Category Archives: Keith’s Sabbatical Blog

Friday, 2 September Five days without a blog post.  So now, a very long one!  Well, after all, this is a SABBATICAL! I am writing this as I sit in the concourse of Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.  I have … Continue reading →

Saturday, 27 August This is the last weekend of Ramadan. Excitement is at a high pitch as people make their final preparations for Eid Al-Fitr, the holiday of feasting. Either Monday or Tuesday night, insha-allah (God-willing) the first sliver of … Continue reading →

Thursday, August 25, 2011 Yesterday morning began with a sobering e-mail. The American Consulate sent a message to all Americans they knew to be travelling in Palestine/Israel. Diplomatic personnel were forbidden to be in the old city of Jerusalem, and … Continue reading →

23 August, 2011-08-23 Only a week to go. This time has flown by! And with only a week to go, suddenly there seems to be more that I want to do than there is time to do it. Tomorrow and … Continue reading →

Friday, 19 August, 1:00 a.m. Thursday happened with only 3 hours of sleep, because last night I did what most Palestinians do in Ramadan: I stayed up all night. Tonight, I am doing the same thing. There will also be … Continue reading →

Friday, 18 August, 2:00 a.m. I cried tonight. I left my flat after iftar to return to the University. The Palestine National Youth Orchestra was giving a concert, and I was invited by Alaa to attend. I caught a taxi. … Continue reading →

Monday, 15 August I cannot believe my time here is half over. Eid Il-Fitr, the feast to end the month of Ramadan, is only two weeks away. My days have settled into a comfortable routine of rising early, eating breakfast, … Continue reading →

18 August, 2011 I returned today to Nablus from Jerusalem (Al-Quds in Arabic) after a 48 hour visit. On Friday, I ventured into the old city just to walk around and take in some of the holy sites. I stopped … Continue reading →

Now past 10 days in the fasting.  I was told by some people that the first week is hardest, then the body gets into a rhythm.  It is true.  Though the last couple of hours without water is still trying, … Continue reading →

Monday, 8 August Today was my first day “teaching” at An-Najah University.  It was something of a bust.  First, my two years of Arabic classes have, in effect, given me the Arabic skills of about a 3 year old!  The … Continue reading →