My Experience in Palestine

Having been here for about a month, The Excellence Center has not only helped me learn more about the Palestinian community as a whole, but it has also helped me understand the culture, the customs, and the ways in which the Palestinians
continue to create good among a world of oppression and occupation. I participated in the Human Rights Internship for the month of April, 2024. Throughout my time, I
have not only learned so much in such a short amount of time, but I have found a community in which I feel a great connection to, despite our diverse backgrounds. Asa young American woman, it can be difficult to find community in a country where the customs, cultures, and ways of life are quite unique. However, the staff and faculty at The Excellence Center, as well as other volunteers, have made me feel very safe, comfortable, and eager to learn as much as I could in the short amount of time I was there.

During my time, I had around nine hours of Arabic lessons in which I learned basic phrases to help me get around, order at a restaurant, ask for directions, etc. My Arabic teacher was very welcoming and patient. In addition to the Arabic lessons, I
was able to go on many site visits to places such as local clinics, specialized schools,
refugee camps, as well as other religious and non-religious sites around Hebron, and beyond.

Because my housing accommodation was a short 10 minute walk from the Center, I
felt very safe walking around at night, knowing how close home was. The other
volunteers and I wasted no time in traveling to neighboring cities, such as Nablus,
Ramallah, Bethlehem, and more in order to get as much learning as possible. Among many other things, I love the food, music, and zest of Palestinian culture. Overall,
this experience was rewarding in ways I hadn’t even expected and I would highly recommend this program for anyone who is remotely interested.