas, the yellow of Fatah, and the black of Islamic Jihad. Every house has one.
Story of the week has to be my encounter with the Palestinian special forces. I guess this is not really a blog story but i leave you with this advice,
if you ever visit a politically volatile country and you happen to live in an apartment block overlooking the presidents house,
do not, i repeat DO NOT stand on your balcony and take pictures (at night with a flash) of the president and his 100 or so security personel arriving at his house.
They will get upset.
They suspect you of being a sniper.
They will be very nice and polite but insist you come with them to the top security central intelligence building some questions and coffee.
They will confiscate your camera and delete your photos.
I found out the next day that the laser from the auto-focus on my camera really upset them. They radioed for permission to shoot.
They didn't get it.
All's well that ends well I guess.
