October 25, 2010 by kaleidoscopefuzz

How To Make Turkish Coffee

Here in Palestine, coffee is a MAJOR part of our life. We drink it first thing in the morning, second thing in the morning, after lunch, whenever people come to visit, at work during meetings, to resolve disputes, at weddings, at funerals…Yep, we pretty much drink it all the time. In Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, locals tend to drink a Turkish style of coffee made from a combination of brown and black beans and ground until extremely fine and soft.

When people from outside the Arab world come to visit us, they often develop a taste for this style of coffee but have difficulty making it themselves. We often get asked the same series of questions: how many spoons of coffee should I use? How long should I keep the coffee on the stove before it’s done? How do you keep it from overflowing and making a huge mess? Well now, thanks to Radio Lajee’s Layan Azzeh, all will be revealed in this cute, instructional video of hers. If you enjoy watching it and find it helpful, don’t forget to leave a comment for her below.

Happy coffee making!

July 28, 2010 by lajee

Afif’s Story

In 1948 the year of the Nakba, Afif Gatasha was just six months old. In this recording, he shares the very personal and moving story of his life from then until now.

Sound recording: Layan Al Azza

Click Here To Show Transcript

I want to speak about myself – how my family left our village and became refugees. My family was living in Beit Jebreen village to the west of Hebron about 25 kilometers. At that time, my father and my mother were married two years earlier and I was the first one – and the only one – for them. When the conflict began, some aero-planes came to our villages and dropped many bombs around the village and inside the villages and from that, some massacres happened… And some villagers, they were afraid. So, un-weaponed people went out of the village to save themselves and they thought after one week or more or less, we will return to our villages. They don’t have anything only their clothes.

When the problem took a longer time, my father was at that time about 27 years old and he went with his uncle – who was a friend of his around the same age – to the village to bring something from our house. When they entered at night there was a … a wire. But they didn’t see it, yeah? And there was a mine at the entrance to the house. Yeah the mine exploded and a wall fell on the 2 persons and they died at that time. My mother and my grandfather, (my uncles also) know or heard from some people who went to the village that my father and my uncle had died and my grandfather went to the village and made a grave for the 2 persons and returned.

Yeah we stayed refugees beside our village for about six or seven months. After that, we heard that UNRWA established a camp south of Hebron. So we joined the camp. I lived in the camp at that time – I was small, but I remember everything from my childhood at that time. We walked in the streets without shoes, with old clothes. But, the main thing that I thank UNRWA for is the education, really. They established schools. But at that time, the schools were in tents also. Yeah, when I was in the first and the second class I remember that when we sat on the desk – especially in winter we had to raise our legs so that the icy water went under our feet.

After that, in ’56 when the issue was [still] not resolved, UNRWA helped the people to build shelters. The family with six persons was given one room for everything. The families with 6 – 12 persons were given 2 rooms.

But in ’67, when the Arab Israeli conflict happened – the war and Israel occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip after that I decided to go to Beit Jebreen so I can see the village and visit my father’s grave. At that time really I got a big shock because I can’t enter the village because it’s demolished – all of it! And, there’s a fence around the village. This is the bad thing that I remember every time, that I can’t visit my father’s grave.

I continued with my studies at the Fawwar Camp from first grade until year 9 and then after that I went to Hebron to study from years 9 – 12. I then went also to the Teachers’ Institute in Ramallah which UNRWA is responsible for. I worked as a teacher for about 25 years, for seven of them I was a school supervisor for physical education. And then I worked here as a Camp Services Officer or the Director of Aida Camp and Al Azzeh Camps. Then I retired.

When I was working with UNRWA I continued my studies at Arab Beirut University in Law. In ’72 I married the head teacher of Fawwar Camp Girls’ School; I have three boys and one girl. Two of them are doctors, one is an engineer and my daughter is a pharmacist.

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December 28, 2008 by kaleidoscopefuzz

THE CATS AND THE WALL by Mohammad “Mousa” Waleed

18-year old Mohamad Waleed, aka Mousa, wanted to produce a story about the controversial Israeli Separation Wall, which is hardly surprising given it surrounds two sides of Aida Refugee Camp in which he lives. What is surprising however, is the way he decided to present his story; electing to write a play about a cavalier cat that likes to walk…

Although written in English for an English speaking audience, it uses a number of colloquial Arabic words and phrases. So, as an added bonus, you’ll get to learn a little of the language spoken on the street in Palestine!

(Mousa also designed and photoshopped the image at the top of this post.)

Click Here To Show Transcript

(opens with music by Raafat al Hajan)

NARRATOR: Once upon a time there was a cat called Mousa. He was a black and white coloured cat with scruffy hair. Mousa the cat liked to walk. One day, he walked down the street and bumped into Fareed- a kitten, who was sitting down in the gutter looking sad.

MOUSA: Hey Fareed, what’s happening?

FAREED: I want to play football. But, there’s no where to play here in the camp since they built the wall…And I don’t get to see my friends now.

MOUSA: Where did you play before?

FAREED: We played in the field over there. The only place to play now is on the street and my parents won’t let me because they think it’s too dangerous with all the cars.

MOUSA: Hey Fareed, don’t be sad. Every time life gets me down, I go for a walk.

(clicks fingers)

MOUSA: Walk with me.

(sound of tabla)

NARRATOR: The cats walk off together and walk past the mosque. They notice Fatima, an old lady cat struggling with her groceries.

(sound of walking and rustling shopping bags)

FATIMA: Ye sitt-tee my son, can you please help me carry the fruit and vegetables.

MOUSA: Mashi, sitt-ee. Grandmother, I am happy to help you.

(sound of shopping bags exchanging hands)

NARRATOR: On the walk to her house, Mousa notices that Fatima looks sad.

MOUSA: Sitt-ee, why are you sad?

FATIMA: W’alla el mote arr hum ye-sitt-tee. Every Friday I used to go to al-Aqsa Mosque. I am now 87 and would love to see it again (coughs) before I die. But because of the wall, (coughs) I can’t go anywhere near it.

FAREED: W’alla ye-sitt-tee, I miss the Kayk Jerusalem.

MOUSA: Ye-sitt-tee, every time life gets me down, I go for a walk. Come for a walk with us!

FATIMA: Ye-sitt-tee I am very tired, (coughs) I just want to stay in my home.

MOUSA: Marshi Sitt-tee. It’s OK. We will go now. Salaam!

FAREED: Salaam sittee

FATIMA: Ma’salaamah. Shokran. Goodbye and thank you.

(sound of tabla)

NARRATOR: Mousa and Fareed continue on their walk.

FAREED: Mousa, I’m hungry meow, meow.

MOUSA: OK. Let’s go to eat felafel. Yalla!

NARRATOR: The two cats walk to their favourite felafel shop in Bethlehem. Only to find Saleh, the owner, has already closed.

(sound of theme music)

MOUSA: Al-arf-yeh

SALEH: Allo Mousa, a Zedaq-afee

MOUSA: Why is the shop not open? It’s only early!

SALEH: Because…there’s no point anymore. I have to close. I can not afford to keep going. Actually, since The Wall was built, I’m just not getting the same level of business. No tourists come here anymore, they all stay in Jerusalem…and I have a big family to support, so it’s time – I think – to search for new work.

MOUSA: Every time life gets me down, I go for a walk. Come for a walk with us!

FAREED: But, I’m very hungry…Where can I go to eat?

MOUSA: Khallas, it’s OK. Come Fareed! Come to my home to eat. Let’s walk!

(sound of tabla)

NARRATOR: The pair walk to Mousa The Cat’s house. When they get there, Sara – Mousa’s sister, is sitting on the computer.

MOUSA: Marhabba!

SARA: Ahlain. Oh Fareed habibi, how are you?

MOUSA: Fareed today…is not good. But now I think he’s better.

SARA: Meow…Laish?

FAREED: Because I can’t see my friend anymore, he lives in Jerusalem. And now because of the wall, I can’t go and play with him, meow.

SARA: W’alla! Like me. My best friend, who used to study with me at my school lives on the other side of the wall. Meow. Now I can only chat to her on MSN Messenger and the phone. Don’t be sad Fareed. It’s normal. It’s life. You can always play with Mousa.

MOUSA: Sara Khallas. I didn’t bring Fareed here to be sad. We’re here to eat.

SARA: OK, our mother made Maqlouba, I will bring some for you.

(sound of theme music)

NARRATOR: Mousa and Fareed eat together and decide after the day they have shared to become friends.

That night, Fareed had a dream. He dreamt that the wall fell down and he was able to play football in the field next to the camp and to visit his friend.

Over the next few days, weeks and months, the pair were seen together on many a long walk.

THE END

The cast in order of appearance:

Narrator		Rowayed Nidal
Mousa		Mohamad Waleed
Fareed		Mohamad Waleed
Fatima		Linda Al Azzeh
Saleh		Nidal Al Azza
Sara		Amal Abu Srour

Glossary of Arabic words and phrases used in this radio play:

Ye sittee		A term of endearment used between the old and the young
Mashi		Sure, will do
W’alla el mote arr hum		I swear to God, this life is worse than death
Kayk Jerusalem		A delicious Palestinian sweet
Salaam		Literally means peace but used daily as a ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ greeting
Y’alla		Lets’ go / move
Al arf yeh		To your health
A Zedaq Afee		Good health to you too
Khallas		Enough / Finish / Finished
Marhabba		Hello
Ahlain		Welcome
Habibi		Sweetie / darling
Laish		Why
W’alla		I swear to God
Maqlouba		A popular Palestinian dish made with chicken, rice and vegetables

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December 17, 2008 by kaleidoscopefuzz

A DAY IN THE LIFE by Saja Ajarma

Like all teenagers, 14 year old Saja Ajarma, is concerned about how other people perceive her. Specifically the western world…She wants people to understand that she, like all of her friends, are normal kids – with the same past times, dreams and interests, as other youth living outside of the West Bank. That is why she prepared this story about a particularly average day in her life.

Click Here To Show Transcript

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Radio Lajee

English Language Podcasts Created By Palestinian Refugee Kids From The West Bank Bethlehem

Everyday Life

How To Make Turkish Coffee

Afif’s Story

THE CATS AND THE WALL by Mohammad “Mousa” Waleed

A DAY IN THE LIFE by Saja Ajarma