Study Arabic Hebron Review

My name is Bianca. Im 22 years old and from Switzerland and Italy. I did 4 weeks of intensive
arabic at the excellence center. I dont have a university degree yet but am interested in socialwork
and languages.
As I volunteered with refugees in greece I realized again how useful and beautiful arabic is. I did
one semester of middle-east studies in Switzerland and then decided that I wanted to learn a dialect
not only fussha. Also I realized that it is nicer and easier to learn a language going to the country
than only in a classroom. Its my first time in the middle-east and I learned a lot about the culture,
struggles, occupation and the language!
The arabic lessons were very nice. We were only two students at the beginning and then three and
everybody was very motivated to study and learn ammia. Our teacher Haya was very kind and the
lessons were well-prepared and interesting. We did grammar, vocabulary and conversation and it
was very important for Haya that we understand everything and study to get better. Even though I
learned a lot I also realized how much time it takes to learn this language and I am very motivated
to go on or take other classes.
I thank Haya a lot for the energy and encouragement she brought to the classes and whish her all the
best for her future.
The classes were from sunday to thursday from 9 to 12.30h and there was always a nice breakfast at
the center with all the participants/volunteers. The teachers and organisators were all very kind and
open and the athmosphere was very welcoming at the center.
What I also liked a lot was the fact that I lived with a palestinian family. They were super nice and
invited us for Maklube or to the daughters wedding. These experiences were very enriching and I
had very nice conversations with host siblings. Through this I could understand better the society
they live in and also the struggles they face. Palestinian people in general and especially here in
Hebron are very warm and interested as well as incredibly generous. Especially coming from
Switzerland, which is a rich country, I experienced how much more generous and interested people
here are. Once we went to the old market and some boys offered us drinks and others bananas or
falafel sandwiches.
Hebron is full of contradictions. It is beautiful, especially the old city, but as it is separated in an
israeli and a palestinian side it is also very tense and weired to be in the old city and pass
checkpoints and israeli soldiers. Moreover it is a conservative city and there is not a lot of places to
go out or parks to hang out. Still we found some nice cafés where to study and get a limununana
(iced lemon and mint).
In the weekend I once went to Ramallah which is about 2 hours from Hebron. It is quite different to
Hebron because its less conservative (you can drink a beer there for example). I relly recomment
the Yasser Arafat museum! I also went to Bethlehem which I liked a lot because of its narrow
streets.
My favourite activity, after the arabic classes, was when we went to H2 with Mahmoud who told us
a bit about the history and situation there. Afterwards we went to visit Nisreen a palestinian artist
who lives directly next to a settlement. I learned a lot about the oppression and discrimination of
this occupation.
I am also very happy to have met Rahel my roommate from Germany because she inspired me to
leran arabic and she presented me some palestinian people who I like a lot. For example Jalal, a
musician, with whom I took some oud lessons and who sold me an oud that I will take home and
which will remember me of Al Khalil!
Before coming I didnt know a lot about the situation in Hebron. I thought it could be dangerous or
very tense I didnt feel unsafe at any moment. People are very respectful here, they maybe look at
you, as there is not many tourists, or shout «welcome» but thats all:) Also the occupation doesnt
affect life so much as a stranger especially staying in H1. Only when travelling to other places or
when going to H2 you can see and feel it directly...
Finally, I am very thankful for this experience, for the wonderful and inspiring people I met and the
stories they shared. I hope to come back one day and be able to speak more arabic. Also I hope the
best for all palestinian people.