“I’m Marjo from Finland but I study Politics and International Relations with Arabic in university in Scotland. I’m taking part in the Human Rights program in the Excellence Center.

I’ve been interested in Palestine ever since I was fifteen years so volunteering in Palestine is an obvious choice for me. Moreover, I’ve joined the Palestine society in my university which has only increased my interest in Palestine, its people, culture, and places. Many of my friends are either Palestinians or have been to Palestine and their stories about Palestine and the warmth of its people fascinates me a lot.

I wanted to volunteer in Palestine in an organization which would help the Palestinians. My friend has volunteered in the Excellence Center in Hebron and she really recommended the organization for me. She was in Excellence Center two years ago and she still talks about how much she enjoyed being in Hebron and volunteering in the Center. She told me Hebron would be a good place to volunteer in if one wants to learn about the occupation in Palestine.

I came here only yesterday but everybody I’ve met so far have been really friendly and welcoming. When I was lost they wanted to help me even though they don’t speak English a lot I don’t understand that much Arabic yet. Everybody in the Excellence Center are very friendly as well, they have taken good care of me.

Even though I recently arrived I feel really safe and I’m sure I will feel so in the future as well. My family was very worried when they heard I was going to Hebron, but I told them there is nothing to worry about and I still feel the same way. In my opinion it’s totally safe for any international to come to Hebron and Palestine as well.

During my time I want to learn more about human rights in Palestine by volunteering. Hopefully I could also use that information for planning new events for the Palestine society in university and for solidarity work for Palestine in Scotland in general. In addition, I want to learn to speak Palestinian Arabic. I know a little bit Standard Arabic, but I’ve always wanted to learn Palestinian Arabic due to my interest in Palestine. I want to eat lots of Palestinian food and make new friends with both locals and internationals. I also want to learn about life and culture of Palestine in general. I want to visit other cities in Palestine as well, such as Ramallah and Bethlehem, I want to eat the famous kunafa in Nablus.

In addition to learning Arabic, I’m participating in the Human Rights program in the Excellence Center. I’m going to organise workshops, work with human rights in Hebron and write articles about Palestine and Gaza. It’s Ramadan, the fasting month now and I arrived just in time for Iftar, the meal which breaks the fast. We ate maqluba “upside down” which is one of the traditional Palestinian dishes and one of my favourites as well. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy my stay in Hebron a lot because I got to eat my favourite dish in the first day.

It’s been very nice to live in Hebron so far and I really like the city. My host family seems really nice, they take good care of me even though they don’t speak any English. However, it’s a great chance for me to learn Palestinian Arabic although it is also challenging at times when we don’t understand each other. I’m sure it’s going to be such a great experience in the end because it’s the way to learn the language and the culture if I live with a local family.”