We came to the Valley of Peace with very little expectation for what this would be and what we would get out of it. Perhaps that is why we're leaving with so much. The memories and stories we've captured with photos and in our minds will become part of our history that we've already laughed about thinking of our 65 year old selves reminiscing about this summer of 2016 experience.
If anyone out there has an interest in workaway or can think of someone who would be interested, please remember this amazing place. Here is a list of the projects that we were able to accomplish from August 6th when we arrived until August 18th when we departed.
- Feeding cats/dog
- Watering date palms
- Picking/selling dates
- Creating order (tool shed, prayer room, kitchen, painting Mohammad's room pink)
- Weeding
- Roasting dates to make a date coffee
- Hosting musical event and bonfire (fueled by weeds)
- Making goat milk/date smoothies and dreaming up a brand name (Mary's Milk?)
- Speaking English to the Children of the Valley and brainstorming ways to make it official
- Researching information on date syrup manufacturing
- Updating web presence and writing this blog
- Immersing in the culture, history, and language of the land as a way of building cross cultural relationships and peace in the world which is arguably the most important ongoing project here.
Of course there are more project ideas to be born! All you need to do is sit with Mohammad under the sharing tree or on the roof with the starry night sky above and they will come.
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| Andreas and Mohammad at war...the kind for pacifists. |
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| Me loving the cats at every chance I could. |
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| Andreas rocking a cap that says architect in Arabic. |
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| Mohammad working his people connecting magic in his air conditioned room behind the taxi cafe. |
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| How to be happy...it starts with this pose. |
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| Another way to be happy is to get some cat love. This is our very good friend Scott who came all the way from Brooklyn to be with us for the last 6 days of our stay. |
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| Dates anyone? |
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| This is the taxi cafe and a nice community of taxi drivers who take people from Amman to the Palestine border everyday. |
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| The welcome sign to the farm |
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| Scott and Andreas prepare for the bonfire. |
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| Mohammad and his adorable son, Omar |
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| Scott playing Bridge Over Troubled Water on his melodica to prepare for the musical event project |
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| Scott and I are de-pitting dates for the Mary's Milk goat milk/date project. |
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| Mohammad doesn't own this tractor but it would be nice for us workers if he did. |
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| Andreas attempting to walk on water in the neighbor's fancy pool |
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| Goat herder's camp at sunset |
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| Some kids killing time in the town area of South Shuneh |
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| Scott putting his tennis skills to work on this dusty old rug |
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| Roasted dates (cooled) for the date coffee project |
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| The rooftop music event project with the most beautiful setting of over 35 people, delicious food, and simple lighting (which everyone loved and commented on despite it being just a string of compact fluorescent bulbs covered with paper bags) |
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| A red moon sets over Jerusalem with a beauty that cannot be captured with our little camera but the view has left a big impression on our hearts. Our love for the people here, the Palestinians who have been displaced and their stories will keep us hoping and doing what we can to restore peace in this region of the world. |
Many, many thanks to Mohammad for his unconditional love and generosity he showed us two strangers from another land. We got much more than we bargained for and we leave with a sadness of saying goodbye to a good friend. This place is certainly special and we wish all the best for its growth and continuation with great people and brilliant ideas.
So we're off to Madrid to see old friends. We'll be back in Brooklyn on September 15th. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the rest of your summer.
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