Caroline from Canada: Why I chose to volunteer Palestine “Hello, my name is Caroline. I came to Palestine from Canada to take part in the TESA program (Teach English, Study Arabic) for a stay of ten weeks. For the past few years, I have been very interested and attracted to the Middle-East and Islam, which has brought me to take an Arabic class in Jordan last summer. My experience there confirmed my love for this region, its people, culture, and language.

Duration

When I left after seven weeks, I knew I had to come back. I was also fortunate enough to meet and become friends with many Palestinians in Amman, which led me to considerate Palestine as my next destination to learn Arabic, as its dialect is very similar to Jordan’s. My friends have also assured me of the safety and beauty of their country, a statement that so far has proven to be true.

Just got to Palestine

I have been here for two days, and I already feel like my decision to come here was the right one. My host family, the Excellence Center’s staff, and the residents of Hebron have all been extremely welcoming and mindful of my wellbeing and safety. As it is Ramadan, few classes are being held at the Center.

Volunteer tasks

Nonetheless, I have been keeping busy by writing articles, studying Arabic, and getting to know my fellow volunteers and students. In the next few weeks, English lessons and activities will be added to my schedule. I will be overseeing those to the side of a certified teacher or on my own. Since I have myself started to learn a new language at a later stage of my life, I hope that my experience and understanding of the difficult process will help me be a better guide to the new students. I hope to be a mentor as well as a friend to my students.

My wishes

I am mostly looking forward to seeing their improvement as we progress through the lessons. The experience the Excellence Center will provide for me will certainly be very positive. Living with a Palestinian family in addition to the Arabic course the Center is offering me will contribute to my grasp of the Arabic language. I could ask for nothing more, as I wish to have a diplomatic career in the Middle-East later on in my life.

Teaching

Teaching English will also be an amazing and enriching experience; it will help me develop my adaptability, public speaking and organization skills. Besides sharing my own life stories and knowledge, I hope to learn a lot from my Palestinian students. Written by Caroline Vary-O’Neal