Optical Illusion

We are just preparing for our final holiday camp for children. One of the fun things we are doing in the camps is learning about vision and how that sometimes all that we see isn't what it seems. We show the children some simple tricks, that they can learn, and we use some old trusted optical illusions that play tricks on the eyes by using different perspectives, colours and shapes. But there are also some new optical illusions that are better when seen on the computer screen - the flower petals are not actually moving!

More Cakes

Would you like some cloud-cake? This was the question we were asked after the Ascension Day service. We have learnt that to decline the offer of food is considered offensive in the Arab culture, so we smiled and accepted. To our surprise cloud-cake was one of the nicer cakes we have sampled, it wasn't too sweet, but nice and fluffy - like all cloud-cakes should be. We associate Christmas with certain foods, and Easter is synonymous with eggs; so why not have special foods at other festivals (see 19 April's blog for Easter cakes). We are going to Jerusalem tomorrow for a special Pentecost service at the cathedral, not sure what will be served at the after service refreshments. P

Just another day!

This week we had 'English Day' at school. Years 1 to 6 were treated to the delights of 'word bingo', 'boggle', 'word aerobics' spelling games and songs- including the perennial '10 green bottles'. The absolute favourite was 'Bingo'. Peter held the children in spellbound suspense at one stage with four of the groups hanging on with one last picture to go! It was a good day, with the the learning heavily disguised as a fun package. However during the breaktime there was a small fracas in the playgound resulting in a smashed window and a few minor casualites. As well as the delights of teaching English Jane had to use her nursing skills and administered first aid to two children and a staff member. All part of the rich tapestary of life here in Nazareth! J.

Keys

When we left the UK 4 years ago I still remember the strange feeling of not owning anything substantial. This was confirmed by not having any keys. No keys to a house, or a car; no church keys, and no keys for work or the social club.

Since living here for 2 years I have managed to accumulate a significant number of keys. The handing over ceremonies will start this week when I hand back the key to the Bible College after we finish teaching our English class. Gradually our keys will reduce and then when we eventually leave it will be back to 'no-keys' Pete. P

Jesus is up!

We caused a few chuckles at church when we tried to reply in Arabic to 'Christ is risen': 'al masiih qamm' - 'haqqan qaam'.

But on our walk home from church on Easter morning we were also able to have a chuckle when a passing motorist shouted at us, 'Jesus is up!' I'm not sure what the response should be, but before we could reply he had disappeared into the distance.

Our Easter has been busy, we've taken part in services in the hospital and church, and we've been able to visit other churches that celebrate Easter in completly different ways.

Now we're leaving to help at a youth camp, which will round off a hectic but interesting and enjoyable Easter. P

'Cakay Basjway'

There is a wonderful Arab tradition during the period of 'eid il fesah' (Easter time). There is a gathering of women - mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, distant Aunts and neighbours. The gathering is about cooking, reminiscing, meeting old friends and relations and creating kilos and kilos of these scrumptious cakes, known as 'Cakay Basjway'. They are made from figs and sweet lattice pastry. There are three different shapes - the crown, the spear and the sponge, all symbols from the crucifixion of Jesus. Despite the sadness they represent they are delicous. One of the delightful things about Arab culture, here in Israel, is the traditions that remain. Despite living in a first world country in the twenty first century, the women will always gather and create together. J

Guitar-man

My guitar music folder is expanding by the day. The songs from my guitar teacher in the UK consisted mostly of 60's & 70's songs, these are being pushed to the back of my folder by a diverse collection of music. I am playing my guitar in a variety of places and so I have to make sure I take the correct music with me. A couple of weeks ago at the 'Woman's day of prayer' I was playing 'Amazing Grace' with 2 chords, because the accompanying piano was so out of tune the pianist had to avoid certain notes. Life is a little easier in the hospital chapel where most of the time I play solo, but there is a huge diverstiy of songs at the different services: at one service we use Tabernacle Hymns from the 1960's with hymns such as 'Count your blessings'; at another service we use an Arabic chorus book with songs like 'uhibbuka rabbi yasuu'; and on Sunday evenings more modern hymns and songs, including 'How great is our God'. In our adult English lesson 'Summertime' has been used to add variety to a lesson; and at school good old favourites like 'The wheels on the bus'. At the end of the week I appreicate the chance to sit down and play 'Here comes the sun', 'Blackbird' and 'Yesterday' - you still can't beat those classic Beatles songs. P