Duma – Ibtihaj Berat Homestay

Ibtihaj is a calm and social woman who currently focuses on raising her five young children. She also gives English language courses for groups and individuals. In her free time, she likes to meet with her friends and neighbors.

Ibtihaj and her husband have hosted visitors in Duma, a tranquil agricultural village in the vicinity of Nablus for several years. It was important for Ibtihaj to see if her children would be comfortable with the family having guests participating in their daily activities. When she saw that the children enjoyed meeting different people, she decided to continue offering homestays for visitors.

Ibtihaj and her family are glad for the cultural exchange between them and the visitors, with whom they often stay in touch long after their visit is over. She is happy to have conversations and answer various questions about daily life in Palestine.

“The people who stay at our place enjoy the relaxing atmosphere, good food, and interaction with our family. Often they need to sleep early as they continue their journey the next day. However, they choose to stay up longer to spend more time with us.”

The Palestinian salty pastries manakish are Ibtihaj’s breakfast specialty. She likes to serve them fresh, covered with a good amount of fragrant zeit and zaatar (olive oil and thyme mix) and a cup of mint tea – a nutritious meal for a good beginning of a day.