At university I could not escape the shadow of war

By Mona Jebril. When I first decided to apply for postgraduate scholarships in the United Kingdom, I felt like I was fighting the moving sands that were preparing to swallow my ambition and restrict me to the kind of life that is common for many women in traditional societies such as Gaza. Opposition to women travelling for cultural and religious reasons combine with the political context in Gaza to make the idea of studying in the UK seem very remote and dream-like for Gazan women. More...