Today was a Palestinian holiday. Who knew? I certainly didn't.
As I was walking to the office this morning it felt like something was off. It was a little quieter than usual: not as many cars on the road, not as many people out and about, not so many people trying to sell me stuff on the sidewalk. I also noticed there were some police out in the city center and what looked like a demonstration setting up. So lots of things are running through my head: Closure? Strike? I carried on and walked into the office. No one is there. The offices are locked and there's one guy scurrying about. I asked him what was up, and he replied, "we're off today, it's Labor Day!" Okay? So I turn around and start walking back to my apartment wondering what Palestinians do on Labor Day. In the US it's a three-day weekend of drinking beer and grilling stuff. Well, as I approached the park I was hearing music and cheerful voices, so I'm thinking, "here's my answer to what people do on Labor Day!" As I got closer, the music sounded familiar, but it a very out-of-context sort of way. The park speakers were blaring "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" and the shrubberies were adorned with balloons and crate paper. Little boys and girls were dressed in their best pastel dresses and bonnets and were carrying Easter baskets. So I can only surmise that on Labor Day in Palestine, people celebrate Easter.
Later in the day I went out for coffee. This same kid has been trying to sell me what I can only assume is the same package of Wrigley's Spearmint gum for over two weeks. This evening he tried to push it on me again. I declined his offer and kept walking when he grabbed for my wallet. That's just not good business ethics. And I was even starting to think about buying that damn gum... His loss.
As I was walking to the office this morning it felt like something was off. It was a little quieter than usual: not as many cars on the road, not as many people out and about, not so many people trying to sell me stuff on the sidewalk. I also noticed there were some police out in the city center and what looked like a demonstration setting up. So lots of things are running through my head: Closure? Strike? I carried on and walked into the office. No one is there. The offices are locked and there's one guy scurrying about. I asked him what was up, and he replied, "we're off today, it's Labor Day!" Okay? So I turn around and start walking back to my apartment wondering what Palestinians do on Labor Day. In the US it's a three-day weekend of drinking beer and grilling stuff. Well, as I approached the park I was hearing music and cheerful voices, so I'm thinking, "here's my answer to what people do on Labor Day!" As I got closer, the music sounded familiar, but it a very out-of-context sort of way. The park speakers were blaring "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" and the shrubberies were adorned with balloons and crate paper. Little boys and girls were dressed in their best pastel dresses and bonnets and were carrying Easter baskets. So I can only surmise that on Labor Day in Palestine, people celebrate Easter.
Later in the day I went out for coffee. This same kid has been trying to sell me what I can only assume is the same package of Wrigley's Spearmint gum for over two weeks. This evening he tried to push it on me again. I declined his offer and kept walking when he grabbed for my wallet. That's just not good business ethics. And I was even starting to think about buying that damn gum... His loss.
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