The fun part of being in the middle east is the things that happen that you never even thought of. Such as the fact that I can hear a truly hideous electronic version of 'Jingle Bells' emanating from somewhere outside the appartment in spite of the fact that it's currently about 95 degrees! Also how when you log on to try and add to your blog it's all in Arabic so you understand little and the boxes you can guess at are the other way around. This also means that you might only be able to read this if I give you an alternative web address....

Things like that still pale in comparison to the absurdity of the occupation. Prior to my flight out here I had watched a film called 'Private' about the situation here. The basic premise was that the house was occupied but only on the top floor. The Palestinian home owners were allowed to stay in a room downstairs provided that they never bothered the soldiers upstairs. This all seemed a little too contrived for my liking (and superior artistic taste) so I wasn't that impressed. Alas the reality is exactly that. One of the other international volunteers showed me a house he had stayed in where one door was for the Israeli's and the other the Palestinians. The house had been the subject of many court courses initially won by the Palestinian occupants who are now being told to leave.

Today has been a good day though. I taught two classes that went really well and had a meeting with some representatives from the Police Department. The classes were full of eager children with a good standard of English. They were all very sweet especially during the review of each class when they were asked to rate my performance. One girl commenting that I was excellent so they should all stop nagging me. My new best friend.

How they grow up as such nice people I don't think I will ever understand. They have such a hard time and live in such harsh conditions. The second of the classes today was in New Askhar refugee camp. The classroom has no windows or light and the heat makes it almost unbearable yet the children are always happy and smiling and wanting to learn. Some of them have been selected for an English master class that will involve them writing blogs and I am hoping to link them with some of my pupils in the UK to help improve their English.

My challenge, I have been told, will be my class of ten year olds that speak no English. This will be tomorrow morning in the old city. Tonight we are all off to the Turkish baths and then for a meal afterwards. I am looking forward to the baths as there is very little water in the apartment at the moment. It was also on my list of things to do before I went home so it's good to go so soon.

It's a bit odd thinking about enjoying yourself in somewhere that is supposedly one of the most dangerous places on earth but I always feel safer walking around here than I do at home. There were a few raids and arrests in Nablus last night but I only found this out through the news websites and staff who work in other parts of the city. I hope this remains the case.