My row just got called in the Washington Dulles airport. I’m about to board a flight to Cairo, Egypt through Istanbul, Turkey.
I’m not ditching out on school–this is our spring break–but in a very real way, I am. I’m making it my job to get educated about the region, using my own eyes and my own ears and my own voice. I’m tired of sitting in tiny chairs and getting lectured at. I want to see what’s happening for myself. And when I get back, I’ll tell my professors and friends all about it.
I bought my tickets in January, but held off on talking about my plans for as long as possible, in case something awful happened and I had to cancel my trip. But as of right now, the U.S. Embassy says come on down, so I’m coming.
I am excited to be returning to the Middle East. I’ll be spending a week meeting with friends and colleagues, visiting museums and checking out the schools I would like to attend if I receive the Fulbright. I’m staying at the Episcopal Training Center in Maadi and I’ll let you know more when I land.
Inspirational Quote
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”–Mark Twain
