Written by one of our volunteers – Jade from Belgium
If there is one thing you will notice about the Palestinian people is that they are very hospitable and very welcoming. So it is not so surprising that the experience at a host family is amazing. Before going, you can have worries about it or feel ill at ease, question if you’re not intruding in someone’s family and what about your own privacy? Well, let me convince you why it is much better at a host family for the following five reasons.
First of all, maybe the most obvious reason is that you get to be immersed in the Palestinian culture. This way you can experience what everyday life in Palestine is like. You might notice that their life is not that different from yours, because everyone has to work, eat and sleep or you might notice differences you never thought of. Very soon you will be part of that everyday Palestinian life and get to enjoy it. You also get to exchange stories, learn about their habits and culture and get to exchange your own. For me, the most striking was how close the family was. They are so sweet, give each other daily hugs and hold a lot of importance to family time. It’s something I will take home with me and try never to forget how important this can be.
Another reason that it is good to be immersed in the culture is that if you want to learn Arabic, you pick up new words quicker. They are always there to help or teach you new things and you can practice speaking it. It is a very interesting, but also a very hard language to learn, so to be exposed to it all the time can be useful. And even if learning the language is not your main reason to come to Palestine, you can go back home and surprise people and show off with some Palestinian dialect and expressions.
The third reason is the amazing food you get to try. They don’t have to give you anything, but if there is one thing certain here in Palestine is that you can never be hungry or thirsty. Being with a host family does not only feel like the saying, my house is your house, but also feels like you are their guest so you can never fall short of anything. You get to try their amazing food, not to mention the great coffee and tea. It is also the mecca for the real sweet tooth. I got to try all sorts of typical food and desserts of the Middle-eastern kitchen and even as a vegetarian you won’t go hungry. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to get food when I got to stay with a host family, but it was a very lovely surprise. So if this didn’t convince you yet, then I have two more reasons to reassure you.
In a lot of especially western countries we are very attached to our privacy, and so it can feel strange to have to live with another family. But don’t worry, they don’t expect anything of you, you don’t have to be part of the family activities. If you need your privacy or quiet moment, it’s no problem to retreat to your room. You are free to come and go, but they do want you to have a good time and not lack anything. And so, you will probably end up enjoying being a part of their life much more than you anticipated. It will be more likely that you are grateful to end up in such a great host family and not in an apartment by yourself.
The last reason is for me personally the best one. It is one of the reasons why your time in Hebron will become so nice. You get not only to live with your host family, but also to be part of it. Hence the final reason is that you get to gain an extra family. I can not stress enough how kind and welcoming they are. You will never feel lonely. It’s something you will have to experience yourself, but the probability of you wanting to return I can say is very high!
How to apply or request more information?
Please email Mr. Tamimi, at info@gopalestine.org. Please type “Teach English in The West Bank Program” in the subject line. In the body of the email, tell us of your interest, ask any questions you may have, and request an application. Very shortly, we will reply to you.