Maxine Dannatt
1-Tell us a little about yourself.
I graduated from McGill in 2017 with a double major in English Literature and Middle Eastern Studies, within which I was studying Arabic. Since graduating, I have been working as the Public Funding Coordinator at a local Montreal music and arts festival called POP Montreal.
2-What got you into studying in Palestine? How did you discover the institute you went to study in?
I grew up in the States and then moved to France for high school, where I first learned about the Palestinian struggle for self-determination during a history course called the Arab-Israeli conflict. Before then I had only heard the American narrative of the conflict that positioned Palestinians as terrorists and that more largely framed the conflict as a reaction to their terrorism. This history course allowed me to start untangling and understanding the ways in which Palestine had been represented to me growing up- I was also lucky enough to have a friend who sat next to me in class and whispered to me anytime she disagreed with the teacher’s zionist historical interpretations! All of this left me wanting to learn Arabic and learn more about Palestine. In my second year of university I bumped into a friend at McLennan Library and she offhandedly recommended that I look into Birzeit University’s Palestinian and Arabic Studies Program (PAS). It was from that encounter that I decided that I wanted to study Arabic there and contact OASIS at McGill for doing a Study Away there. So really, I just have very wise friends!
3-What was your favorite experience there?
(Note that I am talking about travelling in the West Bank)
I think a common misconception is that it is a dangerous place to travel and the cause of the danger is often misconceived. Obviously those travelling to the West Bank should be aware that it is a different context to travel there than in Canada (for example) because the territory is militarily occupied by Israel and those living in the West Bank have a right to protest the occupation- often these protests are the danger that people think of when they think about travelling in Palestine. In the West Bank these protests normally happen on Fridays at set hours and places and are therefore easy to avoid, which you should do if you are a foreigner visiting the region. (Don’t engage in adventure tourism!) The only time I felt unsafe in the West Bank was when we were confronted by the Israeli army who are at checkpoints and who often raid cities that legally should only be Palestinian-controlled. Like when you visit any other country, as long as you are mindful of the context of the region that you are in and are respectful of that, you should be safe.
4-What are some of the biggest misconceptions that people have about traveling in Palestine?
My favorite experience was probably then time when I went camping with a Palestine is so beautiful, I don’t think I can pinpoint only one favourite experience. I feel so lucky to have been able to meet so many wonderful people during my time there, who were incredibly generous with their friendship and who took me to places I would never have experienced otherwise: I lived in Nablus for a bit and volunteered at the Nablus Cultural Festival, I was invited to sunset barbecues in the valley outside of Ramallah and I hiked through Wadi Qelt with the Right to Movement crew. Ok fine, if I really have to choose, my favourite experience was eating Musakhan at Hosh Al Yasmine in Beit Jala.
5-What do you feel was your biggest personal accomplishment?
I was proud of the fact that I could hold a basic conversation in Arabic by the time I left and that I ran 10k in the Palestine Marathon!
6-What do you find inspirational about doing an internship there? Did your experience inspire you for any future plans?
The internship inspired me for future plans. While taking notes during Studying in Palestine was wonderful but also heartbreaking- there are so many injustices that Palestinians have to confront everyday that you can learn about and empathize with as a foreigner, but that you don’t have to confront for long because at the end of the day you have the privilege of being able to leave again. I am humbled by my time spent there, frustrated by the circumstances under which Palestinians have to live and unsure how to use the word “inspired” in this context except that maybe it inspired in me more of an awareness of the political forces that shape the world around us, and a desire to question those.
7-If you could talk to your past self, what’s your advice for prior travel to Palestine?
I would pack warmer clothes for the winter months! I was not expecting it to be as cold as it was, (it snowed in my first week in Ramallah!) and most of the housing there is not insulated so it is often colder inside houses than outside of them.
8-Last but not least, what advice would you give to future McGill students seeking to study away or intern in Palestine?
Be aware of the political situation there before you go and listen to people when you are there, try to speak as much Arabic as possible even if you sound like a fool and take the service to travel around the West Bank!
Part II – Questions regarding the application procedure
1- How did you apply to the school?
I had to get Birzeit University approved as a Study Away school by McGill University first and then applied using the instructions on the website. Birzeit University should now be on the Study Away drop down menu on Minerva.
2- How was the visa application process? What did you do to get it?
You get a three month travel visa from the Israeli airport in order to get into the country- it’s up to you whether you want to disclose at the airport that you will be studying in the West Bank or not.
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