Thursday, March 15, 2007

To Stay in Nablus

So after what seemed to be a long mental process, but one which only lasted twenty four hours, I've decided to extend my stay here in Nablus. A few days past I was approached by Amideast with an opportunity to teach for them. At first I was only going to be teaching an SAT prep course, but then I was asked also to teach English, which I think will be more rewarding. Both courses will be challenging, but that's partially why I was attracted to the prospect of staying here in Nablus for longer. I'll be living here until May 12th at which point my visa will expire and it will be time for me to return to the U.S.

Throughout my decision making process I thought of reasons I should leave and reasons I should stay, naturally, and I came to the conclusion that leaving would be as a result of what I thought to be selfish reasons. The students here are without a teacher and I can in fact act in this role. This was the the largest influence upon my decision. Staying will give me the opportunity to learn more about the people, the land, and travails of everyday life for Palestinians here in the West Bank. I'm looking forward to the next two months here.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Good for you Jed. You know you are missed at home but I think it shows great courage and dedication for you to stay for another month. You are one of the most compassionate individuals I have ever met. I am very much looking forward to picking you up at the airport on May 12th to talk of your experiences. On the brighter side, May 12th is a Saturday and our night cap can turn into a night out instead. As always, watch out for yourself and be safe. We love you and miss you.