Today was the start of our elective classes. I am taking Jordan and the Arab Israeli Conflict and an Intro to Middle Eastern Politics and Diplomacy. I'm about to put my ECON degree on hold...kinda, and dive deep into Poli Sci and International Relations classes. I say kinda because I'm realizing more and more that in the middle east, politics, religion, economics, and culture are much more inter-connected than in America. The post revolution governments of the arab spring are being decided over campaigns between opposing political religious partie. The Palestinian and Israeli conflict...religion...need I say more. Countries may have better relations with one sect of a religion in another country than the other sect of that same religion! (I also gotta say, how crazy is it that a whole country can have better relations with one sect of a religion in another country. Don't countries have diplomatic relations with other countries?) Although Syria is on the brink of governmental collapse, the almost scarier question is which cultural group will rise to power afterwards...and how will that be decided. Iraq's new government executed 17 people just yesterday! Just days after the UN said "Hey Iraq, you should probably lay low on the executions, it's starting to look like your new government isn't running so smoothly" ahhh my head's spinning. Such an exciting time to be studying politics in the middle east, but for such sad reasons.
Anyhooo, my Intro to Middle Eastern Politics and Diplomacy professor is a total badass. He has Ph.D, has taught the class a bunch of times before, said he works 5 other jobs related to Jordan's politics, one of which is being an aid to Jordan's Prime Minister. He mentioned that teaching this class is what he does to relax and have fun. He comes straight from the Prime Minister's office to teach this class, and promptly turns off his phones "I turn off both my cell phones as soon as I walk in because I know you students want to make the most of the class time we have together. I know the prime minister is calling me right now, but I am here to teach you guys, and I would appreciate the same respect. They ask me why I don't answer calls sometimes, I guess I'll just have to keep making better excuses haha." Phew! Nothing on my phone must be nearly that important. He was wearing a suit and tie, shiny shoes, stands with perfect posture, and has a comb over, but throws in funny sarcastic one liners here and there, gives us just enough time to figure out he was joking, smiles from ear to ear, and moves right along. I think I'm gonna like him.
I have a dictation test in Arabic tomorrow morning, my great aunt was just here and she helped me study for a little bit. Then she tried to guilt me into shaving; she said people will think I'm part of the Muslim Brotherhood. I could barely hold in my laughter.
Anyhooo, my Intro to Middle Eastern Politics and Diplomacy professor is a total badass. He has Ph.D, has taught the class a bunch of times before, said he works 5 other jobs related to Jordan's politics, one of which is being an aid to Jordan's Prime Minister. He mentioned that teaching this class is what he does to relax and have fun. He comes straight from the Prime Minister's office to teach this class, and promptly turns off his phones "I turn off both my cell phones as soon as I walk in because I know you students want to make the most of the class time we have together. I know the prime minister is calling me right now, but I am here to teach you guys, and I would appreciate the same respect. They ask me why I don't answer calls sometimes, I guess I'll just have to keep making better excuses haha." Phew! Nothing on my phone must be nearly that important. He was wearing a suit and tie, shiny shoes, stands with perfect posture, and has a comb over, but throws in funny sarcastic one liners here and there, gives us just enough time to figure out he was joking, smiles from ear to ear, and moves right along. I think I'm gonna like him.
I have a dictation test in Arabic tomorrow morning, my great aunt was just here and she helped me study for a little bit. Then she tried to guilt me into shaving; she said people will think I'm part of the Muslim Brotherhood. I could barely hold in my laughter.
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