Monday, October 19, 2009

Olive picking - Day 1

Just starting
Mid-morning
Finishing up
Our collective work

Heading out
The Olive Press

After what seemed like a very long half-day of picking, we visited a processing plant where olive oil is made. The press, which is a cooperative run to sustain a local economy, appears to enjoy the support, in various capacities, of the UNDP, USAID and Italy.

We've been told by our olive picking colleagues, who today over mujudara (lentils and rice) in the field sung "pick the olives" in, collectively, over five languages, that yesterday was much harder -- hotter, not as many olives, and closer to the border. Today was nice. Tomorrow, we've been reminded to bring our passports, as we'll be going through more than one checkpoint.

Still, despite the relative "ease" of today's work, I couldn't help but think about what it was like to be Ibrahim, who waved goodbye to us as we headed up the path to our bus.

1 comment:

  1. You're doing a great job with the pictures and description. Keep up the good work and give our best to all who have dedicated themselves to this effort.

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