Four Palestinians in Trièves, January 16–24, 2009
Zaid, Abdul Hamid, Mahmoud (the son), and Juma arrived in Monestier-de-Clermont late in the afternoon on Friday, January 16. After two days of travel, they landed around noon with Mahmoud at Geneva Airport, where Béatrice and Justine picked them up and drove them to Château de Bardonenche in Monestier.
It was cold outside and the fields were covered with snow, but Thierry’s house in Monestier-de-Clermont was warm, and all their friends were there. People from Trièves—André, Lucien, Carmen, Marie-Jeanne, and Marie—were waiting for them. Everyone was very happy to see their friends from Al-Ma’sara again. Tired after two days of travel, they soon left with the families who would host them during their stay in Trièves: Zaid and Abdul Hamid stayed with Lucien and Carmen, while Mahmoud (the son) and Juma stayed with Béatrice. It was a long night of rest.
Saturday, January 17
After going cross-country skiing in Tréminis with the Leenhardt family (four people), along with Kathy, Henriette, and Daniel, the group was joined by the Mayor of Tréminis, members of the municipal council, and several local residents who came to share a picnic they had prepared.
Later, some of them went to Grenoble to take part in a demonstration against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. In the evening, around 80 people from Trièves joined the four Palestinians at “Chante Matin” in Saint-Sébastien to share a meal (couscous), watch a slideshow about Al-Ma’sara, and discuss the situation and the conflict.
Sunday, January 18
After an enjoyable morning, the group went to Mens to the farm of the Nicolas family. They had lunch there with members of a Palestinian group in Grenoble, and then visited the farm where saffron is grown.
Monday, January 19
9:30 – 11:00: The first French class with Marie and Claudia at the Espace Culturel in Mens.
After that, Justine picked them up and took them to the home of Patrick and Bernadette in Envers, a small village in Trièves near the Vercors mountain range.
Despite the bad weather, the group headed to Col de Menée, where they went cross-country skiing to a small cabin below the Col de Gypaète, where they could walk around. The fog and the silence of winter created a strange atmosphere. Despite the wind, the cold, and the limited visibility, everyone seemed happy. What felt particularly unusual was that, in the middle of thick fog in France, there were four Palestinians from Al-Ma’sara.
After lunch, we talked with Juma while the boys were throwing snowballs at each other. Juma told stories that moved us deeply and explained more about their situation as Palestinians, which he described as unbearable. He said that no matter what they do, everyone is collectively affected and that the situation is not improving.
On the way back, we stopped at André’s house in Mens, and later a woman who lives in La Croix invited everyone to have dinner at her home.
Tuesday, January 20
9:30 – 11:00: French class at Granjou in Monestier-de-Clermont with Marie and Claudia.
Afterward, Claudia took the Palestinians to Clelles to see the “Flying Machines” by Serge Renault.
At noon, Sarah and Jean-Pierre Harold, along with some friends, prepared a wonderful meal for all of us at their home in Le Percy. Discussions continued until 3:00 PM, after which we went to the municipal library, where Gisèle and Sandrine explained how things work. We also saw the temporary basket-weaving exhibition.
Patricia Floret took this opportunity to present at the library—a silk-screen poster of the famous Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, in the presence of Mayor Guillaume Gontard. André read the poem, and Juma translated it, appearing deeply moved.
Later, we went to the Percy community center, where villagers and the mayor suggested sharing the “Galette des Rois” (to celebrate the Christian Feast of the Epiphany). From Percy, we walked several kilometers to Patrick’s farm in Longefonds, where the Palestinians helped milk the cows after visiting the farm.
After dinner at Catherine and Patrick’s, we shelled walnuts, all while singing in both Arabic and French. Surely the walls still echo with our songs.
Wednesday, January 21
9:30 – 11:00: French class at Granjou in Monestier-de-Clermont with Marie and Claudia.
Then, Liliane led our friends to Gresse for cross-country skiing and a hike. This was followed by a snack at Rivoiranche, the cultural center for theater and a restaurant run by Beatrice.
Mahmoud arrived in Mens around 1:30 PM with Anik Keren.
At 6:00 PM, a reception was held for mayors and elected officials of the Trièves region at the Clelles town hall, and the day ended with dinner in Villard-Julien in Gérard.
Thursday, January 22
9:30 – 11:00: French class at Granjou in Monestier with Marie and Claudia.
André and Beatrice took the Palestinians to Grenoble for lunch at Karkadé restaurant, with teens from the UNESCO club present.
After lunch, André led a guided tour of Grenoble.
Dinner was at Saint-Sébastien in Joelle Jail’s home.
Friday, January 23
9:30 – 11:00: French class at Granjou with Marie and Claudia.
At noon, we were invited to lunch at the Longo home in Mens. Rocco Longo and his wife, Gisèle, encouraged a trip to Al-Ma’sara to help install water pipes for the medical center. The meal helped establish the first connections.
In the afternoon, we were invited to the middle school in Monestier-de-Clermont by the principal, Mr. Lacroix. The advisor, Ms. Dineau, showed us around. The Palestinians were impressed with the resources available to students, especially technology and documentation tools.
They were invited to a history and geography class with Mr. Cudel, followed by rich exchanges with younger students (ages 11–12), particularly Zaid, of the same age, about lifestyle, school subjects, and so on. Later, with guidance from educational supervisors Guillaume and Antoine, they met the older students.
This time, the questions focused on the tangible situation in Al-Ma’sara and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (confiscation of farmland, the wall, roadblocks, difficulties commuting to work, ID checks, and other hardships).
Ms. Dineau presented the Palestinians with a poem by Jacques Brel titled “Je vous souhaite”, which seemed to deeply move them.