Blog Entries for Kathleen McLaughlin

O Little Town of Bethlehem

katlac00

Christmas in Bethlehem was quite an experience. A lot of stores had Christmas decorations, not put up in August like the United States, but at a more reasonable time just a few weeks before December 25th. Although I was in the most amazing

place to celebrate Christmas, to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas anyway- it didn't feel like Christ [...]

Teaching English in Aida Refugee Camp

katlac00

I've been living in Aida refugee camp for almost two weeks now, and am finally becoming familiar with the smells and sounds. There is no real system of garbage collection in the camp, and most of the waste is thrown into empty gardens or on the streets. The smell of garbage is mixed with smells of spices and cooki [...]

Beautiful Resistance

katlac00

I am finally settled in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. In the camps you can see poverty and the poorest living conditions in the town, but living in the camp builds a sense of community with those I will be working with.

Last week I arrived safely in Tel Aviv, Israel [...]

My upcoming trip to Palestine

katlac00

Tomorrow I leave for Palestine. There’s a lot of things on my mind as I prepare for my trip: calling friends and family to say mygoodbyes, running last minute errands, getting all the logistics in order for my arrival, and finally packing up two suitcases to last 3 months. It all feels surreal. I& [...]