Family, friends and life in Ramallah

Despite the difficulties of life in a developing land, and one under military occupation no less, Ramallah is distinct in the depth and qualities of friendships here. Strangers quickly become friends and friends become lifelong mates. So many of the luxuries, comforts and simplicities of Western life are unattainable here; since there isn’t much else to life, people hold on to each other, and days revolve around meeting, socializing and sharing of oneself with friends and family.

That’s what I’ve been busy with, so I’m a moment now to share photos and blurbs about the last few days of getting settled and reacquainted. For starters, here’s me and my grandmother rolling stuffed grape leaves with meat and rice:

Produce and the most sophisticated coffee pot in the land

My DHL delivery of my travel documents should take another day or two max. In the meantime, I’m spending my days in Amman at my aunt and uncle’s apartment in a nice area of the city, where I was lucky enough to coincide with their visit from California and receive the generosity of a room and bathroom to myself. Being stuck in Amman could be much worse than spending time here with pretty much all the comforts of home and some fun relatives to laugh with at the inevitable oddities of international travel.

Besides watching CNN International on satellite television most of the day and night (with special pauses in the afternoon and late night to see how the US markets are opening and closing), I’ve been doing a bit of reading and writing, seeing relatives who drop by, eating many delicious meals variously assembled with rice, chicken and lamb, and going out produce shopping pretty much every day.

(I have photos of all of this stuff, but can’t seem to accomplish any file transfers on the internet signal I’m using here)

The repetitive produce shopping is what gives me the most pleasure.