Hey everyone -
Quick update: Morocco was grand, I took a little vacation in Italy on my way home, and now I'm in Jersey, living in what could aptly be described as "Hogwarts." Many thanks to Mom and Dad for driving me and all my stuff out. My sentiments are somewhere between anxious and excited for the semester to start.
I find myself thinking most days about the political transitions going on throughout the Arab world. Just under a year ago, I wrote several personal statements detailing that I wanted to study political transitions and reform in the Arab world. I had been living in Egypt and loving it, and I was ready to study the region and the language forever. Then the Arab Spring began. Now I find myself wondering if I shouldn't be back there studying the current transition on the ground instead of in a far off Ivory Tower. My current path is, of course, an amazing opportunity, and I don't regret enrolling in grad school. But I still wonder what I might be missing.
Excitingly, I can live vicariously through three of my former co-Fulbrighters who are traveling back to Egypt to document the current transition... except, unlike every major news outlet, they aren't doing it from Cairo or Alexandria. They're focusing on the region that claims a majority of the Egyptian population: the Nile Delta. They all lived in the Delta this past year, speak Egyptian Arabic, have good contacts in their respective cities, and will do a really fantastic job.
My friends are just looking for a little funding. Fortunately, the entire project shouldn't cost very much, and they're going to produce a book and DVD that will be available to funders at the end. They're also talking about setting up Skype interviews with schools or organizations that help fund the project. More details are here.
In less than a week they've achieved almost half their fundraising goal, and in the next two weeks they hope to raise about $3000 more. Let's make this happen! Also, just so you know, if you pledge money through this site but then they don't reach their goal by Sept 21, you will not be charged; the pledges will only turn into donations if the project moves forward.
Finally, if anyone knows of any organizations or grants that might fund projects like this, please e-mail me or leave the info in the comments section. Thanks!
Quick update: Morocco was grand, I took a little vacation in Italy on my way home, and now I'm in Jersey, living in what could aptly be described as "Hogwarts." Many thanks to Mom and Dad for driving me and all my stuff out. My sentiments are somewhere between anxious and excited for the semester to start.
I find myself thinking most days about the political transitions going on throughout the Arab world. Just under a year ago, I wrote several personal statements detailing that I wanted to study political transitions and reform in the Arab world. I had been living in Egypt and loving it, and I was ready to study the region and the language forever. Then the Arab Spring began. Now I find myself wondering if I shouldn't be back there studying the current transition on the ground instead of in a far off Ivory Tower. My current path is, of course, an amazing opportunity, and I don't regret enrolling in grad school. But I still wonder what I might be missing.
Excitingly, I can live vicariously through three of my former co-Fulbrighters who are traveling back to Egypt to document the current transition... except, unlike every major news outlet, they aren't doing it from Cairo or Alexandria. They're focusing on the region that claims a majority of the Egyptian population: the Nile Delta. They all lived in the Delta this past year, speak Egyptian Arabic, have good contacts in their respective cities, and will do a really fantastic job.
My friends are just looking for a little funding. Fortunately, the entire project shouldn't cost very much, and they're going to produce a book and DVD that will be available to funders at the end. They're also talking about setting up Skype interviews with schools or organizations that help fund the project. More details are here.
In less than a week they've achieved almost half their fundraising goal, and in the next two weeks they hope to raise about $3000 more. Let's make this happen! Also, just so you know, if you pledge money through this site but then they don't reach their goal by Sept 21, you will not be charged; the pledges will only turn into donations if the project moves forward.
Finally, if anyone knows of any organizations or grants that might fund projects like this, please e-mail me or leave the info in the comments section. Thanks!
