Grab a book in Palestine: Reading books is one of those activities that seem to be in danger of extinction. Most of us are too enthralled by our phones to ever pick up a book anymore and if we happen to do it, we find ourselves easily distracted, losing concentration fast and dropping the task faster than we picked it up. This is no different while in Palestine, but perhaps volunteers find themselves having a bit more free time here than we are used to and why not grab a book. If you are like most, carrying books in your luggage is also not a priority, so what do you do then? Visit one of the local bookstores and find something interesting to read, afterwards leave it at the Center and start building the much needed library!

At the Excellence Center we are lucky to be surrounded by people who love books. Most of the local teachers and volunteers have studied English or Arabic Literature at the university and by default have read or like reading a wide variety of books in both languages. Some of the local volunteers teaching or helping the internationals are usually a helpful resource when looking for books. Safaa has been volunteering for a few months in the Old Center and she is a walking library! She has helped some of the internationals find good books in some of the best libraries in the city.

So where are these bookstores in Palestine you wonder? Some of the biggest bookstores in Hebron are Dandis Bookstore on Ein Sarah and Emed in the city center, close to Alseha roundabout on the way to the old city. These bookstores have a wide variety of books in English, as well as books for children, which can be a fantastic buy for those studying Arabic at the Excellence Center, we recommend taking an Arabic speaker along to help you find the best options. Safaa also showed us around the Public Library, it is a small and well hidden building down an alley from Bab Al Sawy, foreigners are not really able to loan out books here but the place has a sitting area with tables and chairs where everyone is welcomed to sit with the books. They also have a large variety of books in English and some other languages like French. The people working there are helpful and welcoming, they will gladly offer you a coffee while you are there.

In Bethlehem and Jerusalem you will also find fantastic bookstores with books in English. In East Jerusalem you will find the Educational Bookshop and Cafe, a lovely little place with a wide variety of books about the region in many languages, they also have DVDs and a good selection of resource books for those learning Arabic. In Bethlehem the Peace Center has a good selection of books as well.

You might not have thought of reading as a typical activity for your time in Hebron, but if you are a reader or just interested in exploring the possibilities, we recommend taking the time to visit some of these special places that will show you a different side of Palestine. As mentioned earlier, it is a good investment and a lovely parting gift for the Center or your host family, nothing bad ever came from reading a book, in fact quite the opposite!