Extra Long

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
Mark Twain
So yesterday we went back to Ramallah. There we met with the students from Genin that we had met on the Islamic tour. The group from the US made a power point about our trip with the students from Genin made a power point about RI-SOL. Then as a combined group we watched a presentation from the organization Right to Education. It was basically talking about how the universities in the West Bank are having a hard time teaching their students because of the interference from the Israeli Government. Whether it be because of blockades, or shutting down the schools, things like that. Then we had a presentation from Al-Huq, a human rights organization.
Then it was back to Jerusalem to have our final Dabka lesson. That was really fun because Lemise, sorry if I spelt that wrong, came with us. We had a lot of laughs at ourselves because we messed up. But they tell us our final performance was really good so that's all that matters right? Oh and Audrey didn't learn with us because she totally fell asleep on the couch for most of the time. That was funny.
Then we probably did some more stuff with Lemise but I totally can't remember. Sorry.
Then we went back to the hotel and work on performing our power point. Then it was back to the host families. When we went to our bedroom Kathlene and I found T-shirts that say "Someone in Jerusalem loves Me" and a ceramic plate on our beds. Our host family is absolutely wonderful! For dinner we wanted pizza so Muna, Kathlene and I went to the pizza place on the corner, well the Yummy corner is on the corner the pizza place is right next to it. While we were waiting for our pizzas to finish cooking Yasmine showed up because she was getting pizza too. So Muna invited her back to the house to eat dinner with us. That was a great meal. Then Yasmine left and Kathlene and I finished packing.
Today was we were to meet the group from Genin at the US consulate to give our power point presentations. The only problem was that the soldiers at the checkpoint decided not to let them through. So they had to go to a different one and wait there for three hours before finally getting through.
Meanwhile at the consulate our group gave our power point to about 6 people. But it went really, really well. Even if I do talk with my hands to much. Something that comes from taking American Sign Language for four years I guess.
We had lunch and then it was off to Arabic class. At this point the students from Genin were through the checkpoint and on their way to Jerusalm, so Devina, I think I got it right this time, went to meet them. Arabic was only 2 hours today, thankfully. Then after class we were walking back to the hotel when we saw Audrey's aunt, uncle, and cousin. We talked for a bit and then said our goodbyes. We then met the Genin students at the hotel and went to the old city. We went by Shaban's to see if our rings were done, they wern't, but we saw BYU students there and Audrey's aunt, uncle, and cousins again. One of the students that was there grew up in the same neighborhood as Audrey, her family, and I so we got a group picture to commemorate the largest gathering of the Oak Hills 2nd Ward that has probably ever happened in Jerusalem. Ha ha. Then we went walking around the old city. Nadia stopped in this one shop and took forever! She was getting us presents even though she knows she didn't have too. Then we went to this hotel/restaurant by our hotel and had a farewell dinner/dessert thingy. Nadia gave us our presents but in an awesome way. Each gift was wrapped in wrapping paper and it had an often used word/phrase by one of the members of the group and we had to guess who it was. For Josh it was Sah, Adam I don't Know, Yasmine It's for the baby, Audrey (I don't remember hers), Kathlene Naadddiiiiaaa, and myself Bumzah. It was great. The actual present was an amazing wooden box and then some Palestine paraphernalia. My favorite was a bracelet of the Palestinian flag. A girl at Al-Nayzak had one and I had been meaning to buy one in the markets but hadn't. It's a good thing too.
Then we had a wonderful time at the dinner. Then after Kathlene and I went to a wedding at the hotel with our host family. Nadia and Yasmine showed up late. There was dancing and giant sparklers and really loud music. It was fun.
Then back to the house and for some reason I was charged with printing the boarding passes for tomorrow. Heaven knows why. Anyway so I printed Audrey's with no problem. Yasmine's was being difficult and I was about to print the students when the power went off. It came back on and then when I was about to log back in to continental it went off again. Apparently the house does not want me to leave. Ha ha. Actually it was just because the big oven was on at night or something like that.
So I printed the students boarding passes after grief with the printer but Yamine's still won't. Hopefully it will work in the morning, if not we are leaving extra early so we will hopefully have time.
Well that's it. I can't believe this trip is almost over. Three weeks has gone bye so fast. It seems just like yesterday I was saying goodbye to everyone back home. Now I have to saw goodbye to all the wonderful people here. It's so sad. But hopefully I'll be back soon. Hopefully.