Well, my friends, it's time for a game of Good News, Bad News. We'll start out with the bad news, because I like it better that way.
Bad News: Word came via e-mail today that the Spring/Summer BYU Jerusalem students will NOT be traveling to Egypt this summer. Here's how the e-mail put it: "Because of recent events in the country, we will not be taking students to Egypt during the 2011 Spring/Summer Program. Instead, we have plans for a full academic and field-trip experience in Turkey. Details about this trip will be provided at the Final Orientation Meeting."
That brings me to the Good News: I get to go to Turkey! Turkey is on the list of top-five countries I want to visit. Unfortunately, Egypt was another one of those countries (the others being Israel, Russia, and India). But it's Turkey! I don't even know if I get to go to Istanbul but I would love to see Istanbul. I've heard it's absolutely gorgeous. So that would be good news.
Bad News: I've been really looking forward to using my Arabic in Egypt. I've been studying the Egyptian dialect of Arabic, and even though I'll get to use it in Jerusalem, Jordan, and maybe even bits and pieces in Turkey, it is not the same dialect that I have been learning, so I will have a harder time communicating. The main language in Turkey is Turkish, but I might be able to find some Arabic speakers.
Good News: There have been rumors that during our time spent in Turkey, we will get to learn more about the mission of Paul. That would be really cool.
Bad News: I no longer get to see the pyramids. That is really sad. Or tombs, or the sphinx, or any of the other things. I don't get to watch the sunrise from Mount Sinai, either. That is one of the things I was most excited for. I love sunrises. I love mountains. I am actually really sad about that.
Good News: Turkey is a LOT cleaner than Egypt. Istanbul is supposed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Cairo is way over-polluted.
Bad News: This is the first time the Jerusalem Center has taken a group of students to Turkey, meaning we will be their guinea pigs and they will still be learning what to teach us, where to take us, and what to do. We might end up with a lot of free time on our hands, instead of constantly be touring places, and I'm not entirely sure that that is a good thing.
Good News: Because I am an Arabic minor, I might be able to do a Language Study Abroad in the Middle East in a few years. Usually this Language Study Abroad group takes students to Egypt, although this year they had to change their plans as well and they are now taking students to Jordan. However, in a few years, when I might go on this Study Abroad, things might have calmed down in Egypt and I might be able to go. So I might still make it to Egypt sometime in the future. In fact, I'm sure I will. Whether it is as a student or whether it is when I become an adult, Egypt will be number one on my list of places I want to see before I die. I will make sure I get there one day. :)
More Good News: I would like to end with more good news than bad news, so I'm doing another good news post. :) When all is said and done, I'm glad I still get to go to Jerusalem. I mean, they could have closed down the Center entirely. (It was closed from 2000-2006, and there are rumors that they might do it again). It is better to just not be able to go to Egypt and be able to go to Turkey than to not be able to go to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, OR Turkey. I'm just grateful I still get to spend time in the Middle East, and I know the experience will be amazing no matter where I am. :)
Bad News: Word came via e-mail today that the Spring/Summer BYU Jerusalem students will NOT be traveling to Egypt this summer. Here's how the e-mail put it: "Because of recent events in the country, we will not be taking students to Egypt during the 2011 Spring/Summer Program. Instead, we have plans for a full academic and field-trip experience in Turkey. Details about this trip will be provided at the Final Orientation Meeting."
That brings me to the Good News: I get to go to Turkey! Turkey is on the list of top-five countries I want to visit. Unfortunately, Egypt was another one of those countries (the others being Israel, Russia, and India). But it's Turkey! I don't even know if I get to go to Istanbul but I would love to see Istanbul. I've heard it's absolutely gorgeous. So that would be good news.
Bad News: I've been really looking forward to using my Arabic in Egypt. I've been studying the Egyptian dialect of Arabic, and even though I'll get to use it in Jerusalem, Jordan, and maybe even bits and pieces in Turkey, it is not the same dialect that I have been learning, so I will have a harder time communicating. The main language in Turkey is Turkish, but I might be able to find some Arabic speakers.
Good News: There have been rumors that during our time spent in Turkey, we will get to learn more about the mission of Paul. That would be really cool.
Bad News: I no longer get to see the pyramids. That is really sad. Or tombs, or the sphinx, or any of the other things. I don't get to watch the sunrise from Mount Sinai, either. That is one of the things I was most excited for. I love sunrises. I love mountains. I am actually really sad about that.
Good News: Turkey is a LOT cleaner than Egypt. Istanbul is supposed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Cairo is way over-polluted.
Bad News: This is the first time the Jerusalem Center has taken a group of students to Turkey, meaning we will be their guinea pigs and they will still be learning what to teach us, where to take us, and what to do. We might end up with a lot of free time on our hands, instead of constantly be touring places, and I'm not entirely sure that that is a good thing.
Good News: Because I am an Arabic minor, I might be able to do a Language Study Abroad in the Middle East in a few years. Usually this Language Study Abroad group takes students to Egypt, although this year they had to change their plans as well and they are now taking students to Jordan. However, in a few years, when I might go on this Study Abroad, things might have calmed down in Egypt and I might be able to go. So I might still make it to Egypt sometime in the future. In fact, I'm sure I will. Whether it is as a student or whether it is when I become an adult, Egypt will be number one on my list of places I want to see before I die. I will make sure I get there one day. :)
More Good News: I would like to end with more good news than bad news, so I'm doing another good news post. :) When all is said and done, I'm glad I still get to go to Jerusalem. I mean, they could have closed down the Center entirely. (It was closed from 2000-2006, and there are rumors that they might do it again). It is better to just not be able to go to Egypt and be able to go to Turkey than to not be able to go to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, OR Turkey. I'm just grateful I still get to spend time in the Middle East, and I know the experience will be amazing no matter where I am. :)
I'm glad you have more good news than bad. :) Way to be optimistic. Turkey will be incredible!
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