19th September
East Jerusalem.
After I had taught for a few hours this afternoon, I hooked up my computer to the internet connection in the library of the Jerusalem branch where we then spent some ‘quality time’ together. I caught up on some of the news, which was a little depressing. Ironically, because I’m here and a little more out of touch than I have been in the past, I know less of what’s going on than usual.
It seems that Jerusalem is being graced my Condoleezza Rice at present, here to talk peace. It also turns out that Israel has just declared Gaza a ‘hostile entity’ – I don’t think it’ll have much immediate effect as Israel has been treating Gaza as one for a while now anyway, but it does show a possible willingness for invasion. Recently 69 Israeli troops were injured by a rocket attack from Gaza, and since then there has been an appetite for doing something about the worsening situation there.
Bad news from Lebanon too, yet another anti-Syrian member of parliament assassinated in Beirut. That’s one to watch, as it’s also an area ripe for implosion.
I’m meeting with Heather at the conservatory tomorrow to put forward some ideas I have of setting up some collaboration between the ESNCM and various schools, colleges or universities back home in the UK. I’d like to be able to show the students here that there are people just like them, doing the same thing as them elsewhere. Moreover, I’d like to show some young people in the UK that there are kids just like them, doing the same thing as them, but in a place they can’t leave and that’s why they are having to send an internet broadcast, rather than organise a tour.
