Olive Songs A US Songwriter in Palestine

Joshua fought the battle of

Jericho. Headed to the Dead Sea on our one day off before we head back home this evening. The RAP crew are all beautiful people and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have shared this journey with them. Just ate falafel and coconut juice at a little oasis. Jacob is reading to us about the environmental concerns for the Dead Sea. The Jordan River has slowed to a trickle because of governments diverting the water for desert agriculture. As a result the sea is shrinking.

They wouldn't let our van (white palestinian plates) nor out palestinian friends in. They looked at us like it was ridiculous that we asked. The sad thing to me was our driver would not even approach the gate. He was scared of what might happen to him for asking.

On our way to the airport now. It was sad to leave our friends, but I'm excited to get home to see Ann and Tahlia and to begin writing songs for the album. I'll be updating from home, filling in the bits I missed and giving you an inside look into my process making this record.

Thanks so much.

Shalom, Salam, Peace.

Fast Forward

Salam, Shalom, Marhaba, Hi.

The past few days have been full. To the brim. Spilling over with activity... Feet, hands, head and heart. Eyes and ears and mouth and nose. I'm going to fast forward a bit to some important events for me that won't be covered elsewhere. It's been tough to keep up on the blog... Shortage of Internet and shortage of time.

Check this out if you'd like to catch up and see the beautiful short films that our media team is producing:

ON THE GROUND YOUTUBE

We arrived at the Canaan Fair Trade facility to incredible fanfare. Toured the plant, feasted, coffee, tea, cross cultural music around the campfire. Dylan and Dabkeh. Lovely time.

I'm so very proud of our runners. The willpower and strength I saw was amazing. Running up mountains and down valleys. Running with swollen knees, ankles, fevers, amazing.

So much to process now. Beginning the long journey home tomorrow night. I can't wait to see my family.

Stay tuned for a highlights from the last few days. There's been many. Many ups and downs. Lots to think about, write about, sing about.

The Road to Beit Omar

So, we had some hold ups on the way to Beit Omar yesterday. I'd give you the rundown, but I think Jacob Wheeler, our incredible journalist, did a great job in this article:

http://glenarborsun.com/israeli-military-stops-run-across-palestine-on-day-1/

Also, you can check out the work that Aaron Dennis and Jacob are doing in the film series "The People and the Olive" about yesterday and every day of the Run.

m.youtube.com/#/profile?user=OnTheGroundGlobal&v=Ym-9Nui9zFY&view=videos

These guys sweat and run and bleed to get great footage and insightful interviews by day, then are up till the wee hours editing and producing these marvelous short films. What a team!

I'm still working through my feelings, but I will say that I was shocked and dismayed by what I saw and experienced yesterday on the road and in Beit Omar. I'm not going to pretend to understand fully the many differing perspectives and viewpoints of this area on a 10 day trip, but it's hard not to react to this role of israeli as oppressor I've witnessed firsthand. I don't think I appreciated how difficult this trip might be emotionally. More on this soon and also today's activities in my post tomorrow morning.

Love to you from the Jerusalem Hotel!

synopsis

Hello! Ann here again,

Just wanted to share a few more bits of info.  here's some background press-kit-style!

Run-Across-Palestine Information

and this is an excellent synopsis of what's been happening thus far on the Run Across Palestine. there are additional links there as well.

http://onthegroundglobal.org/rap-today-the-run-overcomes-opposition/

I received this from Josh today: "Great day today. Ran into Jerusalem without one problem. Through the checkpoint. Into the Old City. Past the Mount of Olives. Gathering incredible material for songs. (emphasis added)"

So excited to hear the songs that emerge out of this!

Tuwani

So much to say after the past two days. We left Jerusalem and traveled to Tuwani in the West Bank.

We were received so warmly in the small hillside village. Brought 500 olive saplings and planted many of them with the people of Tuwani and some of the surrounding villages.

We attended an incredible event in the evening that was part official welcome, part concert, part dance party, part one-act festival. This amazing oud player and singer performed and so did I... Check out this video of the workingmans hymn

Workingman's Hymn in at-Tuwani

I was dragged to a room in the school with the Oud player and someone playing the dumbek... Or what they call tableh? Another guitar player and a guy playing a flute carved from a copper pipe.

Incredible respect for songs... In a room packed with guys, everything would silence when a song was played except for singing along and dancing. So much affection and exuberance. I sat there trying to learn the melodies that this oud player kept whipping out. Got the melody, but the rhythm... Not so much. I'm learning.

Tuwani was an amazing celebration of life in the midst of incredible oppression.

The run began this morning. More on that in the next post.

Damascus Gate

Bells are ringing in East Jerusalem. Everyone is packed and heading off through the Damascus Gate to begin the trip to Tuwani.

Dinner in East Jerusalem

We have arrived! After an incredible amount of traveling (including a 10 hour trip sandwiched between an elderly orthodox gentleman who kept falling asleep on my shoulder and a loud talker/gum popper) we made it. Walking through the market to the hashimi hotel door then up many flights of steps to the rooftop. Panoramic view of the Dome of the Rock and surrounding area complemented by the call to prayer blasting out of 8 different loudspeakers in 8 different directions. Surreal.

The whole team got together plus Nasser from Canaan Fair Trade (instantly liked this guy) for an incredible meal right next door. Fresh pita, schwarma, tabbouli, tahini, turkish coffee. Delicious.

Got so excited seeing all of these people here and meeting those I haven't before met. What a team! Wonderful people.

We're seven hours ahead of Eastern time, so I must bid you goodnight. More on the morrow!

Trust me?

Wait, what does that say?

Trust is on my mind. Trusting On the Ground, the Palestinian organizations we are partnering with, trusting that my community will support my effort here, the amazing trust and support of my family and trust in myself. It feels good. Now to trust the chicken noodle soup at the Chilis at JFK. Ouch.