By: Sara, Portugal

I Sara from Portugal have been part of Zajel September Camp in Nablus. The interest in the Zajel project came as an opportunity to engage with the Palestinian community, getting to know their history, culture and way of life. Before coming, I never expected how much this experience would impact my perspective and ways of thinking. These two weeks here were filled with tours to different sights and villages, with time in the university and interaction with locals. We visited the Old City of Nablus and the Balata Refugee Camp; we spent one night in the desert with the Bedouins and watch the sunrise over the Dead Sea; we visited the cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah and Hebron. We’ve learned how people live, their life stories, their dreams and ambitions. Many different emotions emerged during this experience – sometimes joy or compassion, sometimes frustration and anger. The most unforgettable experience was the visit to Hebron. Overall, I have never felt so welcomed and safe, both by the local students and by the local Palestinian community. “Where are you from” and “You are welcome” were probably the things we’ve heard the most.