The Beauty of World Pulse

Dear All,

I realize we are going to be having a wrap up call but I feel that I want to say more then I probably will be allowed (time-wise) on the call.

It has been an honor to be part of World Pulse, and especially to be a VOF correspondent. I have learned so much, more then I expected to learn when I first started the program. WP is a great place to find support, encouragement, and understanding. Even if the people around me do not quite understand what I am doing, at least you all do.

I am so impressed with how organized the whole VOF program is. It is incredible!! The modules are so detailed, and the extra links inside each module were so helpful. And I can never forget Rachael and Scott............you guys never let an email go unanswered, or failed to encourage.

Having the support and the encouragement of my editorial midwife and mentor has been so great. I felt that there were / are these two ladies who really, really care about me..........it was not just a job for them.........they truly care.

My editorial midwife, Rosemary, has been so good to me. She has guided me in the right direction, stayed up late or woke early to read my assignments or talk on Skype before I would submit them. We had many laughs about our pets and kids who always seemed to act up just as we would begin to talk.

I spoke to my mentor, Pat, about an idea that has been floating in my head for over a year, and she gave me the encouragement to go forward with it. She told me to take tiny steps first, and she was so right. I keep her wise words in my mind. My Israeli friend and I are going to start making stuffed toys, pillows, and other kinds of gifts for sick children who come to Israeli hospitals from Palestine / Gaza for treatment. Many of them come for long periods of time, and come with practically nothing and knowing no one. We hope that our small gifts will make them feel a bit better, and let them realize that someone cares. What we eventually want to do is to get more women - Arab and Israeli - to join us in this and / or other things, and do something for the good of kids from both sides. Thanks to Pat, I didn't let go of this idea.

I finally broke down and opened a Facebook account, and also a Twitter account. And I am going to start a blog about Palestine ........the heritage, culture, the villages, etc.

One of the biggest challenges for me was making my video, but at least I now know how to go about making one.

My challenges.............

*** I could not transfer the first interview into my camera.
*** The second interview did not work out because a family member of the lady that I was going to interview died that day.
*** The third interview did not work out because the husband of the lady I was going to interview went to the emergency room the morning of the interview (and I drove 40 minutes to get to her!)
*** The fourth interview did not work out with my mother-in-law because she went to the hospital that morning (and is still there

My family now considers me a witch, and are telling me to stay away from them !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another bit of good news is that I am going to write for Cristi from Global Press Institute.

I just want to express my gratitude to all of you who have been by my side these past months. It has been a great journey, and I am so happy to have shared it with you all.

Much love,
Noreen