Part 2-Bethlehem

Ok, it's a new day, I'm slightly refreshened from sleeping, and I have time to kill b/f breakfast, so I guess I'll finish blogging on yesterday's activities. Our first stop in Bethlehem was the International Center to meet Mitri Raheb, the author of "Bethlehem Beseiged," one of the books we had to read. We got to talk with him for a little over an hour. I truly appreciate and admire all the work he is doing for the Palestinian people in Bethlehem, but as with any time we speak to someone so invested in one side of the issue, we get only a one sided answer, a more simplistic view. Don't get me wrong, we've witnessed a lot of the unfairness the Palestinians have to endure, both in Israel proper and especially here in the West Bank, but in my experience, I always find that things are not that one-sided.

I'm always slightly disappointed when people I see a great human rights activists and advocators of equality use such non-inclusive language. I guess I just always expect more from them since they are so interested in people being treated the same. When I hear people like Mitri Raheb or MLK Jr speaking, or read what they wrote, I hold them to a higher standard b/c in my mind, if you're for equal rights, how can you alienate a portion of the population. Now I know that people have their own social, cultural, etc. frameworks which influence their thinking, and I am sure that while I an conscious of inclusive language, there is some other issue that ignore. I realize this, I just want those people I admire to realize that as well.

Ok, now it's time to talk about why some of us, myself included, were Debbie Downers last night. After meeting with Mitri, we walked to our hotel. The lobby looked fine, nothink like the swanky place we stayed in the night b/f, but not horrible. But then we went to our rooms. Now, if we had come here from the kibbutz, I'm not sure if we would have had much of a problem with the room. But the bathroom was tiny and the shower a little box (not very appetizing). There were two tiny beds and a tiny tv. Overall, it was extremely sparse and I felt like maybe I was staying in a convent for the night. I think the biggest problem is the stark contrast from our last hotel. It's hard to go from a gorgeous hotel with huge soft beds to Sister Mary Clarence's room. Plus we weren't sure of the cleanliness of some things. Katrina and I had to ask for more towel b/c ours were on the floor in the bathroom and we didn't trust it. Brandie had to switch her blanket for another one b/c it smelled like dog. One pair actually switched rooms for some reason.

At dinner we were all in bad moods, so K, B, Maryann and I sat at our own table so our negativeness wouldn't effect others. The first course of the meal was soup, but it took K and I five minutes to find out from someone if it used chicked stock or not. We really did hate being such pains, but we also didn't want to get sick. The soup was completely vegetarian and actually quite good, but apparently they had no idea that four veggies were going to be staying there. The main dish was chicken, so they asked if an omlette was ok. Omlettes seem to be the go to emergency dish for vegetarians. There was some other food that was ok, but dessert was a banana. Now I like fruit, but not as a dessert. I was in withdrawal from not having chocolate at dessert! Luckily Maryann saved me later with a chocolate chip granole bar. Yum!

After dinner I braved the shower, which actually wasn't terrible. I may still skip it tonight so that I only had to use it that once, but we'll see. The shower actually did cheer me up for awhile, and I was actually ok with our situation. But then I went to sit downstairs with other people, and Brandie was frustrated b/c her calling card doesn't work in the West Bank, only Israel, and she really wanted to talk to her parents, which was perfectly understandable. Maryann's husband was late calling, K and I were less than enthusiastic about the room, so it wasn't an overly cheery night.

Now, you may say that I sound like a spoiled American, and you're right, I do. But, in my defense, we went from an extremely nice (I can't emphasize enough how nice this place was) to this hotel. The quick changes in niceness is hard to take. Also, when going on this trip, we signed up knowing we were staying at hotels, not that this isn't one, but my point is if we went prepared to stay in hostels, then we would be ready for that type of lodging. If we went prepared to camp...you get the idea.

I am also torn though, b/c we are the only people in the hotel. I asked K where people stayed in Bethlehem, and we're thinking that they don't. Maybe most people visit during the day and then stay the night in Jerusalem, which isn't that far away. Maybe. So I'm glad we're here giving them some needed business. And also, the people that work here are quite nice. One sat down for a little while and talked with Elizabeth and got towels for K and I. So I am trying really hard to get over being a Debbie Downer and become Suzy Sunshine. At least we have a bed to sleep in and a toilet to pee in.

Katrina and I woke up at the same time today, even though we have nothing until 8am. We're emailing and blogging and reading until breakfast. Then we're planning on going for a walk with Brandie and Cory until we have to meet for church at 9:45. We're going to Christmas Lutheran Church, which is Mitri Raheb's church, but we're not hearing him preach, which I am a little bummed about. There is a guest preacher from Germany, I believe, which is pretty cool! I'm glad we're going b/c I need some rejuvination in my life!