Decapitated heads and skanky lingerie for Ijanib-oween



Karma sold one! 



Here's the word, birds. 



Hamza selling his papes.



Last week we finally got our first edition of the school newspaper out.  My kids had seen some of the movie Newsies, and they also sang a song from the movie for our song competition today (which we won!) and performed scenes from the movie in class.  I unfortunately didn't have my camera charged up for the song competition, but I'll get them singing it on camera again later.  They love it.

Here are some pictures of the kids selling the papers after school.  They look just like the real newsboys who we read about in class.  I'm so proud of them! 

I actually dressed like a "Newsie" myself for Halloween - err, "Costume Day" (Halloween is haram).  The kids wrote in class that they would go on strike if we didn't get to wear costumes, and the principal came into our class and announced that she would give into their demands.  They were SO excited.



I believe Ziad was going for the pirate-biker look.

We didn't do anything particularly Halloween-ish amongst ourselves... although the day before Halloween proper, a few of us did a scavenger hunt around the city that some current and previous teachers had made up.  There was a list of things to photograph or bring back, and each pair had 4 hours to do it.  No Arabic could be spoken, and you could not tell anyone about the game.

Our first point - "A photograph of you inside the headquarters of an international NGO."

My partner, Nick, still at the Red Crescent Society... This was our first photo in an attempt to get points for "A photo of you with a people from 3 different religions."  This guy was Muslim, and unfortunately the Christian who works there wasn't there that day.  In line with the stipulation that no one could be told about the game, we claimed that we were doing research about religious diversity in international organizations in Palestine. 

We made our way to the souq.  This is our photo for the "A photo of both partners in a hijab in a public place."  Another thing we needed was "A shekel you saved by bargaining."  I tried to work that into every other point.  This guy wouldn't budge on the 5 shekel price, so I didn't buy these.

We got points for "A photo with an ijanib you hadn't met before today.  She was a bit startled as to why I shouted "HELLO!" and started talking to her and wanted a photo with her, and Nick made it all the more normal by asking what religion she was (in our effort to get in a picture with people of 3 different religions).  Unfortunately, she said she didn't have a religion, so just one point for the ijanib photo.

We had to get "A photo of you with a hole in the ground toilet".  We hadn't seen one by the time we'd made our way to the nicer part of town, but we did see a toilet store, so we went in there and figured that if we found one it'd still count even if it wasn't usable.  None downstairs, so we ask to be let upstairs.  I'm sure the guy escorting us thought we were insane... we spotted one, and I'm whispering, "Get in the picture!  Lower!  Right by it!"  Then we look around and make some comments about faucets and tiles to avoid seeming quite so crazy, then hoof it on out.

"A photo of you doing something that is illegal in America but not in Palestine" (jaywalking)

"A photo of the decapitated head of a cud-chewing animal" - check.



Other points we scored -

• Food that was given to you by a stranger (not in a wrapper, and you cannot pay for it)
• A shekel saved by bargaining
• A child's toy (that you didn't buy)
• Something haram
• A live animal
• Something that you purchased in a lingerie store for a member of the opposite sex intended to titilate rather than function

The best part was our 1-2-3 combo on the shekel saved, the something haram, and the lingerie.  We went into a place in the souq asked for the price of some ridiculous ladies undies.  15 shekels.  Could we spend less?  10 shekels?  No.  Lightbulb goes off in my head - "Please, we just got married TWO days ago."  Keep in mind, this is only in English, and they don't speak much of it.  I'm pointing at Nick and I, holding up two fingers... who knows what they thought I was saying.  I've stashed my left hand in my purse, realizing that I clearly am not wearing a wedding ring.  They cave.  "You'll get them for me, won't you sweetheart?"  "Of course, darling."  Bing bang boom.  5 shekels saved, something haram, and lingerie in one (terribly uncomfortable) stop.

Hopefully I'll get Nick's photos and video... he had me recap the scenario on video so that the judge (Sean) would believe that we'd truly accomplished all three in one stop.

That's it for now.  A few of us made our way to Ramallah this weekend, which was nice.  Oh, and I've started teaching girls sports at school with Sean... I'll see if I can get some video footage of the game "Knock Miss Kelly Down" this week.  I've also started teaching for another program, Teach For Palestine, teaching older students from the Balata refugee camp. 

Lata yall

K

Update - photo of the haram below....