Middle East class

This term I took a class called Contemporary Issues in the Middle East.  We covered everything from oil economies to the Arab-Israeli conflict to the Arab Spring.  This is was one class that I was really excited to take, but figured I wouldn't talk very much in the seminar since I was American.  But, the professor was probably my favorite professor of all time.  He is maybe mid 30s and actually had several jobs in the Middle East.  I remember at one point he told us a story of him in Iraq with some of his co-workers and they took off their bullet proof vests and were running around in t-shirts and jeans.  He talked about how this was vastly different from a lot of the Iraqis who were dressed up in full suits and such, and one person even told him that them walking around in scruffy t shirts and such was coming off as disrespectful.  I learned a lot from him and he was really nice and approachable.

I remember I had seminar with him the day before Thanksgiving and after it was done he was asking if I had any fun plans to make dinner or what I was doing.  I told him I was making Thanksgiving dinner for my flat with all the trimmings and he told me that him and his girlfriend (or partner as he sometimes refers to her...which I quite like) were actually going to be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner at their house in London.  No one was American, they were just throwing a Thanksgiving party for fun and a chance to get together with friends.

Today was my last seminar and I'm honestly rather sad that it's over! The course was one of the most interesting courses I have ever taken, and to have taken it outside the United States was even better. After he gave his speech of "you've been a wonderful class and I've really enjoyed teaching you this term (he's not going to be here next term)" everyone applauded him and headed out.  I went up to him afterwards to ask a quick question about essays, and then talked about when I was going back and what I was going to be doing.    I was talking about my flight home on the 22nd and hoping the weather will be alright and he talked about when he was flying back to London around the same time and it was absolutely atrocious! After that he said "it has been a pleasure teaching you and good luck with everything in the future."  SERIOUSLY BEST PROFESSOR EVER! I'm almost glad I'm not coming back for another term here because I wouldn't be able to take another course with him.  I honestly respect him as a professor, which I can't say for my IPE professor, and I'm very happy I took this course even though it meant I'll need to take 6 courses next semester.  If I hadn't taken this course, I would have lost all hope in the educational system here. Thanks Professor Smith!!!