Overheard at . . . The ARCE Annual Meeting

“... But maybe wait a bit before coming over to Egypt.”

I was fortunate enough to be tagging along on my (nine year old) daughter’s first ever professional conference. She’s been into Egypt for as long as I can remember. So when we saw that the national meeting of all things Egypt was coming here to Portland we knew we had to attend. At some point she saw that they were looking for student posters. And while my husband and I realized this meant Masters / PhD students’ posters, the beauty of youth is that things like that don’t matter. She wrote an abstract for her presentation and we were all thrilled when it was accepted.

So, there I was acting as chaperone, collecting business cards for her and holding her materials while she talked to specialists in the area of Ancient Egypt. Meanwhile, though, I did get to attend some sessions, albeit the ones she was most interested in. I also got to speak with some of the amazing scholars in the field… when she was done speaking with them.

Many of these people encouraged her to visit Egypt. But what was repeated over and over was, “maybe not yet.”

It would be an amazing trip, don’t get me wrong. And I certainly have spent most of my blog time lately writing about how travel can be messy. But I think this, as a mom, might just be a little too messy for me. It is one thing to concern myself over my own safety; quite another to worry about my daughter’s. Truly, I would be a complete wreck before we even made it off the plane in Cairo.

Still… as I learned more about the wonders that are there, and the wonders still left to be found, I pledged this trip would happen. I would like to be the person who can see through whatever chaos is left when the protesting settles. I would like my daughter to be this person.

For the time being, though, she will continue to build her knowledge through books and shows about Egypt. And now, thanks to the conference, perhaps also through email correspondence with some of the people whose feet are now returning to Cairo even as I write this.

Many Happy Journeys Inspired by Love.

Have you been to Egypt? Do you have a passion that has made you travel somewhere beyond reason? I love so much hearing from readers, so leave a comment and let me know about your own wonderful journeys.

Deanne