“Hello! My name is Stephanie Carpenter, and I am from Germany and England. I am currently doing a four-year master’s degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies, and I came to the Excellence Center in Hebron to improve my Levantine Arabic dialect (language skills).
I did a lot of research to find a course that suited me and found that the Excellence Center not only gave a wide variety of options in their courses but also offered flexibility within their curriculum.
Once I found the center, I was determined to go and it was the best decision I made to improve my Arabic.
I had already studied Levantine Arabic for one year, and I was unsure if the classes would match my level, but my teacher, Mahmoud, and my class suited me perfectly. And even though I was with the Center for a short time, I learned a lot and laughed a lot in my classes. Every morning, I had Levantine Arabic from 8:30-12 with breaks for food and coffee, and the afternoons were filled with trips to the city of Hebron. On my first day, we went to Al Fawwar Refugee camp, where I learned a lot about the reality of living in these areas and the struggles they face daily.
This was really important for me as I believe that hearing about their experiences is the best way to get a real understanding of the situation.
Another trip was to the Old City of Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque, both of which were incredible to see firsthand. In between the big trips, we also had some lovely events at the center, including traditional Palestinian music and Maqloubah for dinner. This was a lovely way to chat with others in different programs.
One of the things I loved most about the Center is the kindness and friendliness of the staff, teachers, and students which gives such a welcoming atmosphere. But everyone you meet in Palestine is extremely polite and willing to help whether you are speaking English or Arabic. I’ve never felt unsafe or insecure during my time here and I couldn’t recommend coming to Hebron enough.
Additionally, staying with a host family was such a unique way of getting to know the food and culture of Palestine. I can honestly say from the first day I felt extremely at home and very comfortable, which is very important when travelling as a solo woman. I can’t wait to come back again to Hebron and to the center, and I will definitely be staying for longer next time!
Pros
- Excellent teaching
- experiencing new culture, food, and meeting some amazing people
- Welcoming community
Cons
- I wouldn’t change a thing!”
by: Stephanie Carpenter, from Germany and England
