Stumped

So I get called into the office the other day because apparently I have to go visit and Israeli Police detective. Yeah I know, sounds like a good time right. When we took our students on a field trip to the Herodian, some kids broke a couple lights. Now please realize, this country has just been through a war, faces constant security problems from within and without, not too mention the recent hullabaloo over the ramp that leads up to the Temple Mount and they send a detective to investigate the breaking of a couple light bulbs. I’m ticked at the kids too but come on does this sound a little over the top to anyone else?
So I went to the detective’s office with three of the other teachers from the field trip that day and Miss Grace. Mind you, for all of the stupid things I’ve done in my life this was the first time I’ve ever been called in for questioning by a police detective. I sit there and the detective says to me, “I’ve called you in here today because after your students left the Herodian the caretaker called to inform me that several lights had been broken.” Yes I understand that. “Did you see any of this happen” No, I’m sorry I didn’t. “Did you go down into the tunnels with your students” Yes I did. “And you didn’t see them break any lights?” No sir. “It happened in the tunnels…perhaps now you remember something?”… *Awkward Pause*… Nope, I still didn’t see anything. “Ok there’s something I haven’t told you yet.” Great, lay it on me big guy. (Ok I didn’t really say that.) “Something was also stolen that day: A 2000 year old tree stump.” Wow, ok, I’m pretty sure none of my students took that sir. I think I would have noticed that on the seat in the bus or protruding from some kids backpack. “So you didn’t see any of the students take the tree stump. The lights we can forgive, they are just light bulbs but this is antiquities we are talking about here.” I understand, No, I didn’t see anybody taking a tree stump. (Meanwhile I’m having two thoughts 1. what the heck would my kids want with a tree stump, even a 2000 year old one. 2. If this stump is such a national treasure why is sitting out in the open? Ok and I guess you could say there was a third thought too. 3. If these were Jewish kids would called their teacher in to the police station to talk about this? I doubt it.)
So I was feeling a little harassed. It was a tough day. There are some experiences that help you understand what it’s like to be Palestinian and this is one of them for me. Ultimately I knew I was walking out of there because I’m American and I knew I was relatively safe because Israel and the U.S. are on great terms. The Arab teachers who came with me though had no such guarantees. They were pretty nervous and rightly so. I got to see this incident through their eyes. They could be detained, questioned, beaten and who would say two words about it? Well, I would, but who would listen?

Nylon Stringed Magic

When I was in college, my roomate, Dan, played the guitar non-stop. As many of you know, not much has changed. I got a new roomate (who is much prettier if you ask me). But Dan still plays the guitar non-stop. I used to sit and listen and listen and listen to Dan's songs. Sometimes I felt like I knew the words better than he did. Sometimes I would sing along. Sometimes I would get so sick of hearing him play that stinking guitar. I mean seriously, how much can one person play the guitar? Dan and I were roomates for all 4 years of college. We were even roomates in Jerusalem for a semester. Some people never make it out of college still on speaking terms with their roomates. We did. Dan's was one of the hardest goodbye's I had to say when we came over here.
Dan's here now. He's staying up in Jerusalem. Tonight Mandy and I went out to dinner with Dan, our other friend, Hiromu, and Josh & Lauren. After dinner we went back to Josh & Lauren's apartment and Dan picked up a guitar. It wasn't quite as nice as his 1977 Guild that he's had since high school. It was just a little nylon stringed number that he borrowed from Josh & Lauren's neighbor. But man can Dan make those nylon strings sing. It made me laugh when I thought about those nights in college when I would get so sick of hearing him play that I would put my pillow over my head and go to sleep. Here we are some 4 years removed and I've been dying to hear him play his guitar. It was just one song but it made my night. Sometimes you don't realize what you've got until it's gone. Hearing Dan play tonight I was reminded of what a special gift his music is and how much it means to me.

Happy Birthday, Angelina

There are times when it’s hard not to take a step back and think, “Wow! This is really what my life has become!” This past weekend on Saturday afternoon was one of those times. Doug and I joined one of my students for her 10th birthday celebration at a Chuck-E-Cheese’s sort of place. As soon as we got there, we found ourselves wedged in between about 20 Arab children behind the cake table. They were all under the age of 10. While we sang “Happy Birthday” in Arabic to blaring music, there were many video cameras and other cameras in our faces, capturing the moment. I felt like a star, a bit embarrassed to be the only adults with all the kids. However, we just sang our lungs out with the rest of the children like we’d done it for years. (That’s much of what we do around here, pretend we know what we’re doing.) We even helped Angelina blow out her candles. I just kept thinking to myself, “Angelina is going to have this moment on tape for the rest of her life!” Yikes. Yet very cool because in a short amount of time we’ve become like family to them. I’ve got to tell ya: the rest of the afternoon was a blast, jumping in a moonwalk-type thing with a bunch of my students. It honestly doesn’t get much better than that.