Not quite, but life here is good. I have been staying around Egypt for the past few weekends because I both wanted to spend time in the country and area in which I chose to study abroad, and also because traveling can be draining: physically, emotionally, financially...
However, because I've been laying low, I have saved up for a trip for my fall break! My fall break starts this coming Thursday Nov. 11, and we get back on Saturday Nov 20. I will be traveling to Jordan, Israel, and Palestine! So I'm sure a few of you are worrying currently, but my friends and I will be taking all necessary safety precautions, and have done our research. Although there can be no real guarantees, we have been told by our embassy that the fact that we are carrying American passports will make our passage an easy one. We will start our trip off by spending 2 days in Jordan. I am traveling with two people, one guy from Haverford College, and one girl from Bryn Mawr, both of whom I know well and knew before studying abroad with them. However, we found out that another group of friends from AUC, our school here in Egypt, will also be traveling, so we decided to combine itineraries for part of the trip. I have a close friend in Jordan who I met during my time in Turkey (my family and I have travelled there 1-2 times a year since I was 8, and during the summer of my sophomore year of high school in 2006 I lived there with some family friends). I will be visiting him, and he has offered to pick us up from the airport, take us around, have us over for dinner with his family, and anything else one could imagine during our two days. Very generous. I will decide how much time I will visit with him for, and when I will join my friends in their separate plans for Jordan for the remainder of my time. Either way, it will be over a special Eid (muslim holiday) so I will get to see Jordan celebrating! Then on the third day we will travel through Palestine, and hopefully arrive in Israel later that night. We will stay until Saturday Nov 20th, and travel back through, and ultimately fly out of Amman back to Egypt.
I am so so excited for this trip! It has always been something that I've wanted to do, and now I am getting the chance, simply because my friends mentioned their plans to me.
Two things: please don't worry, I will be as safe as possible, and will keep in good contact with my parents to let them know I am okay. Secondly, I am sorry if I am offending anyone by referring to the area in the way that I am. I have had a few people object to the way I am doing so (Israel and Palestine), objections which have come from both sides. I am simply trying to describe my travel plans, and my deepest apologies if I have offended anyone in doing so.
I hope everyone back at home is doing well! Hopefully I will post again after my trip!
Have a great Thanksgiving and wonderful fall. Know how envious I am of you all to be witnessing the fall in Philly (most of you).
Lots of love!
We are really missing you. Enjoy your time and travels. You really are extraordinary. Uncle A.
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