30th August
East Jerusalem.
Well, the writing of the above words seems less strange and excitingly exotic than you may imagine. Having had a very smooth trip to Tel Aviv from London Heathrow and a much easier time at passport control than expected, the conservatory’s driver, Jihad, met me at the airport and brought me to the flat that will be my base until I find somewhere of my own to rent. I’m still undecided on where I want to live, and won’t be able to decide until I’ve seen Ramallah, but the idea of not having to travel everyday and being freer to explore both Israel as well as Palestine make me think that Jerusalem mightn’t be so bad after all.
The call to prayer has just begun outside my door, and with the windows and doors open to refresh the flat after many hot days all closed up, it’s pretty loud. It’s quite an evocative sound, but one that may begin to wear a little at the end of a long day.
I am being picked up tomorrow between 9 and 10 to go to the college to find out what I’m doing and when I should be doing it, though knowing Arab time that could mean anything.
My dinner of bread, hummous, red cabbage salad and turkey is finished now, as has the call to prayer, and therefore as the sun sets on my first day in Jerusalem it seems a fitting time to end this entry.
