Sui Generis

Is man inherently good or evil? Has religion even been the actual cause for wars, past or present? Will states ever solve the pollution problem? These loaded questions have certainly been through their share of debates, each person finding select historical proof to back up their conclusions. As difficult is trying to convince family and friends that traveling to a conflict-torn region is practical and worthwhile. On the fifth of September, 2007, Alex and I will travel to Beirut, Lebanon, where we will attend the American University of Beirut (AUB). I shall continue my undergraduate degree in Near Eastern Studies, and Alex, already obtaining his B.S in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall, will begin his graduate coursework in Economics. Our announcement has produced few enthusiastic supporters but we thank everyone who has encouraging words to offer. No less noteworthy are those who have warned us against going, and want us to be as safe as possible. We understand your concern, and also thank you for your caring gestures and loving honesty.

Planning for such a trip undoubtedly must go beyond luggage and applying for visas. There is the fighting in the North, between the Palestinian faction Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army, and not to mention the unrelenting political bickering. Safety is always a concern, but such is the nature of the student to parade where some think it unwise. Yet, one could mark any region unsafe. Besides the Middle East, jihadist movements are popping up in Western and Eastern European countries. The African continent is home to some of the most oppressive regimes currently in rule, and South America is expressing an increasingly anti-American sentiment. In all of these places, however, channels of communication and cross-cultural understanding are key to solving international issues.

So, where else better to study the Near East than in the heart of the beast? Lebanon is sometimes considered the most liberal of Near Eastern states, and its historical make-up has certainly made her politics and culture spicy. With luck and determination, studying in Beirut will result in firsthand knowledge of the culture and proficiency in the Arabic language, surely helping make a student more marketable when applying for schools or jobs. Blogging (I mean to use to a scholarly format rather than the average personal diary) will serve the purpose of addressing arousing events, and, for those who have expressed concern, to let people know I'm still alive and typing.

Though I may never come close to solving the aforementioned questions in this blog, my intentions are purely educational. Whether it be commenting on international air travel, overseas living conditions, foreign nationalism, politics, or just day-to-day living, there is so much to be learned in a trip of this caliber - from preparations to repatriation. Please feel free to comment or criticise the content or quality of the blogs, in fact I encourage any and all comments and/or questions before and during our travels. My hope is you, as the reader, and I can interact through the blog and create an atmosphere of continual learning. As we do so, I am confident the benefits of travel and study will transcend the dangers.