1st July
Bethlehem.
The end is nigh. Having had the final concert of the Bethlehem students at the Peace Centre on Manger Square last night, my full-time scheduled duties are now over. I still have work to do – organizational, as well as coaching work towards the chamber music summer camp, which begins in around a week and a half – but it feels as if this is the beginning of the end.
The event itself was a success; with a very good audience nearly filling the hall, and showing it’s appreciation of the students’ work through generous applause.
The bi-annual national music competition has begun today in Jerusalem. Hosted and administered by the conservatory, it is open to everyone and runs all this week. My students are involved on Thursday, so tomorrow will be spent giving some final lessons. Most of them don’t need it, having performed the repertoire several times already, but a last-minute confidence-building lesson doesn’t usually do any harm.
I have also recently been planning on the best way to bring home some things that are best not taken through the airport. Ever since the Israelis intentionally snapped backwards my flat-mate’s flip-open phone having found pictures on it of inside the West Bank, I have been wary of giving them any excuse to damage my property too. On hearing the tale of them breaking open the phone as they handed it back to him, most people say They can’t do that! This is the thing – they can, and they do.
I have also been trying to find out whether what has now become my favorite beer– Taybeh, brewed near Ramallah – is available in the UK. It appears that a few years ago someone was importing it, but with what must have been difficult economics, to say the least, it appears this is no longer the case. The beer itself is truly one of the finest I have tasted, and were it not for the restrictions on export as a result of the Israeli occupation, I am sure it would be well known around the globe. Visit www.taybehbeer.com to take a look. And, of course, if anyone knows of where it is available, do tell!
