tourist or terrorist?

neither, really. I'm a student, and a travel agent -- a citizen of the World. do I look suspicious? well, apparently the security personnel in the Tel Aviv airport think so. Maybe it was my claim to speaking multiple languages (he asked, what was I supposed to do, lie?), or the fact that I had many questionable items in my bag: two Arabic books, an Arabic notebook and folder, books entitled "the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", "News in the Global Sphere", and "Covering Islam", a folder full of readings including one entitled "Contending visions of the Middle East", a scarf which looks remotely Palestinian, numerous electronic devices (don't leave home without em) and the number one item of suspicion...a passport from The United States of America. If I was a citizen of the World (oh wait I AM) I would be suspicious of anything to do with America, the way things are going (I'll leave it at that before I get political again).

If that weren't trouble enough, the security personnel thought it appropriate to COMPLETELY UNPACK my entire suitcase and carry on bags, which took me TWO DAYS to pack (and included several wrapped gift items, tucked neatly inside a box, again completely unpacked). If you know me, I'm quite a meticulous packer, and I don't like people messing with my stuff. To top it off, the head security guard informed me I was late because I was one hour before the flight rather than 3 (I didn't get that memo). In my own defense, I did intend to get there one hour earlier than I did, but I had a balagan at the post office on campus, a situation regarding payment of my utility bills coupled with an unreasonably long line with one teller. Thus I missed the earlier train. Fortunately, the train now goes direct from Beer Sheva to Ben Gurion Airport, so the train fiasco which occurred upon my arrival to Israel 3 months ago is not likely to repeat itself (though a few people kept telling me I was on the wrong train).

More good news (what? YES!)... I made it safely to the Munich International airport, and I'm chillin here in the 24 hour terminal for about 10 hours more. PUN INTENDED... There is SNOW everywhere outside! I went outside to find the other terminal (for tomorrow morning) and took some pictures... gallery coming soon! But it is COLD, so I have opted to stay in the airport, as much as I love wandering around Germany :) happy to get my favorite German juice "hohesC" and see my favorite restaurant "Nordsee". now i will work on one of my papers as I count down the hours to my MUCH NEEDED return to the good ol' USA, my home.

life is research

As I have been completely engrossed in writing 3 research papers for the past week, I have disengaged from most forms of social interaction. During this process, I have formulated several of my own theories. The first being the notion that "life is research". Any aspect of human existence involves a series of learning, discovery, and understanding. This framework can certainly be applied to the knowledge of a particular topic or field, but can also encompass relative aspects of culture or interaction, thus contributing to an individual's own existential paradigm.

The second theory or contention which I have come to accept, is that the influences which shape one's paradigm are temporal and often intangible. As the semester is getting over, I am doing some "getting over" of my own. Last June during the World Cup in Berlin, I met someone who essentially changed my life. If you've known me for any length of time, you probably noticed a change in my outlook and overall perspective of the world, beginning with my trip to Germany. Of course spending time in the Middle East has also contributed to the shaping of my new outlook, but if I had to identify one single interaction which influenced my motivation to learn, it would be my relationship with this man. If I had not met him, I would not have even cared about the Israeli-Palestinan conflict, and certainly would not be as passionate as I am about it. Though I care about him deeply, I don't know if I will ever see him again (his phone is disconnected and he does not respond to email). But as a result of our interaction, I have set a course for completion of my second Master's Degree (Middle East Studies), an area which has also expanded my understanding of the world, and shaping of my global paradigm.

I am leaving for the US tomorrow, via a stopover in Munich. I hope the storms subside by then, its been pretty icy!

spring equinox

The other day in class while discussing current events, my professor asked the class "what is happening in March 2007"? He was referring to an early election for Israel, but I blurted out "the Spring Equinox!" My classmates were caught off-guard, and erupted in laughter. My friend Alan turned around and gave me a wierd look, and I whispered to him "and the French Presidential election", which he and I had discussed recently.

I seem to have prophecies on the brain (both Biblical and Quranic), because the Spring Equinox is the time when Shiite Islam predicts their Madhi to reveal himself to the world. Ahmedinijad is all up on it... check outthis article. I think that timing is rather coincidental, as March 2007 is also when Nicolas Sarkozy will win the French Presidential election. His claim to Roman Catholicism is a link to France's involvement in the EU as the "modern" version of the Roman Empire (from Biblical prophecy). I often wonder about his Catholicism however, because of his incredible support for Muslims (not that that's a bad thing, mind you). One of the things he is known for is building/supporting Muslim communities in France. Perhaps he is just showing his humanitarian side. I don't exactly see him showing his Jewish side (not that I see him regularly), though his mother is from Sephardic Jewish descent (if there is Judaism on your mother's side, then you're Jewish). ;) Anyway, he's not in the international news very much, but he's on track to win the election, and indeed rise to the top (of France, and ultimately the EU).

I might go to France for my spring break to visit my boy Nic :) and perhaps travel west, across through Spain and then Morocco (any or all of the above). The other option is Turkey, but I might just make that a long weekend next semester, or go there and Greece next summer. So many countries, so little time. For now I focus on the task at hand, writing 3 papers, due this week before I leave for the US.

global observance

Many events have happened over the last few days, of global significance. From Israel, I can only read about and observe the various situations. Number one being the weather conditions in Europe and parts of America. Next Thursday, I will travel from Israel to Munich Germany, with a 12 hour layover, then on to the US weather permitting. Europe is suffering from its worst storm ever. Flights are being cancelled at all major airports, and Germany's major railway Die Bahn (which I travel regularly) has closed down for the first time ever. Read more about the situation here.

I have also heard about the extreme weather conditions across the US, including southern California, my home of 13 years. Many of the citrus and avocado crops (the state's main agricultural resource) have been destroyed, and temperatures have been freezing with snow. I hope most of that clears up by the time I reach San Diego (where I will visit in early February). Fortunately the Chargers do not have to play in that weather, though unfortunate they will not be in the Super Bowl. Related to the CA situation, I heard that Arnold Schwartzenegger may run for US President, should the US Constitution make an exception for him not being born in America.

On the local front, this past week I had the opportunity to attend another Ambassador's Forum (second in a series here on campus) with the Middle East Studies and Political Science departments. This time the US Ambassador to Israel spoke. He covered many issues, including the US involvment in Iraq (which MUST continue in the best interest of both the US and Iraq), and the Israel-Palestine 2-state solution. It's a no-brainer to see the importance of this offer, Hamas just needs to recognize Israel's right to exist. Generally, if a state or country has been created, and borders have been defined through government treaties, then it does in fact physically EXIST. Whether or not Israel has a RIGHT to exist should also be self-evident within this framework.

One final issue of importance, again reaffirming the signs of the last days (in addition to severe weather conditions as God shakes the earth) is the prophetic aspect of China's involvement. While US/Chinese relations have been good over the years, its time for China to step into the global arena. Integrating my technology background into my global paradigm and anticipation of apocalyptic events, it should come as no surprise that China may very well cut the US off in some fashion. My own prediction involved them cutting off the US's supply of goods produced in China. Read this article to understand the global dominance of this country, and its impact on the global community.

all about the ottoman

my friend Alan and I have an abbreviation for this...AAO (all about the Ottoman), a self-constructed ideology stemming from themes discussed in our Ottoman History class. As I am not much of a history person myself, I am learning about many aspects of history not only through my classes but through daily life. The acronym was created as a result of the many themes emerging from the Ottoman Empire into today. For example, I mentioned in a previous blog that I had met a man from Turkey at the conference last week, and learned a lot about their culture from my interaction with him. Likewise, there are many parallels between the history of Turkey and other surrounding countries, and interrelated themes therein.

Today was the last day of my Ottoman History class, from which I gained a great deal. I had to give a presentation about education in the Ottoman Empire, a summary and commentary of a chapter from a book I read, entitled "Imperial Classroom: Islam, the State, and Education in the Late Ottoman Empire" by Benjamin Fortna. I was engaged by this reading, as much of my own professional experience has been within the field of education. The chapter incorporated themes of Modernity (one of our other classes) and Nationalism (a theme of that same Modernity class), in comparing Ottoman traditional Islamic influences in education to education of the West. The presentation went well, though a bit long winded which I often am. ;p

My professor also announced a new course he will be teaching IN TURKEY this summer! This is the same professor who took us on an academic/historical tour of Jerusalem. It is a four week course, and though I do not necessarily need it for credit, I believe it would be a nice opportunity for me to learn more about the culture. Now I have a friend/professional contact in Turkey in addition to my old boss doing his sabbatical over there this year, so all the more reason to check it out. Similarly, I will be going to Jordan for a study tour of that region in early February, after I come back from the US.

bloggers and democrats

If you've been in the Middle East (or have lived here like I do) you might look at things a bit differently than people who live elsewhere in the world. This blog is for all those self-proclaimed "commentators" out there (including a slew of amateur bloggers many of whom are US Democrats), who criticize US President George Bush and his Foreign Policy decisions. Recently, there have been some major changes in the US, in its governmental personnel, and with its foreign relations. Many Americans do not understand the US occupation in Iraq, and thus do not understand where President Bush is coming from. The US House of Representatives, now ruled by the Democrats, seem to oppose many of the US President's decisions. That equates to a country divided against itself, which by definition, will not stand. Let's assess this dilemma from a fundamental standpoint, shall we?

It all boils down to an understanding of the basics of human existence. For years I have cringed at the American Democratic party (voters and politicians alike) for their liberal views (which I define as blatant stupidity), but now its more obvious than ever. To give just a few examples: gay marriage, lack of ethical values, killing babies ok (wait a minute that contradicts their opposition to the killing of Iraqis), and of course, opposition to the increase in troops in Iraq and any current Bush Foreign Policy move - clearly NOT a "blunder" if you have a BRAIN. What they do not seem to realize however is that if the US pulls their troops out of Iraq (or even decreases them), the result will be major sectarian violence (Sunni vs. Shiite) and likely a collapse of the region. In other words, if the US STOPS doing what they're doing and pulls troops out, IRAQ will destroy itself. Notwithstanding Iranian intervention and Ahmedinijad's agenda, but I will stop there.

At the end of the day, we all have to live together in this Global Community. I've read enough on talkback posts on various news sources, and seen people all over the web who really do not have the FACTS straight, or any ground to stand on (and this is a theme across the board) regarding the Middle East. Amateur bloggers, save it for your diary and locker rooms. Democrats, educate yourselves - on what is REALLY GOING ON IN THE WORLD. You're going to continue to make the American people look STUPID, and currently, America does not have a very high popularity rating among other countries as it is. Asalam w'aleikum.

campus events

Last week there was a Middle East conference here at the university. I love conferences because they provide an excellent opportunity for networking with people from around the world, and to hear a lot of great presentations. I believe some of the contacts I made will be helpful to me in the future. One was a journalist for AlJazeera, which happens to be my favorite media source. This is timely as I am writing a paper about media globalization and means of dissemination in the Middle East. Overall I was greatly inspired as a result of attending the conference.

In general, there are many lectures around campus which are in Hebrew (including my Jordan seminar). However I had not yet had the opportunity to attend an all-Arabic event until today. My friend Arkan was one of the organizers, so he gave me a ticket, a kind of Muslim-Christian unity event. There was some really nice music performed at the event, and a group of young male Bedoin dancers. Even though I didn't understand everything, I enjoyed it much more than sitting in a Hebrew lecture or presentation, and more relevant for me since this is my area of study. It's really nice to be here and have the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture. Last night I even had someone sing to me in both Turkish and Arabic.

tech talk

In 1998, I bought stock in Apple. In 1999, I sold it. Everyone thought I was crazy for going out on a limb, Apple was struggling. The Quadra 610 and PowerMacs were losing their appeal and power to the Microsoft PC technology. Trying my hand at the stock market, I thought the technology stocks was where it was at, so I chose Apple. I had a few others, like Texas Instruments, but Apple's stock plummeted so bad, that I just pulled all my money out. Buying Apple stock was a brilliant idea indeed, I was just a FEW years too early. In the early 2000's, the iPod went on the market and was an instant success. Apple stocks suddenly shot way up. I knew then that I had made an erratic premature decision. Why did I lose my faith in a company who I'd been loyal to for years, whose products had been my bread and butter as a career graphic designer and educator?

Today at the MacWorld Expo, Apple unveiled the new iPhone. You can just imagine this powerful device - its an iPod, mobile phone, internet browser, and mini computer all in one. Yes Star Trek fans, this is the future. My favorite show while growing up, I always dreamed of owning such a device, and being such a techie as the Trekkies. I believed that I would see this kind of technology within my lifetime. While this first model of the iPhone costs a pretty penny (bad US currency reference) and has proprietary use with the Cingular network, the convergence of media technologies is a critical aspect of global communication, and will undoubtedly become more widespread and more affordable within the next few years.

Much of my graduate research has been done in the area of communication technology, a constantly changing field. Recently, I have shifted my immediate research focus to Middle East studies, with such themes as intercultural/psychological aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and media globalization with its vehicles for dissemination to Palestinians worldwide. However, my passion for technology will never die, and I intend to continue in this field in some capacity. As I move onward and upward (wherever this ladder is leading me), I am realizing more and more the ways in which everything is related, the understanding of which is essential for human existence, within this our Global Paradigm.

get inside

today, my Ottoman History class went on a field trip to Jerusalem. I had been in Jerusalem all weekend, so I just met them at one of the gates. The weather was not necessarily conducive to a field trip, it had been raining for several days, and didn't really let up much during our trek. But I was excited to see where our professor would take us, especially in light of my current research (Umayyad architecture). A few weeks ago, I got a lead on how we might potentially get inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock (on the Haram Al-Sharif). I wasnt sure if my prof would be able to coordinate it with the guy, but to my surprise, he came through, and we went inside.

Honestly, NOBODY is allowed in there, unless you are MUSLIM. They DO NOT let tours go inside. Muslims go in there to pray, and they are the 2nd and 3rd most holiest sites in the world for muslims (2nd or 3rd depends on whether you are Sunni or Shiite). The Arabs have control of the Haram Al-Sharif (Temple Mount), and the Israeli guards are often bitter towards anyone over there. They hassled us, but the Arab guys were totally cool. They made the women put these funny shower curtain skirts on and take our shoes off, but I didn't care. I got INSIDE both the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Its amazing what you can do with student status... its for "research purposes". This was one of my dreams, I got in without converting to Islam. Photos coming soon.

strike two!

yesterday morning I was supposed to have a test in my Arabic class. But when I arrived to the campus, there were protesters at the gate, so I had to go in a different gate. Then when I finally got in and went to the building my class is in, the door was locked. There were a few people in the hallways (and it looked like a few classes going on), but the campus was generally a ghost town. There was a student strike on campus, something which had been rumored, in protest of higher tuition or some otherwise exclusively Israeli issue. I didn't think I'd be affected by it (as overseas students' tuition costs more anyway), so I attempted to go to classes as usual. Once I caught on that all the classes would be "cancelled" for the entire day, I went home and read, then fell asleep on my couch.

I slept pretty much all day, and hadn't been feeling well so I really needed to catch up on much-needed sleep. I also decided it was finally time to do my laundry, as i was just about out of socks. When I arrived to the laundry room, it appeared the washing machines had gone on strike too (strike two) because only one of them was working (out of 5 washers and 5 dryers). Needless to say I was there for a while, but had some very interesting conversations, in a few different languages.

Recently I have been trying to practice all 5 of my languages. There is a girl in my program from Argentina (also a Communication major), who I speak with in Spanish (of course I know Mexican Spanish). My Hebrew is still not very good, but it gets me around town. I am hoping to start the Ulpan next week, but I just found out it costs 1,100 USD. so I might be back to the teach-myself option. Everyone keeps saying "get an Israeli boyfriend". honestly, that would be the easiest way. But he should then speak Arabic as well.