Ideas

Today I remembered that the cleaners would be coming so when I woke up I got up. I had already decided that I would use the morning to visit an organisation I had worked for last year so getting up early wasn't a big deal. Unfortunately the rain was hammering down from the sky and pouring down the street. Nablus being in the middle of two hills makes for an interesting time when it does rain. I waited a while for it to ease off and managed to come up with lots of ideas for things I could do in Palestine in the future whilst I waited. I still feel that I have a lot to offer the place and could do many things of benefit here. Throughout the morning and up until writing this I have been mapping out the possibilities and seriously believe that I could create an NGO that could work here. Though this would be a task of epic proportions it is not impossible and a great deal could be accomplished. I don't want this to be a flash in the pan idea nor just a momentary burst of enthusiasm. I have stated how I now have a connection to this place and view it as a sort of addiction. What I would like to achieve would take many years and a lot of hard work but I am convinced it is possible. It would require me joining up a lot of the activities that I already do to make them compliment and benefit one another. Otherwise I will be continually doing lots of things badly rather than making any real difference anywhere. I wanted to put my initial ideas down here without going into too much detail so as to remind myself when I look back on my trip what it was that I wanted to come out of it.

I braved the rain before I should and got a lot of strange looks from many baffled Palestinians. They obviously knew that the rain would not last long and that it would be a better idea to wait rather than get drenched. Water was pouring down the slope of a road I was on like a river and sets of stairs had now become spectacular waterfalls. It stopped as I was about half way to my destination by which time I was suitably soaked.

I have visited this NGO every time I have visited Nablus and wanted to say hello even though I have done no work for them this time. I wouldn't have felt right visiting the city but not calling in at least. Everyone was as pleased to see me as I was to see them and everyone looked pretty much the same as last time, including myself. The only change was the office baby who is now a beautiful little girl.

After talking for a while one of the new staff asked if I would like to see the computer suite. It was only when I got to the room that I realised its significance. This suite was the result of a bid I had helped the staff to write last year. So though many bids and grant proposals had come to nothing here was proof that it is possible! The room itself is spectacular with new PC's, a projector and whiteboard and complete redesign and decoration. The NGO has now delivered the programmes as part of the obligations required by the bid and is now free to use the room and computers as they wish. This is fantastic news all round and I am glad to have been a small part of it.