So this is where im bound on October 3rd. If everything goes as planned, i'll arrive in Tel Aviv late thursday morning. Catch a shuttle to Jerusalem, and find my hostel. I then have a couple days to kill in Jerusalem to do the tourist thing. Should be interesting, the holiest sites in Judaism and Christianity and the third holiest site in Islam. Religion overload. THIS TIME ITS BIBLICAL!!!Once I get to Jerusalem, I give the International Solidarity Movement a call and they set me up with a training course in non-violent conflict negotiation. Once I've done the course, I head into the West Bank and my movements and accomodation are coordinated by the ISM. I'll be doing homestays with Palestinian families. I'm really looking forward to the interesting people I'll meet.
I dont think I'll have the chance to get into anything too heavy. I'm hoping it will be stuff like walking Palestinian kids to school to prevent settler violence. Helping the farmers work what little land they have left as they try to eek out a living. Maybe the odd Apartheid Wall protest. All the while avoiding tear gas and flash bang grenades. I can't even imagine what life is like under and occupation.
I feel like this trip is going to galvenize my activism at home. If we dont fight for every single freedom we have, they'll take it away. EVERYTHING we have here in North America came through struggle. If we don't stand up and stop the injustice at home, how can we claim to be doing it in places like Afghanistan. I dont understand how people can say "I'm apathetic when it comes to politics". Politics affects everything. Politics is everything.
The thing im the most worried about is the Israeli Border Control. I've heard they can be bastards. I've got my story and I'm sticking to it. Backpacking around Israel, ready to spend many Shekkels having a blast yet being very respectful.
Seeing my family and friends before I left was very important to me. They all mean so much to me and enrich my life so much. I look forward to coming back to see them and tell them all the stuff I got up to. This cause is extremely important to me and I'm thankful I've had lots of support leading up to the trip.
Hopefully the next blog comes to you from Jerusalem. The flight is looking good. Nine open seats in the front and I'm number two on the list. Wouldnt it be nice to start the trip sipping courvoisier. Man, the bourgeoisie know how drink.
