Ticket to fly

I have no reason to be sad, especially not today.

October 1, 2012.

I have reason to be excited, actually.

Chicago to Frankfurt.

My tickets for Egypt have been purchased, and aside from packing, I am ready to go.

Frankfurt to Cairo.

Because of work, I haven't had too much time to think about it, really.

December 22, 2012.

I have been preparing for the trip by finishing small and big projects at work.

Cairo to Munich.

I've also been gathering information and data I need for my own work while I am overseas.

Munich to Chicago.

It is not lost on me that I am traveling. It is not lost on me that I am traveling to Egypt. It is not lost on me that I will be living in Egypt for three months.

I am being asked repeatedly whether I am excited for this trip.

Yes, when I think about it.

But in a weird way, I am not that excited about it. That may seem odd, and it still is to me, but there are reasons for the lack of giddiness on my part.

I was not born in the United States, so being outside of this country is not a novel experience.

I have been outside of the United States for months before, so I am used to being away from home for so long.

I have been on an overseas archaeological excavation before, so the opportunity to participate in something so awesome is great, but a bit muted.

But there are other factors as well. I am going for work purposes. Yes, how many people get to leave the country for work and have everything paid for? I know the answer is not many, but in my world, it is many. I work in an environment with students and faculty who routinely spend their summer or whole calendar/academic years living in Italy, or Turkey, or Egypt. To gloat in my upcoming experience makes me feel childish, like a kid with a toy he just got for Christmas, while the older kids have played with it many times before.

I will be in the field with people who return to Egypt every year for the same amount of time that I will be there.

This is not meant to kill all the excitement for this venture. Far from it. But my mind can't help but to put it in perspective.

But in the past two days, something happened that is making this more real, more excitement-inducing.

I am going away...

...I got my ticket to fly...

...and I do care.