Imagine you come to Jerusalem. If you've ever been there you probably entered the city via Yafo Gate next to King Davids Citadell. If you don't want to buy pashmina, spices, pomegrate juice or pictures of Saints you will try to make your way through the backalley streets of Jerusalem with their shady corners and ramps on every single step of the many stairs. You will see the Fan of the airconditioning in front of every window, the sattelite dishes reaching over the roof and the famous light sandstone which turns a bit gold in the sunset. After wallking for a while you are close to the Dome of the Rock, the golden roofed icon of Jerusalem. turn left and go on. Now you are on Via Dolorosa, the street which marks the way Jesus had to take carrying the cross. And just a few meters after Station I you will see the lions gate. This is where I started looking for the Dom people today.

Here are no shops and no open doors. The streets appear almost like boulevards compared to all those areay where the shops specialities narrow the street into a slim walkway. The houses consist of walls, mostely. Right now I can't remember how the windows looked and if there were any but the doors were all made of heavy metall and without an possibility to look in. Some women were outside, three men unloaded a truck of softdrinks (even though there was no restaurant or bar) and a lot of children cruised the streets.
Some of them were curious about me and tried their english on me. With everyone understanding a little bit and a lot of arguing they finally decided to take me to Amoun Sleem, whose name I had mentioned. It took them only two doorbells to ring to find someone who knew the name and where to take me. Thats how I met C.

C is the sister of Amoun and invited me into her house immediatly. She offered a tea and her niece quickly changed into other clothes to take me to the Dom Society Center. Up to this moment I had always located the center in the old town, but it moved far up north, almost 20 minutes away by bus.
Amoun was very interested and polite but also a little bit afraid that I might take advantage of her generosity. I hope that I can proove in the time coming that I really have better intentions.
We decided to meet regulary for interviews and that I can help her with the work at the center perhaps. Finally I got the book about the Dom I wanted to read all the time but which weren't available in Germany. Thats what I'll tell about tomorrow!