The Syria Verdict

With my time at the JBCP ending this week, it is time to make final departure plans. I couldn't come to the Middle East and not spend time with Ariel in Istanbul, but I wasn't sure how I would get there. There were two options: fly directly from Jordan or go overland through Syria and across Turkey.

As I discussed earlier, the Syria option is slightly problematic because I don't have a visa and the official state policy is that they can only be obtained at an embassy in one's home country. Also, I was having an ethical dilemma because Syria's official policy is to deny entry to people who, like myself, have been to Israel, and I wouldn't feel right about affirmatively lying to government officials if I was asked about it.

In the last few weeks, I decided to go ahead with the Syria plan when I learned that 1) Americans routinely get visas at the border (when US-Syria relations are good, as they are now), they just have to wait a few hours for the officials to fax something to Damascus and 2) the guards don't actually ask if you've been to Israel, they just scrutinize the passport you present (and I've never been to Israel with this passport).

I also had to consider the fact that the Syria option was lots less expensive than flying directly, even considering that it would take 5 days of traveling to make the journey by land.

For some reason, my parents were less than thrilled about the Syria plan. So less than thrilled (aghast? terrified?) that they offered to pay the added expense for the flight.

I thought briefly about making a counter-offer, more for my own sick love of negotiation and morbid curiosity than any genuine interest, "You know, Mom, there's a direct bus from Gaza that can make the trip in only a tour days ..." or "I found a great cheap flight out of Tehran ..."

But I love my parents, and I am very grateful that they are so generous and care so much about my welfare. Also, they have my cat.

So I'm flying direct from Jordan to Istanbul. No Syria.

Mom, I hope you're happy.