College Break

Over the last two weeks I have been taking a free class at the University of Washington. This is a class that is offered to high school teachers through the Jackson School of International Studies. Each year they cover a different topic having something to do with the Middle East. Last year I took a class entitled "Teaching Middle Eastern History Using Arab Fiction" in which we read 7 novels and talked about how to use them in a high school setting. This year the class was titled "Egypt from the Middle Ages to the Present" and I feel like I have learned so much about Egypt in a time period that world history classes don't normally touch on. It was really interesting.

It is always strange to go back to a university setting again. I graduated from college in 2002 but I still feel old when I go back on campus. I would eventually like to go back to school to get my master's degree, but it will have to wait until finances are more in order. I do enjoy being on campus though...UW has a beautiful campus.

It is also kind of hilarious to see historically related graffiti. I know it's a bit difficult to see, but I put the "translation" below.

Original Statement:

• the historian is a prophet in reverse

Replies:

• why in "reverse"? Since, ostensibly we create history, isn't a historian just a prophet?
• only if we truly believe history repeats itself and thus becomes the future
• because time in the physical universe only moves forward!