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  • We arrive at our apartment in East Jerusalem, a disputed area between Israelis and Palestinians.
  • Our colleagues welcome us at our apartment. It is even better than in pictures. 
  • Maleaha’s luggage plan was perfect. Still barren, but we have all the essentials, including kitchen gear. 
  • We take a driving tour of nearby supermarkets for essentials. They seem to have everything but meat. 
  • Our first meals: falafel for lunch and dinner. Lena has mac n' cheese from a box… ahlan, baby! 
  • Garden full of trees: olives, figs, lemons, others to be identified later. And two tortoises we named Shelly and Diesel. 
  • Watched the sunset from the neighbourhood park, which is a rare green space in this area. 
  • Palestinian families also come to the park to relax in the evening and children come to invite Lena in Arabic. 
  • The park includes a famous abstract statue (“Emouna” by Alexander Liebermann) known as the Elephant or Toilet Paper Rolls. 
  • Slept with window open to the sound of horns blaring, punctured only by ambulance sirens and racing motorcycles.
Location: Jerusalem

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