September 2016. Israel/Palestine. Our Palestinian guide- Husam Jubran & Israeli guide Yuval Ben-Ami, from the National Geographic. Wow, what an adventure!  I feel the need to express how thankful and happy I (and I think I can speak on behalf of Mrs G) are for having them with us on this trip. So privileged we were to have had such intelligent, down to earth people Educating us about this incredibly complex place called Israel/Palestine.

I was very apprehensive of this trip at first, and was quite unsure what to expect. Now writing this, after having experienced what I have, I can now say how happy I am that I did come on this eye opening experience.

Never have I seen such a broken, complicated country, but at the same time have such beauty. I guess in the Western world we don’t hear half the things that are actually going on in Husam and Yuval’s country. People really need to see this place to believe it.

Husam Jubran serves as a Representative in Palestine and Jordan for the Middle East/North Afica Social Innovators Program and is based in Palestine. He has a Master degree from Eastern Mennonite University in Conflict transformation & Peacebuilding, and a Diploma in Turism. Mr Jurban works also as an interfaith tour guide in the Holy Land and provides trainings in Conflict Management, Crisis Management, and Nonviolence. More about Husam – www.emu.edu/crossroads/spring2005/palestinian.html

Yuval Ben-Ami is an Author, journalist, traveler and cultural critic writes for the Hebrew edition of National Geographic magazine and has published a monthly column in the Hebrew edition of National Geographic Traveler . Born in Jerusalem, Yuval later moved to the United States and began writing for Israeli and international newspapers and magazines, among them Haaretz, the Boston Globe, and Yedioth Aharonot .His books include Susanna, Don’t you cry- a travelogue of the American South—Finnish Mythology, the novel I’ll meet you Halfway, and two travel books about Israel: Wonderland and A day on the Town. He also hosts a radio show and is a founder of the web magazine +972. Yuval’s work in conflict resolution began in 2000 at Jerusalem’s Youth Center of World Cultures, where he introduced Jewish high school students to Palestinian culture and narrative. He has since mediated, lectured, and trained in a number of forums, and appeared as guest speaker in numerous universities in Israel and abroad. Since 2007, he has also led cultural travel experiences, bringing individuals into areas they would not normally visit: Israelis into Hebron, Palestinians to Tel-Aviv, secular Jews to Meah Shearim, and so on, creating unique encounters.

Thank you Husam and Yuval, for such an Educational, marvellous trip!