My name is Olivia. I’m a nursing student from California. I came to Palestine to participate
in the intensive Arabic language program. I studied in Hebron 5 days a week for 3 weeks.
I came to Palestine knowing little more than the Arabic alphabet but now I’m leaving with
a solid foundation in many aspects of the language. I’ve built up tons of vocabulary and
developed enough of an understanding of Arabic grammar to read and write simple
paragraphs, as well as have short conversations with Palestinians.
My teachers Ibrahim and Marwa were wonderful! They incorporated many different
methods of teaching into their practice so that every day was a little different and always
stayed engaging. They were patient as I stumbled through learning new and unfamiliar
sounds, endlessly funny yet always respectful, and very open-minded and receptive to
my questions. The rest of the staff at the Center are really encouraging with the Arabic
students as well.
People were always greeting me in Arabic and willing to chat when I
wanted practice speaking. Three weeks is not a lot of time to learn any language, and
Arabic is a very rich language, so I plan to return to Palestine next year to continue my
studies. When I do so, I will definitely be returning to the Excellence Center.
While I was here I also participated in a few activities with other students and staff from
the Center. We received a tour of the Municipality of Hebron and got the opportunity to
ask questions about the City. We also went to see the village of Susya to learn about the
way of life and the people there. Their history and struggle was heartbreaking but
incredibly important for me to see. As a nursing student, I came with an interest in
learning about the Medical system in Palestine, so I also got the opportunity to shadow a
nurse at a Women’s clinic in Hebron for a day.
Even despite the language barrier I learned a ton in that day and was actually put to work helping to chart and take patient’s weights
and heights. I also got the chance to meet the families of many people who work at the
Center. The staff and teachers invited us all out for dinner, arguila, and walks through the
Old City frequently during my stay. Every meal was shared with warm people, hot tea, and
endless laughter.
I also learned how to cook a few Palestinian dishes with my host Marwa and her family. I
stayed in Marwa’s home for 3 weeks with another student from the program. Marwa was
so accommodating and made me feel at home with her family. We cooked together,
shopped together, and she helped me with my studies in the evenings. Some of my
favorite moments in Palestine were spent laughing with her in her home. She has a great
sense of humor, and she’s sharp, witty, and sassy! My notebook is full of little quips and
phrases that I learned from Marwa which got me joking around and teasing with the
locals quickly.
In addition to Hebron, I also traveled to Ramallah and Bethlehem on my weekends.
Traveling between cities was not too difficult for me and I never felt threatened or unsafe.
The presence of the IDF throughout Palestine is an undeniable reality, but traveling as a
foreigner and carrying an American passport, many of the daily obstacles that
Palestinians endure were not applicable to me. As I navigated through the cities, the
biggest threat I felt was potentially getting rained on. Back home I live in San Francisco,
and I can say with confidence that walking the streets of Hebron at night, especially H2,
or Bethlehem, or Ramallah actually felt safer than walking alone at night in my home city.
Overall, my experience in Palestine was beyond anything I could have expected or hoped
for. I have learned so much in my short stay here, and I have made life-long friends at the
Center who I plan to come back and visit as soon as possible
