We’re here in Syria!!

I don’t know how long this Internet connection is going to last, so I’m writing as fast as I can… We’re here in Damascus, and it’s more beautiful and spectacular that anyone could have imagined. Last night, I ate dinner on the roof of a building under a breezy Syrian sky. We all went to the old city today. Tonight, I went to dinner and hung out in a park in “modern Damascus” with a new friend named Ossama Liddawi, and most of the kids are heading out to a club as I write this (it’s 1145 p.m.). Jonathan, as usual, said it was one of the best days of his life. I usually scold him not to exaggerate, but I agree that it’s got to be up there… More later, as I figure out how to navigate the terrible Internet connection here, and all the blocked sites…. (The students are annoyed that Facebook is blocked, as is YouTube.) But for now, rest easy. We made it.  And check back. We all have so much to say. And  I have a long list of stories to post, if I can grab the bandwidth.