Amazing place

I participated in the volunteer and learn Arabic course for 1 week and then the intensive Arabic course for 2 weeks. In my first week I was able to help teach English to students who were all a joy to be around and so enthusiastic. The teachers in the classes were really supportive by telling me what level the students were at and explaining the lessons to me.
In the next two weeks I studied Arabic in the intensive Arabic programme.
I have definitely improved my Arabic whilst here and all the teachers are so friendly and helpful. I came with very basic knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic and the intensive Arabic programme has helped me become faster at reading and writing and understanding the language better.
My Arabic teacher was amazing and extremely helpful. All the other teachers at the centre were also very friendly and the students in the classes were all so sweet and eager to learn. The environment at the centre is really inviting and accepting of all different kinds of people from anywhere in the world. It’s great to meet people from all over with so many different reasons for coming to the centre.
During my time at the excellence centre I got involved with numerous activities including going to the old city and taking a tour, visiting the kafiyah factory and cooking local Palestinian food.

Whilst in Palestine I visited Jericho and the Dead Sea, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the old city. All of these places were really easy to get to via a shared taxi. I would go back to visit all of them again if I had the chance. Especially Jerusalem as there is so much to see.

Whilst in Hebron I stayed with a host family who were so kind and accommodating. They offered food and cooked for myself and my roommate on numerous occasions and took us to parties and made me feel like part of the family. Palestinian people are the friendliest people I’ve ever met and most people go out of their way to help you. You could come back to Palestine just for the people. Hebron is also a great place to stay as it has easy taxi services and access to all other places.

I felt extremely safe in Palestine and was not once worried for my safety. My favourite thing about Palestine is definitely the people, however, the food is also amazing and trying the local food is a must.

I have so many stories from my 3 weeks here but my favourite has to be being invited for food at our taxi drivers house. (12 of us) we went for makloubah and he and his family showed so much hospitality. This is a great example of how kind Palestinian people are.

I would Certainly visit Palestine again and the excellence centre. I even intend to continue my Arabic classes on line back in the uk. I have had 3 amazing weeks and will treasure my time here for life. I would recommend both volunteering at the centre or learning Arabic there.

Thanks so much excellence centre!