Today I'm going to try to "make" olives. Saleh, the groundskeeper, helped me pick olives from the trees in the village today, and tried to explain the recipe, which I think I remember. 10 cups of water, 1 cup of white vinegar, a lemon, some crushed hot pepper, and a cup of salt. Not regular salt, like sea salt. I need to find some sea salt before my zeitoun are past the point of no return.

I'm going to Jordan tomorrow. I'm nervous about my re-entry being rejected, but I'm trying to keep a stiff upper lip. Jordan tomorrow, Bil'in on Friday, and a tour of the Jordan Valley with my students tomorrow.

It's good!