Where I am

I have wanted to start writing for this blog for some while, but the electricity situation is terrible here in the strip.

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Zain Rasmi Abu Qasem, I’ll be 26 in October the 5th. My horoscope sign is Libra ( this might be irrelevant, but I consider it one of the important things in my personality). Anyhow, I am still single; therefore I don’t have any kind of commitments. I am a pure Palestinian, born raised and probably spend the rest of my life in Palestine.

I live in a very quiet and peaceful place called Deir El Balah; it's in the middle of the strip close to the sea, it well known for its beaches and date palm trees.

About my family I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters (5 brothers and sisters is a big family) my mother is a home worker and my father is a business man (he owns a factory for plastic printing and packaging) but it’s closed since the last year because of the complicated political and economical situation.

About my brothers and sisters: all of them are out of Gaza except my youngest sister and I, my older brother and sister are in United Arab Emirates UAE and the youngest in Cypress studying business there (he left Gaza by miracle - he waited 3 years to leave the strip)

Furthermore, education was an important phase in my life. I took my High school Diploma from Basheer Al Rayis Secondary School, Gaza. The hard part was when I left for the first time to Ramallah (I was 18 years old by then). Even though it was a small distance, but it was impossible to see my family during the whole period. This was the first time to be away from them, they were four hard years but it was all worth it. I got my Bachelors degree in Journalism from Birzeit University, also I got my professional diploma in Management of NGO's from El Aqsa university in Gaza.

I consider myself as a very responsible and social person. I find it very easy to adapt with any new atmosphere I go into. Moreover I am an independent, communicative person

What I have been through in this war has emphasized how desperately we need to live in peace, especially that we are living in the same area sharing so many common things such as water and borders, in addition to that in our Islamic believes Jews and Muslims are cousins.