(The sounds of everyday life in the camp; kids playing in the streets, fruit vendors selling their wares fade into the distance. In their place, we hear wind blowing through leaves in the trees.)
Shoroq:
The crowd is gone now.
There’s no one in the streets.
No children in the alleyways.
Silence has taken control of the alleyways.
(Lone car sound)
And in the city, no body’s here.
I hear no voices.
(Extended silence)
This universal shift in daily life is thanks to a glorious event. In Palestine, the World Cup is as momentous as a new birth.
(Sounds of people cheering and watching the game)
The Cup started in 1930, I wasn’t alive yet, but i have lived to see 4 great championships.
I watched France win in 1998, Brazil take the world cup in 2002 and in 2006 watched as Italy won for the fourth time. And this year finally in 2010, Spain were the champions!
(The sounds of a sports announcer commenting on the Spain Grand Final)
I was excited when competition began, but I was even more excited about the final game.
That day almost all of the restaurants would have been full, they would have showed the game on a big screen and the excitement would have been huge when Iniesta Kicked the Ball (The sound of a crowd in a restaurant in Bethlehem reacting to the kick)
And after the game, Bethlehem – my town, like every city in Palestine, would have gone crazy!
(Sounds of many honking cars in the streets, people cheering)
And most importantly for us, for a moment we have had a break from politics here in Palestine.
I am a Lajee is a poem composed by Yahia Da’ajna, who is a resident of Aida Refugee Camp. The poem reflects the life of a Palestinian Refugee. Listen to the voices of Lajee Center’s youth; Amal Abu Srour, Ranya Rumi, Warda Saqir, Mohammad Waleed, Abdul Fattah Da’ajna, & Kholoud Al Ajarma narrating this poem and give a hand for freedom and justice in Palestine!
