Sunday, November 25, 2007
Back from Hebron
Hey!
I just returned from a trip to Hebron, where Abraham is buried. Partly due to his grave it is t
he second holiest site for Muslims and Jews after Jerusale
m. That is the "reason" why there are several settlements IN and around the city.
Some of you migh have heard or read about the trouble in the old city, where 20000 Palestinians and 500 settlers live. The Israely army protects the settlers and sometimes even the Palestinians against the settlers.
Since 1997 a team of internatinal observers (http://www.tiph.org/, invited by Israel and Palestine) is present to monitor the situation and violations of human rights. Some streets in the old c
ity have a fence above them to protect the pedestrians from garbage and stones being thrown at them by the settlers occupying some of the houses. And that although Hebron seems to belong to one of the A zones in the Westbank, which are supposed to be completely under Palestinian authority. Due to the special situation there an agreement exists that puts the city under Israeli jurisdiction. (This sounds so confusing that I am not sure if I understood it correctly)
Freedom of movement: After two security controls I visited the mosque, then went back, passed through two other controls and went to the synagogue. Both are in the same building, but unreachable for the other religion. It is so silly that I have more freedom of movement than the local people here.
On the way back we were in a large traffic jam for half an hour. Coming closer to the big checkpoint to Jerusalem, Qalandya, we heard that the che
ckpoint is closed. The checkpoints to Israel were closed from 11 am on. This is done in case of warnings of an attack, suicide bombing.
So I was dropped and more or less followed others who were on the way to Ramallah, passing under a fence down a slope and into a street, where already some taxis were waiting to take us to the Palestinian side of Qalandya. There we took another taxi to Ramallah. Kind of a normal day in Palestine...
I just returned from a trip to Hebron, where Abraham is buried. Partly due to his grave it is t
he second holiest site for Muslims and Jews after Jerusale
m. That is the "reason" why there are several settlements IN and around the city.Some of you migh have heard or read about the trouble in the old city, where 20000 Palestinians and 500 settlers live. The Israely army protects the settlers and sometimes even the Palestinians against the settlers.
Since 1997 a team of internatinal observers (http://www.tiph.org/, invited by Israel and Palestine) is present to monitor the situation and violations of human rights. Some streets in the old c
ity have a fence above them to protect the pedestrians from garbage and stones being thrown at them by the settlers occupying some of the houses. And that although Hebron seems to belong to one of the A zones in the Westbank, which are supposed to be completely under Palestinian authority. Due to the special situation there an agreement exists that puts the city under Israeli jurisdiction. (This sounds so confusing that I am not sure if I understood it correctly)Freedom of movement: After two security controls I visited the mosque, then went back, passed through two other controls and went to the synagogue. Both are in the same building, but unreachable for the other religion. It is so silly that I have more freedom of movement than the local people here.
On the way back we were in a large traffic jam for half an hour. Coming closer to the big checkpoint to Jerusalem, Qalandya, we heard that the che
ckpoint is closed. The checkpoints to Israel were closed from 11 am on. This is done in case of warnings of an attack, suicide bombing. So I was dropped and more or less followed others who were on the way to Ramallah, passing under a fence down a slope and into a street, where already some taxis were waiting to take us to the Palestinian side of Qalandya. There we took another taxi to Ramallah. Kind of a normal day in Palestine...
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Honor and tribal law
Yesterday I went to the movie theatre with some friends. We saw a documentary about honor killings in Palestine.
A pregnant woman was stabbed several times by her brother. She survived. He is very ashamed of what he did, he was under extreme pressure, as some friends and other told him to act as a man and to reinstate the family honor.
In the village of Taybeh (where the very tasty beer with the same name is produced) a pregnant woman was forced by her own family to take an agricultural pesticide, she died and with her the fetus (8th month). Six flats of the suspected father and of his family were burnt. Although DNA proved his innocence, he was kept at a police station for six months, as the police could not guarantee his safety.
With a hidden camera the tribal court was filmed. Representatives from both sides spoke to settle the matter.
Another tribal judge was shown, talking about the punishment of violation/rape: Pushing a woman to the ground will cost 100000 Jordanian Dinar, taking off her veil another 100000 JD, taking off her shoes another 100000 JD and so on.
Women were interviewed who got beaten up by their husbands, stabbed or beaten with an iron rod.
A girl told about watching a woman being beaten to death by her husband on the street.
And an old woman said that women should not fail their family by being unfaithful and that the family has to protect its honor.
Someone told me that the tribal law became stronger during the civil war among Palestinians (Hamas and Fateh), as the Police was not able/willing to enforce the civil law.
A pregnant woman was stabbed several times by her brother. She survived. He is very ashamed of what he did, he was under extreme pressure, as some friends and other told him to act as a man and to reinstate the family honor.
In the village of Taybeh (where the very tasty beer with the same name is produced) a pregnant woman was forced by her own family to take an agricultural pesticide, she died and with her the fetus (8th month). Six flats of the suspected father and of his family were burnt. Although DNA proved his innocence, he was kept at a police station for six months, as the police could not guarantee his safety.
With a hidden camera the tribal court was filmed. Representatives from both sides spoke to settle the matter.
Another tribal judge was shown, talking about the punishment of violation/rape: Pushing a woman to the ground will cost 100000 Jordanian Dinar, taking off her veil another 100000 JD, taking off her shoes another 100000 JD and so on.
Women were interviewed who got beaten up by their husbands, stabbed or beaten with an iron rod.
A girl told about watching a woman being beaten to death by her husband on the street.
And an old woman said that women should not fail their family by being unfaithful and that the family has to protect its honor.
Someone told me that the tribal law became stronger during the civil war among Palestinians (Hamas and Fateh), as the Police was not able/willing to enforce the civil law.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
University struggle continues
Yesterday a Fateh student member got attacked at home by the PFLP with knives and hot coal, he is treated in hospital.
Today, Fateh stroke back. A huge mass of its members, supposedly 500 to 1000 people, stormed the cafeteria and beat up known PFLP members or people wearing a red Kefiyeh. They also went into classes and started to destroy furniture. Seven people got injured. The university administration shut down the campus, it will most likely stay closed tomorrow.
It is a minority, but a loud one...
And do not worry, I was not there. Instead Rawan and I had three very good meetings with the Bank of Palestine, the Banks Assocation and PITA!
Today, Fateh stroke back. A huge mass of its members, supposedly 500 to 1000 people, stormed the cafeteria and beat up known PFLP members or people wearing a red Kefiyeh. They also went into classes and started to destroy furniture. Seven people got injured. The university administration shut down the campus, it will most likely stay closed tomorrow.
It is a minority, but a loud one...
And do not worry, I was not there. Instead Rawan and I had three very good meetings with the Bank of Palestine, the Banks Assocation and PITA!
Maps of Westbank
The first map is from the BBC, the second from Peace Now. The link provides a newer map, but I cannot upload pdf-Files here.http://www.btselem.org/Download/Settlements_Map_Eng.pdf
Monday, November 19, 2007
Birzeit University
A private university, where all students get stipends for about 90 % of the tuition. Therefore, competition is high and the university is said to be famous for its quality within the region and supposed to be the second best after the Arab-American University in Jenin (thanks, Kevin!), not accounting for Israeli universities... One company and also some students say, that its fame is based on good old times. Now, most students do not seem to be that motivated or eager to learn. Even some teachers are just happy to have a good job and are not that serious about passing on knowledge.
The campus is nice with individual buildings for each faculty and streets with plants and some trees.
What I miss are places to sit down and to work together. The cafeteria is too noisy, lecture halls mostly in use, silent study rooms rare and used for that purpose, and the university closes at 5pm, most people leave at 4. Studying seems to take place mostly at home.
There is a sports court close to the engineering building and often some guys are playing football or basketball.
The campus is informally divided: Areas for the different parties or people ideologically close to them, for hip/rich people, for alternative ones. All have their favorite places to sit, chat and meet and present themselves. Birzeit to a certain extend is the liberal haven of Westbank. Everybody has a certain freedom, couples can meet and you see people with and without hijab (scarf, mantle). On the other hand, gossip seems to be even more famous here than in Berlin and you can listen to the wildest rumors about everybody and everything. Especially about politics, Israel and the holocaust.
At the entrance to the campus guards sometimes ask students for their university IDs. It is common that other people visit their friends or look for a suitable wife.
So far the university with the noisiest cafeteria ever! The architects for sure have looked at all materials and structures that can reduce noise and consequently removed all of them. At least it has a non smoking area, where only half of the people at the tables are smoking. Very nice are the blue shining lamps to catch flies and other insects, probably extremely useful during the summer.
The campus is nice with individual buildings for each faculty and streets with plants and some trees.
What I miss are places to sit down and to work together. The cafeteria is too noisy, lecture halls mostly in use, silent study rooms rare and used for that purpose, and the university closes at 5pm, most people leave at 4. Studying seems to take place mostly at home.
There is a sports court close to the engineering building and often some guys are playing football or basketball.
The campus is informally divided: Areas for the different parties or people ideologically close to them, for hip/rich people, for alternative ones. All have their favorite places to sit, chat and meet and present themselves. Birzeit to a certain extend is the liberal haven of Westbank. Everybody has a certain freedom, couples can meet and you see people with and without hijab (scarf, mantle). On the other hand, gossip seems to be even more famous here than in Berlin and you can listen to the wildest rumors about everybody and everything. Especially about politics, Israel and the holocaust.
At the entrance to the campus guards sometimes ask students for their university IDs. It is common that other people visit their friends or look for a suitable wife.
So far the university with the noisiest cafeteria ever! The architects for sure have looked at all materials and structures that can reduce noise and consequently removed all of them. At least it has a non smoking area, where only half of the people at the tables are smoking. Very nice are the blue shining lamps to catch flies and other insects, probably extremely useful during the summer.
AIESEC Work: The Students
In front of the Engineering Building is the typical hangout for most students and therefore the usual meeting point for me to work and chat with the students.
Officially, twelve students are on the AIESEC list here. Some more still get the emails and will perhaps join in March again, when they are more abl
e to combine AIESEC and university life. Most active are the students from the Business faculty. Partly, because they are active anyway, working with the Right to Education campaign of the university or elsewhere; partly, because their subjects are less demanding than those of the engineers.
The main challenges with the team are time constraints: The university is only open until 5pm. During the winter most female members of the team have to be home at five, as it is getting dark then. Furthermore, each semester the students have first, second and third exams, which basically means that there is always somebody who has an exam coming up! Well, they are preparing one or two days in advance for these exams, so it does not seem to be that demanding. But still, it affects the time for meetin
gs and workshops and it is more or less impossible to have everybody present.
So far we had workshops about Project management, Marketing/Selling AIESEC, Time- and Self management and Team- and Conflict management. I did not want to repeat an introduction to AIESEC, as most of the team have had this once or twice. But during the workshops I have to include time for more basic information about AIESEC.
Officially, the workshops are from 9am to 4 or 5pm. In reality we start between 9.30 and 10 o’clock. Sometimes one or two people appear at 11. It is also common that some leave earlier, because they have to work. And generally I plan each session with more time than in Germany.
The students really enjoy interactive work and creativity tasks like expressing things through painting or acting. Teambuilding exercises to wake everybody up or to serve there name are also welcome and a development in the team is noticeable! Not only during the workshop, but also during the coffee breaks, when more personal issues are discussed and
more talks and laughters come up in general. Still, we are heavily in the Storming Phase, where personal relations are developed, team- and communication structures and procedures are established and modified and a lot of things are discussed and disagreed on.
In between the lectures I meet with some members of the team to prepare and make phone calls to companies, to talk about the team, to discuss the agenda for the week or the next meeting, talk about AIESEC in general and my experience, about project ideas and to have lunch.
Officially, twelve students are on the AIESEC list here. Some more still get the emails and will perhaps join in March again, when they are more abl
e to combine AIESEC and university life. Most active are the students from the Business faculty. Partly, because they are active anyway, working with the Right to Education campaign of the university or elsewhere; partly, because their subjects are less demanding than those of the engineers.The main challenges with the team are time constraints: The university is only open until 5pm. During the winter most female members of the team have to be home at five, as it is getting dark then. Furthermore, each semester the students have first, second and third exams, which basically means that there is always somebody who has an exam coming up! Well, they are preparing one or two days in advance for these exams, so it does not seem to be that demanding. But still, it affects the time for meetin
gs and workshops and it is more or less impossible to have everybody present.So far we had workshops about Project management, Marketing/Selling AIESEC, Time- and Self management and Team- and Conflict management. I did not want to repeat an introduction to AIESEC, as most of the team have had this once or twice. But during the workshops I have to include time for more basic information about AIESEC.
Officially, the workshops are from 9am to 4 or 5pm. In reality we start between 9.30 and 10 o’clock. Sometimes one or two people appear at 11. It is also common that some leave earlier, because they have to work. And generally I plan each session with more time than in Germany.
The students really enjoy interactive work and creativity tasks like expressing things through painting or acting. Teambuilding exercises to wake everybody up or to serve there name are also welcome and a development in the team is noticeable! Not only during the workshop, but also during the coffee breaks, when more personal issues are discussed and
more talks and laughters come up in general. Still, we are heavily in the Storming Phase, where personal relations are developed, team- and communication structures and procedures are established and modified and a lot of things are discussed and disagreed on.In between the lectures I meet with some members of the team to prepare and make phone calls to companies, to talk about the team, to discuss the agenda for the week or the next meeting, talk about AIESEC in general and my experience, about project ideas and to have lunch.
Campus Fight Club Update
From what I heard, the PFLP people said during their rally, that the leader of the Fateh student is a donkey/ass. Hearing that, the Fateh students got angry and the fight started.
Yesterday, while we were finishing our workshop about team- and conflict management, the university teachers had a meeting at the Center for Continuous Education to discuss the situation.
I was told that there have been worse fights in the past years. Bigger and more violent: Shootings on the campus, one time a pregnant student lost her baby due to fights. Even today you can see some students carrying guns under the shirt, although officially weapons are not allowed on campus.
Yesterday, while we were finishing our workshop about team- and conflict management, the university teachers had a meeting at the Center for Continuous Education to discuss the situation.
I was told that there have been worse fights in the past years. Bigger and more violent: Shootings on the campus, one time a pregnant student lost her baby due to fights. Even today you can see some students carrying guns under the shirt, although officially weapons are not allowed on campus.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Ramallah
The city, where you can smoke in a shared taxi without even asking, where people keep their houses clean and throw away trash while walking through the city, wher you can find guys-only shisha bars or a nightclub, where you can see donkey carts and a mercedes in the same street, where on a clear day you can see Tel Aviv but not go there with a local ID, where everybody has one or more watertanks on their roofs in case of water shortage or cut supplies by the Israelis (sometimes they shoot holes into the tanks), where Condi Rize seems to have her second home, where you can eat wonderful sweets like Knafe and Baklava, where you can meet loads of internationals working for even more NGOs.
A glimpse into the political microcosm at Birzeit University
Merhaba!
While talking to Amira and Jumana outside the engineering building, a fight between the student groups of the PFLP (Poular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, left wing, wearing the red Jordanian kefiyeh) and the Fateh (Arafat, ruling party in the Westbank, wearing the black-and-white kefiyeh) broke out. The PFLP was helding a rally. They said "bad things about the Fateh which were not true and which made the Fateh students very angry".
Because of that you could see students having there belts wrapped around a hand to use it for the fight and some people even took planks into the crowd. Even the Dean of Student Affairs could not pacify the guys at once. After about 20 minutes the visual violence stopped, but discussions are still going on...
While talking to Amira and Jumana outside the engineering building, a fight between the student groups of the PFLP (Poular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, left wing, wearing the red Jordanian kefiyeh) and the Fateh (Arafat, ruling party in the Westbank, wearing the black-and-white kefiyeh) broke out. The PFLP was helding a rally. They said "bad things about the Fateh which were not true and which made the Fateh students very angry".
Because of that you could see students having there belts wrapped around a hand to use it for the fight and some people even took planks into the crowd. Even the Dean of Student Affairs could not pacify the guys at once. After about 20 minutes the visual violence stopped, but discussions are still going on...
Friday, November 16, 2007
Visiting Jenin
Last sunday we went to Jenin. We, that is Markus, S
ebastian and Simon from Germany with David from the US and I.
After having delicious tea and cookies at the house of Bassam and his wife, he gave us a great tour through the refugee camp and the city. The military is active in the refugee camp nearly every night. We could see it in the news during the second intifada, when the military demolished some of the houses there, sometimes with the inhabitants inside.
We visited a partner of the Hans-Seidel-Foundation (Bassam is its director in Palestine), a hospital for disabled children in the refugee camp. It was impressive to see where and how they work. A lot of children are injured and/or traumatised through the fighting.
The sculpture of the horse is made of parts from an ambulance. It was shot at during the second intifada while trying to rescue injured people. It caught fire, but nobody was allowed to help.
The second partner of the foundation is a NGO that does workshops with children about conflict solutions, how to deal with agressions and about creativity. Furthermore they organise summer camps for the kids.
We
then had a walk through the old and the new city, interrupted by coffee breaks at two shops of Bassams family and friends, very nice and Sebastian was close to becoming engaged!
Jenin is a much more conservative place than Ramallah. Bars that serve beer would be destroyed the same day.
I also added some photos of the IT training center built by the Hans-Seidel-Foundation, it was partly destroyed by a rocket in 2005.
ebastian and Simon from Germany with David from the US and I.After having delicious tea and cookies at the house of Bassam and his wife, he gave us a great tour through the refugee camp and the city. The military is active in the refugee camp nearly every night. We could see it in the news during the second intifada, when the military demolished some of the houses there, sometimes with the inhabitants inside.
We visited a partner of the Hans-Seidel-Foundation (Bassam is its director in Palestine), a hospital for disabled children in the refugee camp. It was impressive to see where and how they work. A lot of children are injured and/or traumatised through the fighting.
The sculpture of the horse is made of parts from an ambulance. It was shot at during the second intifada while trying to rescue injured people. It caught fire, but nobody was allowed to help.The second partner of the foundation is a NGO that does workshops with children about conflict solutions, how to deal with agressions and about creativity. Furthermore they organise summer camps for the kids.
We
then had a walk through the old and the new city, interrupted by coffee breaks at two shops of Bassams family and friends, very nice and Sebastian was close to becoming engaged!Jenin is a much more conservative place than Ramallah. Bars that serve beer would be destroyed the same day.
I also added some photos of the IT training center built by the Hans-Seidel-Foundation, it was partly destroyed by a rocket in 2005.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Independence Day
The running gag of the day: Celebrating the Palestinian Independence Day.
With water and electricity provided by Israel (no fountains may be digged without Israeli permission), checkpoints and Jews-only roads inside Westbank, no border autonomy, many illegal settlements occupying Palestinian land inside Westbank (which according to Peace Now grew around 8% last year allone), this "country" is all but independent. And the people nows it, of course, it is felt every day. Therefore, it is less a day of celebration, but more a day of motivation to go on with the struggle and to stay, although the situation does not seem to improve. And leave allone any kind of resistance against the Big Brother, the political fractions here are very good in weakening each other, as could be seen three days ago with the killings in Gaza.
With water and electricity provided by Israel (no fountains may be digged without Israeli permission), checkpoints and Jews-only roads inside Westbank, no border autonomy, many illegal settlements occupying Palestinian land inside Westbank (which according to Peace Now grew around 8% last year allone), this "country" is all but independent. And the people nows it, of course, it is felt every day. Therefore, it is less a day of celebration, but more a day of motivation to go on with the struggle and to stay, although the situation does not seem to improve. And leave allone any kind of resistance against the Big Brother, the political fractions here are very good in weakening each other, as could be seen three days ago with the killings in Gaza.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
AIESEC Work: Building the network
What about the real goal of the trip: Concluding the feasibility study and working with the team here?
Well, my work consists of meetings with the students, giving workshop, calling companies and NGOs and then preparing and meeting them (only one call was unsuccessful), preparing and sending proposals, communicating with the team in Berlin, thinking about and discussing project ideas and working on the team dynamics.
AIESEC Palestine is likely to happen, the companies like us very much and there are some very motivated students (among some less motivated ones). The external variable, politics, is the one I am concerned about. Will the political situation allow us to have a sustainable and fruitful project?
A normal day with AIESEC begins with either going to the university to meet the students and to call companies with them or to dress up and to go to a company visit.
Company meetings normaly last around 40 minutes, we meet the General Managers or the Head of the PR department. Mostly there is hardly any smalltalk at the beginning, but more straight to the point: Who are you, what can we do for you? We then introduce AIESEC and the extension project and explain what AIESEC does in general: International student exchange and personal development for our members, as well as skill trainings. It often takes a while to explain the idea of internships in a foreign country and internship in general, as it is a new idea to most companies. They love the concept of skill trainings and practical experience directly, as they see a lack of this in their new recruits.
Normally, we then talk a bit about the company and what they do to discover other opportunities for cooperation or we introduce the latter directly. In between, the secretary comes in and aks if we would like to drink something, tea or arabic coffee.
I sometimes connect the concept of traineeships with my personal experience in Cameroon. Furthemore it is quite a strong argument for cultural exchange if I tell them about the reactions of my family and friends before coming to Palestine and their and my perception of the occupation now.
As we are not yet an official extension, the meetings end with the common will to work together. But we do not define traineeship positions, everybody is urgently looking forward to March, when we hopefully will finally be able to start with the exchange programme. So, the follow up of the meetings consists of feedback among the participants, documentation and sending a proposal to the company so that they get some written information about AIESEC.
Well, my work consists of meetings with the students, giving workshop, calling companies and NGOs and then preparing and meeting them (only one call was unsuccessful), preparing and sending proposals, communicating with the team in Berlin, thinking about and discussing project ideas and working on the team dynamics.
AIESEC Palestine is likely to happen, the companies like us very much and there are some very motivated students (among some less motivated ones). The external variable, politics, is the one I am concerned about. Will the political situation allow us to have a sustainable and fruitful project?
A normal day with AIESEC begins with either going to the university to meet the students and to call companies with them or to dress up and to go to a company visit.
Company meetings normaly last around 40 minutes, we meet the General Managers or the Head of the PR department. Mostly there is hardly any smalltalk at the beginning, but more straight to the point: Who are you, what can we do for you? We then introduce AIESEC and the extension project and explain what AIESEC does in general: International student exchange and personal development for our members, as well as skill trainings. It often takes a while to explain the idea of internships in a foreign country and internship in general, as it is a new idea to most companies. They love the concept of skill trainings and practical experience directly, as they see a lack of this in their new recruits.
Normally, we then talk a bit about the company and what they do to discover other opportunities for cooperation or we introduce the latter directly. In between, the secretary comes in and aks if we would like to drink something, tea or arabic coffee.
I sometimes connect the concept of traineeships with my personal experience in Cameroon. Furthemore it is quite a strong argument for cultural exchange if I tell them about the reactions of my family and friends before coming to Palestine and their and my perception of the occupation now.
As we are not yet an official extension, the meetings end with the common will to work together. But we do not define traineeship positions, everybody is urgently looking forward to March, when we hopefully will finally be able to start with the exchange programme. So, the follow up of the meetings consists of feedback among the participants, documentation and sending a proposal to the company so that they get some written information about AIESEC.
Olive Harvest
Once a year around October it is time for the olive harvest. The quantity and quality of the harvest is said to alternate every year from poor to good. Many families have their own trees, sometimes more for
cultural reasons, sometimes as a secondary business.
Interrupted by many breaks to drink tea and coffee, the method of harvesting remains unchanged for millenia: Blankets are spread under the trees and people start to pick the olives manually from the twigs. The kids climb up the tree and ladders are u
sed to reach the furthest branches. When no more olives are visible, the sheets are used as bags for the olives and carried to the place for sorting: Either eating or oil production. Most farmers do not have an own press, but sell their olives to a local producer.
Fro
m my own experience I can tell you that it is fun for one day, although quite dusty and tiresome because of the sun. It is also a kind of family reunion, as everybody comes home to the village to help! Farmers also use to go to the universities to ask for volunteers. Some students who do not have to help their families volunteer as they get credit hours from the university.
And of course, politics also interferes: Some trees are very close to settlements and then there are often fights and even shootings, as the settlers try to disturb the harvest.
cultural reasons, sometimes as a secondary business.Interrupted by many breaks to drink tea and coffee, the method of harvesting remains unchanged for millenia: Blankets are spread under the trees and people start to pick the olives manually from the twigs. The kids climb up the tree and ladders are u
sed to reach the furthest branches. When no more olives are visible, the sheets are used as bags for the olives and carried to the place for sorting: Either eating or oil production. Most farmers do not have an own press, but sell their olives to a local producer.Fro
m my own experience I can tell you that it is fun for one day, although quite dusty and tiresome because of the sun. It is also a kind of family reunion, as everybody comes home to the village to help! Farmers also use to go to the universities to ask for volunteers. Some students who do not have to help their families volunteer as they get credit hours from the university.And of course, politics also interferes: Some trees are very close to settlements and then there are often fights and even shootings, as the settlers try to disturb the harvest.
