Do you have a joke?

Link to the teaser

Tonight we went to the French Culturel Centre in Jerusalem (and it was easy to find! - once we had found the address on the internet, which wasn't so easy, why write it on the poster for the event?) to watch a documentary with the titles "3endak nokta" in Arabic and "(No) laughing matter" in English. It's about a French woman traveling around Palestine to find and record examples of Palestinian humor, an idea she got while she stayed in the country learning Palestinian (after 3 years of Arabic studies in france). She was amazed that the Palestinians in their peculiar situation were still able to joke about it and about each other, and she wanted to show this to the rest of the world, who normally only hear about Palestine in the news connected to words like terrorist, suicidebomber, and extremists.

We laughed a lot, sometimes of "common" jokes about stupid people from Hebron (like we have molbo-historier in Denmark), sometimes because the situation in the joke was too absurd (e.g. involving and exploded bus with killed people as the setting), sometimes just because the people in the movie laughed. It was nice to see people find a way to cope with the situation - but still the French director managed to show the situation for the Palestinians, to show the context of the jokes.

A nice little movie, not too naïve, if you get a chance to see it, do it.

The role of Social Media in Palestine

I went to Ramallah tonight to join a discussion in the Danish House in Palestine about the role of social medias (facebook, tweeter, ...). Well, I mainly went to see the DHIP and to try to network with the people there - you never know, they might have some interesting projects!

To my surprise, it was actually easy to find; the hint "next to Falafel Abu Khalil" helped a lot. But only because I can read Arabic, as the falafel place only had its name written in Arabic. It also helped a lot that I met two Danish girls outside, trying to put up a poster about the event. Which wasn't easy in the fog, rain and wind (almost weather like a Danish spring-storm).

The discussion itself was no big revolution, but there were some nice inputs and I wrote down some things to check out when I got home (a comic made by some Israeli guys about some Arabic guys - which I haven't found, but then found other interesting things).

Our Jewish roommate was surprised to hear about the young Palestinians at the meeting suggested that the Palestinians should focus on reforming their own, internal structure (get rid of corruption in the PA, get a proper ready-to-take-over-if-we-get-a-state-apparatus) instead of always focusing on the occupation. We didn't really conclude anything, but some of the main figures in social media in Palestine met for the first time - and that might be a step on the way.

Jerusalem Studio School

I've always wanted to be able to draw and paint, but never taken my time to practise (I guess I don't have enough patience for it...). But, being here and taking a year of for pursuing my interests, I'm looking for drawing- and or painting classes. I found the Jerusalem Studio School online, and called to ask if I could attend a class and see if it wass something for me.

First challenge was to find the place. They hadn't written their address on their webpage (apparently, all the institutions I plan to visit have P.O.boxes, and therefore don't care to mention their physical location), and the lady in the telephone gave me the hints "it's close to the (something I forgot) Mall, in the building with the round windows, take the rightest elevetor to the floor number 5", and when I asked "Is it in Yad Harutzim street?", she answered "yes, closeto that." So I though I had it. But still spend 45 minutes finding the place, and not in the street I expected, and only because I had decided to walk in every building and take a closer look - cus nothing were written outside, or only in Hebrew. But I found it!

The class was an introduction to painting with oil colours - in Hebrew - and I had good talk with the teacher afterwards and a nice Norwegian guy (and we agreed it was good that the other one was not a Swede ;). So on monday I'll go and see their "drawing in daylight" class, and probably sign up for that and the painting one on tuesdays.

Hiking in Ein Gedi

We spend the second day of our little trip on hiking in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, leaving the bikes at the entrance.


We saw the David Waterfall (apparently David should have hidden there after fleeing from king Saul, the brouchure quotes Samuel I 23:29 - and then continues to say no archeological proofs of this have been found) together with other flocks of tourists, then walked of to the paths "for fit hikers only!", to the Dodim Cave, which is not the cave of doom (as we read it several times) but the Cave of the Lovers. The Wadi David (David's valley) in rich in water compared to many other places in the area, and with the Judean Desert just next to it, and we saw this in all the waterfalls and pools and dripping wet rocks hanging over us. Again, it was good we went here in the winter, cus already now it's hot [for a Dane], and we we're thankful for all the little clouds shading us.








Then on to a high point with great view over the Dead Sea, though still not the hight of the Desert Plateu (200m above sae level, which means 600m above the dead Sea), where we enjoyed the silence of the wild and could look down on ravens gliding far above the ground. We also saw the outlines of a 5000 years old Chalcolite temple up there, one of the earliest remnants found in Ein Gedi. Another old treasure is the "Oldest Synagoge" down from all the hills, with its marvelous mossaic floors.


We took the bus back to Jerusalem, luckily there were no problems in taking the bikes on the bus. The trip went too fast compared to our speed yesterday - but I was happy that I didn't have to bike up to Jerusalem. And also happy we biked the other way, and hence had the option to stop and enjoy the view.

Swimming in the Dead Sea!

...is impossible.
The water refuses to let you sink in deep enough to be able to make swimming stroke.

My legs were kicking in the air when I tried, and A tried to dive down (with goggles on!), but came laughing up, cus it was close to impossible. So we floated literally on the water, and could turn around as if on wobbly grass. It was a very curious experience.

The water was very greasy or oily to touch, and when I looked down in the water close to the shore where it was only some centimetres deep, it looked like when you pour acid or liquid soap into water; the same twisting patterns. But the bottom was covered with salt crystals, and I found some salt "stones" to bring home.

And it tastes horrible! No surprise. Except every times I got it in my mouth.
And the 33% salt in the water made my eyes water, when I accidentially splashed.
But it should be very good for the skin - so hopefully my acne have gotten the final stroke now!

Bike trip to Ein Gedi

Crazy Danes as we are, we decided to bike from Jerusalem to Ein Gedi (route on Google maps) along the shore of the Dead Sea on a small vacation, to get away from the city and enjoy some of the local nature in all her splendor.

We got up with the Sun and on the way. Highway actually, all the way from Jerusalem to the plane of Jericho. 27 km horisontal, 1000m vertical; from Jerusalem's 800m above Sea Level to the plane's 200m below Sea Level.

Jerusalem's surroundings were green, the morning air chilly. I was a bit surprised to see "shacks" in all their lasting temporariness of corrugated metal, and wondered if these were small refugee villages, and if the people living there really didn't have another option.

The road's declination varied from plain to steep, and we wheeled along at a great speed (thanks for good breaks!), but still had time to stop at sea level - a great tourist attraction (though without any souvenir sellers).

It was breathtaking to come out of the mountains and look at the flat, vast plane of Jericho (it might officially be called something else, but this is my name for it), finally see the Dead Sea sparkle in the sunlight, see the city of Jericho in the distance, and know that the next range of mountains must be Jordan.

The road along the Dead Sea offers a great view over the water, though a bit far away because the water level has decreased over the past years, due to less rainfall, more people using the water in the streams feeding the sea, and a block on one of the greater streams flowing from Jordan into the Dead Sea. Our roommate quoted some estimates saying that in 10 years it will only be Dead but no more Sea, if nothing is done to change this direction.

But it has left pools on the past-sea bottom with a great variety of colours due to all the minerals in the water. We could also marvel at the rocks and mountains on "our" side of the sea - as Danes we always find these big chunks of rock fascinating - and look to the distant and misty mountains of Jordan on the other side. And apparently we brought a bit of Danish weather [clouds], which cooled us nicely in the heat and made spectacular sceneries in the sky. Or was it Divine Presence here in the Holy Land?



It was a good ride, and I'm very proud of myself that I managed all 75km - though the first 30km downhill doesn't really count. The hills afterwards were challenging me, but I took my breaks when I needed and enjoyed the view while catching my breath again - and was happy that I got to know my bike and the gears, so I could climb as efficient as possible. We had forgotten sunblocker, so in the evening I looked like a Danish-coloured inverted panda (marks after my sunglasses), but thanks to moisturiser it doesn't hurt.

We came across some "desert street art" just after making the turn to road 90, but luckily we and our bikes didn't suffer a similar fate.

Next time we're going all the way to Masada (some 20km more), and/or making a longer stop in Qumran to see the Dead sea Scrolls Museum. But with the heat already it has to be latest in March!

First 3oud lesson

I had my first 3oud lesson today (the teacher was ill last week), and it went very well, though I had to borrow my teacher's rîsha [plectron] because I had forgotten to ask for one when I bought my 3oud. The teacher said I had a good way of holding my right hand on the neck, and showed me how to properly hold the rîsha, and I could hear the difference in sound at once.

I read some notes and played them the same time (luckily I avoided to sing them - but I might have to get used to singing before playing), we talked a bit about maqamat, and he instructed me how to make my own rîsha out of plastic cable ties (or those used by the police as handcuffs) by putting it in olive oil. Very important that it's olive oil. I aked why, and suggest myself it's because we're in Palestina, famous for its olives.

I enjoyed the lesson and the teacher seems very nice and skilled - I just don't like the time on late friday afternoon. Our roommate had invited us for "Kabbala Shabbat", Shabbat celebration with lots of music, but I couldn't attend because of my lesson. And later on, when we want to go on longer trips to see the country, it could be nice to leave friday morning (A's weekend from the university is friday and saturday), and return sunday (none of us have classes sunday, the first day of the week). So I'll ask to get another time. But then it has to be with another teacher, cus this one only teaches friday...

sa(K)Hlab

Our conditor roommate made sahlab tonight, and we got a taste! =)

SaHlab with the hard H in Arabic, which turns to kh (like German ach) in Hebrew; sakhlab.

It's a warm milky drink or pudding (depending on who makes it and how thick they like it), with cinnamon and pistaccio and lots of sugar (of course! we're in the Middle East). Normally it's whiter, but our roommate likes cacao (and so do we) and therefore added some.
Very tasty and very filling.

First lessons on ESNCM

Today I had my first lessons at the ESNCM. First one was "Maqamat 1", which is about the Arabic counterpart to scales. Here, the different maqâmât are thaught, their intervals, starting note, which two half-scales (ajnâs) they are build of, and their behavior (tasarruf). The behavior is the most important part, all the rest is just "facts". The music and the expertise lies in knowing how and when to use which maqâm, to know it's mood and colour.

After a longer break and a date with my dear husband, the next class was "Introduction to Oriental Music". This one teaches the different types of Arabic musical pieces, both the instrumental and the sung, the various rhythms (and there are many!), a bit about the instruments.

Classes started after the summer holidays, so I'm jumping in in the middle of things and these two were in Palestinian Arabic, so I don't understand everything. But enough to get invited by my girlish classmates on a trip "to find food", food as in cake.

Last class was Harmony with an Austrian teacher, so this was in English, and a bit more easy for me to follow. It is Western music theory and how to use it when composing.

After all this (and I'm a bit sad that all my three theory classes are on the same evening; I would like to come twice a week instead) I biked (! ^^) on to the Jerusalem Music Center for rehersal with the Israeli wind band, HarEl. Long day with lots of music!