During our time Palestine, I continued my daily watercolor painting practice each evening. At home, painting is part of my intention setting in the morning. However, during this trip, I shifted to the evenings as a reflection ritual.

Her name is Noor. She is 9 years old and we met in Deheisheh Camp at Laylac Center. Noor kept flashing me her smile throughout the afternoon. At one point, she motioned for me to sit next to her in a big chair, as the young dancers rehearsed.

"What's your name?" It's a dreaded question if you're flying into Tel Aviv and you have a name that sounds Palestinian/Arabic/Muslim. If your name sounds suspicious, you will be asked about your parents' and grandparents' names, too, in order to determine if you'll be allowed in Israel.

The father, Bassem Tamimi, insisted that they are not a special family and no different from every other family that lived under this Israeli occupation.

Every day in Palestine and Israel there are stark reminders that I as an foreigner have more rights than indigenous Palestinians that have lived here for centuries.

The Tamimi family graciously hosted all 30 of us at their home in Nabi Saleh. Ahed made international news at age 16 when she was imprisoned for slapping an Israeli soldier.