I recently wrote a feature article called, Pop-culture Postcard From Palestine, for the brand-spanking new, online magazine, Wordy Mofo.
I wanted to use the story to communicate the intensity and rare beauty that exists in the occupied Palestinian Territories – two attributes which are immediately intoxicating and at times overwhelming.
It’s a place that makes every experience and interaction feel that bit more fervid. There truly is a unique energy there that perhaps exists as a result of the troubling and unjust circumstances in which people are forced to live, or perhaps the place and people have always been like that. But regardless of its source, this spirit makes the quirks and colours of the occupied Palestinian Territories all the more vivid and unforgettable.
The article is filled to the brim with some of the remarkable characters, sights and exceptional experiences this special place has to offer and provides an interesting insight into what it’s like to live there.
It starts like this:
One of the things I’ve learned to like about life here is the uncertainty. Not everyone feels the same way, some need a plan and daily rituals for security; they like that the bakery has the same cream buns in the window every morning, that the girl with her hair tied back sits in the same bus seat each afternoon on her way home from work. But when you spend time in the occupied Palestinian Territories, having no control over your future is frustrating and unfair but also strangely liberating. It forces you to live in the moment. You prioritise and re-prioritise daily. You keep your mobile phone handy, always. You find that dreaming is both difficult and necessary.
I’d love for you to read the rest – you can do so for free, by visiting:
http://www.wordymofo.com/?xml=Wordy_Mofo&iid=41954&startpage=71
The interface was designed for iPad, but even if you’re using a PC, the philosophy remains the same; to enlarge the text simply click anywhere on the screen and use the mouse to move the page wherever it is you need. Enjoy!