Change of Plans

“Because of the uncertainty and fluidity surrounding the political process that is playing out in Egypt, coupled with other issues related to student safety in the run-up to the parliamentary elections that will take place in November, we have decided to cancel the 2011 fall program in Cairo…..”

With this one sentence, which I received in an e-mail from the Amideast powers-that-be in Washington, my aspirations of studying abroad in Egypt during arguably the most exciting time in the country’s history, were dashed. Despite obvious safety concerns, I can’t say I wasn’t crushed. Meanwhile I was faced with the decision of where to spend the upcoming semester instead of Cairo. My options were two other Middle Eastern countries that the US State Department deems at least incrementally more stable at the moment: Morocco or Jordan??

One of my main goals for the next few months is to immerse myself in the Arabic language so as to comfortably ‘get by’ in the Arab world (getting a taxi, haggling without being ripped off, talking to cute Arab guys – you know, just the essentials.) The Moroccan dialect is very distinct and not widely understood elsewhere in the Middle East, so I didn’t think it would be the most strategic place to study Arabic. Other factors drove me to the Hashemite Monarchy of Jordan, however. Located northwest of the massive Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq, Jordan is smack-dab in the heart of the Arab World and thus in prime real estate to play a pivotal role in the region’s political and social landscape. Whether its sheltering Syrian refugees fleeing the brutal crackdown of the Assad regime, or exerting its influence in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Jordan itself has a large internal Palestinian population) or upholding its status as a Western ally (although recent protests and ensuing reforms may alter this historically cozy relationship hmm…) Jordan seems to be a key player in the area. Amman appealed to me as a unique base from which to observe the current changes sweeping across the Arab world .

Now its just a matter of brushing the dust from my Al-Kitaab language book, packing my probably oversized suitcase, and beginning the countdown til I move-in to an apartment in Amman with other American students on September 4^th! Can't Wait!