Our olive harvesting experience in the Jenin area was so enjoyable and fascinating.  A very close-knit three generation family welcomed us with big smiles began training us regarding the picking of the olives.  The grandmother sat on a mat while kindling a small fire with olive branches brought to her by the children.  The younger ones would snuggle next to her off and on-loving her hugs, plus taking short naps as they nestled their heads in her lap. Then they would scurry around gathering olives on the ground, placing then in the center o a larger mat. They were always smiling as they helped all of us.  One toddler has also learned to hit the olive trees with a small stick, causing the olives to fall to the ground. The children were never bored.

To prepare for the picking procedure, large plastic sheets were place under each tree. Women used hand-held comb-like devices to scrape olives from the branches. Men used ladders to climb to the tops of the trees. A few of us sang folk songs as we worked (sort of like the seven dwarfs ho whistled while they worked!)

After a tree was stripped of its olives, the sheets were folded over the olives and carried to a burlap bag for further transfer.

The grandmother served hot mint tea during our mid-morning break.  She had been steaming the water over her small fire,then pouring it into an ancient-looking tea kettle.

At noon, the father served lunch on another tarp, filled with a variety of vegetable spreads, fruit, sliced eat and falafal.  The family and guests sat in a large circle around the food.

After 3-4 bags were filed with olives we experienced a warm good-bye, exchanging may hugs and,kisses and the familiar "shukron" (thank you.) Theirs was probably the happiest family I've ever seen-an experience I will never forget.

Jane Foster