Friday 09 July

Had our Arabic exams today. The real test of my Arabic is at Children's SOS, where I went to work afterwards. Yazer was there as usual, painting Winnie the Pooh.

Yazer is a good person to practice my Arabic to, and is also a great help when in a desperate situation with the children.

Three of the boys were more interested in painting their chopper bike, than working on the wall. I didn't mind at first, until they started taking the paint and brushes off the girls.

I sent them away with threats of telling their mother. Yazer helped me put this across to them. Was invited to lunch with one of the families - fish and chips.

(I'm not sure if this was for my benefit - the mother didn't even like fish!) The boys were very keen on finding out that I didn't speak 'Israeli.' I challenged the boys to arm wrestles and one of the girls gave me a new baseball cap, as mine is ruined by paint.

Evening

Went to 'tent' to eat 'Mensef' - lamb in rice, almonds and yoghurt and bread. The idea is that everybody shoves their hand into a big plate and make a ball out of your food in the palm of your hand - the mess was incredible.

I have formed the conclusion the Palestinians eat more than in any country I have visited. 'We eat so much to deal with the problems', George Rishmawi says, laughing as he shoves a large ball of Mensef in his mouth.

Paul Gent